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MIDIbox SEQ V4

User Manual --- Menu Pages

Edit Screen

This is the main screen which is visible after startup. From any other menu page you can always go back to this screen by pushing the EDIT button.

• G1T1: the group/track number (1,2,3,4) which is displayed in most menu pages at upper left corner. If multiple groups and/or tracks are selected, a M is displayed instead of the number.
  The track group can be changed in the PATTERN menu, with the TrackSel (F4) button or with the 4 optional GROUP buttons (not part of the original MBSEQ V2/V3 frontpanel, but part of the MIDIbox SEQ V4 panel)
  The track can be changed with the 4 TRACK buttons
• Chn 1/Def: the MIDI channel and MIDI port to which the track is sending.
• A:Note: the active layer (A,B,C,..P), and the parameter which is assigned to the layer.
  The parameter layer can be selected with the 3 LAYER buttons. Layer C button either toggles between C and D, or it shows a selection page for all parameter layers if the track is partitioned for more than 4 layers.
• A:Gate: the active trigger layer (A,B,C,..H), and the trigger function which is assigned to the layer
  The trigger layer can selected with the TrgSel (F3) button, or with the optional Trigger Selection buttons which are part of the MIDIbox SEQ V4 frontpanel.
• Step: the step number which is currently edited (1..256)
  
• G#1 Vel:127 Len: 75%: informations about the MIDI event which is sent by the selected step. It differs depending on the event assigned to the step, e.g. for a chord step the name of the chord will be displayed, for a CC step you will see the CC number and value.
  A new step is selected when the appr. rotary encoder is moved or by pressing the appr. GP button.

Alternatively, each track can get an individual name and category which are displayed at the upper display line. In this example, the name "SoloSynthline2" and the category name "Synth" has been choosen. Name/Category can be edited in the Event menu.

The lower line shows the values of 16 steps within the selected track view and parameter layer. They can be directly modified with the 16 GP rotary encoders below these items. The displayed parameter of the step changes with the active layer. E.g. in layer C the gatelength is controlled, which is visualised with vertical bars:

Pressing the SELECT button changes to the "step selection" page, which allows you to enable/disable the steps which are controlled by the ALL function. E.g., with the pattern below, only steps 1,2,5,6,9,10,13,14 (plus the edited step) will be changed if the ALL function has been activated:

Gatelength

The gatelength parameter needs some additional explanations, as it not only allows to set the length of a note, but also to trigger a glide (overlapping note) and to play an event multiple times.

The Length can be adjusted from 0% to 100% in 96 steps.

In following audio example, the gatelength of all steps is varied with a single rotary encoder - this can be achieved by pushing the ALL button:

The next example demonstrates the usage of the glide function. The track length is reduced to 4 steps. Following notes are played with a fixed gatelength of 92%:

Later, the length will be set to "glide" at step 2 - this note will overlap the next note at step 3 in order to trigger a Glide on synths which support "fingered portamento" or "SusKey"

Finally glide will also be activated on the third step:

It sounds like demonstated in this MP3 sample:

Drum Edit Page

If a track is configured for drum mode, the edit page changes to a special view which doesn't show the Note names anymore, but small icons instead:

Up to 16 drum instruments can be triggered per track. You can change to another instrument by pressing the TrgSel (F3) or TrgLayer C button:

The name of the selected drum instrument is displayed at the right upper corner of the edit screen:

Track Selection Page

The track selection page shows animated VU meters for each track to give you an overview about the track activity. In addition, it allows you to select one or more tracks by using the GP buttons:

Parameter Selection Page

By pressing the ParSel button (or ParLayer C button if the track is partitioned for more than 4 layers), the parameter selection page will be displayed which shows VU meters for each layer. By pressing a GP button a parameter layer can be selected for editing:

Trigger Selection Page

Each track provides 8 trigger layers, which can be selected by pressing the TrgSel (F3) or Trigger Layer C button:

Step Selection Page

The StepView (F2) Button changes to a zoomed view of the edit page to give you a nice overview (if the track is configured for more than 64 steps, the dots for each step will be smaller). Use the GP buttons to change to another step view:

Track Event Configuration (Shortcut: MENU+GP Button #2)

Allows you to change the basic track setup: the type of MIDI events which should be sent by the track to a specific MIDI Channel and MIDI Port.

• Track Type (Partitioning): each track has a step memory of 1024 bytes, and a trigger memory of 2048 bits. There are predefined modes which simplify the partitioning of the available memory to free assignable parameter and trigger layers.

  Mode	Steps	Parameter Layers	Trigger Layers	Instruments
  Note	64	16	8	1
  Note	128	8	8	1
  Note	256	4	8	1
  Chord	64	16	8	1
  Chord	128	8	8	1
  Chord	256	4	8	1
  CC	64	16	8	1
  CC	128	8	8	1
  CC	256	4	8	1
  Drum	64	1	2	16
  Drum	128	2 (32 steps only)	1	16
  Drum	128	1	2	8
  Drum	256	2 (64 steps only)	1	8
  Drum	64	1	1	16
  Drum	128	1	1	8
  Drum	256	1	1	4

• Parameter layers can be assigned to following functions:
  • None: the parameter layer has no function.
  • Note: controls the key and octave of a step. Notes can be assigned to multiple layers for polyphonic playing.
  • Chord: a chord is generated instead of a single note. 32 chords are predefined and can be transposed by +/- 2 octaves. All notes are aligned to C scale, the track transpose function has to be used to play different scales.
    • A-C: Major I, Major II, Major III (transposed variants)
    • D-F: Root note, 3rd note, 5th note (single notes)
    • G,H: Root+3rd, Root+5th
    • I-N: Maj6, Maj7, Maj8, Maj9, Maj10, Maj12 (4-note chords)
    • O,P: Sus4 and Maj+
    • a-c: Minor I, Minor II, Minor III (transposed variants)
    • d-f: Root note, 3rdMin note, 5th note (single notes)
    • g,h: Root+3ndMin, Root+5th
    • i-n: Min6, Min7, Min8, Min9, Min10, Min12 (4-note chords)
    • o-p: Co7 and Min+
  • Velolcity: controls the velocity value for all notes/chords of the instrument.
  • Length: controls the gatelength of all notes of the instrument
  • CC: plays a selectable CC number
  • Pitch: sends a PitchWheel event
  • Prob: sets the probability that the step will be played (1..100%)
  • Delay: delays the step for 1..96 microticks
  • Roll: plays the step 2..5 times with ascenting/descenting velocity (intensity: 0..15). 127 variations are available - great for drum patterns!
    The distance between the repeats is predefined to: 48 ticks on 2 repeats, 32 ticks on 3 repeats, 36 ticks on 4 repeats, 32 ticks on 5 repeats.
  • Roll2: plays the step 2..5 times. Instead of velocity the distance between the steps can be directly controlled.
    The first number means, how often the event will be played (2, 3, 4 or 5 times), the second number specifies the number of clock ticks between the events (accuracy depends on number of repeats). Examples:

    One step consists of 96 clock ticks. With the 2x48 setting the note will be played at the beginning and in the middle of the step.

