Flame Six-In-A-Row User manual

FLAME
SIX-IN-A-ROW
HANDBUCH
MIDI-PHRASE-SEQUENCER
Version 2.00

Manual FLAME SIX-IN-A-ROW Version 2.00
Contents
1. Short description ....................................................................... 3
2. Introduction / Start up................................................................ 4
2.1 Hardware 4
2.2 Activate the MIDI Phrase Sequencer 4
3. MIDI Phrase Sequencer.............................................................. 5
3.1 Basics and MIDI adjustments, Setup page 5
3.2 Melody page 1 and 2 7
3.3 Drum page 9
3.4 Pattern page 10
4. Appendix and technical informations...................................... 11
4.1 List of phrases 11
4.2 List of scales 12
4.3 Reset to factory defaults 13
4.4 Firmware update via USB 13
4.5 Technical details 13
5. Additional informations............................................................ 14
5.1 Warrenty 14
5.2 Terms of production 14
5.3 Disposal 14
5.4 Support 14
5.5 Acknowledgment 14
2

1. Short description
MIDI-PHRASE-SEQUENCER Version 2.00
News of Version 2:
Melody pages:
- Phrases with gatetimes
- Gatetimes changeable (new menu)
- Menu Single notes is not applicable
- instead of fixed16tel Beat Phrase with 50 variable gatetime phrases
- Transpose of Tracks per MIDI
Drum page unmodified. In setup page are 36 patterns storeable .
Additional pattern page for live jam of patterns with individual mute funktion of all tracks.
MIDI-Remote Funktion (MIDI-protocoll) is not applicable.
Overview:
The sequencer is planned as a performance tool. It possesses 5 tracks: 2 MELODY tracks and
3 DRUM tracks. Unlike to the step sequencer the sequences are generated/ manipulated /
recorded here directly. At your disposal are precast rhythm patterns (phrases, pulse) which can
be combined arbitrarily. The generated pattern is at most 4 measures long but the particular
measure parts can be switched on/off independantely from each other during the performance.
That makes variations of the pattern cycle easily possible
Melody tracks:
Both melody tracks are arranged identically. To your disposal are SCALE/ KEYNOTE, CHORD,
ARPEGGIO, PHRASES, PULSE, SINGLE NOTE, VELOCITY, MUTE and HOLD: The selected
scale and keynote bends the bushputtons to the according notes. For better orientation the
pushbuttons of the keynote and the following octaves are put into green. The chords always
adjust to the chosen key (tonality). The played sequence can be overwritten or combined optio-
nally with other adjustments. There is a CLEAR-pushbutton to delete steps at the current posi-
tion or all steps of the track. The tracks are monophonic ( at single notes) or triple polyphonic (
at chords- triads).
Drum tracks:
To your disposal are 3 drum tracks in the drum page. Per track it can be put 4 instruments (notes)
on 4 play pushbuttons. The track is monophonic, that is per track only one single note can sound
at the same time. PHRASES / PULSE can be put on 6 pushbuttons, which than can be changed
while playing. Also playable are at a sixteenth quantisised single notes. Each of the tracks has an
own clear pushbutton to delete steps at the current position ( or all steps of the track). MUTE/
HOLD are also at your disposal for each track. There are two playmodes: NORMAL (green)
means the pressed bushbutton only plays the according note. ALTERNATE ( yellow) means that
the pressed pushbutton alternately plays the according note and the note of the adjacent bush-
button. (helpfull e.g. at HiHats!)
To each sequencer track can be assigned one own MIDI channel. Maximal 36 patterns can be
back upped in the internal EEPROM. Synchronisation is possible per external MIDI clock. The
sending of MIDI clock at external synchronisation can be switched off.
3

