This is the first video exposing the Sequarallel prototype to le grand public. It was a test video to visualize flaws but went pretty good so I thought I'd post it on youtube with some text descriptions of what's going on ( so as not to interfere with the sound -with my voice )

Oddly the display looks crooked but it's not that much! The final modules won't be (we hope!)

Looping and transposing is many demonstrated in this video, but the Drum mode is shown and clock alignment goes without say :)

The JumpTo Quick-Box wasn't yet functional. This was redefined in following months

The Sequarallel is slowly changing into the release version and this video marks some decent changes that make more sense: +Velocity Jacks now assignable to CC, Velocity, AT, and MIDI MPE compatible +Old CC1 jack is now "dedicated" MIDI input.

 (Korg TRS) +MIDI input can also accept Sequence Reset trigger if normal T-S plug used +CC's 5 & 6 are bidirectional configurable per sequence +Added Clock Out arrow to show it is bi-directional for Analog controls as well More advanced features are also in the works but won't be explored until the new design (for the bi-dir CC5&6 mostly) is ready.

Manufactured PCB design is also being updated.

Shift rotates all notes in a selected lane with each click of the encoder. The Shift can be used in conjunction with "SKIP" to only shift every 2nd, 3rd, 4th etc. step.

As it destructively updates the sequence, changing the SKIP setting and re-shifting can jumble the orders up with surprising results! Shift can be used to shift all lanes together, and possibly using the RANGE parameter to only shift within a certain area (TBD) This can be achieved now by simply changing the Start/End parameters found further down the QB pop-up SHIFT is in.

"A Look at the Sequarallel in Action!"

I haven't been doing development on the Sequarallel due to summer holidays and mayhem, but did fire him up today to have a play.

I had selected Song#28 and just let it roll and hopped around the UI screens showing this and that. The tunage was probably just thrown together to test stuff, then perhaps added with a BSP or FL Studio or just playing in Layers, can't remember.

The point is the Play List is fairly populated and the song becomes generative to a degree if left alone. I had to of course change stuff for the video to be interesting and slightly educational.

The first 3:30 is all splash, then a light "how to" for DAW recording and  TRAX trackers. Much of this video is outdated but shows some of the original features before the re-design!

SONG / SONGFX

"Simple Sequences Under Song FX"

This video demonstrates Sequences being influenced by the Song Loops' FX settings. The 3 Main FX a Song Loop Block can send at the discretion of the Song FX are Transpose, Scale, and Swing. So all sequences can follow these modifiers.

All other additional effects must be opted into by the receiving sequence, in particular a Layer Sequencer Step. Notes can be re-triggered by the playing SongFX subsequencer mask & clock, Limits can be applied, Mirroring, lengths, etc. TRAX, being a tracker, cannot be changed by additional Song FX, but each tracker still has it's own FX on the Button and in the Play List, Automation, or by remote control.

The Sequarallel's trackers and Note FX are another level anyway!

Sequarallel - Song Loops Record

This demo/tutorial is on Recording in a song sequence to chop up into loops that can have SongFX applied and be placed into the Play List.

There are some considerations depending on what you want to do with the Song i.e. Will loops points align to be useful as loops? Is the file/sequence heavy with CC changes and you want to use time quantization on some loops? Can you run the sequence for a bit after the last notes to allow for a good last loop trimming? Is there every possible combination of instruments or parts that you want to use (more is better) Is there already swing in the piece? If so it should be removed as may cause loop or quantization misalignment..

In the second half of the video we will lightly explore SongFX, but this on it's own is really the topic of another video as there are many more methods and possibilities.

MIDI LAYERS

"SongFX Note Re-triggering Layers"

Song Loops, even if just an empty shell, can each have a unique SongFX bundle which can manipulate MIDI note's properties and even re-trigger them to a built in mask sub-sequencer.

This video shows how to apply these FX to Recorded Layers by opting in Steps in a Layer Loop Step Sequencer. After this, another SongFX was created and sequenced in the Play List with a transpose and different scale parameters (etc!) This is not shown as the video was getting rather long!