    
    
    
    

    With 3x63, the note will be played three times with a distance of 63 clock steps - at 0, 63 and 126. A delay of 126 crosses the step range of 96, so that the last note slips into the range of the second step. This sometimes results into nice, unexpected grooves! :-)

    In following example, various roll2 parameters are used for the snare drum. Here a screenshot of the 32 step sequence (which is played 2 times):

• The MIDI Channel can be selected from 1-16.
• Following MIDI Ports are available:
  
  • Default: the default port as selected in the MIDI configuration page (usually USB1)
  • USB1..USB4: 4 independent USB ports are available which are visible for your operating system
  • OUT1..OUT4: 2 physical MIDI OUT ports are provided by the MBHP_CORE_STM32 module. The remaining two are reserved for the emulated MBSEQ
  • IIC1..IIC4: to select the optional MBHP_IIC_MIDI ports
  • OSC1..OSC4: planned
  • Bus1..Bus4: virtual ports. They are used to control the transposer/arpeggiator (see loopback description below), and can optionally be used for the MIDI router function (see description of MIDI configuration page)
  • AOUT: the AOUT port. See description below
• Edit Name:
  Track and Drum instrument names can be edited so fast and easy like typing a SMS on a mobile phone. Use the first 10 GP buttons or encoders to cycle the characters (like on a telephone keypad), and the remaining buttons/encoders to select a character directly, move the cursor, delete/insert characters, selecting a preset (with the encoder) and to exit the editor.
• INIT: this item will flash whenever the selected partition type requires a re-initialisation of the track memory. Press&Hold the GP button below this item for two seconds to confirm the initialisation (this will clear all steps!)
• PRESET: this button opens a dialog which allows to select a preset file (left side), or to store a new preset:
  Different sections can be selected before the preset is imported:
  Exporting a track: just enter the name - done:
  Advantages of using preset files:
  • You can store your favourite track configurations, melody lines, drum loops, etc. in separate files to recall them later
  • You can prepare drum maps for different instruments
  • You can prepare CC setups for different instruments
  • You can share the files (which are stored in the preset/ directory) with other users
  • You can view and edit the files with a common text editor.

IIC Ports

The MBHP_IIC_MIDI module allows you to add 4 additional, independent (!) MIDI outputs. Main advantage of multiple MIDI ports is reduced latency (as MIDI events can be sent in parallel), and relaxed MIDI channel handling (for 4 synths you don't need to take care about the MIDI channel at all)

Bus1..4: the Loopback Ports

A loopback port forwards Note and CC events to the MIDI handler of the sequencer itself. This opens a wide range of possibilities, especially for experimental, non-static, self-changing sequences. Classical usecase is a setup of self-modifiying and loopbacked tracks which play completely autarkic for several minutes without an interaction from your side.

When a track sends MIDI notes, it can control the transposer and arpeggiator w/o an external keyboard. For the transposer a single note should be sent, for the arpeggiator either four notes (from different parameter layers) or Chords (from a single parameter layer).

Loopbacks can be send to four busses. Each track provides the possibility to select the Bus to that the Transposer/Arpeggiator should listen. This allows to transpose tracks individually. The MIDI channel to which a note is sent doesn't matter.

A CC loopback allows to control sequencer parameters which are listed in the CC implementation chart. In difference to Note events, the MIDI channel gets an important purpose here, as it selects the target track of which the parameters should be modified. The CC# corresponds with the NRPN LSB number.
Example: Loopback Channel #3, CC#49 controls the Octave Transpose of Track 3

CC#1 has a special purpose, as it allows to control the Morphing parameter, which works track independent. Accordingly, Morphing can be controlled from any selected MIDI channel

Hot tip (1): put the loopback tracks into a separate pattern. This allows you to play different chord lines from a "master pattern" without changing the "slave patterns".

Hot tip (2): clock a loopback track with unqueal divider values, this can lead to surprising results!

In following MP3 sample a loopback track transposes a second track which plays a bass line:
From 0:00-0:07 the bassline is played w/ the base note C-3, from 0:00-0:23 the bassline is sometimes transposed by one octave (C-4) (Track Mode->Transpose activated). The loopback track is clocked at 384ppqn/4*16 (4th notes)
From 0:24 I selected an alternative pattern which sends various notes to the loopback port at a clock rate of 384ppqn/4*13 - the result sounds like a live jam on the keyboard, but it was more or less a random effect initiated by the asynchronously clocked loopback track. :)

AOUT Port

The AOUT Port allows you to control the analog outputs of a MBHP_AOUT, MBHP_AOUT_LC or MBHP_AOUT_NG module. 8 gate triggers are available at port J5A/J5B of the core module (enabled by default in the MBSEQ_HW.V4 file)

MIDI Channel encoding:

Event	Chn.	Behaviour
CC	1..8	(channel itself has no effect) CC Number #16: CV Ouput #1, Gate #1 always set CC Number #17: CV Ouput #2, Gate #2 always set CC Number #18: CV Ouput #3, Gate #3 always set CC Number #19: CV Ouput #4, Gate #4 always set CC Number #20: CV Ouput #5, Gate #5 always set CC Number #21: CV Ouput #6, Gate #6 always set CC Number #22: CV Ouput #7, Gate #7 always set CC Number #23: CV Ouput #8, Gate #8 always set
CC	9	CV Ouput #1, Gate #1 always set, CC Number ignored
CC	10	CV Ouput #2, Gate #2 always set, CC Number ignored
CC	11	CV Ouput #3, Gate #3 always set, CC Number ignored
CC	12	CV Ouput #4, Gate #4 always set, CC Number ignored
CC	13	CV Ouput #5, Gate #5 always set, CC Number ignored
CC	14	CV Ouput #6, Gate #6 always set, CC Number ignored
CC	15	CV Ouput #7, Gate #7 always set, CC Number ignored
CC	16	CV Ouput #8, Gate #8 always set, CC Number ignored
Note	1	Key Value -> CV Out #1, Gate #1 triggered
Note	2	Key Value -> CV Out #2, Gate #2 triggered
Note	3	Key Value -> CV Out #3, Gate #3 triggered
Note	4	Key Value -> CV Out #4, Gate #4 triggered
Note	5	Key Value -> CV Out #5, Gate #5 triggered
Note	6	Key Value -> CV Out #6, Gate #6 triggered
Note	7	Key Value -> CV Out #7, Gate #7 triggered
Note	8	Key Value -> CV Out #8, Gate #8 triggered
Note	9	Key Value -> CV Out #1, Velocity -> CV Out #2, Gate #1 and #2 triggered
Note	10	Key Value -> CV Out #3, Velocity -> CV Out #4, Gate #3 and #4 triggered
Note	11	Key Value -> CV Out #5, Velocity -> CV Out #6, Gate #5 and #6 triggered
Note	12	Key Value -> CV Out #7, Velocity -> CV Out #8, Gate #7 and #8 triggered
Note	13	Velocity -> CV Out #1, Key Value -> CV Out #2, Gate #1 and #2 triggered
Note	14	Velocity -> CV Out #3, Key Value -> CV Out #4, Gate #3 and #4 triggered
Note	15	Velocity -> CV Out #5, Key Value -> CV Out #6, Gate #5 and #6 triggered
Note	16	DOUT drum gates/triggers Notes to AOUT Channel #16 will be redirected to up to 64 digital outputs of the DOUT chain. Each key number triggers an individual gate for 1 mS, accordingly this mode is predestinated for drum triggers. The used shift registers have to be defined in the MBSEQ_HW.V4 file (DOUT_GATE_SR1..8)

