RYK Modular M185 User manual

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RYK M185 SEQUENCER
STAGE CV
STAGE
INDICATORS
STAGE COUNT
STAGE GATE
MODE
TEMPO
PORTAMENTO
GATE TIME
/ CH2 CV SET
STAGES
RUN / STOP RESET
/ MENU
PREV NEXT
SPLIT MODE
MODE
VOLTAGE MODE
/ GLIDE PROG
CH1 CV OUT
CH1 GATE OUT
CH2 CV/GATE OUT
/ SYNC OUT
MIDI OUT
MIDI IN / RESET IN
CLOCK IN/OUT
RYK M185 SEQUENCER USER MANUAL V4 FIRMWARE

RYK M185 USER
MANUAL
The M185 is a multi-stage dual-channel MIDI &
CV sequencer, with stage selectable gate
modes.
The M185 requires a +/- 12V power supply via
the supplied standard 2x5 pin-socket ribbon
cable .
The red stripe of the ribbon cable, -12V side,
must be oriented to the “Red stripe” text on the
PCB.
1.1 FUNCTIONS
STAGE CV
Turn the knob to set the
CV for the stage.
STAGE INDICATORS
Red = Current stage(s)
Orange = Gate High
stage(s)
Green = Glide on
STAGE COUNT
Slide to select the pulse
count for the stage.
STAGE GATE MODE
Slide to select the Gate
Out activity for the stage:
Off: Gate low
Single gate: Gate high on
the first clock pulse of the
stage, then low for
remaining clock pulses of
the stage.
Multiple gate: Gate high
on every clock pulse of the
stage.
Multiple gate / 2: Gate
high on every 2nd clock
pulse of the stage.
Multiple gate / 3: Gate
high on every 3rd clock
pulse of the stage.
Multiple gate / 4: Gate
high on every 4th clock
pulse of the stage.
Probability / Program
mable gate: Probability:
gate is randomly high or low for each clock
pulse of the stage.
Programmable: Allow for a programmable gate
pattern to be set [ SETTINGS MENUS page5 ]
Long: Gate high for the
entire length of the stage.
TEMPO
Turn the knob to set the
tempo.
PORTAMENTO
Turn the knob to set the
amount of glide to the CH1
CV Output. [ This can be set on or off per stage, in
GLIDE PROG, see VOLTAGE MODE page5 ].
STAGES
Turn this knob to set
the number of stages used
in the sequence.
When in Fixed mode, the overall length of the
sequence is set in multiples of 4 clock pulses.
[ See below Mode Control - Fixed Sequence
Length ]
When in Split Mode, this determines the last
stage of sequence B.
GATE TIME/CH2 CV SET
Turn this knob to set the
length of the gate time.
When in GLIDE PROG, and the sequence is
sopped, turn this knob to set the Stored CV
value for the stage indicated by the flashing
Green LED.
The Stored CV values are used to control the
velocity of MIDI Notes, and CH2 CV when not
using split mode.
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RUN / STOP
Press this button to start
or stop the internal
sequence clock .
[NB If using an external clock, it is a good idea
to stop the internal clock first ! ]
In the SETTINGS MENUS, the R/S button is
used to escape the current menu level.
RESET
Push this button to reset
the sequence to the
first stage.
Press for approx 3 secs, to activate the
SETTINGS MENU.
Whilst in a Settings menu, push this button to
toggle a function or enter a sub menu.
When in GLIDE PROG , push this button to
toggle On/Off the glide setting for the stage
indicated by the flashing Green LED.
Stages with glide set On, are indicated by a
solid Green LED indicator.
PREV / NEXT
Push to step back
or forward through the
Sequence or Menus.
MODE
Slide this switch to set the
sequence play mode.
Forward: Plays forwards
in ascending order.
Sequence will reset after
the last stage set by the Stages-Control.
Ping-Pong: Plays
forwards, when reaching
the last stage, the direction reverses and plays
back towards the first stage.
Random: Plays stages in
random order, from the
range of stages set by the Stages control.
In AB Split Mode, will randomly choose
sequence A or B, to play in Forward mode.
When in Split Mode , the sequencer will
randomly choose stages from sequence A,
whilst sequence B plays in Forward mode.
Fixed Length:
Play forwards, until a fixed
number of clock pulses have elapsed, before
restarting from the first stage.
The sequence length of clock pulses is
determined by the value of the Stages Control
multiplied by 4.
FIXED LENGTH TIP: Set the STAGES
to “4”; the sequencer will play 16 clock pulses
of the sequence before resetting.
The sequence length is not afftected by the
total value of the Stage Counts.
This mode is great for locking a sequence to a
drum-machine for repeating groove type
sequences.
SPLIT MODE
Slide this switch to select
and set the Split Mode
settings
No Split: Plays without
any split.
Serial Split Mode: Plays
Sequence A “X” times,
then plays Sequence B “Y” times.
Parallel Split Mode:
Simultaniously plays
Sequence A and Sequence B.
Sequence A CV/GATE are ouput to CH1 and
MIDI Note output.
Sequence B CV/GATE are output to CH2.
