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McGowan, Julio Ortiz, Mitchel Stahlmann, Steve Starkweather, Brian Tester, Gabby Wen, Taiho Yamada. TRIGON-6 SOUND DESIGN Gil Assayas, Rory Dow, Peter Dyer, Mike Hiegemann, Tim Koon, Kurt Kurasaki, Drew Neumann, Bob Oxley, Julian Pollack, Francis Preve, Lorenz Rhode, Robert Rich, Paul Schil-...
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For Technical Support, email: support@sequential.com Trigon-6 is a registered trademark of Sequential Synths Limited in the UK and other territories. CALIFORNIA PROP 65 WARNING This product may expose you to chemicals including BPA, which is known to the State of California to cause cancer and birth defects or other reproductive harm.
The Trigon-6 is first and foremost a performance instrument. All of its sound-shaping controls are immediately accessible on its front panel, packing a tremendous amount of power and versatility into a compact, easy-to-use format.
Sound Banks The Trigon-6 contains a total of 1000 programs. 500 are permanent and 500 can be overwritten. Banks 0-4 are User Banks that can be overwrit- ten. Banks 5-9 are Factory Banks that are permanent. You can edit the programs of either bank, but you can only save them to Banks 0-4.
Editing Programs Because all of the sound-shaping controls of the Trigon-6 appear on its front panel, editing an existing program is simple: just turn a knob and listen to its effect. Keep turning knobs and pressing buttons and if you like what you’ve created, save the program.
How to Check a Parameter Setting in a Preset When you’re editing a preset, the Trigon-6 has a convenient way of indicat- ing the programmed (saved) value for any knob parameter: Whenever you turn a knob and reach the saved value of a given parameter, an LED dot in the main Trigon-6 display will illuminate.
Live Panel Mode The Trigon-6 also features a “live panel” mode in which its sound switches to the current settings of its knobs and switches. In other words, the current preset is ignored and what you see on the front panel is what you hear.
“tens” digit of the program. 4. Press a button (0-9) to specify the “ones” digit of the program selector program. 5. The button LED stops blinking and the program is saved. write Getting Started Sequential...
The sound is saved. 6. Alternatively, if you want to cancel saving and continue editing, press button. It stops flashing and saving is canceled. write Trigon-6 User’s Guide Getting Started...
If you have two Trigon-6 synthesizers of any type (modules or keyboards) you can link them together with MIDI to increase the total available polyphony to 12 voices. We call this poly chaining. If you have a Trigon-6 keyboard and a Trigon-6 module, you will most likely use the keyboard as the master and the module as the slave.
Pot Modes and determine which works best for you when you’re editing sounds. You’ll also find information about MIDI setup. Read this to more effectively integrate the Trigon-6 into your MIDI rig. To get the most out of the Trigon-6’s live performance capabilities, read up on using a footswitch or expression pedal.
For bidirectional MIDI communication with a 3 . USB Connector— computer. The Trigon-6 is a Class Compliant USB device and does not require additional drivers when used with Mac OS or Windows. See Using USB on page 62 for more information.
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Trigon-6. Not sure which type you have? If the behavior of the footswitch is the opposite of what is expected — that is, down is off and up is on — changing this setting will correct that.” on page 16 for more information.
Pgm Dump Beat Sync Globals 5-9 Decrement Increment Transpose Master Tune MIDI Channel BANK TENS Local Ctrl Seq Jack Pot Mode SELECT BANK PROGRAM SELECT Use the Bank and Tens buttons to scroll backward and forward through parameter settings. Connections Sequential...
Selects which MIDI channel to send and 2 . MIDI Channel: All, 1…16— receive data, 1 to 16. receives on all 16 channels. Sets the Trigon-6’s ability to send and receive MIDI clock 3 . MIDI Clock: messages: • Off: MIDI Clock is neither sent nor received •...
Continuous Controllers. allows the transmission of MIDI Out for Arp/Sequencer in addition to NRPNs. For a list of Trigon-6 CCs and NRPNs, see the MIDI Implementation document. NRPNs are the preferred method of parameter transmission, since they cover the complete range of all parameters, while CCs are limited to a range of 128.