Track Mode Page (Shortcut: MENU+GP Button #3)

Allows you to select following options:

• Track Mode:
  
  • Normal: no transpose and no arpeggiator function
  • Transpose: Notes and CCs can be transposed with an external keyboard or from a Loopback track
  • Arpeggiator: Notes are controlled in a special way: instead of specifying the actual note, you make a note selection and an octave transposition selection. The note is selected from the currently received chord and the octave transposition is relative to that note. Both selections are done for each individual step and are displayed in a special format concisting of note and octave transposition.
    The following example shows the notation:
    Let's assume the Chord C-3, E-3, G-3, B-3 is played on the external MIDI keyboard and that the pattern
    1+0 --- 1-1 --- 1+1 --- 2+0 --- 3+0 --- 4+0 --- 2+0 3+1 2-1 4+2
    is entered into the sequencer.
    
    • at the first step the note C-3 (first note, no transpose) will be output.
    • at step 3, C-2 (first note, -1 octave transpose).
    • at step 5, C-4 (first note, +1 octave transpose).
    • at step 7, E-3 (second note, no octave transpose).
    • at step 9, G-3 (third note, no octave transpose).
    • at step 11, B-3 (forth note, no octave transpose).
    • at step 13, E-3 (second note, no octave transpose).
    • at step 14, G-4 (third note, +1 octave transpose).
    • at step 15, E-2 (second note, -1 octave transpose).
    • at step 16, B-5 (forth note, +2 octave transpose).
    Audio Example:
    You cannot imagine how easy it is to setup complex arpeggiator textures when you never tried this by yourself :) - the Session #4 video gives a nice example of some arpeggios which where created within a few number of minutes
    When you turn the rotary encoder within the Edit Screen to select the "Arp Event" for a step, you may notice events with the format "x*y".
    These are Multi-Arp events. They play the appr. step so many times as notes are held on the external keyboard. Each key will be transposed by the specified octave value (-3..+3). Once all keys have been played, the sequencer continues with the next step of the track.
    This feature has been explained in Tutorial #4 for MBSEQ V2, and it is still available in MBSEQ V4
    Audio Example for Multi-Arp Events:
• Bus: selects Bus1..Bus4 over which the Transposer/Arpeggiator should be controlled. Each bus provides a separate MIDI port/channel/keyboard zone that can be configured in the MIDI page. Alternatively busses can transfer the output of loopback tracks as described earlier.
  Since each track has an own bus assignment, it's possible to transpose tracks individually.
• Hold: the last key or chord is held until a new key/chord is played on the keyboard (only relevant for Tranpose/Arpeggiator mode)
• Sort: only relevant for arpeggiator mode: the note stack will be sorted when this function is active (default); arpeggios will be played with notes "as played" when this functions is deactivated.
• Restart: the track is restarted when a new key/chord is played
• Force Scale: played notes are mapped to the global scale, which can be selected in the Fx-Scale menu page, accordingly only notes are played which match with the selected harmony. This is especially useful when the track consists of randomly generated notes! 127 predefined scales are available!
• Sustain: omits the "Note Off" event - notes are played endless, independent from the gatelength. Especially useful for strings and pads!

Track Direction Page (Shortcut: MENU+GP Button #4)

Allows you to select following options:

• Forward, Backward, Pendulum, PingPong, Random Direction, Random Step, Random Direction + Step: should be selfexplaining
• Fwd/Back/Replay Progression Parameters: they allow to play the steps in an incontinous order.
  For example: "Steps Fwd: 5, Jump Back: 2" will play the steps in following order: 1-2-3-4-5-4-5-6-7-8-7-8-9-10-11-10-..
  The "Replay" parameter allows to repeat a portion of steps the given number of times.
  For Example: "Steps Fwd: 3, Repeat: x2" will play the steps in following order: 1-2-3-1-2-3-4-5-6-4-5-6-7-8-9-7-8-9-10..
  Hot tip: My favourite setting is: "Steps Fwd: 5, Jump Back: 3, Replay: 1x"
  In following MP3 sample a static sequence has been varied with different Step Fwd/Jump Back/Replay values while it was playing:
  And this is how it sounds:
• Repeat/Skip/Interval Progression Parameters: have been introduced in MIDIbox SEQ V4 to simplify the creation of "Berlin School" patterns (as known from artists like Klaus Schulze, Tangerine Dream, ...) - the Iteration parameter defines a range at which a step will be repeated several times, or several steps will be skipped.
  For example: "Itv.:4, Repeat:2, Skip:0" will play the steps in following order: 1-2-3-4-4-4-5-6-7-8-8-8-9-10-11-12-12-12-..
  Another example: "Itv.:4, Repeat:0, Skip:1" will play the steps in following order: 1-2-3-4-6-7-8-9-10-12-13-14-15-2-3-4-5-7-8-9-10-..
  Very interesting results can be achieved in conjunction with the groove function when it controls the velocity at a different interval. Also a second track which controls CC parameters with different track progression can lead to nice variations!
  Examples: A simple 4-step sequence is played, and the tone colour is varied from a separate 16-step CC track:
  
  It sounds repetitive and boring.
  Now we set Interval=4 and Skip=1:
  
  Or we set Repeat=1, so that each 4th note will be played twice:
  
  Let's try it with a 16 note track:
  
  Again repetitive and boring!
  Let's try Interval=4 and Skip=1:
  
  Or Interval=4 and Repeat=1:
  
  Or Interval=5 (uneven) and Repeat=3 (uneven as well):
  
  Fun!
• Synch to Measure: the clock divider, but also the song position and progression parameters will be reset after each measure. This can result into very rhythmically results, try it out with different divider and progression values. The length of a measure (1..256 steps) can be configured in the Options menu.

Track Clock Divider Page (Shortcut: MENU+GP Button #5)

Allows you to select following options:

• Clock Divider: MBSEQ V4 works at a resolution of up to 384 ppqn, which is 16 times faster the MIDI clock standard of 24 ppqn. The divider allows you to clock the track with a fraction of the MIDI clock.
  A divider value of 4 clocks the track with normal resolution, accordingly each step plays a 16th note, and the gatelength can be varied between 1..96 steps!
  A divider value of 2 clocks the track two times faster, accordingly each step plays a 32th note, the gatelength can be varied between 1..48 steps.
  With a divider value of 64, each step will play a whole note (extremely slow, especially useful for strings/pads)
• Normal/Triplet: with the "normal" setting, the 384ppqn clock will be pre-divided by 24, whereas with "triple" it will be pre-divided by 16. This results into a triplet timebase, where (for example) 24 steps instead of 16 are played per measure during the same time period. The track length has to be adapted accordingly, or "Synch to measure" should be activated to ensure that the track is in synch with tracks which are played at a "normal" timebase.
  Example for a track clocked at a triplet timebase 16T. A bassline with "normal" timebase 16 is added at 0:03, a drumline at 0:07:
  
• Synch to Measure: the clock divider, but also the song position and progression parameters will be reset after each measure. This can result into very rhythmically results, try it out with different divider and progression values. The length of a measure (1..256 steps) can be configured in the Options menu.
• Quick Selection: quick access to most useful timebases. Triplet timebases are marked with a 'T'

Hot tip: try multiple tracks with unqual divider values like 7 or 13 for experimental sequences!

