MAM SQ16 Owner's Manual
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MAM SQ16 Owner's Manual

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Summary of Contents for MAM SQ16

  • Page 1 Owners Manual SQ16...

  • Page 2: Table Of Contents

    1.1. Basic usage of the SQ16........................4 1.2. Basic principles........................... 5 1.3. Memory structure of the SQ16 ......................7 1.4. Synchronizing the SQ16 to other sequencers ..................8 1.5. First steps ............................9 2. Common functions ...................... 16 2.1. Tempo .............................. 16 2.2.
  • Page 3 Contents 6. Step Set ........................53 6.1. Which data does a Step Set contain? ....................53 6.2. Why and how to use Step Sets? ...................... 54 6.3. Description of Step Set settings ....................... 55 6.3.1 ACC Mode, ACC Low, ACC High, Delay Repeat, Delay Time..........55 6.3.2 n Step Length ........................

  • Page 4: Introduction

    For this purpose there are enough software sequencers in existence, which are often supe- rior to a hardware sequencer. It would also defeat the purpose of the SQ16 - creating and editing drum sequences in a simple manner.

  • Page 5: Basic Principles

    Note tracks (track 14...16) can use different notes per step. If the SQ16 is triggering a synthesizer each note track plays back a melody which can be assigned to certain sounds. If the synthesizer also contains drum sets you can simultaneously play...
  • Page 6 1. Introduction SQ16 Creating a rhythm The rhythm of a pattern depends on which step within each track are active or muted. Creating a rhythm with the SQ16 is fast and simple: • Selecting a track The LED's above each Step button 1-16 show the status of each single step (Step is active or muted) •...

  • Page 7: Memory Structure Of The Sq16

    • Edit Buffer The Edit Buffer is the "working area" of the SQ16. Only data in the Edit Buffer can be edited or played back. Data of a Block are edited or played back by loading this Block into the Edit Buffer and playing it/performing edit operations.

  • Page 8: Synchronizing The Sq16 To Other Sequencers

    On/Off and Autostart On/Off in the global settings (see 3.4). • Synchronizing drum machines with DIN sync The SQ16 can control drum machines that have a DIN sync input. The SQ16 sends the commands Start, Stop ad Clock (24 ppq).

  • Page 9: First Steps

    1.2. Connect the included power supply to the SQ16. 2. Turning on the SQ16 • On powerup Block 1 data is loaded into the Edit Buffer. The SQ16 is in Play Mode - Pattern with Pattern 1 selected. The tempo is set to 120 bpm.
  • Page 10 1. Introduction SQ16 6. Editing an instrument track (On/Off track) 6.1. Mute all note tracks (n14...n16) and all instrument tracks except 3 and 12 (LED's 3 and 12 are lit). Instrument tracks 3 and 12 should trigger the following sounds:...
  • Page 11 Those settings don't belong to the pattern data. Those individual velocity settings are edited and stored in a Step Set. A pattern then gets assigned a Step Set (the SQ16 contains 16 Step Sets) and the settings of this Step Set are used for the instrument tracks of the pattern.
  • Page 12 Assigning note numbers and MIDI channels is done via MIDI Sets. Each pattern gets assigned one of the 16 MIDI Sets in the SQ16. A MIDI Set contains all the note numbers and MIDI channels for the instrument tracks; those settings are edited directly in the MIDI Sets.
  • Page 13 This allows the creation of a song with few patterns. 12.2.Press "Loop" and start the SQ16 by pressing the "Start/Stop" button. The song is playing. The left display shows the currently playing Song Step, the right display shows the pattern loop.
  • Page 14 This section is a simple demonstration of Rotate's capabilities. 14.1.Activate "Play Mode - Pattern". Pattern 1 is selected. 14.2.Press "Loop" and start the SQ16 by pressing the "Start/Stop" button. All instruments of the pattern are playing; the pattern repeats itself after 16 steps.
  • Page 15 All changes we have made so far took place in the Edit Buffer into which Block 1 was loaded at powerup. After switching off the SQ16 the contents of the Edit Buffer are lost. If you want to keep those changes you need to write them into one of the eight blocks before turning off the SQ16.

  • Page 16: Common Functions

    (See also 4.5.2). The Tempo setting determines the playback speed of the SQ16 as a whole while the Scale setting determines the playback speed for a single pattern.

