Microfreak/UG/15 Using Scales/01 Scale Settings

• 15.1 Scale settings

  • Utility offers scale selection in two places:
    • Utility > Misc > Scale sets the scale globally for keyboard playing, sequences, and arpeggios.
    • Utility > Preset > Scale sets the scale for the current preset.

  • Note/Info Save the same preset several times with different Scale or Root note settings to keep multiple versions.
    

  • The Scale option filters chromatic notes into a scale. The manual lists these note sets:
    • Major: C, D, E, F, G, A, B
    • Minor: C, D, E♭, F, G, A, B♭, B
    • Harmonic Minor: C, D, E, F, G, A♭, B
    • Dorian: C, D, E♭, F, G, A, B♭
    • Mixolydian: C, D, E, F, G, A, B♭
    • Blues: C, D, E♭, F, G♭, G, A♭, A, B♭
    • Pentatonic: C, D, E, G, A
  • To hear scale quantization, switch on the MicroFreak, choose a simple sound such as the “keys 2” template preset 131, then open Utility > Preset > Scale and press the preset select knob to choose a scale.
  • With Major selected, the white keys play the major scale. Black keys are also quantized into that scale: the key that normally plays C♯ plays C, and each black key is lowered by a semitone to fit the scale. Chords played on the keyboard therefore use notes from the selected major scale.
  • To compare scale colors, press Arpeggio and hold C, the third step, and the fifth step to play a C major chord. In Utility > Preset > Scale, turn the encoder to hear how the third changes in Minor, Dorian, and Blues.

  • Note/Info Start an arpeggio or sequence in one scale, then cycle through Utility > Misc > Scale to hear it change scale while playing.