The exponential setting should be good for Korg & Yamaha keyboards & sequencers
Friday, 20 January 2023
Hz/volts - synths and sequencers
The exponential setting should be good for Korg & Yamaha keyboards & sequencers
Monday, 14 December 2020
1010 bitbox - triggered by Pioneer squid
1. C-3 (48)*
2. C#3 (49)*
3. D-3 (50)*
4. D#3 (51)*
5. G#2 (44)**
6. A-2 (45) *
7. A#2 (46)**
8. B-2 (47)*
9. E-2 (40)*
10. F-2 (41)*
11. F#2 (42)*
12. G-2 (43)*
13. C-2 (36)*
14. C#2 (37)*
15. D-2 (38)*
16. D#2 (39)*
Arturia (e.g. Beatstep Pro and Keystep) and Novation (e.g. Circuit and Launchpad Pro) , Music1010 (MX4, blackbox, bitbox, synthbox) use ‘TRS MIDI B
Saturday, 13 June 2020
Modular Clocks - Analog, MIDI , PPQN
devices from different manufacturers, the more complex things can get.
Which is the sound of the future"
And I didn't have any idea what to do but I knew I needed a click
So we put a click on the 24-track which was then synced to the Moog modular
I knew that it could be a sound of the future
But I didn't realize how much the impact would be..."
Basic Tempo is made up of beats.
Beats are grouped into bigger units called measures.
Most often, a measure has 2 to 4 beats (though it can really have as many divisions as is desired).
A note which lasts for 1 beat is called a quarter note..... since it divides the average measure into quarters......
For electronic instruments.... this beat is actually a pulse of electricity..... often a 5V to 10V
amplitude pulse which had a regular cycle. This cycle was the sync signal and was used to clock pre midi devices.
With the advent of MIDI, instead of being measured by cycles per second, the time base
was changed to Parts Per Quarter Note (PPQN), also known as pulses per quarter (PPQ), or Pulse (per) quarter note (PQN), and ticks per quarter note (TPQN)
MIDI sequencing hardware and software uses a variable number of timing
resolutions. From as little as 24PPQN to 480 PPQN
A sequencer's resolution is defined as its ability to divide the beat of a quarter note into
a pulses. The more pulses, the more accurate a sequencer is.
Common divisions used by sequencers are :
24 parts - 24 ppqn
48 pulses - 48 ppqn
96 parts - 96 ppq
192 ppqn, etc etc etc
A module like Pamela's Workout will sync to an external clock input between 1PPQN to 24PPQN.
My Beastek Amoeba trigger module needs a 8 TPQN clock if you require external syncronization.
Note that most analog sequencers send out a pulse every 16th note which equals 4PPQN
MIDI clock = 24 pulses, so called "ticks" per quarter note
Roland equipment (606,707.727,808.909) use 24 pulses per quarter note (PPQN for short), known as DIN Sync24.
A notable Roland exception is the CR-78 which uses 12ppqn.
Korg equipment (eg KPR-77, DDM-110 & DDM-220) uses 48 pulses per quarter note.
(You also need to make a V-trig to S-trig cable).
Oberheim (DMX) & Linn is 96ppqn.
The SCI Drumtraks handles 24, 48, and 96 ppqn
EMU drumulator - 24ppqn - needs a din to 1/4 Y cable
-----------------
Summary:
********************************************************************************
Clock rates Equivalent in PPQN Manufacturer
********************************************************************************
STEP GATE 1 PPQN ? LFO or GATE OUT
Pre - MIDI (advances in time on a rising edge and
returns to zero on a falling edge)
eg: DOEPFER DARK TIME, Korg SQ-10.
eg: Euro - Zularic Repetitor
(Noise Engineering), Erica Pico Seq &
Pico trigger , Delptronics Triggerman,
Disting Mk3 & 4,
Modcan Touch Sequencer (ext sync)
***************************************************************************
KORG Pulse 2 PPQN KORG (SQ-1), Volcas,
Teenage Engineering Pocket Operators
(POs sync on audio pulses,
essentially a click track).
********************************************************************************
Quite common to find as the default
for Eurorack modules.
*********************************************************************************
Euro 8 or 16 PPQN Beastek Amoeba
drum trigger module
********************************************************************************
CR 78 Drum 12PPQN Roland
********************************************************************************
***********************************************************************************
KORG DIN 48 PPQN LINN LM-2, ARTURIA, ELEKTRON
Sync 48
********************************************************************************
---------------------------
Step Gate
Starting off with the basic analog clock. ....