Drum sequence w/ different clock dividers:

(give the drummer another beer...)

Track Length Page (Shortcut: MENU+GP Button #6)

Allows you to select following options:

• Length: each individual track can play 1 to 32 steps
• Loop: allows you to set a loop point to which the track will jump back once it has reached the end
• Quick Selection: allows you to quickly select most commonly used track lengths by pushing the button below the menu item.

Hot tip: try multiple tracks with unqual track lengths like 3, 5, 13, 15, 27 for experimental sequences!

3 tracks w/ different tracklengths:

First a track with lenght=16 is played, then a second track with length=9, than a third track with length=13. At 0:25 all three tracks are played together.

Track Transpose Page (Shortcut: MENU+GP Button #7)

Allows you to select following options:

• Octave Transpose: transposes the notes of a track by -7..+7 octaves. If the transposed key value is lower than 0, or higher than 127, the resulting value will be transposed back octavewise until it is within the range of 0..127 again
• Semitone Transpose: push the SELECT button to toggle between Octave/Semitone transpose selection. The semitone transpose increases/decreases the key value by +/- 7 semitones.

Track Groove Page (Shortcut: MENU+GP Button #8)

Allows you to select following options:

• Groove Style: selects a groove template - following styles are available:
  
  • Shuffle: each second step will be delayed by 0..127 micro ticks - this can be controlled with the intensity value.
  • Inv. Shuffle: like Shuffle, but steps with uneven numbers (1, 3, 5, ...) will be delayed
  • Shuffle 2: each second step will be delayed by a fixed number of microticks (8), each fourth step will be delayed by the value given with the intensity parameter
  • Inv. Shuffle 2: like Shuffle 2, but steps with uneven numbers (1, 3, 5, ...) will be delayed
  • Shuffle 3: uses following delay sequence: 1:0, 2:8, 3:4, 4:intensity
  • Shuffle 4: each second step will be delayed by 8 micro ticks. The intensity parameter controls the velocity
  • Shuffle 5: each second step will be delayed by 8 micro ticks. The intensity parameter controls the gatelength
  • Custom #1..16: configurable styles
• Intensity: available as VPOS/VNEG parameter to vary the style without creating a new groove template. Also nice for live tweaks to find "best matching" grooves!

Custom #1..#16 global groove styles can be freely edited. They are stored on SD Card (MBSEQ_G.V4 file) and available for all patterns of a session:

• Step: selects the groove step (1-16)
• Delay: selects a delay modifier from VNEG,-127..0..+126,VPOS
• Length: selects a gatelength modifier from VNEG,-127..0..+126,VPOS
• Velocity: selects a velocity modifier from VNEG,-127..0..+126,VPOS
• NumSteps: selects the groove template length (1-16). When starting editing it makes sense to start with value 2 or 4 to get immediate response while the sequence is playing.

Trigger Assignments Page (Shortcut: MENU+GP Button #9)

There are eight trigger layers A..H which control additional trigger functions. They can be set for each step individually with the 16 GP buttons within the Edit screen. Following triggers can be assigned to the trigger layers:

• Gate: controls if a step should be played or not. If the Gate trigger is not assigned to any layer, all steps will be played, otherwise only the selected steps will be played.
• Acc.: Accent - the velocity will be set to maximum (127)
• Roll: step will be triggered 3 times with short delays - the same effect can be achieved with much more variations by setting the gatelength to 2xdelay, 3xdelay or 4xdelay (delay free definable) - the roll trigger is only an alternative, more comfortable solution
• Glide: overlaps two notes, so that a synth which provides a "fingered portamento" or "SusKey" function will activate the glide function
• Skip: the selected steps will be skipped, the sequencer jumps continues with the next step where the skip trigger is not set.
• R.G.: Random Gate - the step will be played randomly. This is especially useful for drum lines to increase the variation w/o creating multiple tracks
• R.V.: Random Value - the step values will be randomized
• NoFx: the step won't be forwarded to Fx functions like Echo, Humanizer and Limiter

Manual Step Trigger Page (Shortcut: MENU+GP Button #11)

Push a GP button to trigger a step manually. Only the steps of selected tracks will be played. If the sequencer is running, it will continue from the position you've triggered. Accordingly, this page can also be used for live adjustments of the sequencer position.

The selected tracks will be synched to measure when the SELECT button is pressed in this page. This can sometimes be useful for live situations - e.g., while you changed the track positions, they could be out-of-synch to the main beat. Pressing the SELECT button will properly synch them back.

Morph Page (Shortcut: MENU+GP Button #12)

This feature allows you to smoothly morph between one and another part of the track. The morph value (0-127) can either be controlled from this menu page, or with an external MIDI controller (e.g. with a ModWheel):

• Mode: on or off
• Val. the morph position - can also be controlled with an external MIDI controller
• Destination Range the second part of the track to which the first part should be morphed (e.g. if the track has a length of 16 steps, the second part could be located at step 17-32
• Vertical bar at right page: graphical representation of the morph value

Slow morphing between two arp patterns:

Fast morphing between two CC patterns:
(4 CC tracks are used to control several bandpass filters)

BPM Page (Shortcut: MENU+GP Button #13)

MIDIbox SEQ can work as MIDI clock master or slave. The MIDI clock (24ppqn) is multiplied by 16 to 384ppqn, which means, that the length of a 16th note is 96 microticks. Microticks are relevant for the gatelength and especially the groove function.