"Layer Sequences - Some Odd, Some Not"

This is a little tour of playing with various Layer Step Sequences and applying FX to Steps.

The Sequencers could be called Layer Bar Sequencers as well as they do step after 1 to 96 bars as set by the user. The Layer recordings can be odd numbers of bars like 5 , 7, or 13 as in this video, or kept within the 4/4 spectrum like 4, 8, 32, etc. As the step size has nothing to do with the Layers within the step, looping of shorter recordings, or re-triggering of others that are longer is possible.

Quantizing of notes playing in Layers can be set from 1/4 down to a fine 1/32, so can align even non-clocked recordings, i.e. from a MIDI sequencer with a different clock. I have used a RIT_M gate to clock the Sequarallel while recording, as well as a divided down VCO that is also being sequenced, which produces surprisingly intelligent cadences and melodies.

 Experimenting is really key with the Sequarallel and, even after developing the module for well over a year, I am still learning to use the module myself. It's deep, but very immediate.

"Sequarallel - MIDI Layer Recording by Function"

Sequarallel Recording Layers from DAW

The Layer QB's can be used for more than just playing in Layers of MIDI, they can also be used to "import" loops from your DAW or favorite MIDI sequencer / MPC. With the addition of a "Clock Start" recording option in V.1.3  it's no longer required there be notes at the beginning of loops.

Layers can be added while the sequencer is playing provided you can arm it in the bar (measure) before the loop, or by simply arming the record and the Sequarallel's Play and starting the source playing.

1-shot mode is recommended though or else multiple loops will be recorded in series right? V.1.4 is shown in the video

TRAX TRACKERS

This feature is different from recording notes into the tracker from a keyboard in that it's similar to traditional Sequencer control of each step. ..even though the "play in" method still functions on the same remote channel.

We think it's a good addition to the Sequarallel and have decided it should stay!

"Sequarallel TRAX Tracker Part 1: Editor"

This video is a supplement to the users manual mainly to show the TRAX editor and some of the editing tools.

It describes the Copy/Paste, and regional editing of note lengths, delays, levels, and the notes themselves while the Random QB is turned on. Any highlighted steps/notes will be randomized on exit.

Indirectly, the Length, Level, Delay, and Scaling is touched upon. Scaling will be covered more at length during an upcoming video.

"Sequarallel TRAX Tracker Part 2 - Setup QB"

On the whole, the TRAX Setup QB is quite simple, but I adopt a step by step description of each setting and do a lengthy demonstration thereof, working towards the Gate/CV Bridge Sequencer and trying it out with some NoteFX chop & echo settings.

The CV Mode settings for lane-based output configuration directly from TRAX, rather than a MIDI source, is also lightly explored.

In that context, during the recording of the video, I manage to miss the fact that velocity output on CC1 jack also needs to be configured to TRAX. I'll be sure to reiterate that lesson in the CV Mode video tutorial!

"Sequarallel TRAX Tracker Part 3 - Note FX"

Each part has an example based on 4 TRAX sequences I set up before hand. Good thing I did as the video is quite long! There may be a future NoteFX video on the nuances of creating a great sequence with little effort.

The next video will be the final TRAX related tutorial to cover the TRAX Quick-Box button's drop-downs, and configuring CV Mode / Order QB's for different ways to get TRAX stuff out to the jacks.

TRAX Tracker Part 4 - TRAX QB & CV MODE

This video, tutorial, the final in the TRAX Series, goes through the various TRAX Quick-Box FX that apply to all letters in that TRAX QB, then CV Modes from TRAX to the Gate & CV Jacks via MIDI Channel, and direct TRAX2CV out.

TRAX Lanes and Gate+CV Outputs are directly linked but can still be changed to different Lane order or partially direct, partially MIDI Channel. This makes the Gate+CV rows very flexible to satisfy pretty much any VCO requirement.

