The Track Mode has four purposes:

 1  to configure the current track (midi channel, zoom, length, time signature) using the shortcuts before playing in Live Mode or programming in Step Mode.

 2  to mute/unmute the 64 tracks using the 16 pads and  <   > . This tactile, intuitive method allows you to perform your song on the fly.

 3  to manage your track PATTERNS.

 4  to build your current sequence (a set of the 64 muted/unmuted tracks).

This display shows that TR01A is selected (current track) and contains notes, effects, CC automations and FX automations.

Sequence SE01 groups 6 unmuted tracks of bank A: TR01A, TR02A, TR05A, TR08A, TR12A and TR15A. The other tracks are muted or empty.

Press one of the 16 pads

to mute or unmute a track in the current BANK. Change the current BANK (A/B/C/D) with  <  and  > .

An empty track (without notes, effects or automations) can't be muted.

When the sequencer is playing, tracks evole in parallel even if they are muted: it enhances your ability to perform with them.

In the example below, 3 tracks are unmuted, 2 tracks are muted and all tracks have the same length:

Tracks of different lengths are played simultaneously; shorter tracks will repeat before the others:

 Tip  Use different track lengths (for example 2 bars, 4 bars and 6 bars) to create a non-repetitive, evolving sequence.

Mute/unmute changes are in sync, depending on the PERFORM type selected in SEQ mode:

For example, if you unmute the track 01, this track will be activated at the beginning of the next bar (if PERFORM = 1BAR in SEQ mode). This allows you to play tracks by changing mute states in perfect sync.

To mute/unmute tracks instantly, select PERFORM = INST in SEQ mode.

 Tip  SETTINGS > MISC > TRACKMUTE DELAY allows you to specify that tracks mute/unmute in sync by selecting ”SEQ PERFORM” or mute/unmute instantly by selecting ”INST”

 Tip You can always mute/unmute a track instantly by pressing  2ND  + its corresponding pad

.

Click NAME to name your track:

Each of the 64 tracks can be named.

On any track, you can "call" an instrument (defined in the .txt file). It will auto-set the track name, the track channel and the track output.

To know how to use this feature, please refer to the section Call an instrument.

On any track, you can "consolidate" the effects, in order to write down the notes + CC messages computed. When you consolidate a track, it will consolidate all its patterns. After the consolidate, all the effects will be removed. 

You can even consolidate an euclidean track, in order to get the euclid pattern inside the classic stepmode NOTE.

To consolidate a track, click CONS:

Then select the destination track with the menu encoder (can be the current track, or an empty track):

If you select the current track, this track will be definitely deleted and renewed with its consolidate version.

Click RUN to set the track run mode:

See "Track run modes: FREE, RELATCH & TRIG"

Click TRSP to enable/disable track transpose:

Set if the track can be transposed in real time with a MASTER TRANSPOSE track (see "Midi Channel"). You can also transpose this track with an external keyboard (when SETTINGS > MIDI IN > ASSIGN NOTE TO = MASTER TRANSPOSE).

Click PTRN to enable/disable PATTERNS on this track:

Each track can include up to 32 patterns (variation of notes, CC automation, FX automation, euclidean engine).

Rotate encoder 1 to set the track PROGRAM CHANGE, rotate encoder 2 to set the track BANK MSB, rotate encoder 3 to set the track BANK LSB:

Each track and each pattern can have its own PC and BANK.

Pyramid includes two midi outputs, one USB midi output and one CV/Gate (analog) output.

Each midi output provides 16 channels, which means that you can control up to 16 electronic musical instruments per midi output.

Hold channel and rotate

to select the channel and the midi output of the track.

 Tip  Hold channel and press and rotate

to select the midi output of the track.

A message pops up, displaying the selected output type (CV, MIDI A, MIDI B, USB) and channel number:

You can link the track to two different outputs, for example both MIDI A and MIDI B or CV and USB.

You can also select the

MASTER TRANSPOSE logo. In this case, this track can be used to transpose any track which is TRSP enable (in 2ND+TRACK display):

The output channel is always displayed under the track number.

 Tip  While channel is pressed:
● rotate encoder 1 to set the CV/GATE output
● rotate encoder 2 to set the MIDI A channel
● rotate encoder 3 to set the MIDI B channel
● rotate encoder 4 to set the USB channel
● rotate encoder 5 to set MASTER TRANSPOSE

Note: DIN sync output (also called SYNC24) is available on the MIDI port B. You can enable and configure it using the Settings menu.

 Tip  You can also assign the CV output ENV to notes (pitch or gate): hold channel and rotate left

while pressing it. Select "NOTE ENV" to output the pitch of notes to the ENV output (1V/octave). Select "GATE ENV" to only output the gate of notes (useful to trig external drum for example).

Hold zoom and rotate

to set the resolution, from x1 (100%) to x16 (1600%):

● x1 zoom: 1 step = quarter note
● x2 zoom: 1 step = eighth note
● x4 zoom: 1 step = sixteenth note (default)
● x8 zoom: 1 step = thirty-second note
● x16 zoom: 1 step = sixty-four note (useful to surgically edit your track ).

You can also set lower resolutions to have a global view of your track:
● /2 zoom: 1 step = half note
● /4 zoom: 1 step = whole note

 Tip  While zoom is pressed: press a pad (from 01 to 07) to set the track zoom (from /4 to x16).

Note: please read the Step Mode section "Track player: pages, zoom and length" for further details about the zoom feature.

A pattern is a track variation. In each track, you can create up to 32 patterns (from P1 to P32):

Each pattern includes its own notes, CC automation, FX automation and euclidean engine. A pattern can also have its own length, time signature, run mode, and default PC/BANK message.