• BPM Clock Mode switches between master/slave clock and auto mode.
  • In master mode, the tempo will be generated internally with a selectable BPM rate. The sequencer will transmit MIDI Clock/Start/Stop/Continue events to the MIDI Out ports for synchronising with external gear (this has to be enabled for each port separately in the MIDI config page)
  • In slave mode, the sequencer will be controlled by incoming MIDI Clock/Start/Stop/Continue events for synchronisation with an external MIDI clock master. Note that the sequencer will halt as long as no MIDI clock is received in this mode!
  • In auto mode, the sequencer will automatically switch between master and slave mode. This is the most comfortable setting, and therefore enabled by default.
    Slave mode is selected once a MIDI Clock/Start/Stop/Continue event has been received.
    Master mode is selected, when no MIDI clock command is received and the PLAY button is pressed.
• Preset: select 1 of 16 tempo presets
• Tempo: only relevant for master mode: the BPM rate (2.5-300.0) - accuracy is 0.1 BPM, use ENC3 to set the rough value in +/- 1 steps, and ENC4 to set the fine value in 0.1 steps
• Ramp: defines a timespan of 1..99s at which the tempo change should take place.
• Fire Preset: changes the tempo (slowly) at the given ramp time. E.g., if the current tempo is 120, the new tempo is 140, ramp time is 5s: press this button to change the tempo from 120..121..122...140 within 5 seconds.
• Preset page: displays a preset page which allows you to select one of 16 tempo presets with GP buttons (very nice in conjunction with ramp times)
• MIDI Clock In: enable the MIDI clock in receiver for each individual MIDI IN port
• MIDI Clock Out: enable the MIDI clock out sender for each individual MIDI OUT port
• DIN PPQN: defines the output rate of the DIN Sync Clock output pin at J5C.A8 of the MBHP_CORE_STM32 module (1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 12, 16, 24, 32, 48, 96, 192, 384 ppqn)
• Ext.Restart: sends a MIDI clock start event to all MIDI devices at the next measure - a very useful feature to re-synchronize external MIDI gear to the MIDIbox.
  To evaluate this function, try following steps:
  • connect a MIDI sequencer (or synth. with sequencer function) to your MBSEQ and configure it for MIDI slave mode.
  • ensure that MIDI clock is enabled for all OUT ports which should send the MIDI start event (+ a MIDI clock)
  • press PLAY button of MBSEQ - the external sequencer should start to play as well.
  • now stop the external sequencer
  • (change a patch, sound, or whatever...)
  • press Ext.Restart: the external sequencer should start once MBSEQ reaches the first step.
  • Note that the same function can be accessed by pressing MENU+METRONOME. A dedicated button can be assigned to this function as well (requires a modification in MBSEQ_HW.V4
• Tap Tempo: Tap the button at least four times to define the BPM tempo manually. If the sequencer is currently stopped, it will start automatically with the 5th tap. The same function can be accessed by pressing MENU+PLAY

Following MP3 demonstrates slow tempo changes which are controlled from the BPM Preset page - note that a such a tempo change doesn't block the sequencer. E.g., during the ramp time you can switch to the PATTERN page to select a new pattern, you can mute tracks in the MUTE page, etc.:

Metronome Page (only available from the main menu)

Allows you to select following options:

• on/off: same function as the dedicated METRONOME button
• Port: the MIDI port to which the metronome will send
• Channel: the channel to which the metronome will send
• Measure Note: note which will be send on each measure
• Beat Note: note which will be send on each beat

Save Page (Shortcut: MENU+GP Button #14)

Allows you to save the pattern of the currently active pattern group:

Select the target bank with GP6, and the target pattern with GP7. While changing it, the name of the pattern which is already stored at this position will be displayed at the right LCD:

Finally press SAVE (GP8 button). You will be asked for a Category and Pattern name:

MIDI Page (Shortcut: MENU+GP Button #15)

This page is divided into four subpages that have to be selected with the left sided GP buttons:

Transposer and Arp.:

• Bus: four individual busses (Bus1..Bus4) are available for this function. Each bus provides separate note stacks for Transposer and Arpeggiator.
• Port: the MIDI input port for the selected bus. If "ALL" is selected, MIDI data will be received from any port.
• Channel: selects the MIDI channel over which the arpeggiator/transpose can be controlled, and CCs will be received (e.g. for the morph function). With "---" no events will be received (bus disabled)
• Lower/Upper: defines the lower and upper note of a keyboard zone for transpose/arpeggiator function.
  With Lower = "---" and Upper = "G-8" the complete keyboard will be taken.
  Defining different (or overlapping) keyboard zones allows you to control the four Transposer/Arpeggiator busses from a single MIDI keyboard over the same MIDI channel.
• Mode:
  • T&A: MIDI events are routed to the Transposer/Arpeggiator notestacks
  • Play: MIDI events are directly routed to MIDI Port and Channel of the currently selected track. This allows you to play the selected track "live".
• Reset Stacks: clears all note stacks. Useful if the MIDI keyboard (or external sequencer) has been disconnected from MIDIbox SEQ while some keys were still active.

Section Control:

It's possible to select sections of a track that should be played from a MIDI keyboard as demonstrated in following video:

Each group (G1/2/3/4) has a separate selection zone on the keyboard.
Key C..B select section 1..12, the first key of the octave (C) plays the first section as usual, it has the same effect as if this feature is disabled.
The width of a section depends on the track length.
E.g., if the track length is set to 32, and if it consists of 256 steps, 8 sections are available which can be selected with Key C/C#/D/D#/E/F#/F/F#/G
It is recommented to activate the "Follow" function under UTILITY->OPTIONS when using this feature, so that the edit display gets automatically updated whenever the section is changed.

• Port: selects the MIDI port that should be used to select the sections.
• Channel: selects the MIDI channel that should be used to select the sections.
• G1..G4: selects the octave that should be used to select the sections for each pattern group individually. It is possible to assign all groups to the same octave if desired.
• Fwd: optionally all octaves that are not selected by G1..G4 can be forwarded to the given port.
• Reset Stacks: clears all note stacks. Useful if the MIDI keyboard (or external sequencer) has been disconnected from MIDIbox SEQ while some keys were still active.

MIDI Router:

Provides a simple possibility to route incoming MIDI events to synthesizers which are connected to the MIDI Out ports (which means: also to the AOUT port - MBSEQ replaces a CV interface!)

• Node: 8 routing pathes are available
  
• IN: selects the MIDI IN port.
  
• Source Channel: either a dedicated source channel (1-16) or "all" channels can be selected
• OUT: selects the MIDI output port
• Target Channel: either a dedicated target channel (1-16) or "all" channels can be selected
• Default Port: selects the port to which MIDI events should be sent if the "Def." port has been selected in the EVENT page.

Misc.:

• BLM_SCALAR port: see this manual chapter.
• MIDI Monitor: enters the MIDI Monitor page:
  
  It shows most of the IN ports at the upper line (e.g. Bus4 isn't displayed), and most of the OUT ports at the lower line.
  Whenever an event is received or sent, the appr. item will show the event for a short moment.
  This gives you a great overview of the MIDI activity, especially to analyze the current track and MIDI router setup.
  
  By pressing the SELECT button, filters for MIDI Clock (F8) and Active Sense (FE) events can be enabled/disabled.
  Both filters are activated by default. Once the clock filter is deactivated, the OUT/IN items will (probably) show CLK permanently as long as a MIDI clock is received/sent over the appr. port. This allows you to analyze the MIDI Clock In/Out settings as configured in the BPM page. Once the Active Sense filter is deactivated, FE events will be displayed periodically on the appr. IN port if a connected MIDI keyboard sends such events.

Record Page (Shortcut: UTILITY (F1)->Rec)

MIDIbox SEQ V4 provides a realtime (live) and step recording mode. Recording is always active as long as you are in this menu page. In distance to certain other sequencers, it is not required to stop an ongoing sequence in order to start recording.
Incoming events will be immediately inserted into the selected track. If the current step already holds a note/CC, it will be replaced by the new one. The gatelength of a note will be recorded as well, it can allocate multiple steps. If a new note is played over such a "stretched" step, the previous note will be automatically split.

