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The Accord Sequarallel Eurorack Module by SDS Digital |
Tips & Tricks
Here's some neat tips & tricks not mentioned in the manual that you can
use while programming the Sequarallel! Some are by design, while others I
have discovered.
| Layer Step modifying still playing loop | If the recorded loop is, say, 16 bars and the step is only
8, the next step(s) can be used to modify the still playing loop. For
example: The 2nd step has a transpose modification, then the 1st half of
the loop will be as recorded while the last 8 bars will be transposed.
This can by useful if the loop is repetitive over, say, 4 bars, like a
Layer recording of a TRAX. So 2 groups of 4 will play as origional, the 2
groups will play transposed. Any other loops also in the 2nd step will
start already transposed. Here is an
example
|
| Keyboard Remote Control many Loops | Would you like to be able to summon many loops with the
press of keyboard keys or pads? Using remote learn and seperating your
loops into "islands" in the PlayList is the way to do it. If more than one
track is used for the loop (i.e. a Layer recording and a TRAX in tandem)
make sure there in an empty row between each set in the PlayList. Once
these have been added, turn on Remote Learn and go under "JUMPTO" QB and
change from ROW to GROUP. Exit and select the "G Loop" number and press
the keyboard key to learn it in. This loops can be more then one block
high, JumpTo Group doesn't care one way or the other. This form of JumpTo
sees the groups, not the steps in the PlayList. The last (or first) Group
can be a 1-bar conditional for silence loop. Up to 32 loops can be
controlled this way but with muting & mirror it could theoretically be
many times more.... if you could remember them all. It would take some
planning! Another trick is to assign 25 keys to master Transpose. C=-12, c#=-11 etc to C=0 then C=+12. This way the loops can be used in any key at your fingertips! Track Levels can be assigned to knobs if you have them and don't want to control the actual volume of the channels.
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| Arpeggiate only part or the song with PLFX and a dummy TRAX | If you want to only arpeggiate a part of your song, then a
dummy TRAX (nothing playing in it) can be added into the PlayList and have
PLFX applied to switch the Order QB to ARPEG. If it's only 4 bars, then
make your dummy TRAX only 4 bars -as long as the Arp starts on a division
of 4's. If not then make it 2 or even 1 but you'll have to add more blocks
into the PlayList before it. If the Arp is a 1-shot then you can put a Conditional block, after adding the last block with a PLFX to change it back, that is set to CN (Continous loop). If you want it to Arp every 16th bar for example, or uneven amount each time, then apply PLFX to the main loops to "Arm" the "arpeggiator on" blocks to play again.
|
| Stopping Arp Latch Runaway | If your song uses Arp Order with "Latch" turned on, and is
such that the latch stays on undesirably when the track that created it
stops (doesn't have a single note to turn off the latched arp), then a
PLFX can be used on the start of the loop that is different. This PLFX can
switch the Arp QB back to Stack or whatever it was before. Don't forget
though, if the song uses it again, the Order must be switched back Arpeg
again.
|
| Envelope 1-shot bars | If you only need Envelope to play for one block, you can
set the envelope to be triggered every Bar but use PlayFX on block and
after block in PlayList to switch from the CC jack to None. The envelope
will stop. This usually works right away, but if not do a save and
re-start and it will! This is useful if you only want a modulation on,
say, a VCO, on a certain loop.
|
| Ending a Song | To end a song, probably the best way is to insert
Conditionals on the end or each track with the time-outs set to CN
(continuous). The clock and envelopes will continue but no more Midi or CV
changes from notes.
|
| Recording in TRAX range | If you want to only record a single lane and a certain
length, in the TRAX editor turn on record, then use the FILL setting to
set size in steps, then select your start point in the grid. The range you
have selected will be updated each time the "playhead" passes if there's
notes to lay down. This can be useful when you already have a loop that
sounds good but want to add a bit more in an unused lane. *If you have the TRAX Record delete/stack/cycle/recall remote notes set up, these will work as before.
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| TRAX Record: Stacking without stack | If you don't have the stack remote key set up for TRAX
recording, pressing your first note or chord in the grid, but then holding
it/one down will cause all other notes that follow to be stacked up in the
lanes, rather than just overwriting steps. I used this method a lot in the
earlier versions of TRAX and still do it now! Of course configuring the
Stack remote in TRAX Recording setup is much easier... plus doesn't have
to be held until you want it off!
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| VCO Tuning/Calibration Section | When tuning a VCO for use with that certain row it's a
good idea to tune the VCO's main frequency knob to it's "center" position.
This may not be ideal for all VCO's but it serves as a reminder of where
that knob actually was when I calibrated the Sequarallel to it!
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| Moving Screensaver | The default screen saver for the Sequarallel whether
playing or not is the Dim screen. It's rather boring so why not open
VIEWSONG QB, scroll down to screen and watch the music happen? When
stopped after play, the screen will show last notes played which will be
different than yesterday or 5 minutes ago, so low risk of screen burn in
right? If entered after play, most of the time it's just a blank screen.
|
| Live Song Recording Clock Hidden | One of my favorite things to to with the Sequarallel (yep
every once in a while...) is just do a recording of jamming on the piano
without hearing anything to reveal the actual tempo the recording is at.
Once done (a minute or two) I break it up into bite-sized song loops then
apply various SongFX to the resulting "loops". I almost always quantize
them first because I like rhythmic sounds, then go into the sub-sequencer
to modify the way it plays with selective modifying Arpeggiations and
Limit, Length, and even mirroring and scale quantization. It can be remarkable what results! I rarely save them but it's a fun and interesting hour and with time quantizing and the sub-sequencer almost sounds intentional. I guess this would depend on you playing style. Using the CV Mode Arpeggiator with MIDI out adds a whole other dimension to it.
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| TRAX Record / Edit Note Length Default | As of V.3.8 you can now define the default (Length fixed
value) and editing new note insertion note length. Before it was fixed at
23 but I find that most times I am changing this to a shorter value for
all notes as I love to use TRAX NoteFX echo, as I'm sure many of you also
do, and the Midi - lane interpreter Stacks my lovely single lane VCO notes
into the next output as it's still playing the previous note! This can be a pain if there's only 1 VCO hooked up, or worse it's another VCO with a completely different timbre! It sounds like a missing tooth until I manual select all of the involved notes and reduce their lengths. Now it's so much easier, although should it be 12? 3? Hmmm. Enjoy the update! |
If you know of a good tip or trick, contact me at fresh@freshnelly.com with "Tips & Tricks"
--Last Page Update 25/01/25--