Polyend Play User manual

Polyend Play
Play
Version: 1.0.1
Sample and MIDI-Based Groovebox
Index:
First Steps
Quick Guide
Basics
Enhanced Playability
Tips & Tricks
Introduction
Interface
User Interface
Back Panel Connectors
Audio Port Specifications
Project Management
Project Naming
Sample Pool
Sample Pack
Audio Sequencer
The Grid
View Controller
Variations
Step Edit
Quick Copy
Knobs
Live Recording
Master FX
Fill Tool
Pattern Mode

Perform Mode
MIDI Sequencer
Main Menu
File
Samples
Scales
MIDI
Settings
Firmware
Firmware Updates
In case of trouble
Warranty & Safety
EU regulations
Appendix
Audio Architecture
Predefined MIDI Chords List
Musical Scales List
Randomize Types
What's In The Box?
Device Dimensions
Polyend Play Battery Powering
Credits
Polyend Play Licences
First Steps
Quick Guide
Play is a pattern and performance-based Audio and MIDI groovebox, capable of great
complexity while remaining easy to operate. Play offers an inspiring workflow for both

seasoned and novice musicians. It allows music makers to create and interact with musical
patterns in a number of exciting and creative ways. Once patterns are created, they can be
chained together for playback or triggered on the fly. Additionally, each pattern’s tracks can
have its own variations, and each of those tracks may have its own length, playback speed,
and more.
If this sounds like a lot to take in, rest assured that Polyend has made Play’s interface so
user-friendly that you’ll be up and running with barely a glance at this manual. However, we
suggest that you take a look at the following First Steps section to get started, and then
come back when you’re ready to dig a little deeper.
https://www.youtube.com/embed/3s2Lq-sAMNI?feature=oembed
PickandPlace – First, use the knobs to pick the ‘work step’ parameter values, their sample,
note, volume, filter type, send Fx, MIDI properties, etc. When ready, start pressing the grid
pads to place steps on the sequencer tracks.
SelectandAdjust–Select a step by pressing and holding the grid pad, and use the knobs to
modify its parameters. You can select:
One or more steps by pressing and holding the grid pads.
A group of multiple steps by pressing the grid pads while holding the Shift button.
A whole track by pressing the Select pad on the right side of the grid.
A rectangular block of multiple steps across multiple tracks by holding the Shift key and
then pressing pads on opposite diagonal points of a rectangular block of the steps you
wish to include.
Press and quickly release the Shift key to clear any type of selection.
When no track or step is currently selected/held for editing, then by turning the
knobs you will pick/modify the so-called ‘work step’ values. It applies the same way
to both audio and MIDI sequencing modes.
Deselect all the steps and tracks to get back to ‘work step’ editing.
When multiple steps are selected, the parameter change is applied to all of them. When the
parameter values of selected steps are different, then a tilde ~sign together with a number
and +/- is displayed while changing them. Double–clicking a screen button corresponding to
the selected knob parameter (and/or its automation) will restore its default value.
Playback – Polyend Play offers various types of playback:

Press the Play screen button to start and stop playing the current pattern. When the
sequencer is active, it will turn orange.
Use Shift + Play while playing a pattern in a loop to continue playing arranged patterns
sequentially.
Use Shift + Play while stopped to start playing arranged patterns sequentially.
Use Shift + Play while playing arranged patterns sequentially to switch to playing the
current pattern in a loop.
Basics
Audio and MIDI sequencer – Use Play as the centerpiece of your studio, controlling external
devices with up to 8 polyphonic MIDI tracks, or use it on the go, making use of its 8 internal
audio tracks. Play is small and lightweight – an entire studio that can rest comfortably on
your lap.
Knobs – Turn the knob to control its active parameter. Each knob has two parameter values.
The operational parameter is highlighted. Toggle between them by double-tapping the knob
or using the two function screen buttons located on the left side of the screen. The currently
selected knob parameter can also be controlled by the screen encoder.
Entering Notes – You can choose a note by holding a step and turning the Note knob.
Alternatively, you can use the View controller function, or even by sending note data from
external MIDI gear.
Live Rec – Press the Live Rec screen button to use it (it will turn red when active). When the
sequencer is running it will register all the knob automation for existing steps. It will also
record notes inserted from both the View mode and MIDI controllers on the pattern tracks.
Entering the Live Rec mode disables the Perform mode and vice versa.
Perform – Press the Perform screen button to enter this mode. Select one or more tracks
with the Select pads on the right side of the grid, and start pressing the Perform pads. Only
the selected tracks will be affected. Each of the Perform pads holds a punch-in effect that
will influence the sound. Hold the pad for a momentary punch-in effect, press it and let go
immediately to latch the effect. In this mode, you can also use the knob modulators. All the
knob value changes will get back to the initial values after leaving the Perform more. Punch-
in effects will be immediately toggled off when you quit the Perform mode, and toggle back
on when you’ll get back to it again.