2. Introduction/ Installation
2.1 Hardware
We start with the hardware equipment:
On the front side you find :
❶ a backlit LCD with 3 rows
❷ a data entry knob with key button function
❸ plus the backlit 6x9 pushbutton-matrix.
On the back you find the circuit points for:
❶ USB 2.0 (for loading new firmware / updates)
❷ MIDI-IN
❸ MIDI-OUT
❹ the jack for the wall wart (12VDC/800mA)
❺ the LOAD switch for loading new firmware via USB
❻ plus the contactor.
2.2 Start the MIDI Phrase Sequencer
Now we activate the MIDI-PHRASE-SEQUENCER.
Switch on the device.
While booting you can hold the key button below right
to call the menu for the initialization menu
(please use only after firmware updates).
➜ Advise!
This function clear all individual data and all user patterns!
Please plug in the supplied wall wart and connect the MIDI-OUT of the SIX-IN-A-ROW with
the MIDI-IN of the sound generator you want to play.
➜ Advise!
Before switching on please make sure that the LOAD-switch is switched off and pointing
inwards.
❶
❶
❸
❸
❷
❷
❹
❺
❻
4

3. MIDI PHRASE SEQUENCER
3.1 Basics and MIDI adjustments
We continue with the basics of the MIDI-PHRASE-SEQUENCER and its MIDI adjustments.
PLAY MENU
In the upper array you have following key buttons:
PAGE MENU
With the SHIFT-key ❻pushed you can call the PAGES with
the upper key array.
❶ Melody page 1
❷ Melody page 2
❸ Drum page
❹ Pattern-Page
❺ Setup-Page
A green LED indicates the page currently activated.
➜ Advice:
When starting the MIDI PHRASE SEQUENCER you are
always in MELODY page 1 mode.
❶ Start/Stop
The Start/Stop switch ❶- to start or stopp the sequence at
internal MIDI-clock.
❷-❺ Measure keys
The key buttons ❷-❺activate/deactivate the 1-measured parts
of the maximum 4-measured sequence. Deactivated measures
will be overleaped at the playback of the sequence.
❻ Key SHIFT
The red shining push-button rightmost is the SHIFT key ❻
for double functions.
❶❻
❷-❺
❶❸❺
❷❹
press
SHIFT
❻
5

TEMPO MENU
By pushing the data entry knob you fin the TEMPO menu,
by turning the data-entry-knob you convert the tempo.
Tempo range: 10...230 bpm.
SETUP PAGE / MIDI adjustments
Now we change into the Setup Page to complete the default settings for the sequencer.
Push key SHIFT ❻ and key ❺.
By pushing the key buttons you select the parameter of your choise by turning the data-entry-
knob you convert the data:
MIDICLOCK :
- intern - the sequencer runs with internal tempo
- extern - the sequencer runs with external MIDI-clock and is started/ stopped via MIDI-IN
SENDCLOCK:
Here you can adjust if MIDI-clock data will be transmitted or not at the external MIDI-clock.
MIDI CHANNEL:
In this row you adjust the MIDI channels of the 5 tracks:
For track melody 1, track melody 2, drum track A, drum track B and drum track C.
SAVE USER DATA:
To record the adjustments first press the yellow key button 1 in the fourth row and confirm key
button below with the blinking yellow one. Now your adjustments are saved permanently.
SAVE PATTERN:
To record the pattern first press the yellow key button 1 in the fourth row. PLease select with the
data entry knob the memory place of the pattern (number 1 - 36) and confirm key button below
with the blinking yellow one. Now the pattern are saved permanently.
❻
❺
blinking key
for saving
6