Enables setting the split
point and repeat counts
for A and B Sequences.
Use PREV/NEXT controls to move the
Green LED cursor to define the Split point
[ start of Sequence B ], then press
RESET to set.
Use PREV/NEXT controls to move the
Green LED cursor to define the repeat count of
Sequence A, then push
RESET to set.
Use PREV/NEXT controls to move the
Green LED cursor to define the repeat count of
Sequence B, then push
RESET to set.
A
B
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SERIAL SPLIT MODE TIP: To set up an AAAB
type structure, where Sequence A plays
STAGES 1-4 three times, then Sequence B
plays STAGES 5-8 once;
Set the following values 5, 3, 1 respectively.
5 = Split point, 3 = A repeats, 1 = B repeats.
When in Split Mode, the sequencer will play
both A & B sequences simultaneously, but the
B repeat count is used as a clock-count
multiplier.
Eg. If B repeats are set to 3, and a Stage Count
on Sequence B is set to 4, then that stage will
play 12 clock pulses. [ 3 x 4 = 12 ]
VOLTAGE MODE
Slide this switch to set the
voltage range of the CV.
For CH1 this can be set to 2V Quantised, 5V
Quantised, or 5V Non-Quantised.
For CH2 2V or 5V Quantised only.
GLIDE PROG is used to set the glide
ON/OFF per stage. When the sequencer is
stopped, Stored CV values for CH2 CV and
MIDI Note Velocity can be set.
To set the glide per stage, use PREV/NEXT
controls to select stage, indicated by the
flashing Green LED.
Push RESET to toggle On/Off the Glide
setting for this stage. Stages with glide set On
are indicated by a solid Green LED.
When the sequencer is stopped, the GATE
TIME control is used to adjust the Stored CV
value of the stage indicated by the flashing
Green LED. The Stored CV values are used for
the velocity of MIDI Note output.
When not in Split Mode, the Stored CV values
are output from the CH2 CV output.
NB On the back of the module there is a micro
switch to select 2V or 5V for the non-quantised
CH1 CV range.
CH1 CV OUT
CV output from the
current stage in the Sequence.
[NB Stages set to Gate Mode Off do not
update the CV Output]
CH1 GATE OUT
Gate output from the
current stage.
CH2 CV GATE / SYNC
OUT
CV output for the Stored
CV of current stage. Use the supplied Y-cable.
CV [ Black jack ], Gate [ Grey jack ].
In Split Mode, the CV and Gate from
Sequence B are output from CH2.
Sync pulse for start of sequence, is sent via the
Gate [ Grey jack ] when using the supplied
Y-cable. Except when using Split mode.
TIP: If using only the CV of CH2, a standard
mono jack cable can be used instead.
CLOCK IN / OUT
Can be used for clock
input, or clock output.
[NB If using an external clock, it is a good idea
to stop the internal clock first ! ]
MIDI IN / RESET IN
Can accept MIDI CLOCK
sync from external units
such as drum machines, and also MIDI NOTE
input for shifting the Root Note key of the
sequence.
When the RESET menu option is selected, this
input becomes a standard RESET input.
MIDI OUT JACK
Outputs MIDI NOTES from
CH1, and MIDI CLOCK
sync, with stop, start, reset commands.
NB On the back of the module PCB are two
micro switches to set the type of TRS MIDI.
The supplied cable is Type B, which we
recommend.
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2.1 SETTINGS MENUS
To access the settings menus, push RESET
for approx 1 sec, until the animation of Red
LEDs appears.
2.2 LEVEL 1 TOP MENU
The top level SETTINGS MENU is indicated by
Green Toggle ON/OFF LEDs, and a Red cursor
LED.
Use PREV/NEXT controls to move the Red
cursor LED to the required item, then push
RESET to toggle the item ON or OFF, or if
available enter the sub menu for that item.
When in the SETTINGS MENUS,
Push RUN/STOP to escape the current
menu level.
5. Clock multiply ON/OFF
When set ON the sequencer clock [ internal or
external ] is doubled, enabling 16th notes from
8th note clock. This is especially suited to
syncing with units that have 2PPQ clocks such
as Korg Volca units or Teenage Engineering
Pocket Operator units.
6. MIDI Input / Reset Input Toggle
The MIDI Input jack can be switched between
MIDI IN [ OFF ] or as Reset Input [ ON ]. When
using as a Reset Input please switch the MIDI
TRS switch on the back of the module to
position ‘B’
7. Sequence B Gate -> Reset ON/OFF
When set to ON, this enables Resets of
Sequence A to be triggered by a Gate high
from Seqeunce B
8 - Pre / Post Scale Root Note offset
Root note, A+B CV, and MIDI IN offsets can be
applied Pre [ OFF ] or Post [ ON ] scale quantise.
1. Scale Quantise Sub Menu
[see page 5 for sub menu]
2. Programmable Gate Pattern Sub Menu
[see page 5 for sub menu]
3. Long Gate Slur ON/OFF
When set ON, the Gate is not cleared at the end
of Long Gate mode, allowing for a continuous
gate to the next stage.
TIP: Set glide on for the stage after a Long
Gate with slur, to create a TB303 style slide.