Pattern chaining /Song mode – Press the Patterns function button to enter the pattern view.
You can store up to 128 patterns in a single project. Place the patterns in a row and use the
Shift + Play keys combo to chain them together for sequential playback. Using this method
makes it possible to create an entire song. Leave at least one blank pattern pad between
pattern chains to create a set of pattern chains. Press grid pads with patterns or pattern
chains to jump between the parts of your composition. Quick Copy patterns by holding a grid
pad with an existing pattern while pressing a blank pad to paste it.
Config Menu – Click down the Encoder to enter the Main menu section.
Enhanced Playability
Sample Packs – Play comes with many sample packs created by top-notch sound designers.
You can load your own too, but the bundled packs are more than enough to create high-
quality music right out of the box. Play’s workflow relies on sample packs that have been
prepared in a specific way, with samples categorized in folders. Some of the instrument’s
algorithms are based on these packs. Most significantly, the Fill and Randomizing tool ideas
rely on them. Of course, you are not obligated to follow this formula, you can do things your
own way, but it helps to make the audio outcome very musical.
Quick Copy – Press and hold a grid pad for about half a second. The pad will be highlighted
in purple and its parameter values will now be copied to the clipboard. While still holding the
source pad, indicate the target pad where it will be copied. This works for steps, step pages,
patterns, and variations. The Quick Copy of an existing step copies its values to a ‘work step’
state.
Work Step – Select audio/MIDI parameters using the knobs before you place the steps on
the grid manually or with the use of the Fill tool.
Fill tool – This can be used to automatically fill the selected area with the fill type of your
choice. You can select a Random placement of steps, euclidean spread, or even an entire
drum beat.
Variation – This tool allows you to create alternative versions of your tracks. These variations
can be manually switched during playback. Press one or more of the Variation function pads
to make quick changes to the entire track. Each track has its own corresponding Variation
pad. The pads representing track variations are illuminated in pink.

Step Repeater – A flexible onboard effect, capable of making short stutters, ratcheting, pitch
effects, volume fades, and more. Very usable both on drums and melodic samples.
Randomizer – An advanced system that allows you to choose what and how much you’d like
to randomize. In this scenario, using one knob you can make a lot of changes at once. The
randomization outcome can be temporary or saved to a pattern.
View note inputcontroller – Hit this key to transform Play’s button grid into a keyboard or
grid controller. When using Play in this way, the function pads on the right side of the grid
will change color to orange. The upper row of padsallows you to change the octaves
andindicates if you’re in audio or MIDI mode. To start entering notes via the pads, hold a
step and press the desired note, or enable the Live Rec mode. You can choose from keyboard
and grid layouts in the Main menu.
Per track – Play’s tracks offer options that allow them to act independently from one
another. For example, each Track’s Length can be set from 1 to 64 Steps. Speed allows you to
choose different BPM-related divisions. Swing is provided, and it even works per track!
Additionally, 35 custom Play Modes let the playhead flow in different directions while using
the track content.
Chance and Action – This pair works in conjunction and allows you to set up some
algorithmic actions. Chance is a percentual or algorithmic probability of action. Action is a
specific parameter change happening on a Chance basis. First, determine the chance that an
Action will occur, and then the Action itself.
Master FX– The array of Reverb, Delay, Sound Enhancer, Limiter, and Saturator is very
useful to change the sound of your entire mix. To make it more convenient the effects are
managed with a bunch of curated presets.
Scales – Once the scale filtering is on, the entire sequence will input and output only the
notes that fit the chosen scale. The option to enable musical scales can be found in the Main
menu config.
Tips & Tricks
Autosave – Current project’s state is autosaved every time you hit the Stop screen button.

