Hey Nick,
Thanks for telling me about the patch, I had edited it and then hit the browser back arrow on accident so it got deleted. I repatched it above so hopefully that makes things easier to parse. The main pros are speed of programming, and playability. I basically compose in shapes, it's reactive rather than prescriptive, and with Metron, I can make a save with 5 parts planned out but the notes aren't set in stone, I set that with the mixer, I just have a rhythm and a structure mapped out. If I want to make a new pattern it's really easy to do in seconds, on the fly, and because I have the note pool already picked out with the mixer and quantizer, the change won't be jarring. I can then make changes to the note pool if needed, and prepare for another part change. It's great for playing with others and performing live.
The cons are that it won't be exactly the same two performances in a row. Since the mixer settings are manual it's pretty close to impossible to get them back where they were last time, but I actually like that aspect of it too, so not sure that's a con for everyone.
I've also designed another module around this concept, called Aristotle, however it uses a slightly different mechanism to get generate the patterns. Instead of gates in it takes triggers and creates melodies based on the pattern of the triggers. It's a little more akin to something like a cross between the method above and something like the Turing Machine. It's easy to create loops and then a small change in the trigger pattern coming in, creates a small variation on the CV pattern coming out, but if you completely change it up, you get a completely different pattern immediately as well. It's really fun. I am days away from finalizing the design and pulling the trigger on manufacturing, so they'll be available to buy soon!
https://www.modulargrid.net/e/other-unknown-aristotle
I love Nonlinear Circuits designs. I have the Neuron/Difference rectifier, the GENiE, Delay No More, Triple Sloths, and in addition, I modified the circuit for the Let's Splosh and made my own version that outputs all positive voltages, and dessert names that I had heard of before, (this one is my favorite).
I have yet to own any of Ladik's stuff but there are a number of them I have my eye on, and the ARC module is one I've been on the hunt for for years. I have used the Neural Network from the Hemispheres firmware of Ornament and Crimes extensively for such purposes, and it is remarkably powerful, but it takes a bit of time to get used to the interface. I am currently working on laying out a design for a serge inspired panel with Peak and Trough (analog OR and AND logic mixers), 5 channel mixer (2 with attenuverting), 4 comparators, a ring modulator, and 4 manual gate buttons. That will be going into another case from the one above, along with the NLC modules, that is geared more towards experimental wiggling, however.
Thanks again for checking it out,
Jesse