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Additionally, turning on the sequencer or arpeggiator will add sequencer or arpeggiator playback—but controlled by the Trigon-6’s clock settings and not the audio trigger. value •...
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There are two types of momentary footswitches, normally open and normally closed. Either type can be used with the Trigon-6. Not sure which type you have? If the behavior of the footswitch is the opposite of what is expected —...
Multiple waveshapes can be selected simultaneously for each of the three oscillators. The oscillators on the Trigon-6 are extremely stable. To emulate the random pitch drift and oscillator instability of vintage instruments, use the parameter to dial in as vintage little or as much pitch variation as you like.
Oscillator 2 to restart its cycle every time Oscillator 1 starts a cycle. This provides a way to create more complex, harmonically rich shapes from simple waveforms—especially when the frequency of Oscillator 2 is set to a different interval than Oscillator 1. Oscillators Sequential...
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Each oscillator its own volme control. This allows you to mix the levels of the three oscillators into the filter. Rather than limit the Trigon-6’s outputs to keep the instrument from clipping, we allow you to adjust levels at various points in its signal path. This gives you the option to “overload”...
When turned counter-clockwise, can introduce a range of tones feedback from harmonic to chaotic by feeding the Trigon-6’s final output back into the filter stage. Noise Sets the output level of the white noise generator.
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High levels of resonance can cause the filter to self oscillate and generate its own pitch. High levels of resonance can sometimes cause the Trigon-6 outputs to clip if its sound generators are also set to high levels. Monitor your outputs carefully to volume ensure optimal, clean signal levels.
Filter Envelope The Trigon-6’s lowpass filter is modulated by a dedicated four-stage envelope generator. The Filter Envelope is used to shape the harmonic characteristics of a synthesized sound over time by giving you filtering control over its attack, decay, sustain, and release stages.
In most cases, this can’t be changed. The current preference is that the faster or snappier the envelopes, the better. However, in the case of the Trigon-6, there is a hidden feature in the Poly Mod section that allows you to modify the responsiveness of the Filter Envelope’s ADSR controls.
It would begin immediately, remain at its full volume for the duration of the note, then end immediately when the note was released. Again, that’s not very interesting sonically and it’s not typi- cally how instruments behave in the physical realm. Amplifier Envelope Sequential...
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Sets the release time of the envelope. This controls how Release: quickly a sound dies out after a note is released. Trigon-6 Operation Manual Amplifier Envelope...
24-bit, 48 kHz effects digital effects to any sound. Though the Trigon-6 sounds great on its own, adding a touch of reverb or delay can enhance many sounds with a subtle (or not so subtle) sense of ambience and depth. Other effects such as the...
—When a delay effect is chosen, this enables syncing Clock Sync: On, Off of the timed delay repeats (feedback) to the Arpeggiator, Sequencer, or MIDI clock. When Sync is on, delay time provides the following values: Effects Sequential...
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Variable, depending on the effect parameter 2 for the chosen effect. Each effect has two adjustable param- eters, which differ depending on the effect. See “Effects Parameters” on page 29 for details about the adjustable parameters on each effect type. Trigon-6 Operation Manual Effects...
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Adjustable parameters are rate and depth. This is a faithful emulation of Tom Oberheim’s original phaser PH3: design. Use it to add a swirling resonant effect to a sound. Adjustable parameters are rate and depth. Effects Sequential...
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This is a Plate reverb. It emulates a classic reverb plate. Adjustable PLA: parameters are reverb time and early reflection amount. This is a Spring reverb. It emulates a vintage, guitar-amp-style SPr: reverb. Adjustable parameters are decay and tone. Trigon-6 Operation Manual Low Frequency Oscillator...
(periodic pitch modulation) and tremolo (periodic amplitude modulation). The LFO on the Trigon-6 produces a variety of waveshapes, including triangle, sawtooth, reverse sawtooth, square, and random. Though most often used for low-frequency modulation, the Trigon-6 LFO can actually function at speeds that extend into the audible range for extreme effects.
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The Trigon-6 has a sixth “hidden” LFO waveshape that you can use as a modulation source — noise. To access this, choose then turn all the random frequency way clockwise. This generates a white noise waveform. Sets the frequency of the LFO waveshape routed to the Frequency: destination.