Undo/Redo – Every time you make a mistake (add/delete a step, make changes to
parameters) you can go back (or forth). When the Shift key is pressed, these actions are
available under the bottom screen buttons.
Session Save and Reset– At any given time you can save and recall the current state of your
pattern. It’s especially handy to have a lifebuoy during a live performance. Just hit that Save
button!
Copy/Paste – Select any number of steps (remember to hold the shift button to select
multiple steps) and copy them into the same or another pattern.
Turn Preview – While the sequencer is stopped, turn one of the knobs to hear the change
parameters immediately.
Step Preview – Click down and hold the encoder, then press a step pad containing a note to
hear it.
Easy Selection – Select one step, a block of steps, a single track, or an entire pattern.
Mute and Solo – You can perform these actions to all the audio and MIDI tracks separately
using the dedicated function pads.
Reverse sample – Set the sample endpoint before its start point to reverse its playback.
Swing – This is a per-track function. But you can apply it to all the tracks at the same time
for global swing.
Default Values – Double-clicking a screen button corresponding to the selected knob
parameter (and/or its automation) will restore its default value.
Decaying sample cut – When a long sample sounds through (decaying) after stopping the
sequencer, you can cut it by touching the Master Volume knob.
Portability – Polyend Play runs on 5V/1A and can be powered from a power bank.
Tracker integration – Go to the Main menu > MIDI > CC Mapping -> Channel and select Set
Values for Polyend Tracker to enable integration mode for the Polyend Tracker Standalone
Audio Workstation.
Introduction

With a workflow that is both inspiring and simple, Polyend Play is far from your average
sample-based groovebox. Endless possibilities for your beats are at your fingertips with many
sample packs to play with straight out of the box. Polyend Play takes an open sandbox
approach for creating and performing grooves, with the freedom to instantly mix things up
with tons of different playback functions.
Flexible sequencing with 8 audio tracks and 8 polyphonic MIDI tracks for controlling your
outboard gear – Polyend Play really wants to be at the centerpiece of your studio. This is
quite possibly the most fun groovebox ever created.
Polyend Play isn’t really about satisfying your expectations. It is about taking you to new and
different musical places you didn’t even know existed. We made it to allow you to discover
new ways of making music, and to inspire you by having a good time!
https://www.youtube.com/embed/ShwKlOaTyZE?feature=oembed
Interface
User Interface

The Polyend Play user interface is divided into four sections. Starting from the left side:
A – High-resolution screen accompanied by five dedicated mechanical screen function
buttons (the current description of each button is displayed on the screen) and a
multifunctional clickable encoder. Press/click on it to enter the Main menu. Thanks to the
encoder’s detents, you can precisely dial in the value of the chosen parameter value while
turning it.
B – Middle section consists of fifteen dedicated touch-sensitive function knobs. You will be
using these knobs to manage the step and track parameters as well as the global project
status. Each knob controls two described parameters. The operational parameter is
highlighted in the display. Double-tap a knob to switch its active parameter.
C – On the right side there are six mechanical function buttons. Besides the Shift key itself,
they offer two actions. Hold the Shift button to access the secondary action for each button.
D – The 8 x 20 grid of multifunctional (non-velocity-sensitive) silicone pads covers the lower
half of the device. The grid pad brightness level is user-adjustable. It is vertically split into
two main parts. On the left side, you’ll find 8 x 16 track steps columns. These can also be

used to arrange your songs in Pattern mode or used to trigger the Perform effects. On the
right side, you will find an array of 4 function pads for each track. These perform various
duties, including selecting, muting, soloing tracks, and much more besides. This 4 x 8 array of
pads can also be used as a note entry/keyboard controller in the View mode.
Back Panel Connectors
On the back panel, from left to right, you will find the following ports:
Out – headphones/mainline stereo audio output port – use a 3.5mm stereo plug (adapter to
1/4” jack included in the kit).
MIDIdataoutputport – use the included TRS type-B 3.5mm jack to MIDI DIN adapter to
connect to MIDI Input of an external MIDI device.
MIDIdatainputport – use the included TRS type-B 3.5mm jack to MIDI DIN adapter to
connect to MIDI Out of an external MIDI device.
MicroSD card slot– use the included 16 GB micro SD card as data storage.
The MicroSD card must be formatted to a FAT32 MBR partition. This is the only file
system supported by Play.
The MicroSD card needs to be inserted into the port in order to make the Polyend Play
operational.
Use the included MicroSD card to USB type-A dongle adaptor to access the SD card
from a computer.
The included SD card is 16GB but SD cards with a bigger capacity can be used too.
Reset button – hidden reset button for emergency flashing procedure (use something thin to
reach it if needed).
USB Type-Cport – power input from a USB power source (AC adapter is included in the kit).
Provides bidirectional MIDI class-compliant communication.
Polyend Play runs on 5V/1A and can be powered up from a power bank.
Power switch – press once shortly to turn the unit on or press and hold for a couple of
seconds to toggle it off.

