MBSEQ V3 public snapshots

[TK.]

Since in the meantime so many people request to join the alpha testing phase, I'm now distributing the current snapshot under ucapps.de/tmp.

The current build is located under:

  expired

I will only add a short notification to this article whenever I update the package, changes are documented in the CHANGELOG.txt file

Best Regards, Thorsten.

Edit: this thread is expired, MIDIbox SEQ V3.0 has been officially released under http://www.ucapps.de/mios_download.html

[TK.]

Build #60 now supports the AOUT and AOUT_LC module, 8 Gate triggers at J5 and 48 additional drum triggers (which optionally send 1mS pulses) on the DOUTs

The channel mapping is described in CHANGELOG.txt

[TK.]

New features:

  - MIDI In->Out router for port IIC1/IIC2/IIC3/IIC4/AOUT/Int.

    Configuration has to be done in the MIDI configuration menu

  - Some more optional (!) buttons and LEDs

  - support for sequencer control via NRPN events

I've also finished the schematic for the (optional!) Button/Duo-LED matrix:

http://www.ucapps.de/mbhp/button_duoled_matrix.pdf

[TK.]

Build #62 contains a new function which is based on an idea from Rio:

  o added "move step" function to the record menu - it could also be

    useful for normal track editing (w/o recording)

    Just push and hold the "Move" function in the save page (GP Button #7),

    and turn on the encoder below the step which should be moved.

    It should be self explaining once you try it out! :)

[TK.]

The move step function has been improved in build #63, and now we have also a marker which points to the active step.

I will create a new Utility page, from where such functions (and some more) are accessible, because I think that moving steps is not only useful for recorded tracks.

Here a video which demonstrates how much fun it makes :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mSG_GgWkaB4

[TK.]

Build #64 is now available which comes with some important changes:

   o a utility menu has been implemented which contains a lot of new
     useful functions - you can enter it by pressing the F1 button

     - Copy: copies the currently selected track into a buffer

     - Paste: copies the buffer content into the current track

     - Clear: clears the current track

     - Move: so long the appr. button of this function is pressed,
       the edit page will be displayed, and steps can be moved
       with the encoder below the step
       It should be self explaining once you try it out! :)

     - MuteAll: mutes all tracks and jumps to the Mute page

     - Save: quick access to the save menu (formerly F1 function)

     - Rec: quick access to the record menu (formerly F2 function)

   o the F2 button now switches between the Step 1-16/17-32 view
     This was previously only possible by doubleclicking a track button
[/code]
The utility page has some free slots for future extensions.

[TK.]

Build #65 comes with bugfixes and some new features, suggested from Rio and dcer10, and some other ideas from myself.

   o improved Copy&Paste function - now you can copy a certain step
     range, and you can paste the range to a certain position.
     This allows to duplicate ranges within a track very quickly.

     - if you just press and release the copy/paste button, the function
       behaves like before: the whole range will be copied & pasted

     - if you press and hold the copy button, you can select the range
       which should be copied into the buffer with the GP encoders.

       The encoders left of or at the begin marker shift the begin position,
       the encoders right to the begin marker shift the end position.

       If you are unsure about the current position, just always use
       the leftmost encoder to move the begin marker, and the rightmost
       encoder to move the end marker

       Releasing the copy button copies the selected range into the
       buffer.

     - if you press and hold the paste button, you can select the
       target position with any GP encoder. Once you release the
       button, the buffer will be copied into the track.

   o there is now a SCROLL function which allows to scroll all steps
     of a track from the position of the encoder which is turned
     while the scroll button is pressed.

     This function makes the SHIFT menu obsolete, therefore it has
     been removed from the menu list. Now you see the Utility page
     at this position instead - this also means: when you press
     the MENU and SHIFT (GP#10) button, you will change to the
     Utility menu like if you would press the F1 button

   o there is now a RANDOM function which generates random track values
     The random intensity can be changed while the RANDOM button
     is held
     NOTE: activate the Force-to-Scale option in the Mode menu for 
     more harmonic results

   o there is now a UNDO function which reverts the change of the
     last Paste, Clear, MoveStep, Scroll and Random operation

   o the new copy/paste functionality makes the "Partial Save"
     function obsolete (the usage was too complicated anyhow),
     therefore it has been removed from the SAVE menu

   o the "All button function" now performs incremental changes
     on all steps instead of setting all steps to the same value.

     The old behaviour (setting all steps to same value) is
     still available - just press and hold the ALL button.
[/code]

[TK.]

Most of the mixer map is implemented now (this is a 4-hour hack, not sure if the rest is still working)

SAVE/LOAD/Change Map not functional yet!