MUTE
HOLD
CHORD
ARPEGGIO
PHRASE
BEAT
CLEAR
CLEAR FUNCTIONS
1. Press key CLEAR for clear Steps on current position (16th quantized)
2. Press key CLEAR and key LOWER KEYNOTE for clear all Steps of Track
3. Press key CLEAR and key START/STOP for clear all tracks of pattern
RADIOBUTTON
PLAY Buttons
LOWER KEYNOTE
of scale
(the green buttons show the upper octaves)
16tth BEAT
with Gatetime-
Phrases
SHIFT
3.2 Melody pages 1 and 2 (Melody tracks 1+2)
Both pages are arranged identically.
Please change into melody page 1:
Push key SHIFT ❻ and key ❶
(or for Melody page 2 key ❷).
❶❷❻
Melody Play Menus
Below the SHIFT key you will find the following
functions at random access:
- MUTE on/off
- HOLD on/off
- CHORD on/off
- Arpeggio on/off.
The 3 Key buttons for the playmode:
- play phrases
- play beat-phrases
- play16th beat with gatetime phrases
The last key button is the CLEAR key to delete
events.
You adjust a scale that way:
Push SHIFT and scale and choose the corre-
sponding scale with the data entry knob.
Playing:
You play with the 5x8 play keys. The notes start
with the adjusted keynote down to the right and
the according scale.The ascending octaves are
indicated by green LEDs.
A PHRASE you choose the following way:
Push SHIFT and PHRASE or PHRASE directly and dial the data entry knob.
Put different phrases to play at the PHRASE keys.
Now you start the sequencer and play with the play keys to record a sequence.
You can change the phrases while pushing the play key. The performance will be recorded as
long as the play key is pushed.
To delete a part push the CLEAR key. If you want to delete the whole track, push the key down
left as well (see the red box “Clear functions”).
7

SELECT MENUS
press hold down key SHIFT and menu key (menu yellow, selected green)
change value with the data entry knob
Please note:
The velocity of the melody tracks are limited to 8 accent levels.
Melody Edit Menus
With SHIFT key pushed down the
key row beneath can be used to
call up the functions you want to
edit:
- Keynote
- Scales
- Chords
- Arpeggios
- Phrases
- Beat-Phrases
- Gatetime
- Velocity
Activate the chords:
Now not only one note is generated but a triad.
Chords: Triad1 invers, Triad2 invers, Octaves, Random
Activate arpeggio:
Now not only the note of the play key is played, but an arpeggio tone sequence
among the chosen scale..
Arpeggios: Down, Up, Octave
Generate dynamical lines by alteration of velocity:
Choose SHIFT and velocity, push the play key and at the same and dial the time data entry knob
at the same time to change the velocity.
Velocity values: 42 accent levels
HOLD:
Activate the HOLD key to play over running sequences without recording.
MUTE:
With MUTE the recorded sequence is switched into mute mode. You can still play, but without
recording.
8
Play with gatetime phrases:
Select 16th Beat-Phrase and turn the data entry knob for select gatetime phrases. You can
change the phrases while pushing the play key. The performance will be recorded as long as
the play key is pushed.
50 Gatetime Phrases are available.

3.2 Drum Page (Drum Spuren A-C)
Changing in to drum page:
Change into drum page with ❻ and key ❸.
In the drum page you have a concurrent access
to all 3 drum pages A to C.
All three tracks are composed in the same way
and are made with two parallell key arrays
respectively.
We like to show the functions using the exam-
ple of drum track A now.
Drum pads:
The 4 green key buttons below are the drum
pads 1,2,3, and 4. These are the play keys to
play the sequence of the track. All other key
buttons are only there to adjust or access func-
tions.
Edit note number:
First you assign each key button a note
number according to the drum instrument
you want to play. For this purpose you
push SHIFT and the pad. With the data
entry knob you change the value.
Phrase hotkeys:
The 6 key buttons beyond are hotkeys for
phrases. Put the phrases you want to
access faster on the key buttons. For this
purpose push the key and dial the data
entry knob to choose the phrase.
Phrase / Single mode:
With the right key in the array beyond you
activate the phrases ( green LED comes
on) or you activate the single mode (
PHRASE LEDs off). In single mode only a
note quantised to a sixteenth will be
generated.
9
TRACK
A
TRACK
B
TRACK
C
MUTE /
HOLD
VELOCITY /
PHRASE ON/OFF
SHIFT
hotkeys
PHRASE
PLAY buttons
CLEAR
❸❻
Please note:
The velocity of the drum tracks
are limited to 16 accent levels.
MUTE HOLD
DETAILS OF DRUM TRACK A
PHRASE /
SINGLE NOTE
NOTE 4
For select NOTE menu
(edit note number)
press
SHIFT & PLAY button
CLEAR
ALTERNATE
/ NORMAL
NOTE 2
NOTE 3
NOTE 1
4x PLAY
6x PHRASE
hotkeys
CLEAR FUNCTIONS
1. Press key CLEAR of track for clear Steps on current position of track
2. Press key CLEAR and key ALTERNATE of track for clear all steps of track
3. Press key CLEAR of TRACK-C and key START/STOP for clear all tracks of pattern

