Once your tracks are created, the pattern mode enables you to play with your 128 patterns and to arrange them into a song.
Each Pattern is a loop that contains polyphonic or monophonics notes and automation. Patterns hold their own events, lengths, runmodes, effect parameter values, ...
Unlike most sequencers, each track is independent from the others: you can play track 01 pattern 3 and, at the same time, track 02 pattern 4.
On the matrix pads, each columns represent the eight patterns of the 16 tracks:
Tip From any mode : Hold pattern + any matrix pad to quickly select (and instantly launch) the pattern you want to edit.
Pattern mode has two playback types that you can choose from, using encoder ① :
PERF — for live performing your patterns (default).
SONG — see Sections & songs chapter below.
Patterns playback
On the left screen, you can see the progress bar for each patterns playing in concurrency. As each pattern have its own length, the progression % may be different, leading to polymetric effects.
This screen also displays the content of your tracks. In the upper example:
Track 1, 2, 3, 4 contain only notes
Track 5 contains notes and automation
Track 6 contains only automation
Track 9 contains only drum events
Track 13 contains only MPE notes
Other tracks are empty (no events in any patterns)
Launching patterns
There are 2 ways to launch patterns:
Press a matrix pad to select the playing patterns of a track.
Press one of the 8 row buttons to launch, at the same time, the 16 patterns of the row. This is the classic sequencer workflow, where one sequence = a set of 16 parameters
Synchronized pattern changes
In order to ensure proper musical timing in regard to pattern changes, pattern mode has a "SYNC" option. This allows you to schedule a change, for it to occur perfectly on the next beat, the next bar, or whichever time division you choose.
Rotate encoder ② to set the sync division. Pattern leds blink when waiting to changes.
Tip When using "SYNC = PTRN", the new pattern will be launched when reaching the current one's end.
On the left screen, a bar is showing the progression % of the selected sync:
Mute / unmute
It is not possible to mute a single pattern, but you can mute a track by holding mute and pressing one or several track buttons.
A muted track will never output midi events, either coming from an external controller, the live mode, the step mode or midi effects.
Tip Selecting an empty pattern is an other easy way to cut a certain track. Please note that this method does not mute incoming messages, or messages generated by effects.
Editing pattern parameters
Like step and automation modes, pattern mode responds to single and multiple selections.
Hold a pad to edit a specific pattern's parameters, namely:
Run -- reverse ping-pong random bar random beat random 1/16 Sets the pattern playback mode. It can be played normally, in reverse, in ping-pong, or randomly (every bar, every beat, every 16th note).
Length 1 step ... 32 bars Sets the duration of the pattern, in 16th notes (encoder ⑥ can be held while choosing the length for precise increments).
PC (LSB, MSB) Program change midi messages to be sent when transitioning to this pattern. Optional extended PC logic with MSB/LSB.
Trig free restart "restart" will reset the new pattern position to its beginning after a pattern change. Default value "free" will keep the previous pattern position : the playhead will not jump.
Multiple pattern selections are only possible within a given track, so the selection cannot span across multiple columns.
Tip Press 2ND while making a selection to restrain it to the selected area.
Note These are the same pattern parameters accessible from Hold track .
Copy / paste / delete
Patterns can be copied, pasted and deleted, even from track to track.
To copy a pattern, Hold copy + Press a pad.
To paste a pattern, Hold paste + Press a pad.
To delete a pattern, Hold delete + Press a pad.
Please note that only one pattern can be copied at a time. This means the copy and paste buttons will have no action if you are selecting more than one pattern.
While the pads are very convenient to perform patterns by hand and following your instincts, you might want more control using written “sections”.
A section is a precise arrangement of patterns.
Let's see some examples:
We need a section called "Intro", with track 1 to track 4 playing pattern 2, and other tracks playing pattern 1. On the grid, it would look like :
Now we need a section called "Verse", with track 1 to track 3 playing pattern 1, and the other tracks playing pattern 2. On the grid, it would look like :
Creating & launching sections
Sections and songs configuration options are displayed on the right screen of the pattern mode :
Creating a section
To create a new section, first use the grid to choose the desired arrangement of patterns for the section.
Then, Rotate the main encoder and scroll to "SAVE SECTION". You will be prompted to choose a name for the section. Once saved, the section is added in your pool of available sections.
Note By default, sections are named "section A", "section B", and so on.
Launching a section
To launch a section, (recall all pattern states for the 16 tracks), Rotate the main encoder to select the section, then Press the main encoder.
Note Similarly to manual pattern changes, sections are launched in sync, according to the "SYNC" parameter.
Editing a section
To edit a section, Hold 2ND + Press the main encoder to open the section context menu, which offers the following options:
LAUNCH>
Resets the song cursor to this section.
OVERRIDE
Replaces the previous pattern arrangement with the current one.
RENAME...
Allows to change the name of the section.
MOVE
Allows to rearrange this section position within the song.
DELETE
Removes this section from the song.
Songs
A Song is an arrangement of previously created sections. This makes it very easy to create complex songs using sections as building blocks, for example --intro x1 --verse x2 --chorus x1 --verse x4 ...
When the pattern mode is in song mode, the song will automatically play sections in order, and schedule the next sections in advance. Any manual change performed on the grid will still occur, but will eventually be overriden by the song's next scheduled section.
To toggle between section tab and song tab, simply Press pattern .
Creating a song
First, Press pattern once to enter the song tab.
Note You need to create at least one section to start creating a song.
Then, to add a section, scroll to the desired position and Press the main encoder. You will be prompted to choose the section to add, and its desired duration at this point in the song.
Tip When selecting the duration, you can Hold and Rotate the menu encoder for more resolution, enabling very short sections and polymeters.
Tip You can use the same section multiple times.
Playing a song
On the left screen, instead of using "PERF" option, select one of the 2 song modes :
SONG PLAY
The song will stop playback when reaching its end.
SONG LOOP
The song will play in an infinite loop.
Press the button to start the song playback.
Tip When a song is playing, itʼs possible to set the mode to PERF : the song playback will be paused, allowing you to do live improvisation, manual pattern change, ... Then you can go back to SONG PLAY or SONG LOOP to continue the song playback.
Editing a song
Press the main encoder on a section to open a context menu.
LAUNCH
Schedules this section in the song list.
SET TIME
Sets the duration of the section in the song.
MOVE
Allows to rearrange this section position within the song.
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to quickly select (and instantly launch) the pattern you want to edit.
button to start the song playback.