  • Page 17: Loop

    "scrolling" with increasing speed. This method for selecting data is common for the whole SQ16. The next sections give detailed descriptions of each function and the necessary steps. After short practice you will be familiar with data selection and no longer need the aid of this manual.

  • Page 18: Global

    Sending a MIDI dump All data residing in the Edit Buffer are sent as a MIDI dump. If you want to send one of the 8 blocks of the SQ16 you first nee d to load it into the Edit Buffer (see 3.5.4).

  • Page 19: Common Pattern

    (dumps must sent back unchanged). If it is a valid dump the left display reads "LdU" while the right display shows th e progress. A MIDI dump is always sent into the Edit Buffer. If you want to keep it in the SQ16 you need to explicitly store it into one of the 8 Blocks (see 3.5.4).

  • Page 20: Clock Source, Clock Out On/Off, Autostart On/Off

    • Clock OUT On/Off This setting determines if after an internal start of the SQ16 (via Start/Stop/Continue buttons) MIDI clocks are being sent (Clock out=On) or not (Clock OUT=Off). Regardless of this setting the SQ16 still sends the appropriate MIDI message...
  • Page 21 SQ16 3. Global Examples for synchronizing the SQ16 to other devices: • SQ16 as master • SQ16 as slave • SQ16 as master/slave Changing the settings for Clock Source, Clock OUT On/Off and Autostart On/Off 1. Activate Global and the desired function (Clock Source, Clock OUT On/Off or Autostart On/Off) 2.

  • Page 22: Load From Block - Write To Block

    8 Blocks (single data types or the whole block). The data in the Edit Buffer is lost when you power down the SQ16 while the data in the 8 Blocks is retained (see also 1.3).

  • Page 23: Loading/Writing Patterns

    SQ16 3. Global Examples: 3.5.2. Loading/Writing Patterns. You can load/write a single pattern, several patterns within a pattern group or all patterns (1...64) within a block. 1. Activate "Global". 2. Press "Load From Block" or "Write To Block" until the LED for Patterns in the right Select section lights up.

  • Page 24: Loading/Writing Global Settings

    3. Global SQ16 Examples: 3.5.3. Loading/Writing Global settings The following data is loaded/written: • All Common Pattern settings • Settings for Clock Source, Clock OUT On/Off and Autostart On/Off • Tempo • Note Rec Mode for note tracks 14, 15 and 16 1.

  • Page 25: Pattern

    16 steps) by building several patterns and linking them. This is done either with Chains (Pattern Chains with a fixed order, see 9.1) or Songs (see 10.1) which can play Patterns in random order and with several repetitions. The SQ16 contains 64 freely programmable Patterns. 4.1.2. Step data for a Pattern The following picture shows the step data for a Pattern;...

  • Page 26: Creating A Pattern - Playing Back A Pattern

    4. Pattern SQ16 • Instrument Tracks (I1...I13) They are used for creating drum sequences. Each instrument track (and hereby all notes of an instrument track) is assi- gned exactly one note number and one MIDI channel. If you control a drum expander each instrument track triggers one drum instrument, for example track 1: bass drum, track 2: snare and so on.
  • Page 27 SQ16 4. Pattern Playing back a pattern: When playing back a pattern all steps are played sequentially starting with step 1. Each pattern has its own pattern Length, e.g. a number of steps after which the pattern starts over. In the above example the pattern length is 8 steps; the pattern is playing Step 1, 2, 3...8 and then starts from the beginning.

  • Page 28: Pattern Functions - Overview

    4. Pattern SQ16 4.1.4. Pattern functions - Overview Function Inst Step display/edit instrument tracks I1...I13 On/Off display/edit On/Off tracks Accent display/edit Accent tracks Note Step display/edit note tracks n14...n16 On/Off display/edit On/Off tracks Accent display/edit Accent tracks Hold display/edit Hold tracks...

  • Page 29: Instrument Tracks

    SQ16 4. Pattern 4.2. Instrument tracks 4.2.1. Structure and data of instrument tracks The 13 instrument tracks of a pattern are used for creating drum sequences. Each instrument track is triggering exactly one drum instrument in a drum expander by assigning a note number to the instrument track which in turn has its representation in a drum instrument in the drum expander (drum expanders usually group certain drum instruments with different note numbers into drumsets).
  • Page 30 • Accent Track Additionally each Instrument Track "owns" an accent track that controls the velocity of the activated steps. The SQ16 does not offer individual velocities for each single step since this would have made editing much more complicated and time consuming.

