Squarp Instruments Pyramid Sequencer Demos

Pyramid Sequencer Demo#1: LIVE MODE + FX MANAGER

Published on Mar 31, 2015 Squarp Instruments

More demos with their descriptions below.

"This video is an example of how to chain effects in the FX Manager, sequencing the DSI Mopho x4.

Each track can handle up to four chained up effects. As all effects are real-time processed, the recorded events will not be affected but the sound will change on the fly. In this video only one track is used, in LIVE mode exclusively (CHORD sub-mode). Its effect section contains two arpeggiators, one humanizer and one randomizer.

0:10 keypad used to play simple notes, an external keyboard controler could be used instead of the integrated pads
0:14 octave is set down to access lower notes
0:15 use of the smartpads in chord mode
0:21 tonality changed from Cmaj to Cmin and back to Cmaj
...
0:34 first arpeggiator added
0:38 octave set to -1
0:59 exit from the first arpeggiator with the following settings:

style = up/down
gate = 200%
rate = 1/1 (slow)
octave = -2
...
1:03 harmonizer added and set with +5 and -4 to create chords from the first arpeggiator outputed notes.
...
1:24 second arpeggiator added, playing around and finally setting a very high rate
...
2:54 second arpeggiator style set to "random"
3:05 second arpeggiator is bypassed
...
3:11 randomizer added, with param set to 'velocity'"



Pyramid Sequencer Demo#2: STEP-BY-STEP SEQUENCER

Published on Mar 31, 2015

"This video demonstrates the step-by-step note sequencing in Pyramid STEP mode, with a good old MPC2000XL sequenced.

The final sequence contains six tracks, which are mostly playing drums. Each track has its own set of parameters, including time signature, length, zoom and midi channel, to create some polyrhythmy and polymetry.

0:12 zoom set to 200%, to add some precision to the edition of the steps
0:15 track length set to 2+1/4 (with a 4/4 time signature) to add a little twist to the beat
0:15 track length set to 2+1/4 (with a 4/4 time signature) to add a little twist to the beat
0:17 step mode selected and display pressed, to access 'piano roll' type of view
0:21 euclid note changed from C3 to C6 with the shortcut "menu encoder" + "right" then regular right scroll to find the perc set on G6#
0:28 steps added to the current track
0:35 next note inputed, press on "right" to navigate between pages
...
0:58 time signature of second track set to 3/4, length of 1 bar
1:10 the polymetric/polyrhythmic aspect of the sequence begins to appear
...
1:21 the time signature on the snare track is left to 4/4 in order to emphasise the feel of tempo
...
1:55 kick steps inputed, double tap on the second step to divide its velocity, creating a "ghost note" effect on the double kick
...
2:55 two first tracks muted, preparing to introduce the last track
2:59 last track created
3:08 time signature set to a weird 7/8
3:28 live input of the steps in sync with the sequence
...
3:33 switching back to track mode and improvising by muting/unmuting tracks"


Pyramid Sequencer Demo#3: EUCLIDEAN SEQUENCER

Published on Mar 31, 2015

"This video demonstrates the Euclidean Sequencer in Pyramid STEP mode, with Korg Volca Sample and Roland TB-3 sequenced.

Euclidean algorithm evenly generates distributed notes (fills) among a defined number of available slots (steps). The sequence created on this video contains 9 euclidean tracks. Each of them are 1 bar length or lower, but because the measure size differs, they shift against each other: the loop is ever-changing.

0:09 tempo set to 118.0 BPM
0:11 track 01 (midi channel 1) created and selected as current track
0:14 track 01 configured as EUCLID stepmode (default 16 steps, 4 fills)
0:16 track 03 (midi channel 3) created and selected as current track
0:21 track 03 configured as EUCLID stepmode
0:21 DISPLAY pressed to view the euclidean circle
0:23 euclid set to 10 steps
0:24 euclid set to 6 fills
...
1:04 track 08 (midi channel 8) created and selected as current track
1:06 track 08 configured as EUCLID stepmode
1:07 DISPLAY pressed to view the euclidean circle
1:09 euclid set to 14 steps
1:10 euclid set to 8 fills
1:11 euclidean circle rotated
1:12 euclidean steps deleted/added manually
...
1:56 track 14 (midi channel 14) created and selected as current track
1:58 track 14 midi channel changed to channel 12 (to control the TB3)
2:02 track 14 configured as EUCLID stepmode
2:03 DISPLAY pressed to view the euclidean circle
2:05 euclid note changed from C3 to C5 with the shortcut "menu encoder" + "right"
2:07 euclid set to 10 steps
2:09 euclid set to 2 fills
2:11 euclid circle rotated
2:14 track 14 time signature right number set from 4/16 (default) to 4/8 (in order to divide the euclidean sequencer speed per 2)
2:17 euclid note velocity set to 90
2:17 euclid note width set to 60
...
2:24 jump to mode TRACK
2:25 DISPLAY pressed to view tracks progression in %
2:26 mute track 12, track 13 and track 14 (so all tracks are muted)
2:26 mute track 12, track 13 and track 14 (so all tracks are muted)
2:27 PLAY pressed, we can start to perform live with the sequence by muting/unmuting the 9 tracks
2:27 the touchpad is assigned to the TB-3 cutoff and resonance CC messages"

Squarp Instruments Pyramid Sequencer Demo#4: MICROSTEP

Published on Mar 31, 2015 Squarp Instruments

"This video demonstrates the "microstep" tool in Pyramid STEP mode, with Korg Volca Sample sequenced. It's an high speed step-by-step track with microscopic edition.

0:10 tempo is set to 300 BPM
0:12 track 01 length (default 4 bars) is reduced to 1/4 bar
0:16 track 01 zoom is set to 1600% in order to display 1/4 bar on 16 steps
0:20 first step filled
0:26 track 01 time signature lower number is set to 16 (increasing lower number divides the bar length like a time stretch)
0:33 steps filled: create drones, black midi and glitch sounds

You can create multiple polyphonic tracks with the "microstep" tool using different track lengths and time signatures to go further.

More information on http://www.squarp.net/overview.html#T... "Time signature and polyrhythm""