The realtime recording mode supports monophonic note, polyphonic chords (chord 1/2 and note/note/note layer mode), and CC events, which are stored into the currently selected track while the sequencer is playing.

The step recording mode allows to input notes and CCs stepwise, the cursor will go to the next position after a new note/CC has been received and stored into the step. The cursor can be moved to another position with the rotary encoder below the "Step" item.

Any incoming CC number will be converted to the target CC as specified by the EVENT mode. This means, that you can use a single controller (e.g. a Modulation Wheel) to record the different CC lines.

AStart: synchronized auto start of track recording. To use this feature, the sequencer has to be stopped. With the first played note, the sequencer will start and store the note into the first step.

TglGate: toggles the gate of the currently select step. Useful to quickly enable/disable a step in step recording mode.

Port: the MIDI port to which your MIDI keyboard is connected.

Chn: the MIDI channel used for recording.

Utility Page (Shortcut: MENU+GP Button #10 or F1)

This page provides some useful functions for track modifications:

• Copy: transfers the currently selected track into the copy buffer.
  If you press and hold the button below the COPY item, you can select the range which should be copied into the buffer with the GP encoders.
  The encoders left of or at the begin marker shift the begin position, the encoders right to the begin marker shift the end position.
  If you are unsure about the current position, just always use the leftmost encoder to move the begin marker, and the rightmost encoder to move the end marker.
  Releasing the copy button copies the selected range into the buffer. If the button is just pressed and depressed, the whole range will be copied.
• Paste: transfers the copy buffer content into the track.
  Either the parameter/trigger layers, or the whole track will be copied. The behaviour of this function can be configured in the UTIL->OPT page
  As long as the button below PASTE is pushed, you can specify the target position with a GP rotary encoder.
  Hot tip: This is the quickest solution to duplicate parts of a track!
• Clr: clears the parameter/trigger layers, or the whole track. The behaviour of this function can be configured in the UTIL->OPT page
• Move: as long as the appr. button of this function is pushed, the edit page will be displayed, and steps can be moved with the encoder below the step.
  It should be self explaining once you try it out! :)
• Scroll: as long as the button of this function is pushed, the steps of the current track can be scrolled with the rotary encoders. The start position of the scrolling function depends on the used rotary encoder. E.g., if the first GP encoder is used, the whole track will be scrolled, if the 9th rotary encoder is used, the 9th and all steps behind will be scrolled, and step 1-8 will be left untouched.
• Random: shortcut to the Random Generator (see below)
• Undo: an undo function for the last Paste/Clear/Move/Scroll/Random operation.
• Save: directly branches into the save menu page (shortcut)
• Rec.: directly branches into the recording page (shortcut)
• Mix.: directly branches into the mixer page (shortcut)
• Opt.: directly branches into the options page (shortcut)
• PMte: directly branches into the port muting page (shortcut)
• Disk: directly branches into the disk page (shortcut)
• Mute: mutes all tracks
• UnMte: un-mutes all tracks

Random Generator Page (Shortcut: UTILITY (F1)->Rand)

This menu page allows to randomize the layers based on individual "intensity" parameters. In difference to the "Humanize" function, random values are statically stored in the layers, so that they can be modified (within the EDIT screen, or with Utility functions like Scroll, Move, ...) until a "best matching" line has been found.

• Generate: generates a new pattern based on the constraints given at the right LCD
• Clr: clears the parameter/trigger layers, or the whole track. The behaviour of this function can be configured in the UTIL->OPT page
• Util: shortcut to the Utility page - note that this menu has a shortcut to the Random page at the same position, so that you can quickly toggle between the two pages
• Undo: copies back the overwritten pattern
• LayA/LayB/LayC (0..63): defines the "intensity" for Parameter Layer A/B/C. If 0 ("--"), the layer won't be overwritten, otherwise all 32 steps get random values of 64 +/- intensity
• TrgA/TrgB/TrgC (0..15): defines the "intensity" for Trigger Layer A/B/C. If 0 ("--"), the layer won't be overwritten, if 15 ("All"), all steps will be activated. Otherwise the values 1..14 define the propability (6.25%..93.75%) that a step will be activated.

Hot tip: use the randomizer in conjunction with the Force-to-Scale function for harmonic results!

Options Page (Shortcut: UTIL (F1)->Opt.)

This page contains a selection of special options, for which no other page has been found:

• Measure X Steps: defines the number of steps per measure.
  The length is 16 16th note steps by default, it can be set from 1..256 steps!
  The left encoder below the item allows to select 16 step wise, the right encoder and datawheel stepwise.
  This setting affects:
  • the synch-to-measure function for clock divider reset
  • the metronome ("Meas.Note" played after x steps)
  • the song position displayed at song page (shows reference step position)
  Note: for max. steps != track length it makes sense to activate the synch-to-measure function for each track (-> divider page), so that the tracks are always in synch with the reference step position. It can be left deactivated if it is your intention to clock tracks asynchronously to the reference position.
• Pattern Y Steps: defines the number of steps per pattern.
  This setting affects:
  • the synch-to-measure function for pattern changes (pattern change after x steps)
  • the loop incrementer in song mode
• Sync. (Pattern) Change: if active, a pattern change made in the PATTERN or SONG page (Phrase mode) won't take place immediately, but will be synchronized to the pattern length of Y steps as defined at the left side of this item.
• Paste/Clr Behaviour: allows you to change the behaviour of the Paste and Clear function:
  • Steps only: only parameter and trigger layers will be cleared/pasted (default)
  • Whole track: the whole track configuration will be cleared/pasted. Only exception: MIDI channel and MIDI port will never be overwritten.
• Remote/ID/Port/Request: prepared for remote access to another MBSEQ V4 - this feature isn't completely implemented yet!

Mixer Page (Shortcut: MENU+GP Button #1)

MIDIbox SEQ V4 provides a MIDI mixer which can handle up to 127 different maps. They can be stored and restored from a dedicated BankStick. Each mixer map consists of:

• 16 free definable MIDI port assignments
• 16 free definable MIDI channel assignments
• 16 Program Change values
• 16 Volume CC values
• 16 Panorama CC values
• 64 free assignable CCs (4 for each port)

There are 9 pages, which can be selected with the datawheel, or alternatively with the Rew/Fwd buttons when no song is playing: MIDI Port, MIDI Channel, Prog.Change, Volume, Panorama, CC1-4

Values can be changed and sent with the GP encoders. The leftmost value ("----") deactivates the mixer item - no value will be sent.

The ALL and FAST button are working as well. The ALL button provides the two known functions (values set to same value while button pushed, relative changes as long as LED active). The FAST function will be deactivated/activated automatically depending on the value range.

Values are sent directly over the selected MIDI port - all ports are selectable, even Loopback and AOUT!

When the SELECT button is pressed, a utility page will be displayed:

This page allows:

• to change and load a mixer map (one of 127)
• to Copy/Paste the map
• to clear the map
• to reload the map from BankStick
• to save the map into BankStick
• to dump the complete map via the MIDI/AOUT/Loopback ports
• to change the assignments for CC1/CC2/CC3/CC4

Hot tip: since the ports and channels are freely assignable and working totally independent from the selected sequencer patterns, the mixer map function behaves like a MIDI controller - you can define up to 127 maps which can be stored, restore, dumped and controlled in realtime!
In song mode it is possible to dump one or more mixer maps before switching to a new pattern set.