The pattern number is always displayed next to the track name: by default the active pattern is

To select a pattern (from P1 to P32), in any mode, hold STEP and press a pad

.

Now you can fill your track patterns with notes and automation, change each pattern length, time signature and run mode. Track's effects (for e.g. quantizer, swing, arp, ...) will affect all patterns of the track.

To enter the trackmode PATTERNS, press STEP + TRACK:

This track has 1 pattern. P1 is now playing and includes only notes.

This track has 6 patterns. P5 is now playing and includes notes and CC automation.

Select the pattern to be played with the 16 pads

. By default, pattern changes are in sync, depending on the PERFORM type set in SEQ mode. SETTINGS > MISC > PATTERN DELAY allows you to set an other sync delay. You can also select the played pattern by holding STEP and pressing a pad

.

Display patterns page 1-16 or 17-32 with  <  or  > .

Press  2ND  +  delete  + a pattern

to delete it.
Press  2ND  +  copy  + a pattern

to copy it.
Press  2ND  +  paste  + a pattern

to paste it (it will merge the notes if you paste on a existing pattern).

To exit the trackmode PATTERNS, simply select an other mode.

 Tip You can also select a pattern number by holding STEP + TRACK and pressing a pad

. In this case, if PTRN is disable on the track, it will enable it automatically.

Create cross-rhythms and pattern variations! The 4/4 standard time signature often sounds good, but sequencing with other time signatures is an easy way to add complexity and originality to your songs.

In SETTINGS > MISC > SIGNATURE, you can choose how your track time signature will be interpreted by Pyramid: either Polyrhythms (default) or Polymeters.

● If Polyrhythms is selected, Pyramid apply true polyrhythms when different time signatures are used. If you select a 3:4 time signature you will have bars of 3 quarter notes, but the bar will have the same duration as a 4/4 bar. The bar size is the same, but the beat differs.

● If Polymeters is selected, all quarter notes remain the same. If you select a 3/4 time signature you will have bars of 3 quarter notes, and each quarter note will have the same length than the 4/4 ones. The length of the bar differ, but the beat unit remains the same. The polymetric mode is easier to understand than the Polyrhythmic one because it doesn't mix several speeds.

The lower number works the same in Polyrhythms or Polymeters. By default the time signature's lower number is set on 4, which means "quarter note". It can also be set on 2 "half note", 8 "eighth note" or 16 "sixteenth note" by holding time signature and pressing + rotating

:

Each increment multiplies or divides the basic /4 bar length by 2:

With Pyramid you can mix a 4/4 track with a 5:4 track, a 9:4 and a 15:4 track: true polyrhythms! Tracks with different time signatures are synchronized and will loop at the same time, but steps follow their own path. The bar size is the same, but the beat differs. Of course you may still use all functionalities such as track length, zoom, offset and effects, as the PyraOs core system is based on Polyrhythm.

The length of a bar is the same whether you set a common 4/4 signature or you choose an odd one such as 15:4. For example, at 120 bpm, a bar in 4/4, 3:4 or 15:4 will last 2 seconds, and all tracks will loop at the same time:

The difference is the length of each note. If you increase the time signature's upper number, it will increase the number of beat in one bar: 4/4 means 4 quarternotes in a bar, 15:4 means 15 quarternotes in a bar.

Hold time signature and rotate

to change the time signature's upper number on the current track:

You can adjust the track’s length to 4 bars to achieve a 7:4 time signature (28 quarter notes) or any other track length you choose (for example 2 bars + 2/7ths quarter notes).

Polyrhythms signature can also be seen as a way to create tracks with different BPM speeds.

With this setting, all quarter notes will remain the same as a 4/4 beat, but the length of your loop will be different. Your loops will shift against each other as they play: this is polymetry!

In other words, the length of the bar differ, but the beat unit remains the same.

• The 1st track is a standard 4/4 bar
• The 2nd track is a 3/4 bar (3 quarter notes)
• The 3rd track is a 5/4 bar (5 quarter notes)

Hold time signature and rotate

to change the time signature's upper number on the current track:

Changing the length of a track is an other way to create polymeters.

Let's say we are working with a 1 bar track and a 4/4 time signature. Each step represents a quarter note.

Hold length and press + rotate

to add or remove one quarter note (one step) to the length of the selected Track. This leads to the following possibilities:

• The 1st track is a standard 4/4 bar
• The 2nd track is a 4/4 bar with 1 quarter note removed
• The 3rd track is a 4/4 bar with 1 quarter note added

The length of your loops are different, so they shift against each other as they play. The length of the bar differ, but the beat unit remains the same.

Using polymetric tracks is a good trick to create lively, ever-changing and lengthy sequences. In the following example, the sequence composed of 3 short tracks will get back to its starting point after 15 loops of the standard 4/4 track:

 Tip  Link these 3 tracks to the same midi channel (ie to a unique musical instrument) to create a progressive pattern.

Press DISP to display your tracks progressions and easily understand your track polymeters:

This screen displays:
● Track number: from 1 to 16
● Track progression: percentage of the loop being played
● Output: flashes if the track is sending events via MIDI, USB or CV/GATE.

Muted tracks are shaded:

The DISP view displays tracks from TR01 to TR16 of the selected bank.

With DISP activated, the 16 pads flashes when tracks send midi events (notes and CC messages).

To create a Microstep track, set the track length on 0+1/4 bar, the zoom on 1600% and increase the time signature lower number up to 4/16. The step-by-step player will run at high speed, which is very useful to create drones, black midi and glitch sounds, and to expand the boundaries of your instruments.