Audio Port Specifications
Sharing the same physical port:
Line Output
Output impedance: 10k.
Output level: 9 dBu peak.
SNR: 97 dB.
Headphone Output
Output impedance: 16.
Output level: 17,6 dBm.
SNR: 98 dB.
Project Management

Each time you toggle the device on, Play boots to the last active project. All the currently
active project changes are autosaved with each press of the Stop screen button. Projects
can be loaded, and managed from the File menu level. Click the encoder to enter the file
browser with the following options available:
New Project – initiates a new project.
Open Project – reveals a list of available existing projects which you can open.
Save Project – this gives you an option to save your current project.
Save Project As – same as above but with an option to input an exact name of the
saved project.
A single project can contain up to 128 patterns. The sample pool and sequencer playback
settings are also stored within it. The basic rules and actions that apply to this section are:
To load a project, highlight the desired position and use the Open screen button on the
bottom of the screen. An adequate popup with a progress bar will appear.
In the Main menu file browser, the project folders are displayed in orange.
Both left screen buttons function as an Enter, in the same way as the encoder click.
If Open Project or New Project is selected and the current project isn’t saved, a warning
popup will be displayed.
New Project and Save Project actions will be performed immediately, while Open
Project or Save Project As will open the card browser, allowing you to select the project
location.
Open Project action will be performed immediately after selecting the location. After
choosing the location for Save as, enter the name of the project and confirm it.
If a current project wasn’t saved before, the Save Project command will behave like
Save Project As.
If the name entered in Save Project As already exists in the selected location, an
information popup will be displayed.
Project Naming
You can name your projects as you like. The project name field is initially filled with the name
of the current project. If the current project name in the selected location already exists, a
suffix with the first appropriate number will be added.

The Save As action will enable an on-screen QWERTY keyboard allowing you to enter
the exact preferred name for your project by using the grid pads corresponding to
what’s displayed on the screen.
Turn the encoder to change the current character and press enter to add it to the
cursor position.
Hold the Shift key and turn the encoder to change the cursor position on the edited file
name.
Press the Delete key (Shift + Fill key combo) to remove the character before the cursor
position.
If you have writer’s block while naming your project, use the Auto Name function and
see what you’ll get.
Sample Pool
The audio engine of the Polyend Play is sample-based. When starting a new project, you need
to load some sounds into the sample pool from the SD card, so you can sequence them.
Play’s workflow is powered by distinctively prepared sample packs. This approach was
chosen to make it as playable and intuitive as possible. Sample packs allow functions like
Randomizer, Chance, or the Fill tool to produce very musical output. Nonetheless, users are
not forced to use sample packs only. In fact, the project’s sample pool is highly customizable.
You can use your own sounds and omit the proposed folder structure if you prefer.
Create your new project and start loading sounds stored on the SD card to the project’s
sample pool. You will do this in the Sample section of the Main menu using the file browser
offering the following choices:
Use the View Sample Pool position to display and preview the current project’s sound
content list.
Here you can create new and rename existing sample folders.
New folders can be created by selecting the <Add New Folder> position at the end
of the folder list. The number of folders per sample pack is limited to twenty. The
folder name editing is analogic to the project naming explained above.

The maximum number of 255 sample files can be loaded to a single project. The
current number of used samples is displayed here.
Select the Load Sample Pack function to load a pack with its entire folder tree into the
project’s sample pool from the SD card.
A sample pack with its folder structure will be recognized by the sample loader
when placed in a Sample Packs folder on the SD card.
Press the Load Pack screen button and Play’s sample loader will load a pack with
its entire folder tree intact.
Sample packs are organized as a folder with their subfolders. Please note that its
subfolders cannot contain any other subfolders, as they will not be loaded to the
sample pool by the Play’s file browser.
If you selected a folder containing only samples, it will be loaded as a new sample
pool folder of the same name and will contain samples from the source folder.
Multiple folders can be loaded simultaneously.
Enter the Load Files or Folders position to load a selection of files and folders into the
project’s sample pool from the SD card.
Use the Load Wav/Load Folder screen button to load selected content to the
sample pool.
Select multiple sample files or folders by holding the Shift button.
After loading single files the browser gets back to the SD card content.
In order to load a selected audio file to the sample pool, you have to designate a
target folder.
When selecting a folder, press Load Folder to load all samples in the card folder to
a new sample pool folder of the same name.
Important:
To preview samples use one of the two function screen buttons located on the left side
of the screen or click the encoder. For a fast preview, hold down one of these
buttonsor the encoder, and start changing the highlighted samples.
Delete samples and sample folders from the pool using Delete (Shift + Fill key combo).
This applies only to the project’s sample pool. Deleting files from the SD card from the
instrument level is not possible.
If a particular sample folder in the sample pool is empty, it won’t be displayed while
browsing with the Sample/Folder knob.
You can load sounds to the sample pool even during the instrument playback.