  • Page 31: Editing The Instrument Tracks Of A Pattern

    SQ16 4. Pattern The left display shows the current instrument track; the right display shows the current pattern. 2. Select the pattern you want to edit (P01...P64): a. Using the "arrow" buttons in the right Select/Edit section b. Keep the "Select" button in the right Select/Edit section pressed and select by pressing step buttons 1...16 one of the Patterns in the current Pattern group c.

  • Page 32: Copying The Currently Edited On/Off Track Or Accent Track

    4. Pattern SQ16 Example 1: Copying the currently edited On/Off track to the On/Off tracks of instrument I2...I13 in pattern 1 Example 2: Copying the currently edited On/Off track to the On/Off track of instrument I1 in pattern 17-32...

  • Page 33: Note Tracks

    SQ16 4. Pattern 4.3. Note Tracks 4.3.1. Structure and data of note tracks The 3 note tracks of a Pattern are used to create simple monophonic melodies or bass lines. The steps of a note track can contain different note numbers, but they also use a common MIDI channel. Of course, to play a sound from an external expander the MIDI channels of the note track and the external expander must match.
  • Page 34 4. Pattern SQ16 Note track data: A note track contains data related to the playback or recording of this track. The track "Note - Rec Step" determines into which steps of the note track notes can be recorded (see 11.1.3). Here's a description of the playback data: •...
  • Page 35 SQ16 4. Pattern Example: Pattern 1 uses the settings made in MIDI Set 1; this results in MIDI end channel 2 for note track n14 (all steps). Step Set one contains the settings ACC Mode "HL", ACC Low = 100 and ACC High = 127 for note track n14. All active steps (On/Off = On) with an active accent use velocity 127 while all active steps with non-active accent use velocity 100.
  • Page 36 On and Note off commands are exchanged; e.g. after step 4 first a Note On is sent for the Note F2 in Step 5, then a Note Off for the Note F1 in Step 4. This is triggering a Slide effect (Portamento) at the MAM devices MB33 and MB33II.

  • Page 37: Editing The On/Off Track, Accent Track And Hold Track Of A Note Track

    SQ16 4. Pattern 4.3.2. Editing the On/Off track, Accent track and Hold track of a Note Track 1. Activate Note/Step and either • On/Off to edit the On/Off track • Accent to edit the Accent track • Hold to edit the Hold track The left display shows the current note track, the right display shows the current pattern.

  • Page 38: Editing/Inserting Notes

    4. Pattern SQ16 4.3.3. Editing/Inserting Notes You have selected Note Step On/Off, Note Step Accent or Note Step Hold and have selected a note track. If you now select Note Step Note/Edit you have the following choices: If the note track already contains notes you can •...
  • Page 39 SQ16 4. Pattern Editing existing notes 1. Activate Note Step - Note/Edit 2. Activate Step selection To select the steps you want to edit press the "Select" button in the right Select/Edit section until the display reads "SEL On". If this isn't possible and the display reads "SEL Off" the note track is empty and does not contain any notes. In this case you have to insert notes first.
  • Page 40 4. Pattern SQ16 Inserting notes into empty steps 1. Activate Note Step - Note/Edit 2. Activate Step selection To select the steps you want to edit press the "Select" button in the right Select/Edit section until the display reads "SEL Off".

  • Page 41: Copying The Currently Edited On/Off Track, Hold Track, Accent Track Or Notes

    SQ16 4. Pattern 4.3.4. Copying the currently edited On/Off track, Hold track, Accent Track or notes Depending on which of the functions Note Step - On/Off, - Accent, - Hold or - Note/Edit you have selected you have the choice to copy the On/Off track, Accent track, Hold track or the note data of the currently selected note track.