I didn't touch on the CV MODE:DRUMS as it's a completely different method

THE PLAY LIST

OTHER TOPIC TUTORIALS
CV-->MIDI-->CV, SETTINGS

Using Scala Micro-tuning

The Sequarallel now supports Scala-created micro-tonal / per note tuning for CV control of a VCO. I must admit I originally didn't like changing frequencies away from the western scale but have realized there are some advantages to it, and very interesting scales indeed.

Each of the 4 CV jack rows can use it's own tuning, and the original auto-calibration remains intact. This is tuning is used to create the micro-tuned set. Each jack row can hold up to 8 VCO tunings, thus up to 8 Scala sets :)

"Sequarallel Arpeggiator - ORD:ARPEG"

This tutorial covers the 5th CV Mode Order, ARPEG. Up to 4 Arp's can run simultaneously, each with their own settings, rate, mask pattern and MIDI channel if you would like to go beyond the Gate & CV jacks.

The really nice thing about the 4 Arps is that you can run them all off the same MIDI channel (or source) if desired! Also, you can play & record MIDI Layers, and feed them to the Arp at different times by using the Layer Step FX to change the MIDI channel.  

Arp can also output from TRAX trackers of course but because of the capability of TRAX, it's rather redundant. In any case, that's what I use in the video to demonstrate the Latching mostly.

"Sequarallel - CV Input Functions"

The more exciting aspect of the CV Inputs is that each has a MIDI Learn Function so any parameter can be controlled via CV from Master Transpose to a single note in a TRAX sequence, or a NoteFX variation of that Note!

Interestingly, recording CV Notes at +24 Transpose, then playing the recording still with transpose +24 = +48, some notes still manage to bottom out due to the neg. voltages on the LFO. Those notes were really low!

"NRPN's and How to Send + More CV Input Controls"

The Sequarallel's NRPN method is shown, followed by a bunch of possible uses for CV input remote control of various MIDI and internal parameters if you would like to keep on watching!

Apologies for the less than crystal video on the display for those, most of them were not set up for public release and the camera was simply too far away to be clear. All the same, I thought it would be great to share some of them.

Modular Select Bus Feature

Select Bus on the Sequarallel can be Master or Slave or Automatic (both). Because there is a Select Bus Quick-box on the screen, as a master the Sequarallel can be used to invoke select bus state changes with other modules adorned with Select Bus capability.

State Save messages can also be sent from within the SELBUS menu.

As a slave, the Sequarallel's Song Projects can be loaded number for number, or any parameter can be changed via state changes up to 64!

 This is an uncharacteristic way to use select bus but can be very useful as you'll see.

Apologies for the horrid lighting from the side. The sun had come out and was reflecting somehow (I guess!) In any case it shows the textured finish quite nicely!

"A Look at the Sequarallel in Action!"

I haven't been doing development on the Sequarallel due to summer holidays and mayhem, but did fire him up today to have a play.

I had selected Song#28 and just let it roll and hopped around the UI screens showing this and that. The tunage was probably just thrown together to test stuff, then perhaps added with a BSP or FL Studio or just playing in Layers, can't remember.

The point is the Play List is fairly populated and the song becomes generative to a degree if left alone. I had to of course change stuff for the video to be interesting and slightly educational.

The Song View has been removed as it served little purpose once the whole SongFX and Song Loops relationship evolved. It did look cool but used a massive amount of resources!

So for a fun video during some down time I hooked it up to the Sequarallel module I have been developing to see how different it sounds to my usual kit (Yamaha V-Drums, MIDI Plus box) for a test run. Most of the MIDI coming from the Sequarallel is just sequences I was using to test various features or trouble-shoot bugs, so it's not epic...in fact it's barely tolerable.. but the MU128 belts out some pretty clean audio which really works well with the 4 VCO's I have patched to the CV outputs. I am very impressed with the drum kits on this thing as well. Yamaha really pulled out all of the stops back in '98 with this synth and I think it has a solid place in history.