Mute Screen

Within the mute screen you can quickly mute/unmute tracks with the 16 GP buttons:

In addition, it's possible to mute individual parameter layers or drum instruments of a track by pressing&holding the Mute button:

Hot tip: nice breaks can be realized by activating SOLO and selecting multiple tracks - one after another - while the sequencer is playing. This technique is demonstrated at 2:44 of the Session #3 Video.

Pattern Screen

Within the pattern screen you can quickly change the patterns of the four available track groups:

The GP buttons and the track buttons have a special function within this menu page to improve the handling:

• Track buttons: select between one of four track groups:
  
  • Group #1: plays Track 1-4
  • Group #2: plays Track 5-8
  • Group #3: plays Track 9-12
  • Group #4: plays Track 13-16
• GP buttons: the 128 patterns are enumerated from A1 to h8. The 8 buttons at the left side switch between A-H/a-h (press the button twice to select a "lower case" character), the 8 buttons at the right side are used to select the pattern number (1-8).

Patterns can be changed with four of the rotary encoders as well. In addition, four rotary encoders allow to select the BankStick from which the pattern is loaded.

Each track has a small vertical bar which displays the MIDI activity while the sequencer is playing.

Song Screen

This page has two purposes - one purpose is to store pattern sets for all four groups which can be quickly recalled by pressing a GP button. This is the so called "Phrase Mode" (see below)

The second (main) purpose is to chain and loop pattern sets without user interaction. You can toggle between Song and Phrase Mode with GP Encoder #8 or #9

• Song: currently 16 songs can be stored into a dedicated BankStick. Support for 32 songs is planned (will require a 64k BankStick!)
• Pos: the song position - 128 positions are available, they are enumerated from A1..P8
• Action: defines what should be done when this song position is reached:
  • Stop: sequencer will be stopped.
  • x1..x16: specified Pattern set will be played the given number of cycles (x1..x16). The pattern for each group (G1..G4) can be specified at the right side of the "action" item. If "-:--" is selected instead of the pattern number, the pattern won't be changed for this song step.
  • Jump Pos: sequencer jumps to the specified position - allows to set loop points
  • Jump Song: sequencer jumps to the specified song
  • Mixer: the specified mixer map will be dumped. The sequencer will immediately continue with the next song position
  • Tempo: tempo will change by given BPM rate and ramp time
  • Mutes: allows to set/clear track mutes

For a fast usage the Track and Layer buttons have a special function in this screen: the Track buttons select the pattern group G1..G4, Layer button A sets the cursor to the "Song" item, Layer button B selects the "Position" item, Layer button C selects the "Action" item.

Song mode is demonstrated in the Session #2 video

Back to Phrase Mode: select the "Position" item by pushing Layer button B. By pushing a GP button, the sequencer will execute the action defined at song position A1, B1, C1..P1 (16 possible actions). If a pattern set or mixer map is defined at this song position, the sequencer will change to it and continue as normal - since we are not in song mode, the next song positions won't be processed.

Phrases can also be combined with one or more mixer maps. In this case the first step (A1, B1, C1, ...) has to be assigned to a Mixer Map Action, whose content will be dumped out. The sequencer will go to the next song position, and check for a Mixer Map again. Once it has reached a position with a pattern set, it will change to the new set and give back control over pattern changes to the user.

When the SELECT button is pressed, a utility page will be displayed:

This page allows:

• to change song number and position (like in the main page)
• to Copy/Paste a song position
• to clear a song position
• to insert an empty item into the current song position
• to delete the current song position (following positions will be shifted to the current position)
• to change between Phrase and Song Mode

Disk Page (Shortcut: UTILITY (F1)->Disk)

This page provides special functions for the SD Card:

• Backup: copies all MBSEQ_*.V4 files from the root directory into a backup/n directory (n is a number between 1 and MAX_INT). The directories already have to exist in the file system. Means: you have to prepare them from Windows/MacOS/Linux! The first empty directory which will be found will be taken for the backup. It will take some minutes (ca. one cigarette break)!
• MSD USB: enables the "Mass Storage Device" driver, which turns your MIDIbox SEQ into a SD Card reader. Once enabled, the SD Card should be automatically mounted by your operating system (Windows/MacOS/Linux). USB MIDI will be disabled. The LEDs of the CS could flicker on each disk operation! It overrules the USB MIDI driver, which will be available again once the SD Card has been unmounted from the operating system.
• MIDI File Import: allows to import MIDI files, stored in the midi/ directory of your SD Card.
  
  All tracks are imported at once (up to 16) in the same order they are stored in the .mid file. Accordingly, track assignments can be done within the .mid file before it is imported (e.g. edit the .mid file with your DAW)
  Currently only MIDI Notes and drums are supported (no CCs, no Pitchbender).
  To import drum tracks, change the import mode from "Note" to "Drum". This mode especially allows to control the velocity of each step separately.
  Currently drum instruments are only mapped to a pre-selection of 4/8/16 notes - this map cannot be customized yet!
  Since MIDIbox SEQ is a step sequencer, notes will be quantised with a selectable resolution (16th, 32th or 64th).
  Also the number of layers/drum instruments is selectable (4, 8 or 16).
  Than more layers are available, than more notes can be played at the same step. In "Note" mode, all notes share the same velocity and length value, in "Drum" mode each step and instrument has a dedicated velocity value.
  If the imported track contains different velocity or length values for polyphonic played notes, and this characteristic is important, it is recommented to split the track into multiple pieces (e.g. for long and for short notes) and to import them into separate MBSEQ tracks.
  Another hint: if notes of the imported track don't start exactly at the 16th/32th/64th note position (e.g. because they have a "swing" feel), it is recommented to quantize the notes in a DAW before the import.
  The swing feel can be added again after the import (GROOVE page).
  All tracks will be initialized depending on the selected resolution and layers before the import is started. Than higher the resolution, or than more layers are selected, than less bars can be imported (number of bars is displayed on screen).
  The MIDI port will always be set to DEFAULT during import. The MIDI channel will be set to the channel of the first played note (for each track separately).
  MIDI Files can be imported while the sequencer is running. This allows you to search for a certain file, but also to try different parameters during runtime.
  Here two MP3 examples of patterns that have been imported, and that are played by MBSEQ (and not by a MIDI player...).
  Virus-like tunes:
  Drum pattern at 64th resolution:
• MIDI File Export: this function allows you to export Tracks, Patterns or Songs to a MIDI file, stored in the midi/ directory of your SD Card. This directory has to be created with a computer if it doesn't already exist.
  