  • Page 42: Playing Back Patterns

    4. Pattern SQ16 4.4. Playing back Patterns Activating/Deactivating Rotate You can play back Patterns normally without using Rotate or you can activate Rotate and select one of the 16 Rotate settings: 1. Activate "Play Mode - Pattern". The right display shows the current Pattern, the left display shows the current Rotate setting.
  • Page 43 Muting instrument tracks and note tracks The SQ16 has 16 different Mute settings that can be used to mute instrument tracks and note tracks. Using Inst/Note - On/Off you can select and edit a Mute setting. The selected setting is active for both Play Mode - Pattern and Play Mode - Chain. For example, if you want to listen to only instrument tracks 1 and 2 in play Mode Pattern you need to activate Inst/Note and to sel- ect a Mute setting which has instrument tracks 3..13 and all note tracks muted.

  • Page 44: Basic Pattern Settings (Function Pattern)

    4.5.2. Scale The actual playback speed of the SQ16 depends on two things: First, the tempo determines how many beats (quarter notes) per minute are being played. The SQ16 sends 24 MIDI clocks per beat to synchronize external sequencers. The second thing responsible for playback speed is the Scale setting which determines how many steps are played per beat.

  • Page 45: Midi Set

    SQ16 4. Pattern 4.5.4. MIDI Set You can assign one of the 16 Step Sets to a Pattern. Instrument tracks and note tracks then use settings made there (note numbers and MIDI channel for instrument tracks, MIDI send channel and MIDI receive channel for note tracks), see section 4.2.1 and 4.3.1.

  • Page 46: Midi Set

    5.1. Which data does a MIDI Set contain? Each Block in the SQ16 contains 16 MIDI Sets. A MIDI Set is used to assign individual note numbers and MIDI channels to the instrument tracks and to assign individual MIDI send channels and MIDI receive channels to the note tracks. The following picture gives an overview of the MIDI Set data: •...

  • Page 47: Why And How To Use Midi Sets

    MIDI send channel to 2. 5.2. Why and how to use MIDI Sets? You can create different MIDI Sets in the SQ16 and assign those to different Patterns; or you can assign the same MIDI Set to all Patterns (see sections 3.3 and 4.5).
  • Page 48 1 you would either have to re-program MIDI Set 1 or to re-program expander 2. However the SQ16 has a very elegant solution for this problem; you simply create a second MIDI Set (MIDI Set 2) for expan- der 2 and assign this second MIDI Set to all Patterns.
  • Page 49 Using different Patterns to control different expanders: You have connected two expanders to the SQ16. The drum set in expander 1 is using MIDI channel 10; the drum set in expander 2 is using MIDI channel 16. The instrument tracks in Pattern 1 are triggering instruments in expander 1 (instrument track 1: bass drum, instrument track 2: snare drum, instrument track 3: hihat...).

  • Page 50: Editing A Midi Set

    5. MIDI Set SQ16 5.3. Editing a MIDI Set 1. Activate Global - MIDI Set Edit 2. Select one of the 16 MIDI Sets: a. Using the "arrow" buttons in the right Select/Edit section; the MIDI Set is shown in the right display b.

  • Page 51: Copying Midi Set Data

    SQ16 5. MIDI Set 5.4. Copying MIDI Set data If you have selected MIDI Set Edit you can easily copy the value for the current edited instrument track or note track (for copying complete MIDI Sets see section 7.2). 5.4.1. Selected MIDI Set setting: I Note # or I Channel As an example, you have selected MIDI Set 1 and I Channel for instrument track 1 (current value: Channel 10).

  • Page 52: Selected Midi Set Setting: N Receive Channel Or N Send Channel

    5. MIDI Set SQ16 5.4.2. Selected MIDI Set setting: n Receive Channel or n Send Channel As an example, you have selected MIDI Set 1 and n Receive channel for note track 14 (current setting: Channel 1). You can copy this setting to other note tracks within the same MIDI Sets or to different MIDI Sets.

  • Page 53: Step Set

    6. Step Set 6.1. Which data does a Step Set contain? Each Block in the SQ16 contains 16 different Step Sets. Each Step Set holds individual settings for instrument tracks and note tracks as shown in the following graphic: • ACC Mode Determines how active accents affect the velocity values for the instrument tracks and note tracks.

  • Page 54: Why And How To Use Step Sets

    The SQ16 uses its Accent track (within a Pattern each instrument track and note track has its own accent track) to solve this problem: The give single steps a higher velocity (and hereby a higher volume) one needs simply to activate the accent for this step and track.

