Microfreak/UG/13 Sequencer/01 Use

• 13.1. Using the Sequencer

  • The icon strip changes function with Arp | Seq. In arpeggiator mode, its icons control Hold, Order, Random, and Pattern. After Shift + Seq activates the sequencer, they control Tie/Rest, pattern A, pattern B, Record/Stop, and Play/Stop.
  • The Sequencer Controls
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  • The Sequencer Controls: Stop and Start
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  • The Tie/Rest Icon
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  • Tie/Rest: During step recording, extend a note across steps or enter silence.
  • A and B: Select the pattern.
  • Record (O): Start step recording while playback is stopped. During playback, press Record to start real-time recording.
  • Play (>): Start or stop playback; also ends step recording.

  • Note/Info During playback, the MicroFreak sends MIDI and analog clock signals. Starting or stopping playback also sends MIDI start or stop messages to external sequencers.
    

  • A preset can contain monophonic or paraphonic patterns. In paraphonic mode, the sequencer can play up to four voices; with Paraphony off, it plays only the lowest note of each step.
  • Keyboard notes take priority over sequence notes. If you hold two keys in four-voice paraphonic mode, two voices remain for the sequence, which plays its lowest two notes. Incoming MIDI notes have the same priority as keyboard notes; sequence notes have the lowest priority.

  • Note/Info The pitch CV output sends the lowest note in a sequence step. During keyboard playing, it sends the most recently played note.
    

  • MIDI sends all notes in a played chord, including velocity and aftertouch, even when the chord has more than four notes.
  • Microfreak/UG/13 Sequencer/01 Use/01 Select & Play

    • 13.1.1. Selecting and Playing a Sequence Pattern

      • A new preset has empty patterns. A factory or saved preset may contain data in A or B. Press A or B to load that pattern; the display shows “Sequence X Loaded.”
      • During playback, press A or B to switch patterns. Both patterns have the same length within a preset and play one at a time. Recorded patterns are saved with their preset.
      • To discard recent changes and reload the last saved version of a pattern, hold Shift and press its A or B icon.
      • To erase a pattern, hold its A or B icon and press Hold. Both buttons blink until the erase finishes.

      • Note/Info You can erase or reload A while B plays, and the reverse.
        

      • Once a pattern contains notes, pressing a keyboard key starts the currently selected pattern; you need not press Play first.
      • A pattern can hold both notes and modulation data.
  • Microfreak/UG/13 Sequencer/01 Use/02 Keyboard

    • 13.1.2. The Sequencer and the Keyboard

      • In monophonic mode, holding a keyboard key pauses a playing sequence. The sequence resumes when you release the key. In paraphonic mode, it continues alongside your playing.
      • The sequencer can play Unison voices or trigger chords in Chord Mode. Voice priority is keyboard notes, then incoming MIDI notes, then sequencer notes.
  • Microfreak/UG/13 Sequencer/01 Use/03 Record

    • 13.1.3. Recording a Sequence

      • A pattern stores its length, notes and velocity for each step, ties and rests, and up to four recorded modulation parameters. A and B share their length.

      • Note/Info Gate length is stored in the sequence. Set a global gate length for each preset in Utility; identical sequences in different presets can then have different gate lengths.
        

      • Microfreak/UG/13 Sequencer/01 Use/03 Record/01 Step Time

        • 13.1.3.1. Step-Time Recording a Sequence

          • Stop playback and press Record. Hold one or more notes for the current step. You can change the notes while holding keys; the first four notes held before all keys are released are stored. Releasing all keys advances to the next step.

          • Note/Info Recording new information in a step overwrites its previous contents.
            

          • Press Tie/Rest without holding notes to insert a silent step and advance.
          • To sustain a note or chord across steps, hold it and press Tie/Rest for each additional step. Releasing the keys advances again.
          • The display shows the current step and its recorded notes. After the final step, the MicroFreak enters Play mode automatically.
          • In step recording, an incoming MIDI Start/Play message switches the sequencer to real-time recording.
      • Microfreak/UG/13 Sequencer/01 Use/03 Record/02 Edit

        • 13.1.3.2. Editing a Sequence

          • Select A or B, stop playback, and press Record. Turn Rate/Swing to move through the steps. The MicroFreak plays each step's notes and recorded modulation as you reach it, looping to the beginning after the final step.
          • At the desired step, hold new notes to replace the stored notes. Press Hold to replace the step with a rest.

          • Note/Info Step recording also accepts notes and velocity from a keyboard connected to MIDI In.
            

          • Note/Info In step mode, Shift + Rate/Swing changes the sequence length while you work.
            

      • Microfreak/UG/13 Sequencer/01 Use/03 Record/03 Real Time

        • 13.1.3.3. Real-Time Recording a Sequence

          • Start playback, then press Record. A blinking Record icon means the sequencer is waiting for notes or knob movements.
          • During note recording, each pass through the loop replaces notes played at the corresponding steps in the previous pass. Modulation recording runs for one cycle and then stops recording.
          • Playing a note replaces the recorded note at that point. Pressing Hold while recording replaces notes or modulation events at that point with silence; you can fill the gap on the next pass.
          • A DAW can play notes into a MicroFreak set to real-time recording. You can later add knob movement to the modulation tracks.
          • Tip: A longer sequence provides finer recording resolution. Set its length in Utility > Preset > Seq Length; a slower recording rate can make note and modulation placement easier.

          • Note/Info You can start in step recording and press Play to record the remainder in real time. The sequencer cannot switch back to step recording during that take.
            

      • Microfreak/UG/13 Sequencer/01 Use/03 Record/04 Copy

        • 13.1.3.4. Copying a Sequence

          • Hold the source pattern's A or B icon, then press the destination pattern's icon. To copy A to B, hold A and press B; to copy B to A, hold B and press A. Check the display for confirmation.
          • Copying a pattern lets you keep its melody while recording different modulation movements in the other pattern, then alternate between the two during performance.
      • Microfreak/UG/13 Sequencer/01 Use/03 Record/05 Arp

        • 13.1.3.5. Using the Arpeggiator to Create Sequences

          • Create an arpeggio and transfer it to a sequence to retain its Spice & Dice variations. Standard sequence recording disables Spice & Dice, so transferring an arpeggio is the way to include those effects in a sequence. See Microfreak/UG/12 Arpeggiator for the transfer procedure.