MFB MFB-602 User manual

Introduction
The MFB-602 is a programmable monophonic Step-Sequencer. There are 8 sets, each
including 8 sequences with up to 64 steps. The note range is 2 ½ octaves with individual
notelengths and rests.In addition 8 songs with up to 64 sequences can be programmed.
In order to control newer and older Synthesizers, the MFB-602 offers MIDI-In/Out as well
as CV/Gate-Out.
Setup
Plug the included power adapter into the Power socket in the rear. Connect MIDI-Out to the
MIDI Input of your Synthesizer or Computer. The CV/Gate output can be used in parallel.
Push On/Off to siwtch the MFB-602 on. The display will read „S00„.
There are two status modes:
Sequence-Mode (left display will show = S)
Compose-Mode (left display will show = C).
Toggle between Sequence- and Compose mode with Mode/+1.
Sequencer
Play starts and stops the sequencer. Tempo will adjust the speed of the playback.
Only one set (with 8 sequences) is active at a time. To select this set, press one of the white
keys C1...C8 while switching the MFB-602 on.
Selecting a sequence in a set is easy: Press and hold Bank/+1 and one of the white keys
C1...C8.
You can use the whole keyboard (13 keys) to transpose the selected sequence in realtime.
Creating sequences
The pitch of a sequence step is defined with one of the 12 keys C1...B7. Shift up one octave
by additonally pressing Bank/+1. Mode/+2 will transpose up two octaves (highest pitch is
F).
Hit F#/P to insert rests and G5/R to set the reset.
To adjust the duration of a step (note and rest) use the yellow button to the right. There are
eight possible lenghts.
LED indication:
Off Off Off 1/16
th
note
On Off Off 1/8
th
note
On On Off dotted 1/8
th
note
Off On Off 1/4 Note
Off On On dotted 1/4 Note
Off Off On 1/2 Note
On Off On 1/4 Note glide (only CV/Gate)
On On On 1/1 Note
Hitting the yellow button will step forward through the notelengths, holding it for longer
than a second will move a step backwards.
Hint: Programming can be speed up by reducing the choice of available notelengths from
eight to four. This is done by switching the MFB-602 on while pressing and holding the
right yellow switch. There will be only only four values 1/16, 1/8, 1/4 and 1/2 available until
repetition of this procedure.
Recording a sequence
Use Bank/+1 and C1...C8 to select the sequence to record. Record enables note input. The
display will indicate this with a dot next to „S„.
First select the notelength (yellow button) and then the pitch with C1...B7 (and octave
transpose). The following steps are entered in the same way. If steplength is not adjusted the
previous value will be kept.
Insert rests with Mode/+2 and F#/P. To define the reset of the sequence of less than 64
steps use Mode/+2 and G5/R. If a reset is not defined the following steps of the previous
programmed seqeunce will be kept.
Press Record to return to Play Mode. Hitting Play will playback the sequence.
Step Edit
Stepping through the sequence is possible with C8/Step. Every step is displayed in pitch
while holding the key (0=C1...31=Reset) or in position. Use this feature in Record-Mode to
correct faulty pitches. Simply step to the position and correct the note by reentering.
Hint: The MFB-602 offers 64 steps. Remember that these steps are not always equal to
standard 16th notes in a 4/4 beat. It is possible to program Step 1 as an 8th note. This means
that Step 2 will already be the 3rd unit in that measure.
Another example: A sequence consists of twelve 16ths and two 8th notes. To loop a
complete measure set the reset after step 14.
For straight sequences simply sum up all steplenghths and make sure the result matches the
signature of your drumcomputer. For a full 4/4 bar your result has to be 16.
Of course you can set all kinds of signatues by placing the reset at any point you want. This
makes it easy to create shifting or even polyrhythmic sequences in combination with other
machines.
Steplengths:
1/16 note 1
1/8 note 2
1/4 note 4
1/2 note 8
1 full note 16
Compose mode
The MFB-602 can store eight combinations of up to 64 sequences. Each step can include a
sequence and a transposition. As each sequence is combined with a transposition value there
is no repeat function. So the same sequence repeated will use a step in compose mode.

Creating a compose
To switch to compose mode hit Mode/+2, the display will show C00. Select the storage
destination by hitting Bank/+1 followed by C1...C8. Press Record (the LED will display a
dot) and enter any of the eight available sequences. For a transposition press and hold
Bank/+1 and any of the 12 note keys C1...B7 first. Enter the number of the sequence
C1...C8 after. Finally set the reset by pressing Mode/+2 and G5/R at the same time. Return
to play mode by hitting Record.
MIDI Channel
To define the MIDI Channel press and hold the right yellow key for at least a second (in
Play mode). Use the Tempo Knob to adjust the MIDI Channel. Releasing the key will save
the settings.
MIDI Clock & DIN Sync
The MFB-602 offers three modes of Sync. „Internal„ sends MIDI Start, Stop and Clock.
„Extern„ receives MIDI Start, Stop and Clock empfangen. In DIN-Sync the MFB-602
receives Start/Stop (Start = +5Volt) und Sync (96 impulses/bar). Switch between the three
modes by pressing and holding A# while switching the MFB-602 on. External mode is
visualized by the dot in the right part of the display, DIN-Sync Mode with a dot in the
center.
CV and Gate
The CV-Out works with the most popular 1 Volt/Octave scale that is used by Moog,
Roland, Sequential Circuits as well as newer modular systems from Doepfer, Technosaurus
or Analogue Solutions.
As there is more than one system for Gate polarity and voltage it is possible to switch the
MFB-602 between the following standards. Press and hold while switching on:
C# positive polarity (Moog, Roland)
D# negative polarity (Korg)
F# Gate voltage 5 Volt (Korg)
G# Gate voltage 10 Volt (Moog, Roland)
Settings will be remembered when switching the sequencer off.
Start and Trigger
The MFB-602 offers a Start- and Trigger Output to synchronise older MFB machines. This
functions cannot be used in Sync Mode „DIN“ because the jack is used as input.
Start outputs 0 Volt while the sequencer is running, the Trigger Outputs sends postive
triggers every 16
th
step.
Owners Manual
Digital Sequencer
MFB-602