  • Page 55: Description Of Step Set Settings

    SQ16 6. Step Set 6.3. Description of Step Set settings 6.3.1. ACC Mode, ACC Low, ACC High, Delay Repeat, Delay Time Please note: In the following section we call steps "active" if they are set to "on" in the On/Off tracks for the instrument tracks or note tracks.
  • Page 56 6. Step Set SQ16 • Each active step with activated accent starts a new delay, regardless if the previous delay was finished. • Active steps without accent - even when they fall between two echoes or on the same step as an echo - always use the ACC High velocity value.

  • Page 57: Step Length

    The note length equals the step length. This settings differs to n Step Length 100 insofar as a Slider can be generated for the devices MB33 and MB33II (made by MAM) if the hold setting is active for this step.

  • Page 58: Editing A Step Set

    6. Step Set SQ16 6.4. Editing a MIDI Set 1. Activate Global - MIDI Set Edit 2. Select one of the 16 MIDI Sets: a. Using the "arrow" buttons in the right Select/Edit section; the MIDI Set is shown in the right display b.

  • Page 59: Copying Step Set Data

    SQ16 6. Step Set 6.5. Copying MIDI Set data If you have selected MIDI Set Edit you can easily copy the value for the current edited instrument track or note track (for copying complete MIDI Sets see section 7.2). 6.5.1. Selected MIDI Set setting: I Note # or I Channel As an example, you have selected MIDI Set 1 and I Channel for instrument track 1 (current value: Channel 10).

  • Page 60: Selected Step Set Setting: N Step Length

    6. Step Set SQ16 6.5.2. Selected MIDI Set setting: n Receive Channel or n Send Channel As an example, you have selected MIDI Set 1 and n Receive channel for note track 14 (current setting: Channel 1). You can copy this setting to other note tracks within the same MIDI Sets or to different MIDI Sets.

  • Page 61: Copy

    SQ16 7. Copy 7. Copy You can use this function to copy data within the Edit Buffer. You have the following options: • copying single settings from a Pattern, Step Set, MIDI Set, Mute or Rotate • copying whole Patterns, Chains, MIDI Sets, Step Sets and Rotates 7.1.

  • Page 62: Copying Patterns, Songs, Chains, Midi Sets, Step Sets And Rotates

    7. Copy SQ16 7.2. Copying Patterns, Songs, Chains, MIDI Sets, Step Sets and Rotates Using the function Copy From you can select which data you want to copy. Using the function Copy To you select then where you want to copy those data to. All settings of a Pattern, Song, Chain, MIDI Set, Step Set and Rotate are copied here.
  • Page 63 SQ16 7. Copy Copying Patterns: A single Pattern or several Patterns from a Pattern group can be copied. 1. Press Copy From until the "Pattern" LED lights up 2. Select from which Pattern group you want to copy: Keep pressed the "Select" button in the right Select/Edit section and select the desired Pattern group.
  • Page 64 7. Copy SQ16 5. Press "Enter" button (step button 14). If the left display reads "YES" press "Enter" again to copy or "Exit" (step button 13) to abort. 6. Repeat steps 1-5 to copy other patterns or leave "Copy" with "Exit" (step button 13)

  • Page 65: Mute Settings

    8. Mute settings Each Block in the SQ16 contains 16 different settings for individual mutes affecting instrument tracks and note tracks. Those Mute settings allow especially in a live setting fast switching between mutes for instrument tracks and note tracks. As an example, if you want to play alternating just the instrument tracks and then just the note tracks you create one Mute setting that has all note tracks muted and a second setting that has all instrument tracks muted.
  • Page 66 8. Mute settings SQ16 Copying Mute Settings: If one of the Mute settings Co 001...Co 014 or "SnG" is selected it can be copied to a different Mute setting - except SGL. 1. Press "Copy To" in the Select/Edit section 2.

  • Page 67: Chain

    SQ16 9. Chain 9. Chain 9.1. Chain Structure A Chain is a simple way to play Patterns sequentially. Each Chain can contain various Patterns from within a Pattern group. Those Patterns are played in fixed order, starting with Pattern with the smallest Pattern number up to the one with the highest Pattern number.
  • Page 68 Muting instrument tracks and note tracks: The SQ16 contains 16 different Mute settings for instrument tracks and note tracks. Using the function Inst/Note - On/Off you can select one of those settings and edit it. The selected Mute setting is active for both Play Mode - Pattern and Play Mode - Chain.