Velocity:
The left key chooses the current velocity of the track you are playing. The recorded velocity can-
not be changed later, unless you rerecord the part.
Velocity values: 16 accent levels
Mute / Hold:
In the array beyond you have MUTE (LED yellow means activ) and HOLD (LED green means
activ)
MUTE: track mute. playing without recordings.
HOLD: track loud. playing without recordings.
Alternate Mode:
The key bottom left calls the ALTERNATE MODE (LED yellow means alternate, LED green
means activ): so the drum pads will automatically be played one after the other. If you push
drum pad 1 it will play drum pad 1 and 2 in phrase rhythm alternately.
Clear:
The key on the right below is the CLEAR key. Push it at the point you want to delete.
By additionally pushing the ALTERNATE key you will delete the whole track.
(see also the red box “Clear functions”)
10
3.4 Pattern page
Changing in to pattern page:
Change into pattern page with SHIFT ❻ and key ❹.
Melo
1
SHIFT
Pattern 1-6
Pattern 7-12
Pattern 13-18
Pattern 19-24
Pattern 25-30
Pattern 31-36
Melo
2
Drum
A
Drum
B
Drum
C
Anzeigen MIDI In
Transpose
MUTE TRACKS
❹❻
The pattern page have 36 Pattern buttons.
The active play pattern is green. After select the
new pattern will be loaded after the end of the
measure.
Advice!
The individual Tempo of the Pattern will not be
loaded while play the sequencer. The individu-
al Tempo will loaded only while the sequencer
is stopped.
Use the bottom keys for mute the tracks.
Transpose melody tracks:
Via external Midi-keyboard you can change the
keynote. Press the corresponing key in the
range of notenumbers 36 until 47 (C - B).
While the key is pressed hold down, the
sequence play with this keynote.
The Input Midi channel is the midi channel of
the track.

4. Appendix
4.1 List of Phrases
normal /2
normal /4
normal /8
normal /16
normal /32
offbeat /2
offbeat /4
offbeat /8
offbeat /16
shuffle1 /8
shuffle2 /8
shuffle3 /8
shuffle /16
Beat Phrasen
Phrasen largo
01 largo
02 largo
03 largo
04 largo
05 largo
06 largo
07 largo
08 largo
09 largo
10 largo
11 largo
12 largo
Phrasen andante
01 andante
02 andante
03 andante
04 andante
05 andante
06 andante
07 andante
08 andante
09 andante
10 andante
11 andante
12 andante
Phrasen adagio
01 adagio
02 adagio
03 adagio
04 adagio
05 adagio
06 adagio
07 adagio
08 adagio
09 adagio
10 adagio
11 adagio
12 adagio
Phrasen allegro
01 allegro
02 allegro
03 allegro
04 allegro
05 allegro
06 allegro
07 allegro
08 allegro
09 allegro
10 allegro
11 allegro
12 allegro
Phrasen moderato
01 moderat
02 moderat
03 moderat
04 moderat
05 moderat
06 moderat
07 moderat
08 moderat
09 moderat
10 moderat
11 moderat
12 moderat
Phrasen presto
01 presto
02 presto
03 presto
04 presto
05 presto
06 presto
07 presto
08 presto
09 presto
10 presto
11 presto
12 presto
Phrasen vivace
01 vivace
02 vivace
03 vivace
04 vivace
05 vivace
06 vivace
07 vivace
08 vivace
09 vivace
10 vivace
11 vivace
12 vivace
11