From the ChangeLog:

   o a mixer map has been implemented

     It can be accessed by pressing MENU+VIEW, or by going into the
     UTILITY menu and pressing the button below "Mix."

     NOTE: if you are planning a new frontpanel, the "View" label
     below GP button #1 could be renamed to "Mixer"

     There are 7 pages, which can be selected with the datawheel,
     or alternatively with the Rew/Fwd buttons when no song is playing:
     MIDI Port, MIDI Channel, Prog.Change, Volume, Panorama, CC1-2

     Values can be changed with the GP encoders

     The ALL and FAST button taking effect as well.
     The ALL button provides two functions:
        - when LED active, only values which are not enabled will be changed
        - when button pressed, all values will be changed to the same value

     They are sent directly over the selected MIDI port - all ports
     are selectable, even Loopback and AOUT!

     When the SELECT button is pressed, a utility page will be
     displayed which allows to 
       - change and load a mixer map (one of 127)
       - to Copy/Paste the map
       - to clear the map
       - to reload the map from BankStick
       - to save the map into BankStick
       - to dump the complete map via the MIDI/AOUT/Loopback ports
       - to change the assignments for CC1
       - to change the assignments for CC2

    Since the ports and channels are freely assignable and working
    totally independent from the running patterns, the mixer map 
    function behaves like a MIDI controller - you can define
    up to 127 maps which can be stored, restore, dumped and controlled
    in realtime!
[/code]
Mixer page #4 (Volume):
Mixer Utility Page:

[TK.]

The mixer map is fully implemented now.

And I finally found a tricky solution how to improve the editing in event mode 5 (Vel/Vel/Vel) - it works like on a TRx0x style sequencer now, up to three drum lines are stored per track

   o Drum Mode is completely implemented now.
     It gets active with Event Mode 5 (Vel/Vel/Vel) or 8 (Vel/CC/CC)
     In Mode 5 three different drums can be played per track
     In Mode 8 one drum can be played + 2 CCs for sound modulation
     Notes are constant values and defined in the event menu as well.
     
     In Drum mode the trigger layers have a special behaviour: when 
     a trigger layer is not assigned to any function (especially not 
     to gate!), then the trigger button will modify the velocity instead.
     The GP LEDs will lit when velocity of a step is != 0
     
     Sounds complicated, but the result is just a TRx0x like handling!

     Proposal for a quick try: change to EVENT menu, select Mode 5
     (Vel/Vel/Vel), and press the button below "COPY PRESET"
     Now you can control three different drums with Note Layer A/B/C
     And you can control the gate with the non-assigned trigger layer A, 
     Accent with trigger layer B, Roll with trigger layer C

     Limitation: the trigger layers (excepting gates) are applied on
     all three notes - e.g., if accent is activated for a particular
     step, all three notes of this step will be accented.

     Another hint: save your favourite setups in special patterns
     (e.g. into a seperate BankStick) to get a quick access to such
     personal presets.
[/code]

[TK.]

Build #68 contains a lot of improvements I made in the last two weeks for the song menu page and the phrase/song mode.

Phrase mode is the one I prefer to use, as it allows me to prepare pattern sets and to switch betweem them interactively while the sequencer is playing.

Song mode is the traditional mode you know

There is a slight incompatibility when you've used song position jumps in the past. The target position is now stored in the G0 parameter. But this change allowed me to introduce two new song actions: jump song and dump mixer map.

From the ChangeLog:

   o in song menu page, there is now a better seperation between 
     "Phrase" and "Song" mode.

     It can be switched between these two different modes by pressing
     the SONG button multiple times. The SONG LED will flash when the
     sequencer is in Phrase mode.


     Definition of Phrase Mode: a song is used as "pattern set storage"
     You can define a set of 4 patterns (G1/G2/G3/G4) for each song position.
     You can link one or more mixer maps to a phrase.

     The sequencer changes to a new pattern set immediately, or
     synchronized to the beat (selectable in options menu), once a new
     phrase has been selected. This can be done with GP encoder #2 (Phrase A1, A2,
     A3, ..., A7, B1, B2, ...  ->  128 phrases).

     In addition, the phrase A1, B1, C1, ... P1 can be directly
     triggered with the GP buttons when the cursor flashes below the
     "Phrase" menu item (second item in the menu).
     Quick selection: press LAYER B button (see below)

     The usage of GP buttons is propably the most prefered, as it 
     allows you to quickly change between different pattern sets 
     while the sequencer is playing w/o temporary selecting other sets 
     which are between them with a rotary encoder.