  • Page 69: Song

    SQ16 10. Song 10. Song 10.1. Song structure Using a Song you can play Patterns in arbitrary order. A Song is created out of single Song Steps (up to 152) which are played sequentially. To each step a Pattern can be assigned, together with the following settings: •...

  • Page 70: Editing A Song

    Muting instrument tracks and note tracks: Even while each Song Step can have its own settings for muting instrument tracks and note tracks the SQ16 also offers a glo- bal Mute setting that is common for all Songs and Song Steps. As an example, this allows muting of single tracks during Song playback without having to edit the single Mute settings for the Song Steps.
  • Page 71 SQ16 10. Song Selecting the Song and Song step you want to edit (start/continue mode): If you activate "Song Edit" during playback the currently playing Song Step will be repeated permanently. The Song Step set- tings now can be changed and monitored simultaneously. Using the "arrow" buttons in the left Select/Edit section you can sel- ect different Song Steps.
  • Page 72 10. Song SQ16 Muting instrument tracks and note tracks within a Song Step If you want to create a Song in which various instruments appear one after another (first bass drum, then bass drum an hihat, then bass drum, hihat and snare) it is sufficient to create a single Pattern containing all the instruments. Turning on those instruments after another is achieved by using the same Pattern for different Song Steps and programming different Mute set- tings per Song Step.

  • Page 73: Copying And Inserting Song Steps

    SQ16 10. Song 10.4. Copying and inserting Song Steps You can insert new Song Steps into a Song by copying a single Step or a continuos group of Steps and inserting them at a dif- ferent location. All data of a Song Step gets copied. If the Song contains just one Song Step only this single Step can be copied and inserted;...

  • Page 74: Copying And Inserting Several Song Steps

    10. Song SQ16 10.4.2. Copying and inserting several Song Steps This is done by selecting a continuos group of Song Steps (as an example: Song Steps 1 to 4), copying them and inserting them at a different location in the Song.

  • Page 75: Copying Song Steps Without Inserting

    SQ16 10. Song 10.4.3. Copying Song Steps without inserting A single Song Step or a continuos group of Song Steps can be copied onto other Song Steps. In this case the data in the tar- get Song Steps is overwritten, no new Song Steps are generated. To do this one first selects the source area (as an example: Song Steps 2 to 5) and then the target area (as an example: Song Steps 6 to 9;...

  • Page 76: Deleting Song Steps

    10. Song SQ16 10.5. Deleting Song Steps You can delete single Song Steps or a continuos group of Song Steps. As an example: A Song contains 9 Song Steps and you want to delete Song Steps 2 to 5. 1. Activate either "Song Edit - Rotate", "Song Edit - Pattern" or "Song Edit - Repeat".

  • Page 77: Recording Note Tracks

    11. Recording note tracks If you have an external keyboard connected to the MIDI In of the SQ16 you can play it and record the notes into the note tracks of a Pattern. After recording you can edit the results (see section 4.3.3) or store the Pattern permanently into a Block.

  • Page 78: Editing The Step Recording Track

    2. Select a recording mode using the up/down buttons (step buttons 11 and 12) You can select an individual recording mode for each note track (as an example: n14: SGL STP, n15: SGL LEG, n16: SGL ALL). The recording mode for one note track is global for all Patterns in the SQ16.

  • Page 79: Recording (Modes: Sgl Stp, Sgl Leg, And Sgl All)

    SQ16 11. Recording note tracks 11.1.5. Recording (Modes: SGL STP, SGL LEG, and SGL ALL) 1. Press "Rec On". 2. Press "Loop" if you want to make several recording passes 3. Start the pattern by pressing "Start/Stop" Recording is now active for the selected note track; all remaining instrument tracks and note tracks are played back nor- mally.
  • Page 80 11. Recording note tracks SQ16 • Mode SGL LEG This mode has an important difference to mode SGL STP: All recorded Steps are activated in the Hold track. When playing back the recorded track are notes are played legato, e.g. they are held to the start of the next note.
  • Page 81 SQ16 11. Recording note tracks • Mode SGL ALL: When using this mode all Steps which are active in the Step recording track are filled with the same note played on the keyboard. It doesn't matter at which point the note is played. All Steps that are not set to "On" in the Step recording track are unaffected.