LFO to create a tremolo effect. Poly Mod Although the overall sonic character of the Trigon-6 is determined by its analog oscillators and filters, much of its power to make truly unique and unusual sounds comes from the Poly Mod section.
Oscillator 2 (triangle, sawtooth, or square/pulse). Try setting Oscillator 2 to low frequency (using the switch) to low freq further increase modulation possibilities. Trigon-6 Operation Manual Low Frequency Oscillator...
Arpeggiator The Trigon-6 has a full-featured Arpeggiator. Turn it on, hold a chord and the Trigon-6 will play a pattern based on the individual notes held. Choose a mode (up, down, random, etc.), an octave range (1, 2, or 3), and a tempo, then pair it with an appropriately percussive sound, and you’ll be surprised at the number of creative things you can do.
Effects section, the BPM rate affects the LFO frequency and/or delay effect. When syncing to an external MIDI clock source, the BPM setting has no effect. Trigon-6 Operation Manual Arpeggiator...
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Plays from lowest to highest note Down Plays from highest to lowest note Up + Down Plays from lowest to highest and back to lowest Random Plays notes in random order Assign Plays notes in the order the keys were pressed Sequencer Sequential...
Sequencer The Trigon-6’s sequencer is similar to a classic step sequencer. It allows you to create a single sequence of up to 64 steps, including rests and ties, with up to 6 notes per step. In addition, you can play along with a sequence (provided there is available polyphony), making it a powerful live performance tool.
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“Middle C” record is the reference point. Playing a note above middle C transposes the sequence higher by that interval. Playing a note below middle C trans- poses the sequence lower by that interval. Sequencer Sequential...
MIDI Note Output from the Arpeggiator and Sequencer The Trigon-6’s arpeggiator and sequencer can output MIDI note numbers. Any notes that you hold on the Trigon-6 keyboard will be arpeggiated according to the current settings of the arpeggiator and output over MIDI (or USB) as MIDI notes. Similarly, any notes output by the sequencer will be output over MIDI (or USB) as MIDI notes.
To control an external MIDI device: 1. Connect the MIDI or USB output of the Trigon-6 to the MIDI or USB input of the external device, depending on which type of connection the external device requires. 2. On the Trigon-6, press the...
BPM x 3 Eighth note triplets 16th BPM x 4 Sixteenth note 16th S BPM x 4 Sixteenth note, full swing timing 16th T BPM x 6 Sixteenth note triplets 32nd BPM x 8 Thirty-second note Trigon-6 Operation Manual Sequencer...
3. Save the program. (See “Saving a Program” on page 4.) MIDI volume can also influence the overall volume of the Trigon-6 if you are controlling it from an external MIDI source. Sequencer Sequential...
Every other voice goes in a different direction, left or right. Pgm Volume Adjusts the overall volume of an individual program. There is enough gain in the Trigon-6 that if you set some programs to a high , clipping distortion may occur. If this happens, try lowering the program volume...
When used in conjunction with the Arpeggiator, notes are latched on and replaced by any new note(s) struck. If is on and at hold least one key continuously held down, any new notes played are added to the arpeggio. The Hold button Key Mode Sequential...
Glide mode. 2. To select a different mode, continue to hold down the switch then glide press the switches to step through bank decrement tens increment the other choices. 3. When finished, release the switch. glide Trigon-6 Operation Manual Hold...
Unison has another useful feature: chord memory. Instead of assigning voices to a single note, hold down a chord on the keyboard and press the Unison switch. The Trigon-6 memorizes the notes of the chord. Single notes played on the keyboard will then trigger all notes of the stored chord, transposing them as you play up or down the keyboard.
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High note (Hi) and high retrigger (Hir) are similar to the low note settings, except that the highest note is given priority. • Last note (LAS) and last retrigger (LAr) give priority to the last note played. Trigon-6 Operation Manual Unison...
2. With the Unison switch held down, use the bank decrement tens switches to choose the number of voices to stack (2, 3, 4, 5, increment or 12 voices) then release the Unison switch. 3. To detune the oscillators, use the knob. slop Write Sequential...
The Trigon-6 contains a total of 1000 programs. 500 are permanent and 500 can be overwritten. Banks 0-4 are User Banks that can be overwrit- ten. Banks 5-9 are Factory Banks that are permanent. You can edit the programs of either bank, but you can only save them to Banks 0-4.
