I’ve been collecting some ideas for improving daily workflow on the S2400. These are mostly “small” changes that could make a big difference in keeping the creative flow going.
Workflow / State Persistence
Remember last folder path – Per file type (sample, FX, etc.) and per context (track vs. bus). No more navigating to the same folder over and over.
Remember last save location & name – Same logic: intelligently remember per file type (project, kit, sample export, etc.), not just globally.
Auto-increment on “Save As” – Automatically suggest MyBeat_01, MyBeat_02, etc. when saving iterations.
DSP Improvements
Better curated, purpose-built effects – Less is more. A smaller selection of stable, well-tuned plugins would be more useful than a large library of generic ones.
Save FX chains / bus configurations – Ability to store and recall complete effect chain setups for tracks, master bus, and send busses (A/B).
DSP usage overview – Show current DSP load as a percentage, with warnings when approaching or exceeding capacity.
Audio Routing
Better mono/stereo sample handling – Allow mono samples to be sent to a stereo bus centered or with adjustable panning. Currently, mono samples are placed hard left or right when routed to a stereo bus.
None of these are flashy features, but they’d remove a lot of friction from the daily workflow. Would love to hear if others feel the same or have additions.
While you’re in the there, Brad - can we, please, get the ability to record midi IN from an external source while using the Step Programmer? I have heard other’s mention their disappointment with this feature’s omission.
Enter Step Program mode with midi controller connected (DIN or USB) → scroll to step you wish to enter notes on → Play notes on midi controller - single note OR chord → Note data gets written to step.
Example: I plug a generic midi controller into the s2400 via usb and a Prophet 6 into MIDI DIN.
Track E1 is set to listen for midi on channel 1.
I go to step program and enter a d flat major triad on step 1, a f minor on step 5 and a c min7 on step 9. Polyphonic midi data is captured to E1. Playback the pattern and E1 sends midi notes over channel 1 to Prophet 6. So now my drum pattern is playing back alongside a real time polyphonic instrument.
I realize you can live play in midi information like this, which is awesome. But sometimes I want to be able to methodically dial in note values per step without having to worry about playing it in live.
saysthetedd, great explanation of how it should work. For those of us who compose music like an old man typing an email, because personally when I hit record and try to live play my idea my hands always betray me lol.