This is all pre-MIDI. The signal can be a simple
LFO or a gate module producing a square wave. The Doepfer Dark Time for
example can produce a 1 Step gate. A basic analog, pre midi modular
will use this form of timing.
This is almost a 1PPQN equivalent.
Most common in Eurorack ... eg Zularic Repetitor, (Noise Engineering), Erica Synths Pico Seq &
Pico trigger , Delptronics Triggerman, Disting Mk3 & 4, Modcan Touch Sequencer (ext sync)
Korg Pulse - 2PPQN
Korg SQ-1 sequencers and the Korg Volcas use this standard.
A single KORG pulse is equivalent to just 2 PPQN.
Step Clock (16th clock) - 4PPQN.
This is an analog trigger. It's equivalent PPQN is 4.( ie four pulses per quarter note
or 1⁄4 the duration of a quarter note.)
It's also called 16th because a note is sent or received every 16th note.
This is quite common to find as a default for Eurorack modules.
This is the most common clock among old analog sequencers.
Devices like the DOEPFER MCV 24 & MSY2 can produce this type of clock.
Also, Eloquencer (Winter Modular)
(So too does the Tip top trigger riot though it can also be set to use 24PPPQ)
MIDI - Sync 24 - Roland DIN Sync - 24PPQN
In the case of MIDI (and Roland DIN Sync), the standard is 24PPQN.
MIDI clock sends a tick 96 times per quarter note.
Lots of old Roland Synths such as the TB303 & TR606, 808, 909 use this standard.
Most DAWs will also use a 24 PPQN signal
This means that you can have a triplet for each 8th note. (24/3 = 8)
Korg DIN SYNC - Sync 48 - 48PPQN
Korg has it's own version of DIN Sync.
It uses the same 5 pin cable/socket, but the PPQN is 48.
When syncing Roland and Korg gear via DIN sync, they will work
however the Korg machine will run at 1/2 the tempo/speed of the Roland
unit.
This can be corrected with several devices which will
translate 24-48 sync, such as the Korg KMS-30.
Korg drums such as the KPR-77, DDM-110 & DDM-220 use 48 sync.
Other devices that use 48 PPQN are the LINN ELECTRONICS LM-2 Drum and some Oberheim Drum Machines.
The Pioneer Toraiz can input & output clock signals of value 1PPQN, 2PPQN, 4PPQN, 24PPQN, 48PPQN.
Synstrom Deluge : Trigger clock output, configurable up to 192 PPQN
Links:
Syncing the korg SQ1 with SQ-10
Do let me know if there are any mistakes, errors, or omissions.
Tuesday, 2 June 2020
Alesis DM5 - Pioneer Squid
The 1U module can be triggered with MIDI & analogue triggers.
How to recall Drumsets
The DM5 has 21 Drumsets available, each of which has 61 programmable drum sounds.
To recall a Drumset on the DM5:
1. Press DRUMSET
2. Turn the VALUE encoder to select a Drumset
Editing The Triggers
The DM5 has over 500 drum sounds arranged into 8 Families.
These consist of Kick, Snare, Toms, Hi-Hats, Cymbals, Percussion, Effects and Random Samples.
To assign a new Voice to a MIDI Note or External Trigger Pad:
1. Press VOICE, then press NOTE CHASE
2. Play a note on your MIDI controller or a Drum Pad
3. Press the CURSOR> button until you have selected the Voice Family parameter on the top left corner of the display. Choose one of the families listed above using the VALUE wheel
4. By pressing the CURSOR> button one more time you can then select one of the Voices in that Family using the VALUE wheel
Triggering with MIDI
Using the Pioneer Toraiz Squid
Looks like there are 12 triggers.
Set up midi channel (using channel 1 in this case)
To choose the Drumset, press group then voice on the Alesis drum.
You scroll through the sounds with the pitch /cc knob on the squid
KIK 36 C1 (C2 on the Toraiz)
Snare 40 E1 (E2 on the Toraiz)
Tom 41 F1 (F2 on the Toraiz)
Clap D#1 (D#2 on the Toraiz)
Hat F# 1 (F#2 on the Toraiz)
Cymbal C#2 (c#3 on the Toraiz)
Tambourine F#2 (F#3 on the Toraiz)
Cow Bell G#2 (G#3 on the Toraiz)
Vibrslap A#2 (A#3 on the Toraiz)
Ping Ride B2 (B3 on the Toraiz)
Cym SternDark A2 (A3 on the Toraiz)
Bongo Hi C3 (C4 on the Toraiz)
Cym Splash G2 (G3 on the Toraiz)
Anvil C#1 (C#2 on the Toraiz)
Clank G#5 (G#6 on the Toraiz)
Cuica Lo G4 (G5 on the Toraiz)
The main out is the left out at the back.