The sound is saved. 6. Alternatively, if you want to cancel saving and continue editing, press button. It stops flashing and saving is canceled. write Globals Sequential...
4. When finished, press again to exit. globals Pressing the button three times in a row saves the current program as globals the default program that appears when you turn on the Trigon-6. Trigon-6 Operation Manual Globals...
Pitch and Mod Wheels The Trigon-6 has a spring loaded Pitch wheel and a Mod wheel. You can use these controls to enhance live performance by bending notes and adding modulation in real time as you play.
Freq 2 are enabled as modulation destinations in the frequency oscillator section. This adds vibrato when you push the mod wheel forward. Set the initial amt knob to zero to apply vibrato only when using the Mod wheel. Aftertouch Trigon-6 Operation Manual Aftertouch...
The Trigon-6 provides 8 different aftertouch response settings for your conve- nience. The default setting provides a linear response. To choose a different response curve, use the button in the section.
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LFO modulation to any destination selected in section. With a negative setting, pressing the keys harder amount will increase the amount of LFO modulation — with the LFO waveform inverted. Trigon-6 Operation Manual Aftertouch...
— program (PRO), tens (ten), bank (ban), user banks (USR), all (all). 5. Press . The program or bank is exported. write Dumped programs will load back into the same bank and program location in memory when received by the Trigon-6 via MIDI. Calibrating the Trigon-6 Sequential...
The Trigon-6 learns the range of temperatures at your location and will keep itself in tune over this range. A good rule of thumb is cover the main teperature ranges as the Trigon-6 heats up - several minutes after powering on, at about 30 minutes, and at about 1 hour.
In general, the Pitch and Mod wheels shouldn’t require re-calibration. However, if you experience what seems like a persistent problem with either of them, the Trigon-6 has built-in auto-calibration procedure that you can use to remedy the problem. To calibrate the Pitch and Mod wheel’s low position: 1.
Trigon-6 Keyboard Properties — in the Windows Device Manager under “Sound, video, and game control- lers” — and clicking OK. If Trigon-6 Keyboard is no longer listed in the Device Manager, power the Trigon-6 down and back up again while it is connected via USB.
1. With a MIDI cable, connect your MIDI interface to the port of midi in the first Trigon-6. 2. Connect the rear-panel of the first Trigon-6 to the midi thru midi in the second Trigon-6. 3. Perform the OS update in the normal way. See the instructions included with the OS update for step-by-step instructions.
Appendix A: Alternative Tunings By default, the Trigon-6 is set to standard, chromatic western tuning. Additionally it supports up to 16 additional alternative tunings, which you can access using the button in the section. alt tuning globals From the factory, the Trigon-6 ships with 16 preset alternative tunings ranging from Equal temperament to Indonesian Gamelan tunings.
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A pure 3 and 7-limit tuning which resolves to very symmetrical derived relationships between notes. Some of the intervals are very close together, offering several choices for the same nominal chords. A=1/1 (440 Hz) 1/1 9/8 8/7 7/6 9/7 21/16 4/3 3/2 32/21 12/7 7/4 63/32 Appendix A: Alternative Tunings Sequential...
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Similar to Yamaha’s preset Just Major, the Just Minor gives preferential treatment to minor thirds on the sharps, and has a good fifth relative to the second. C= 1/1 (261.625) 1/1 25/24 10/9 6/5 5/4 4/3 45/32 3/2 8/5 5/3 16/9 15/8 Trigon-6 Operation Manual Appendix A: Alternative Tunings...
Appendix C: MIDI Implementation The Trigon-6 receives MIDI data according to the settings you have chosen in the settings. In addition, there is interaction between global some of the Program parameters that determine the overall response of Trigon-6 to MIDI data. Following are the Global parameters that affect...
1110 nnnn 0vvvvvvv 0vvvvvvv Pitch Bend LS Byte then MS Byte Notes: 0kkkkkkk Note number 0 — 127 nnnn Channel number 0 to 15 (MIDI channel 1-16). Ignored if MIDI channel set to ALL 0vvvvvvv Value Appendix C: MIDI Implementation Sequential...