  • Page 82: Recording (Mode: Arp - Up1/Up2/Do1/Do2/Ud1/Ud2/St2/Co1/Co2/Co3)

    Each change of the Step recording track updates the arpeggio if Rec On is active. 2. Playing (Overdub) or recording (Rec On) an arpeggio Start the Pattern by pressing "Start/Stop". The SQ16 is now read to play or record an arpeggio; all remaining tracks are played back normally.
  • Page 83 SQ16 11. Recording note tracks • Mode Arp Up2 The notes are sorted from the lowest to the highest note, then a copy of the notes is transposed up by one octave and appended. Then the resulting notes are assigned one after another to steps.
  • Page 84 11. Recording note tracks SQ16 • Mode Arp St2 The notes are sorted from the lowest to the highest note, then a copy of the notes is transposed up by one octave and appended. Then the resulting notes are assigned one after another to the steps as if all steps would be enabled in the Step recording track.

  • Page 85: Recording In Play Mode - Chain/Play Mode - Song

    SQ16 11. Recording note tracks 11.2. Recording in Play Mode - Chain/Play Mode - Song Recording is similar to Play Mode - Pattern, however only the note track of the currently playing Pattern in the Chain or Song is recorded. Please keep in mind that the Step Recording tracks of the Patterns may differ; the same applies to the MIDI receive channels if the Patterns use different MIDI Sets.

  • Page 86: Rotate

    12. Rotate SQ16 12. Rotate 12.1. Introduction Playing Patterns without using Rotate: When playing back Patterns normally (e.g. without using Rotate) each repetition of a Pattern results in the same rhythm. As an example, if the Pattern length is set to 8 Steps the rhythm repeats itself after those 8 steps: Example: Pattern Length 8 Our example shows a Pattern with a length of 8 Steps together with the On/Off tracks for instrument tracks I1, I2 and I3.
  • Page 87 SQ16 12. Rotate Playing Patterns using Rotate: The Rotate function generates variations in rhythm by changing the Step Play Position; the rhythm of the Pattern itself (e.g. the On/Off tracks) remains unchanged. As an example: We use a Pattern with Pattern Length 8 in which Step 2 and 3 for Instrument I4 are set to "On". We want to change the Step Play Position so that always Steps 1, 2 and 3 are played after another.

  • Page 88: How To Activate Rotate

    12.2. How to activate Rotate: The SQ16 contains 16 different Rotate settings (Rotates). Each Rotate holds individual settings for the Step Play Position for each instrument track and note track. Additionally you can turn the function on and off individually for each instrument track and note track.

  • Page 89: How To Use Rotate

    SQ16 12. Rotate 12.3. How to use Rotate As described in section 12.1 the Step Play Position is changed when using Rotate. This results in rhythmic figures that go beyond the rigid Pattern structure; rhythmic figures that repeat after several passes of a Pattern and are not restricted to the length of a single Pattern.
  • Page 90 12. Rotate SQ16 • Mode d: This mode is used to create random rhythms. After a certain number of steps (Delay) the Step Play Position is incre- mented by a certain number of steps (Shift): • Start: Step Play Position = Step 1 if Delay>1 Step Play Position = Step(1+<Shift>), if Delay=1...
  • Page 91 SQ16 12. Rotate • Mode r: This mode is similar to Mode d; additionally a reset to Step Play Position 1 is performed after a determined number of steps. When using mode d the way the rhythm repeats itself is completely dependant on the Delay and Shift settings and it can be hard to find the correct settings here.
  • Page 92 12. Rotate SQ16 Example 2: Pattern Length 8, Delay = as desired, Shift = 0, Reset = 5 If Shift = 0 the Step Play Position is incremented for each Step as usual by one; the Delay setting isn't used here. Every 5 steps a Reset to Step 1 takes place;...
  • Page 93 • Start: Step Play Position = Step 1; normal output • after <Delay> steps output stops • after <Reset> steps a Reset takes place; the SQ16 returns to normal output and the current Step Play Position is incremented by <Shift> steps Example 1: Pattern Length 8, Delay = 8, Reset = 16, Shift = 0 For the first 8 steps (Delay) the notes play normally, for the next 8 steps the output is suppressed.
  • Page 94 12. Rotate SQ16 Example 2: Pattern Length 8, Delay = 4, Reset = 8, Shift = 2 For the first 4 steps (Delay) the notes are played normally; for the next 4 steps the output is suppressed. After 8 steps (Reset) at step 9 the playing starts again;...
  • Page 95 SQ16 12. Rotate • Mode C This mode is similar to mode h; however playing phase and rest phase are exchanged. After starting the Pattern the out- put is suppressed for <Delay> steps. Then normal playing continues until after <Reset> steps a Reset takes place. Until the Reset the Step Play Position is incremented as usual by one for each step.
  • Page 96 12. Rotate SQ16 Example 2: Pattern Length 8, mode c and h combined • I4: mode h, Delay = 8, Reset = 16, Shift = 0 • I5: mode c, Delay = 8, Reset = 16, Shift = 0 During the first pattern pass (step 1 to 8) instrument I4 is played normally while the output for instrument I5 is suppres- sed.

