TR 6s / 8s Variation and Pattern Controls
Provides:
- Precise stop on downbeat
- Remote control of variations and fill settings
- Manual or automatic sequence through a set of variations
- Manual or automatic sequence through a set of variations and patterns
This is a work in progress. Watch for updates as I complete development as discussed below.
Connection:
- Unfortunately, the data needed for this layout only comes via USB (at least I have not figured out switch settings to get it out DIN MIDI), so the connection has to be via a computer with the appropriate Roland driver.
Setup:
- Check MIDI Designer Config / Pedalboards / Pedalboard supercontrols affect only current pages subcontrols - ON for right page - see image
- Complete steps 1-5 in the setup block
- For remote control of step advance, via note or Cc, make appropriate settings in remote control settings
- The default settings can be changed in the StreamByter input rules - locations are labeled
This layout writes data to
- system settings - Tx and Rx edit data ON
- pattern variation settings - variations selected, fill, cycle, and auto-fill
No other data should be impacted. To preserve existing pattern variation settings, turn off auto-save.
Pages
- Left
- Beat display, start, stop now & stop end controls
- current variation & kit # and title
- Tempo
- “exclusive” or “inclusive” selection of current variations
- Inclusive will not allow turning off all variations - TRs get weird when this happens
- Scatter display - illuminates when the “scatter” fill is active
- The pattern selector at top left does NOT do a beat synchronized change
- Start / Stop control (TR has a four beat count in for remote start)
- Three right pages, with increasing levels of control
- Manual sequencing of variations
- Manual / Automatic sequencing of variations
- Manual / Automatic sequencing of variations and patterns
For pattern sequencing, this forces the pattern change on the next downbeat by clearing current variations.
Some things that should be possible:
- Extended fills & transitions. Make two or more patterns similar, use the first A-H for normal bars, use second A-H for enhanced fills and transitions (two or four bars vs one), etc.
Sequencer
- Choices are
- Auto / Manual run (manual advances on step button or remote control)
- If Auto, number of bars to repeat before next step
- Whether to stop at end of bar (after repeats in auto)
- Use the STEP button or remote control to advance in play, the +1/-1 buttons are for use in editing
- The three sets of sequencer steps are independent
- I am working on a more advanced sequencer, adding
- for each step, selection of # of bars to repeat, or wait for manual advance (vamping, etc.)
- loop an arbitrary selection of steps # of times (up to last 10 steps, up to 10 times, etc.)
- jump to arbitrary nearby (not just next step) (+/- 64 steps)
- dynamic indexing by songs (vs 200, 400, 600, …)
So I would not try to load your complete playlist in the current version. But if you do save data in the sequencers, save the layout to save your work.
The “sequencer” works at the measure level, not sequencing notes, but the drum machine settings for next measure, and how many times to repeat the measure, etc.. Then loads the settings to the Tr so it is ready for next downbeat.
Limitations
- Roland have not provided the SysEx definition for the TRs, this implements what I have been able to decode so far. Really no magic here, just watching the data sent by the TRs in run or when communicating with the editor.
- Some things still working toward:
- Display currently playing variation
- Remote actuation & display of fill (this will actuate Scatter, but only for the remainder of current bar)
- I have not spent much time assessing the “fill cycle” behavior with change of settings, could be some work here to make more predictable.
- The SB code could be more compact if subroutines worked in MIDI Designer - the lack of subroutines forces a more linear thought process (which might actually be more logical)
- This control uses a quantity of SysEx traffic. There may be architectures where this may not be optimum.
- If the TR is connected, you can use any of the variation controls to program sequencer steps. If the TR is not connected, you have to use the dial in sequencer settings block.
- This was tested on the 6s.
Free vs Premium
- Remote variation control and manual sequencing work in Free - this should give a feel if the capability is something potentially useful for your workflow
- Remaining capability requires Premium
I have not tried to replicate capability in the Roland TR editor - it works for what it does. My focus is on things the editor cannot do.
Thanks to "mike" on StreamByter forum who got me re-engaged on this effort.