     Phrases can also be combined with one or more mixer maps. In this case 
     the first step (A1, B1, C1, ...) has to be assigned to a Mixer Map
     Action (see below), whose content will be dumped out. The sequencer
     will go to the next song position, and check for a Mixer Map
     again. Once it has reached a position with a pattern set, it will
     change to the new set and give back control over pattern changes
     to the user.


     Definition of Song Mode: similar to Phrase mode, each song
     position holds a pattern set. In addition, following actions
     can be defined:
        o STOP: will stop the sequencer once this position is reached
        o PLAY (x 1): plays the pattern set for one measure and
          thereafter jumps to the next position
        o LOOP (-> x 2 .. x16): loops the position 2 .. 16 times
          and thereafter jumps to the next position
        o JUMP POSITION (-> A1 .. -> P8): will jump to the given position
        o JUMP SONG (-> S 1 .. -> S16): will jump to the given song
        o SELECT MIXER MAP (-> 1..128): selects a mixer map and dumps
          the content. Continues with the next song position


     Shortcut buttons: within the Song Menu Page, most menu items can
     be selected very quickly with the TRACK and LAYER buttons.
       o TRACK 1: sets cursor to G1 item - you can now change the pattern with 
         the GP buttons or with the datawheel
       o TRACK 2/3/4: like above, but for G2/G3/G4 item
       o LAYER A: sets the cursor to the Song item - you can now change
         the song with the GP buttons or with the datawheel
       o LAYER B: sets the cursor to the Phrase/Pos item
         GP buttons select 1 of 16 phrases/positions in steps of 8
         Datawheel selects 1 of 128 phrases/positions
       o LAYER C: only in Song Mode: selects the Action item

   o new option: when the sequencer is running in song mode, the edited song
     position can now automatically follow the song.
     This optional function, which might disturb an edit session, can be 
     enabled in the options menu (F1->Opt., within this menu, 
     press select button to reach the "FollowSong" option)

   o there is now a check during the initialisation for the PIC derivative.
     Execution from any other PIC than PIC18F4620 is gracefully prevented.
     You will see a message on screen, and a MIDI event "EE <devid[2:0]> <devid2[9:3]>
     is sent to notify about the wrong PIC
[/code]
You will also notice, that main.asm has vanished.
Now only setup_*.asm files are available anymore - this is to make clear, that main.asm was my own setup with special hardware settings (it's now in setup_tk.asm)

[TK.]

Build #69 got a new menu page for muting MIDI ports

   o a new menu page is available which allows to mute the output ports
     seperately (Def, Int, IIC0-3, AOUT, Loopback).
     It can be quickly accessed from the Utility page (F1->PMte)
[/code]

[TK.]

Build #70 is now available for download. It can be considered as release candidate for v3.0

This means: no new features will be added for v3.0, only bugfixes

Since I made a lot of small changes at different places in the firmware, there is a certain chance that something is not working anymore. I will see this in the next days - beta testers: please help! :)

From the CHANGELOG.txt

   o OPT menu page overworked, so that the layout and usage matches
     with the other menus

   o the Global Scale can now be changed in the OPT menu
     Not only the number, but also the Scale Name will now be displayed!
[/code]

[code]
   o A sustain function has been added. If enabled, all played notes
     of a track stay active until the next note is played.
     This option overrides the gate length!
     It is especially useful for long chords (e.g. strings) since it saves
     you from modifiying the gatelength for each step.
     It's also a nice effect during a tune is played!
     The sustain option is selectable within the Track Mode menu at the
     position which was formerly used by the Global Scale

   o A new event mode has been added: Note/CC/CC
     This one has been forgotten during the definition of the event
     mode. In order to get a consistent selection, the new mode has
     been added between Note/CC/Len and Vel/CC/CC

     This leads to a slight incompatibility of old patterns.

     If a track has used Vel/CC/CC, CC/CC/Len or CC/CC/CC before, 
     the event mode has to be incremented by 1 within the Event Mode menu!

[TK.]

Ok, build #71 contains two last features for v3.0:

   o there is now a BankStick format menu accessible from the main
     menu. It allows you to re-initialise a BankStick, and to check
     the selected Type/Size and availability (n/a print when BankStick
     not connected)
     There is no quick-access option for this menu, so that this menu
     isn't easily accessible during a live session. Just change to the
     main menu and search for "Format BankSt."
[/code]


[code]
   o The Copy/Paste/Clr function now also works on the track configuration
     Just only the MIDI channel and Port will never be overwritten for 
     your own comfort!

  o The Copy/Paste/Clr function now also works on the track configuration

    Just only the MIDI channel and Port will never be overwritten for

    your own comfort!

[TK.]

There is a new build #72 which got a bugfix in the paste function (triggers were overwritten when paste target was not the first step)

Best Regards, Thorsten.