MidiTraC - Polyphonic Step Sequencer, MidiLooper & Pattern Generator

video uploads by EKL Alfred Labs

The above is a playlist starting Jul 7, 2022 and going back to Jan 24, 2019 featuring various stages of development.

The following is the description for the first (and latest video) followed by some details from the MidiTraC Manual.

MidiTraC - MidiLooper & StepSequencer...
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Sequential Prophet 6
Roland Jupiter Xm / JU06a
Clavia Nord Modular G2X
Arturia MicroFreak / Keystep 37
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info: miditrac(ät)mail.de
MidiTraC Manual: http://e.pc.cd/U2CotalK

1) using generator (C harmonic minor) to make a Init Sequence with Prophet 6
2) add some Juno60 sounding stuff using Step Mode
3) delete some Events - Live Eraser
4) Drums (Jupiter Xm) - Step Mode
5) recording Bass & Pads from G2X - Live Mode
6) mute some Tracks
7) add another Bass (Jupiter Xm) Track - Step Mode
8) small Melody by MicroFreak - Live Mode
9) showing Track Transpose...

From the user manual:

MidiTraC v1.01
++ 4Players ++

Preface:
Sometimes developer are so deeply connected to their project that they don't reach customers, so they don't manage to transport the real message. Hence this preface, which should explain the basic idea behind the concept of MidiTraC.

The actual inspiration comes from a video showing "Vince Clarke" and the "BBC Computer". Based on this, plus a lot of imagination and feedback from beta testers, the current version of the MidiTraC sequencer was developed.

The initial spark was the idea of the polyphonic step sequencer, which is often found in hardware synthesizers. Unfortunately many implementations are only half-hearted and have many limitations (monophony, number of steps or complicated impractical handling). MidiTraC tries to counter these shortcomings.

MidiTraC combines different device classes:
+ Midi Looper (Notes & CC Data)
+ Step Sequencer (polyphonic)
+ Conditional Sequence Generator
+ Note Editor & Modifier
+ Arpeggiator

MidiTraC can handle 16 tracks, each track is assigned to a fixed midi channel. The tracks can be independently muted, quantized, deleted or transposed.

All midi events, that arrives at the midi input are recorded. Therefore all settings have to be done at the midi input source, e.g. the choice of the midi channels. Usually the input source is a Midi-Keyboard, but it can be everything that send midi notes or CC data.

The principle is comparable to an audio Looper, with the difference that the amount of data is not generated by the time axis, but by the number of recorded events.

The device works on the basis of five slots, each slot can handle patterns up to 1024 midi events (a pattern manage 16 midi channels).

Notes can be generated, recorded live or step by step. An infinite number of overdubs are possible, each of these overdubs can have different lengths [Loop]. The longest recorded loop, represented here by the total lengths [Bars] (from 1 to 999 Measures).

Every operation can be done while running, so patterns can be loaded, saved, copied or merged to/from the Slots (for now, there are 128 memory locations). There is always one [Undo] step possible. [See the user manual for more].


Quick Specs:

+ 16 tracks, 1024 events (notes / midi CC) per pattern
+ 5 patterns with variable pattern lengths: 1 to 255 bars
+ Scales and quantization on recording or via ChannelQuantize
+ 18 quantization grids 1/64 - 1/1 (including triplets & dotted notes)
+ Note Editor (Microtiming 1/192, Pitch, Velocity, Duration, Channel)
+ unlimited smart overdubs with variable loop lengths (consolidate)
+ polyphonic step input with individually adjustable gate lengths
+ Pattern Generator (polyphonic / monophonic / drums / scales)
+ individual transposing / muting (live/lock) for all midi channels
+ Merge / load / save while sequencer is running...