This step-sequencer can trigger sixteen different drum samples over midi in a programmable pattern. The device is operated with 18 push buttons to select voice and program patterns. 16 dual color leds indicate the status of the sequencer. The tempo can be set with a potmeter, of synced to the clock on the midi input. The sequencer had 4 output that are individually switchable between sequencer-out and midi-thru. The velocity can be set for each step and for each voice individually. Using the shuffle-pot the produced rhythm can be given some extra swing.
The sequencer has been expanded with a voice-mute mode, in which individual voices can be muted by pressing the corresponding button. This mode can be activated by pressing ‘select’ and then ‘listen’. The led above these buttons indicates the current mode. When one of the mute buttons is pressed, this voice will be placed in the mute cue. Voices in the mute cue are indicated by a flashing green light. When the internal clock passes a multiple of 2 bars, the mute commands in the cue are executed. For un-muting it works exactly the same. In this way is it easy to synchronize multiple (un)mute events to each other and to the global structure of the music. To mute a voice instanteneously, press ‘select’ + the voices mute button.
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The switch between internal clock and midi sync was giving unreliable data. When the switch was set to midi sync, the sequencer sometimes internally switched to its internal clock for a short while and jumped back to midi sync. Because the midi clock in only a metronome and contains no absolute timing position, such a small glitch would already unsynchronize sequencer. I decided to disable the internal clock in the software.
Sequencer by night
With voicemute
3000MT series
Patterns can be stored in an internal EEPROM memory to save them for later, even when the power has been off. By pressing ‘listen’ en then ‘select’, you will enter StoreMode. In total, 6 patterns can be saved. The six leftmost buttons load pattern 1 to 6. button 7 and 8 will always load an empty pattern. button 9 to 14 can be used to save pattern 1 to 6. When saving, ‘select’ must be pressed simultaneously. Storing patterns takes up a little time: the rhytmotronic will hang for half a second, but retrieving data goes instantaneously. Loading patterns is synced to a multiple of 2 bars, just like the voice mute function. Again, patterns can be loaded immediately using ‘select’.
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Started in February 2008