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0vvvvvvv Pitch Bend LS Byte then MS Byte Notes: 0kkkkkkk Note number 0 — 127 nnnn Channel number 0 to 15 (MIDI channel 1-16). Ignored if MIDI channel set to ALL 0vvvvvvv Value Trigon-6 Operation Manual Appendix C: MIDI Implementation...
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0100 0000 0vvvvvvv Damper pedal: Sends 0 if off, 0111 1111 when on 1011 nnnn 0000 0111 0vvvvvvv Volume knob See sections that follow for additional Continuous Controller (CC) and Non-registered Parameter Number (NRPN) messages transmitted. Appendix C: MIDI Implementation Sequential...
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Additional Continuous Controllers Transmitted/Received The following table details how MIDI Continuous Controllers (CCs) are mapped to Trigon-6 controls. They are transmitted when Param Xmit is set to CC, and recognized/received when MIDI Rcv Receive is set to CC. Param Param...
Increment and Decrement commands, which some controllers utilize. Finally, it responds to one RPN (Registered Parameter Number) command, the RPN/NRPN Reset command, which can be handy for resetting the currently selected parameter to a known state. Appendix C: MIDI Implementation Sequential...
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1032 MIDI SysEx Enable 1043 Mono/Stereo 0 = Off 0 = Stereo 1 = On 1 = Mono 1044 0-16 Alt Tuning *Controller received, but not transmitted. †Controller transmitted, but ignored when received. Trigon-6 Operation Manual Appendix C: MIDI Implementation...
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Program Parameter Data The following table lists Trigon-6’s program parameters. NRPN Value Description NRPN Value Description 0-127 VCA Env Decay 0-60 Osc 1 Freq 0-127 VCA Env Sustain Osc 1 Sync 0-127 VCA Env Release 0-127 Osc 1 Level VCA Env Vel On/Off...
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1039 Seq Jack Arp Tim Sig 1040 Sustain Polarity 30-250 1041 Velocity Response Seq On/Off 1042 At Response 0-63 Seq Length 1043 Stereo Mono Seq Mode 1044 0-16 Alt Tuning Seq Play Mode Trigon-6 Operation Manual Appendix C: MIDI Implementation...
Control NRPN Data The following table lists the Trigon-6’s control NRPN data. It is received and transmitted but not saved as part of a program. NRPN Value Description 1088 Seq Play/Stop * Osc 1 Sync 0-127 Osc 1 Level 0-254...
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Bank Number, 0 - 9 0vvv vvvv Program Number, 0 - 99 1111 0111 End of Exclusive (EOX) The Trigon-6 will respond by sending out the Program Data in the format described below in Program Data Dump. Request Program Edit Buffer Dump Status Description...
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Program Data Dump Status Description 1111 0000 System Exclusive (SysEx) 0000 0001 DSI ID 0010 1101 Trigon-6 ID 0000 0010 Program Data 0000 00vv Bank Number: 0 - 9 0vvv vvvv Program Number: 0 - 99 0vvv vvvv 1024 bytes expanded to 1171 MIDI bytes in “packed MS bit” format...
Here are a few suggestions for resolving problems that may occur. The sequencer or arpeggiator has stopped running. Check the Clock settings (Global button 3) to ensure the Trigon-6 is set or, if set to , make sure the Trigon-6 is receiving MIDI clock.
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To calibrate the oscillators and filters: 1. Hold down the preset button and press 0. 2. The front panel LEDs and display begin flashing as the Trigon-6 performs its auto-calibration procedure. Don’t turn off the power while it’s doing this.
If your Trigon-6 is currently equipped with OS 1.2 (which is included with Trigon-6 serial numbers #2415 and later) you cannot downgrade to an OS version earlier than 1.2. If you try, your Trigon-6 will freeze. If this happens, you can enter recovery mode by holding the button while powering up as described above.
Contacting Technical Support If you are still having a problem with the Trigon-6, contact Technical Support at support@sequential.com. Please include your Trigon-6’s serial number, the version of the operating system (displayed on startup), and the purchase date. If you have not already reset the Global parameters and run the calibration routines (see Troubleshooting, above), you should do it before contacting Technical Support.
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Sequential LLC 1527 Stockton Street, 3rd Floor San Francisco, CA 94133 www.sequential.com...
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