  • Page 97: On/Off

    SQ16 12. Rotate Editing Delay, Shift, Reset and Mode settings: 1. Activate either • "Rotate - Delay" to change the Delay and Mode settings • "Rotate - Shift" to change the Shift setting • "Rotate - Reset" to change the Reset setting 2.

  • Page 98: Destination

    12. Rotate SQ16 12.5.3. Destination The previous examples demonstrated the effects Rotate has when using this function for the Step Play Position while retai- ning Pattern data. If the Step Play Position for the On/Off track of an instrument track or note track is changed this changes the note output and the rhythm.

  • Page 99: Destination For Instrument Tracks

    SQ16 12. Rotate 12.5.4. Destination for instrument tracks Instrument tracks have four possible Destination values: The LED's indicate which data is affected by the Rotate setting. The Destination value is common for all instrument tracks. Changing the Destination setting: 1. Activate "Rotate" (sub-function irrelevant) The LED's show the current Destination setting for the instrument tracks.
  • Page 100 12. Rotate SQ16 Examples: • Destination 1: The Rotate settings affect both the Accent track and the On/Off track resulting in synchronized Accents and notes. • Destination 2: The Rotate settings affect only the On/Off track. Accents are played at their normal step position and so are only active at Steps 1 and 17.

  • Page 101: Destination For Note Tracks

    SQ16 12. Rotate 12.5.5. Destination for note tracks Note tracks have ten possible Destination values: The LED's indicate which data is affected by the Rotate setting. The Destination value is common for all note tracks. Changing the Destination setting: 1. Activate "Rotate" (sub-function irrelevant) The LED's show the current Destination setting for the note tracks.
  • Page 102 12. Rotate SQ16 Examples (without Hold): • Destination 10: The Rotate settings affect all data of the Note track. On/Off, Accents and Notes are repeated every 5 Steps (without Rotate this would happen every 8 Steps). • Destination 2: The Rotate settings affects only the On/Off track. Accents and Notes use their normal step positions.

  • Page 103: Copying Rotate Data

    SQ16 12. Rotate 12.6. Copying Rotate data If you have selected one of the Rotate functions (Delay, Shift, Reset or On/Off) you can easily copy the currently edited setting (for copying complete Rotates see section 7.2). 12.6.1. Selected function: Delay, Shift or Reset As an example, you have selected Rotate 1 and you are currently editing the Shift setting for instrument track 1 (as an example: current value = 7).

  • Page 104: Tips And Tricks

    It's probably the easiest to use Rotate by trial-and-error, e.g. changing a set- ting and listening to the results. In addition it is necessary to be familiar with the general working principles of the SQ16. But always keep in mind: Rotate doesn't change the data of a Pattern;...
  • Page 105 IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS Read all instructions before using the SQ16 Do not use the SQ16 near water - for example near a bathtub, washbowl, kitchen sink, in a wet basement, on a wet bar, or near or in a swimming pool.
  • Page 106 Specifications Pattern-based MIDI sequencer with 16 steps per Pattern Concept Step Data: 13 instrument tracks (1 note per step, fixed note number, On/Off message) 3 note tracks (1 note per step, arbitrary note number, On/Off message) 8 blocks, each containing User Data -64 Patterns -8 Songs...

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