On the bottom of the Main menu Samples screen, you can see a Memory bar that
indicates the remaining sample pool space percentage.
Technical note:
The internal engine is working with uncompressed 16bit mono PCM WAV files with
different sample rates.
Polyend Play will import WAV files in any sample rate, 16/24/32 bit mono/stereo, and
will convert them automatically to the supported format.
The converted sample files contain a mix of both L/R stereo sample channels.
The overall per-project sample pool memory allows for 6 minutes of monophonic 16-bit,
44.1 kHz sample files. However, Play can work with different sample playback rates, so
you can reduce the required memory of a sample by reducing its sample rate. A sample
played back at half the sample rate will use half the Pool memory. Conversely, doubling
the sample’s rate will use twice the Pool memory. Because Play can use multiple
different playback rates, your sample pool capacity may vary.
The Main/headphones output is stereophonic.
Sample Pack
As mentioned in the previous manual section, Polyend Play’s workflow is based on an idea of
a Sample Pack. Besides the available factory and extension packs, users can create their
own. Two approaches can be considered here. The first one is arbitrary, up to one’s will, and
can be just one folder full of random samples, as long as it works for the intended effect.
Then the suggested way to approach the topic is arranged and ruled by the following hints,
aiming at giving the most satisfactory way from the as musical output as possible.
The use of sample packs allows the Fill tool to populate tracks with the appropriate
sounds. For example, when using the Beat Fill, kick, snare, and hi-hat samples from the
analogically named pack folders will be used. These particular sample folders must
contain the words kick, snare, and hat in their name’s strings of characters to be
properly recognized by the Fill tool algorithm.
When there are two folders containing the same string of characters required by the
Beat Fill algorithm in the sample pool, samples will be drawn from the top one only.
All melodic samples should be tuned in C,
It’s best to use about 10-20 samples per folder,

The sample amount per pack is limited to 255,
The overall time depends on the quality of samples and is around 6 minutes in 44.1 kHz
16-bit,
The sample volume should be 0dB,
Audio Sequencer
The Grid
The bottom part of Polyend Play is dominated by the grid of silicone pads. You’ll be using
these pads a lot. That’s why we’ve made sure that these low-profile pads are smooth and as
comfortable as possible.
Take a look at your instrument. The grid is vertically split into two parts. The left side is
occupied by 8 x 16 step columns representing the sequencer tracks. These pads serve
different purposes in the Pattern and Perform modes (explained in the next chapters). On the
right side of the grid, you’ll find a section consisting of 8 x 4 function pads, the functions of
which are described below. This grid can also serve as a configurable note input controller
called View (find the description below).

Each track is defined by a single horizontal row of grid pads. Each pad of the 16 leftmost
columns represents a single step. The timeline/playhead advances from left to right and
triggers steps containing data.
A step can be empty or it can hold a note. When a step has a note, it contains a set of sound
parameters associated with that note. Each step has its own complete set of parameter
values determined by the user with the use of the instrument’s set of knobs.
When no step or track is selected for editing, then by turning the knobs you will pick/modify
the ‘work step’ values. Next, by pressing the grid pads, the previously adjusted ‘work step’
with all its already existing parameters are placed/copied on the track as ready steps.
Deselect all the steps and tracks to get back to ‘work step’ editing.
The Play will usually greet you with its multi-colored grid of pads. Step colors indicate their
status:
Off – an empty step.
White – a step with a note.
Blue – a selected note.
Dim blue – selected empty step.
Purple – “quick-copied” step or function pad. When you momentarily press and hold a
pad, that pad and all of its parameter values will be copied, after which you can paste it