Saturday, 9 May 2020
Korg Volca Beats - midi mapping
Perfect for live performance. The sequencer is a bit limited. so midi mapping to an
external sequencer would be useful.
I'm using the Pioneer Toraz Squid as my midi sequencer.
So the volca doesn't start playing the moment you start the Squid
you need to enter the Global function setting.
1. Start the Volca while holding the func key, wait for it to start.
2. press step 6 (the light should go off), press Rec.
Now the sequencer will not start when you press play in your DAW or your Midi sequencer.
(It looks like the default midi receive channel is 10... the same as the Roland 707 & 909).
I'm leaving it as it is.
If you wish to change the midi receive channel:
1. While holding down the MEMORY button, turn on the volca beats.
2. Step buttons 1 to 16 correspond to the MIDI channels 1 to 16.
Press the button that corresponds to the desired channel, and the LED below the
step button will light up
3. When you have finished specifying the settings, press the (REC) button.
The settings will be saved, and the volca beats will be restarted.
If you decide to cancel the settings, press the (PLAY) button.
Also in the Global setting
1. Start the Volca while holding the func key, wait for it to start.
2. Press step 7. MIDI RX ShortMessage
Set to off (St.oF)
3. press Rec. to save
There are 10 voices to map
1. kick C2
2. Snare D2
3. Lo Tom G2
4. Hi Tom D3
5. CL Hat F#2
6. Open Hat A#2
7. Clap D#2
8. Claves D#5
9. Agogo G4
10. Crash C#3
Renaming projects in squid
* use the shift, main knob, Track Button & back button ..
Press shift + press main knob = space.
Shift + back = delete
arrow keys move forward & back
* shift + Track --- you can rename tracks, change their colour, etc
-------------------------------------
*** The Volca sample has a different midi implementation to the Volca Beats.
In the Sample, each voice has its own MIDI channel. ***
Wednesday, 6 May 2020
Korg MonoTribe - Midi triggering.
Synth & Drums
mY monotribe has been fitted with midi. I can't remember what kit I used. Sorry. Those were the days before I documented everything in a blog.
It's a very useful synth. So simple.... yet enough for the foundation of a track.
Just 3 drum voices & a mono synth.
Synth: Use midi channel 1
Drums: It’s using the standard General MIDI specification for drums,
which means the Drum section is triggered on MIDI channel 10 using the following notes .
Name Note number Note name GM drum name
BD 36 C1 Bass drum 1
SN 40 E1 Snare dum 2/Electric snare
HH 42 F#1 Closed hi-hat
This works for DAWs like Abelton
-------------------------------------------------------------
Note: your sequencer might be different.
I'm using a Pioneer Toraiz Squid. You'll need to shift the notes up an octave.
Name Note number Note name GM drum name
BD 36 C2 Bass drum 1
SN 40 E2 Snare drum 2/Electric snare
HH 42 F#2 Closed hi-hat
The Pioneer Squid its a revelation for me. Thanks Mitch for the advice. It's allowed me to re-use lots of my old synths & drums in unconventional ways.
----------
Turn off all active steps in the monotribe sequencer, otherwise this will play the moment you start
your external sequencer.
Turn down the noise.
Linn Drum - Cooper Midi
My LM 2 uses a JL Cooper midi PCB.
Im using a Pioneer Toraz Squid to sequence.
The default drum assignments are :
Side stick 36 C2
Snare 1 37 C#2
Snare 2 38 D 2
*Snare 3 39 D#2
*Bass 1 40 E2
*Bass 2 41 F2
*Crash 42 F#2
Hi Hat 1 43 G2
Hi Hat 2 44 G#2
*Hi Hat Open 45 A2
Hi Tom 46 A#2
Mid Tom 47
*Lo Tom 48 C3
Ride 1 49
* Ride 2 50 D3
Cabasa 1 51D#3
*Cabasa 2 52 E3
Tamb 1 53
*Tamb 2 54 F#3
Hi Conga 55 G3
Lo Conga 56 G#3
*Cowbell 57 A3
Claps 58 A#3

















