Phrasen prestissimo
01 presti
02 presti
03 presti
04 presti
05 presti
06 presti
07 presti
08 presti
09 presti
10 presti
11 presti
12 presti
Phrasen triplets
01 triplet
02 triplet
03 triplet
04 triplet
05 triplet
06 triplet
07 triplet
08 triplet
09 triplet
10 triplet
11 triplet
12 triplet
4.2 List of scales
Algerian 1,2,b3,4,#4,5,b6,7
Arabian 1,b2,3,4,5,b6
Balinesian 1,b2,b3,5,b6
Blues (minor) 1,b3,4,#4,5,b7
Byzantine 1,b2,3,4,5,b6,7
Diatonic 1,2,3,5,6
Dorian
1,2,b3,4,5,6,b7
Hindu 1,2,3,4,5,b6,b7
Lydian 1,2,3,#4,5,6,7
Major 1,2,3,4,5,6,7
Major 6 1,3,5,6
Major 7 1,3,5,7
Major 7 b5 1,3,b5,7
Minor (Aeolian) 1,2,b3,4,5,b6,b7
Minor 6 1,b3,5,6
Minor 7 1,b3,5,b7
Minor harmonic 1,2,b3,4,5,b6,7
Mixolydian 1,2,3,4,5,6,b7
Nine Tone 1,2,#2,3,#4,5,#5,6,7
Octatonic 1,b2,b3,3,b5,5,6,b7
Pentatonic 1,2,4,5,b7
Phrygian 1,b2,b3,4,5,b6,b7
Spanish 1,b2,3,4,5,b6,b7
Wholetone
1,3,#4,#5,b7
Chromatic 1/2 tone steps
12

4.3 Reset to factory defaults
You can reset the factory settings the following way:
While start the MIDI Phrase Sequencer display shortly the red SHIFT Led. Push the SHIFT key
while the INIT Menu start. Follow now the instructions..
This procedure is necessary e.g. after making an update of the firmware.
➜ Advice: This operation transcribes the user and pattern memory!
4.4 Firmware update via USB
You can make a prospective firmware update/upgrade via USB.
Where required you find further informations on our website:
http://flame.fortschritt-musik.de.
4.5 Technical details
Hardware:
Connections:
MIDI In
MIDI Out
external power supply adapter 12VDC / 800mA input
USB 2.0
3x16 character LCD
data entry knob
54 push buttons with bicolor LED’s
size: 42x167x102mm
Software:
Version 1.00 :
- MIDI Phrase Sequencer (MIDI Hardware Sequenzer) V 1.00
- MIDI Remote Protocoll
Version 2.00:
- MIDI Phrase Sequencer (MIDI Hardware Sequenzer) V 2.00
13

14
5.1 Warrenty
Beginning from the date of purchase a 2-year warranty is guaranteed for this device in case of any
manufacturing errors or other functional deficiencies during runtime.The warranty does not apply in
case of:
- damage caused by misuse
- mechanical damage arising from careless treatment (dropping, vigorous shaking, mishandling, etc)
- damage caused by liquids penetrating the device
- heat damage caused by overexposure to sunlight or heating
- electric damage caused by improper connecting (wrong power supply/ jacks/ MIDI connections/ vol-
tage problems).
If you have any complaints please contact your dealer or send an e-mail to:
[email protected]
5.2 Terms of production
conformity: CE, RoHS, UL
5.3 Disposal
The device is produced with RoHS-conformity (subject to the regulations of the European Union)
and is free of hazardous substances (like mercury, plumb, cadmium and hexavalent chrome).
But electronical scrap is hazardous waste. Please don't add this to consumer waste. For an
environment friendly disposal of waste please contact your distributor or specialist dealer.
5.4 Support
Updated and additional informations, updates, downloads and more see:
http://flame.fortschritt-musik.de
5.5 Acknowledgment
For help and assistance big thanks to:
Schneiders Büro Berlin, Shawn Cleary (Analogue haven, Los Angeles), Thomas Wagner,
Robert Junge, Anne-Kathrin Metzler, Chris Dreier and Lena Bünger.
5. Additional informations