  By pressing the button a dialog page will be entered which allows to select the options:
  • Export: use the GP encoder below this item to select "All Groups", "Group" (with pattern selection), "Track" (with track selection) or "Song" (with song selection).
  • Measures: specify, how many measures should be exported
  • Steps Per Measure: specify the number of steps per measure.
  • Continue: continues the dialog
  • EXIT: cancels the dialog and returns to the DISK page.
  After "Continue" has been pressed, the next dialog page appears which asks you to enter the filename. If the file already exists, the dialog will ask you if it should be overwritten (YES), or if a new filename should be selected (NO).
  Thereafter the .mid file will be generated and written into the midi/ directory.
• MIDI File Import: allows you to play a MIDI file with following options:
  • Left page: displays the MIDI files found in the midi/ directory. Use a GP encoder to scroll the page if more than 4 files have been found. Use a GP button to select (and play) the file.
  • Start/Stop Play: plays/stops the MIDI file playback.
  • Loop: enables the Loop function, so that the file will be automatically replayed once it reaches the end
  • Playmode: with "exclusive" the MIDI file will be played instead of the sequencer tracks, with "parallel" it will be played together with the 16 sequencer tracks. Especially the parallel function is very powerful, as it allows you to play some static, prepared tracks (e.g. drum loops, melody lines, or a song that you previously exported) together with the 16 "normal" sequencer tracks which can be changed interactively!
  • Port: the MIDI port to which the events of the .mid file will be sent.
  • EXIT: exits to the DISK page.

Port Mute Page (Shortcut: UTILITY (F1)->PMute)

MIDI ports can be individually disabled - requested by several users:

Fx Menu (Shortcut: MENU->Fx

Menu to enter the local/global effects pages which are described below:

Fx Echo

This is one of the main new features of MIDIbox SEQ V4 - thanks to the mighty MIDI event scheduler the echo function works very accurate, even on quick parameter or pattern changes:

• Repeats: selects how many times a played MIDI event should be repeated (0..15).
• Delay: defines the delay between each repeat (64T, 64, 32T, 32, 16T, 16, 8T, 8, 4T, 4, 2T, 2, 1T, 1, Rnd1 and Rnd2)
• Velocity Level: defines the initial velocity level of the first repeating note
• Feedback Velocity: defines the gradual change of the velocity level for each repeat between 0..200%
• Feedback Note: defines the gradual change of note stepsonr each repeat between -24..+24, optionally random (RND).
  Very powerful in conjunction with Force-to-Scale!!!
• Gatelength: defines the gradual change of the gatelength on each repeat between 0..200%
  
• Ticks: defines the gradual change of the delay between each repeat between 0..200%
  

TODO MP3 (however, the LFO demo below gives some impressions about the usage of the Echo Fx as well!)

Fx Humanizer

Allows you to select following options:

• Rnd. Intensity: this is some kind of "humanizer" which allows to vary the parameters of a MIDI event randomly. The higher the "intensity" value, the higher the random variation.
• Note: Enables/Disables the random variation of key values
• Vel/CC: Enables/Disables the random variation of velocity or CC values
• Length: Enables/Disables the random variation of the gatelength

TODO MP3

Allows you to limit the note range for each indiviual track:

Fx Limiter

If a note is outside the range, it will be wrapped around the octave for musical results.

TODO MP3

Fx LFO

The LFO effect allows to automate periodical changes of various parameters:

• Wave: selects the waveform: Sine, Triangle, Sawtooth, Pulse 5%..95%
• Amplitude: selects the amplitude from -128 to +127
• Phase: selects the waveform phase after the LFO has been reset
• Steps: selects the period of the LFO waveform synchronized to the steps of a track (1..256) - this parameter automatically synchronizes to the MIDI clock depending on the BPM rate
• Reset: defines after how many steps the LFO should be reset
• OneShort: if enabled, the LFO waveform will only be processed once until the next reset
• Note: applies the LFO waveform over all Note values of the track (use low amplitudes values!) - especially interesting in conjunction with Force-to-Scale and the Limiter Fx!
• Velocity: applies the LFO waveform over the Velocity value of the track (use high amplitudes values!)
• Length: applies the LFO waveform over the Gatelength (why not...)
• Extra CC#: allows to define an CC number which will directly send the LFO value
• Offset: allows to increase/decrease the LFO offset within the range of 0.127
• PPQN: defines the update rate of the CC parameter (3..384 ppqn). Than higher the value, than more MIDI traffic will be produced! A value >= 96 ppqn is only recommented for virtual synths controlled via MIDI USB!

In following demo video (which you probably already know) the live usage of a LFO is demonstrated with different waveforms, frequencies, CC modulation, Echo Fx, transposer and force-to-scale (LFO part starts at 2:05).

Fx Loop

Is this an "effect" or a "tool" which is useful while editing long sequences... decide by yourself:

• Global Loop Mode: following modes are supported:
  • All Tracks/Step View: loops all tracks around the visible step view
  • All Tracks/Static View: loops all tracks around the selected Offset/Step range
  • Selected Track/Step View: loops the selected track around the visible step view
  • Selected Track/Static View: loops the selected track around the selected Offset/Step range
• Loop: enables/disables the Loop function. Can alternatively be switched via MENU+SCRUB buttons.

Fx Scale

This page allows to configure the scale which should be used by the Force-to-Scale function:

• Control: the scale and root note can either be controlled globally or pattern based. In distance to the global scale/root (which is stored in the global configuration of a session), the pattern based scale/root is located within the G1/G2/G3 or G4 pattern and will be automatically changed when a new pattern is selected.
  Only one group can control the scale and root note - it can be selected with this menu item.
• Root: selects the root note (C, C#, D, D#, ..., B) of the scale. Optionally the root note can be directly controlled from a MIDI keyboard. In this case it is the base note which is also forwarded to the transposer. KEYB is the default setting.
• Selected Scale: allows you to select one of 166 (!!!) scales, which are used by all tracks with enabled "force scale" option.
  Scales are counted from zero so that the numbers are matching with the CC#3 value.
  Thanks to Stryd One for providing all the scale definitions! :-)

Sidenote reg. the global scale: when "Global" control mode is selected, the scale can also be changed from an external MIDI device via CC#3, and especially via internal loopback. This means, that a track can change the scale dynamically if it outputs CC#3s to the Loopback port.

Ethernet (OSC) Page

This page allows to configure the IP settings of the MBHP_ETH interface, and the remote settings of the OSC server.

All changes won't take effect immediately, but have to be confirmed by pressing one of the "Enter" soft-buttons (GP8 and GP16)! They will be stored in the global configuration file /MBSEQ_GC.V4 on SD Card.

• DHCP: if enabled, the remote IP, network mask and gateway will be requested from a DHCP server in the network. If disabled, these settings can be entered manually
• Ethernet Configuration Parameters:
  • Local IP: (only if DHCP not enabled): sets the IP of MIDIbox SEQ and should be unique in the network
  • Netmask: (only if DHCP not enabled): sets the netmask of your LAN
  • Gateway: (only if DHCP not enabled): sets the gateway IP (default router)
• OSC Configuration Parameters:
  • Remote IP: sets the IP of the host to which OSC packets should be sent/received
  • Remote Port: sets the port number to which OSC packets will be sent
  • Local Port: sets the port number over which OSC packets will be received

Copyright © 1998-2010, Thorsten Klose. All rights reserved.