4. A + B CV offset ON/OFF
When set ON, the CV from Sequence B is
added to the CH1 CV to create root note
offsets, or key changes. [ NB MIDI NOTE input
root note offset will be deactivated ]
TIP: Create a looped pattern in Sequence A,
then using a slower pattern in Sequence B to
change the key of Sequence A.
1 - Scale Quantise selection Sub Menu
2 - Programmable Gate Pattern Sub Menu
4 - A + B Sequence CV offset ON/OFF
3 - Long Gate Slur ON/OFF
5 - Clock multiply ON/OFF
6 - MIDI Input / Reset Input Toggle
7 - Seqeunce B Gate -> Reset ON/OFF
8 - Pre / Post Scale Root Note offset
LEVEL 1 TOP MENU
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2.3 LEVEL 2 SUB MENUS
The level 2 SUB MENUS are indicated by Red
toggle ON/OFF LEDS, and a Green cursor LED.
RUN/STOP is used to escape the Sub
Menu, back to the Top Menu.
1. Scale Quantise Sub Menu
Use PREV/NEXT to move the Green LED to
the required stage, then push
RESET to select the scale. Push once for
scales 1-8 [ Red LED ], push twice for scales
9-16 [ Orange LED ], see below.
Root Note setting.
Turn the GATE TIME knob to adjust the scale
root note from C to B in semitones.
2. Programmable Gate Pattern Sub Menu
Allows setting of custom gate patterns for
GATE MODE “?????”
Push PREV / NEXT to move the Green
cursor LED to the required position, then push
RESET to toggle each position ON/OFF,
indicated be lit Red LEDs.
Probability random gate is set by turning off all
the positions.
TIP: Tip to set up a gate pattern that plays the
1st, 4th, 5th clock pulses, set the LEDs to the
following pattern
Once the required settings have been chosen,
push RUN /STOP to exit the menu back to
Level 1 menu, push again to return to
sequencer mode.
9 - Diminished
10 - Pentatonic major
12 - Dorian
11 - Pentatonic minor
13 - Phrygian
14 - Lydian
15 - Mixolydian
16 - Locrian
1 - OFF/Chromatic
2 - Major
4 - Major 6th
3 - Minor
5 - Minor 6th
6 - Major 7th
7 - Minor 7th
8 - Iwato
SCALE QUANTISE SUB MENU
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3.1 SEQUENCER UTILITY MODES
There are several utility modes that can be
accessed by holding down certain buttons
whilst switching on power to the M185.
3.2 MIDI TO CV MODE
With this mode the M185 can be used as a
MIDI to CV converter.
Push PREV [ left blue ] whilst powering up,
continue to hold until the LEDs stop moving,
before releasing the button.
Connect a MIDI source such as a keyboard to
the MIDI IN socket via the supplied MIDI/TRS
cable.
The MIDI note input is converted to CV and
GATE output from CH1.
Velocity or modulation CVs are output from
CH2.
Slide the MODE switch to select one of the
following options for the CH2 CV output.
CV2 outputs the Velocity
of the MIDI note.
CV2 outputs the Bender
Wheel data.
CV2 outputs the
Modulation Wheel data.
Turn the Stages knob
to select the MIDI Channel.
3.3 - UTILITY MENU
Push RUN/STOP whilst powering up until
the LEDs stop moving, before releasing the
button.
The UTILITY MENU is indicated by Green
Toggle ON/OFF LEDs, and a Red cursor LED.
Use PREV/NEXT controls to move the Red
cursor LED to the required item, then push
RESET to toggle the item ON or OFF, or if
available enter the sub menu for that item.
1. Master / Slave select
Two M185 modules can be slaved together to
create sequences with up to 16 stages.
User a 3x2 ribbon cable, to connect the SLAVE
socket on the back of both modules.
DO NOT connect to the Expander socket, this
could damage the modules.
Push RESET to toggle MASTER MODE
ON/OFF.
Push RUN/STOP to boot the sequencer.
If succesfull Red LEDs will animated across the
two modules. If there is a problem, try
re-powering the modules.
2. MIDI CH & Clock Subdiv Sub Menu
Used to set the MIDI Channel for the MIDI Note
output and input. Also the MIDI Clock subdivi-
sion for the MIDI clock / internal clock .
For Clock Subdivide
Push PREV / NEXT to move the Red LED to
the required stage to select the subdivide
amount.
Each stage represents a multiple of 6,
displayed by a lit Red LED.
TIP: Stage 1 = Subdivision of 6 , Stage 4 =
Subdivision of 24
For MIDI Channel
Turn the Gate Time knob to select the MIDI
IN/OUT Channel, indicated by the Green LED.
7. Hardware Test and Calibration
Do not use this menu, unless you are us !
3.4 - FIRMWARE UPDATE MODE
Push RESET whilst powering up the module.
The sequencer will indicate Firmware Update
mode with the 2 left-most red LEDs.
Firmware is updated using MIDI sysex files
transfered to the module via the MIDI input.
When shipped the firmware version is indicated
on the back of the socketed microcontroller
chip. Check the RYK shop website or Instagram
for firmware updates.
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