Operation Manual

MATRIX PATTERN SEQUENCER
199
About Unipolar and Bipolar Curves
On the back panel of the Matrix you will find a switch, allowing you to select between
“Unipolar” or “Bipolar” Curves. The difference is as follows:
D A unipolar curve has values starting from “0” and up.
“0” is the value produced by all steps when they are “empty” (not visible). Unipolar
is the default setting of this switch when a new Matrix is created.
Unipolar curve.
D A bipolar curve is divided in the “middle”, with the middle representing a
value of “0”.
The curve reflects this. If no curve has been drawn and you switch to bipolar
mode, all steps go from the bottom up to the middle of the scale printed to the left
of the pattern window. Thus, all steps are at “0”, and the curve can be drawn both
up and down from the middle.
Bipolar curve.
Bipolar curves are essential in some instances. If you want to use the Matrix to CV
control the Pan parameter for a mixer channel for example, a unipolar curve would
start at zero - which for Pan equals center position. This means that you would only be
able to use the curve to pan in one direction from this center position. A bipolar curve
however, will have the zero value in the middle, allowing you to draw pan curves in
both directions. Bipolar curves can also be used for controlling parameters with posi-
tive and negative values.
Setting Pattern Length
You may want to make settings for Pattern length, i.e. the number of steps the pattern
should play before repeating:
D The “Steps” spin controls are used to set the number of steps you wish
the pattern to play.
The range is 1 to 32. You can always extend the number of steps at a later stage,
as this will merely add empty steps at the end of the original pattern. You could
also make it shorter, but that would (obviously) mean that the steps you remove
won’t play back. The steps you remove aren’t erased though, if you set the step
number back again, anything recorded in the previously removed step locations
will be played back.
Using Tied Notes
If you activate “Tie” to the left of the Gate pattern window, you can create longer
notes (eighth notes, quarter notes etc.). A quick way to draw tied gates is to hold
down [Shift] when you input the gate values.
Entering tied gate values.
D Each step that has one tied gate value will be twice the length compared
to a normal step.
Tied gate steps are indicated by being twice as wide in the pattern window.
D If two or more notes of the same pitch are tied together, the result will
be even longer notes.
Tied notes are also essential if you want to create typical TB-303 “Acid”-type lead
lines - see page 202.
Selecting Patterns and Pattern Banks
This is described in the chapter “Programming Pattern Devices” in the Getting
Started book.
Setting Pattern Resolution
Matrix always follows the tempo setting on the transport panel, but you can also make
Matrix play in different tempo “resolutions” in relation to the tempo setting. This is ex-
plained in the chapter “Programming Pattern Devices”.