to another location. The quick Copy function works with steps, patterns, tracks, and
Variations.
Orange – currently played step (track playhead).
Red – currently played step when in Live Rec mode.
Grid pads will be illuminated in different color sets when toggling between Play’s various
modes and screens.
Patterns are created by engaging steps, placing them accordingly on the tracks, moving,
copying, deleting, etc. A pattern holds all the sequencer playback data and steps parameters
settings for the 16 available tracks. You can store up to 128 such patterns per project. Each
pattern consists of 8 audio and 8 MIDI tracks. You can easily put these patterns together into
an entire composition using the Pattern mode described later on.
A single track can be from 1 up to 64 steps long. Each track can have an independent length.
If a track is longer than 16 steps it is split into the next page. There are four step pages
available, signed as 16, 32, 48, and 64. Each of them can contain up to 16 steps. This makes it
easy to create polymeters and polyrhythms.
As all tracks can have independent lengths, a pattern’s length is indicated by the longest
track in that pattern. If you want to manipulate the pattern length as a whole, select all the
tracks at the same time and use the Track Length knob.
Press the Shift key while editing the pattern steps to visualize the length of certain
tracks on the four rightmost function pad columns.
Use Shift + one of the four function pads on a corresponding track to expand the next
page of steps.
If you want to extend a certain track length in an equal interval, you can press the Shift
key and select an empty page.
Press and hold the source track page pad while holding the Shift key + destination page
to Quick Copy the track steps between the source and target step pages.
You can Quick Copy the entire track pages with all the step parameters among the
tracks. This will also work when selecting the entire track and copying/pasting it.
You can change the default track length of 16 steps by using the Track Length knob or
by Quick Copying its pages.
The 4 x 8 function pad columns are located on the right side of the grid. The use of these will
affect an entire track and all of the steps it contains. While working in the audio sequencer
mode, the function pads are green. You can switch to MIDI sequencer mode using the Shift +
Patterns key combo, whereupon the steps will turn violet.

The function pads offer four default actions:
Mute – allows you to mute each of the sequencer tracks separately by pressing these
pads.
Solo – allows you to solo each of the sequencer tracks separately by pressing these
pads.
Variation – gives you access to track Variation mode (explained in detail in a dedicated
section below).
Select – use these to select all steps on the corresponding track.
https://www.youtube.com/embed/IO_ao55625c?feature=oembed
View Controller
The rightmost 8 x 4 grid section of function pads can also serve as a configurable note input
controller. Hit theView function key and they will change color to yellow. The upper row of
pads allows you to change the octaves and indicates if you’re in audio (green) or MIDI mode
(violet). You can switch their layout between Keyboard and Grid type in the Main menu.
The View controller can be used as an input source in the following scenarios:
When no step or track is selected, the Note controller will use the ‘work step’ with its
previously selected parameter values.
You can press and hold one or more of the steps and input the desired note.
In the Live Rec mode, you can record notes by playing them in real-time from pads
while at least one track is selected. If you want to record chords as many tracks as
there are notes in a chord need to be selected.
In the Main menu Settings you can select if the View input controller will record notes
to empty steps only, or will be overdubbing the existing steps.
Important:
The View controller works both with internal and external MIDI instruments.
The View controller can also be influenced by the musical scales filter, which you can
enable and configure in the Main menu.
View note input controller is available in Steps/Patterns/Perform modes.

Variations
This tool allows you to create alternative versions of your tracks. These can then be switched
manually during playback. Press one or more of the Variation function pads to make quick
changes to the entire track. Each track has its own corresponding Variation pad.
Use the Quick Copy function to duplicate the corresponding track pattern, including all of its
steps and settings to create a new variation. You can then make desired changes to the new
variation. When you have more than one pattern variation on a track, you can then manually
trigger the variations to add interest to your tracks.
The currently active variation is indicated in pink pad color.
Non-empty variations are indicated with dim pink pad colors.
Each track has 16 variation pad slots available.
Both audio and MIDI tracks have separate variations available.
Press a pad to change the active variation.
The Variation switches instantly if the pattern is not being played, or sequentially at the
end of the currently playing pattern when the sequencer is running.
During the sequencer playback, you can press a Variation pad while holding the Shift
key to perform an immediate switch (on the next step).
Press and hold a pad to select a variation and then:
Press another pad to copy the selected variation to it,
Use the Delete (Shift + Fill key combo) to get rid of the variation.
Variations actions are accessible from the Perform and Patterns screens too.
Important:
There is a Variation Page setting in the Main menu. It allows you to determine if the use
of a single variation slot will display available only variation slots for Separate tracks, or
for All Tracks at the same time.
Click and hold the encoder and select a variation pad on any of the tracks to trigger the
launch of a vertical column of all the available variations at once.
https://www.youtube.com/embed/H3c0csNwAfc?feature=oembed
Step Edit