PRACQ MELODIC STEP SEQUENCER Reference Manual Download Page 8

PRACQ

REFERENCE MANUAL Rev18

8

For Windows 10 Users

If PRACQ program window is blurry, try the following setting. (You may need to update your 
Windows 10 first. This information is subject to change.)

Pracq.exe Properties -> Compatibility -> Settings -> Change high DPI settings -> High DPI scaling 
override -> Override high DPI scaling behavior. Scaling performed by: System (Enhanced)

For Novation Launchpad X, MiniMK3 Users

- First, update to the latest firmware with “Novation Components.”
- Launchpad X and MiniMK3 have two “IN”s and two “OUT”s. Select the second ones each.

For AKAI Professional APC mini Users

The lowermost eight circle pads work as the uppermost ones on a Launchpad.
It seems that the lowermost eight circle pads can be lit only in Red, and the rightmost ones only in 
Green. Therefore please judge the situation by being lit or not, not colors.

Contacts

Web: http://www.pracq.com
Mail: [email protected] (Bug reports are big welcome!)

In addition, if you use Mac... 
- Follow the steps below to switch to Programmer mode.
  1. Press and hold “Session” pad to enter the setting menu.
  2. Press a bottom right corner pad.
  3. Press “Session” pad again to exit the setting menu.

Windows

Mac

“Session”

Live mode (default)
Programmer mode

Summary of Contents for MELODIC STEP SEQUENCER

Page 1: ...PRACQ REFERENCE MANUAL Rev18...

Page 2: ...d features 17 2 4 Tracks 19 2 5 Number of Steps 21 3 The Other Modes 3 1 Property Mode 24 3 2 Command Mode 28 3 3 Scale Mode 32 4 Details of Sequence Data 4 1 Step Property 39 4 2 Long Note 40 4 3 Ste...

Page 3: ...PRACQ REFERENCE MANUAL Rev18 3 1 Introduction 1 1 About this Manual 1 2 General Information 1 3 Concepts of PRACQ...

Page 4: ...e shown on the right It is put in square brackets like S1 or K28 in sentences In addition digits part may be omitted like S or K For example S means any one of S1 to S32 Two Finger Operation the chara...

Page 5: ...RACQ will inform you about the status somehow without a LCD For example display on the left shows two characters BY It is put in angle brackets like BY in sentences Confusing examples are listed below...

Page 6: ...ng changes on Preferences dialog are valid immediately Both OK and Cancel buttons are for closing the dialog Song Track Properties at Property Mode Made by Pad operation See chapter 3 1 Property Mode...

Page 7: ...in chapter 2 2 Basic Operation for details Pracq app macOS 10 15 Catalina Pracq app is NOT compatible with macOS 10 15 Catalina due to Wineskin limitation Generally paid software like the following t...

Page 8: ...two IN s and two OUT s Select the second ones each For AKAI Professional APC mini Users The lowermost eight circle pads work as the uppermost ones on a Launchpad It seems that the lowermost eight cir...

Page 9: ...es that have their individual Pad layout Main Mode may often be used but you can switch modes if necessary Edit Steps with Commands Scale Mode Edit Keyboard Scale with Chromatic Circle Property Mode E...

Page 10: ...ep 1 32 A place to put a Note 1 2 3 32 Track 1 4 A group of Steps 1 Each Track is played back individually Song A group of Tracks The whole Sequence data Step 1 2 3 32 Track 1 Track 2 Step 1 2 3 32 32...

Page 11: ...PRACQ REFERENCE MANUAL Rev18 11 2 Main Mode 2 1 About Main Mode 2 2 Basic Operation 2 3 Keyboard related features 2 4 Tracks 2 5 Number of Steps...

Page 12: ...the way settings like BPM Tempo are made on Property Mode not Main Mode See chapter 3 1 Property Mode for details Workflow and Features on Main Mode Features listed below are described in the followi...

Page 13: ...Major scale appears on Keyboard Pads You can change a scale on Keyboard Pads through Scale Mode or Property Mode Play Shift Loop Mode MD is unlit in this mode T Top Pads C6 D6 E6 F6 G6 A6 B6 C5 D5 E5...

Page 14: ...ep Preview If this Step contains a Note it is played back and a corresponding K is lit in Amber NOTE By default Step Preview is disabled during Sequence Playback It can be enabled on Preferences Gener...

Page 15: ...ther playback or stopping Moving Playback Position Playback Position lit in Red is moved to pressed S Loop Region Selected Steps LP Making a Loop Region Selected Steps if any change to a Loop Region B...

Page 16: ...me Desktop Documents Browse for Folder Dialog Preferences Export Select Folder Folder hierarchy example Executable file Default folder for export The inside of Pracq app Your Desktop Your Documents fo...

Page 17: ...playback the following pads are lit depending on a current playback Note 2 3 Keyboard related features Overview Keyboard of PRACQ consists of Scale Notes and there are several features that complemen...

Page 18: ...ale Notes are available by the following methods Semitone Keyboard K M2 Enabling Semitone Keyboard M2 Green Disabling Semitone Keyboard Keyboard pads will be temporarily semitone Chromatic arrangement...

Page 19: ...rack 2 T3 Track 3 T4 Track 4 Green Not muted To be played back Unlit Muted Overview PRACQ has four Tracks Each contains 32 or up to 128 Steps and it is played back individually For example you can pla...

Page 20: ...Track S PRESSED STEP Track Sync will NOT be kept Move to S pressed Step Apply to selected Track only SF PL Rewind Track Sync will be kept again Track Sync on Playback Each Track has its own Playback...

Page 21: ...owever you can change the number of Blocks by track 2 Block 1 1 2 3 32 64 33 34 35 96 65 6667 128 97 9899 3 4 Step Pads Operation Setting the number of Blocks Using Property Mode follow the procedure...

Page 22: ...s T5 Block 1 T5 4 Press T6 Block 2 HOLD DOWN HOLD DOWN 6 Press S24 Step 56 7 Release T6 S24 HOLD DOWN 5 Release S17 8 Release S24 HOLD DOWN HOLD DOWN Playback Position During playback Block display fo...

Page 23: ...PRACQ REFERENCE MANUAL Rev18 23 3 The Other Modes 3 1 Property Mode 3 2 Command Mode 3 3 Scale Mode...

Page 24: ...select category from among P1 to P3 then select item P1 Song Properties General Settings P4 BPM Tempo BP Set Values 1 399 BPM P5 Scale on Keyboard Pads SC Set Values Name of Scales Chromatic CR Major...

Page 25: ...ta NOTE To be exact this item is related to MIDI Channel not Track P9 Program Change PG Set Values 0 127 MIDI data NOTE To be exact this item is related to MIDI Channel not Track P10 Swing Value SW Se...

Page 26: ...reen Shorten O Normal Normally there is no need to change this item P12 Gate Time Staccato GT Set Levels 0 3 25 50 75 100 Operation Song Track Properties P24 t 4 Quarter note triplet P24 4 Quarter not...

Page 27: ...t a category P3 and each item P4 and above 1 Steps will be shown Steps 2 Select a Step then change a value HOLD DOWN Note number 60 Up Down Each Property is set by Numerical values Levels or Colors Se...

Page 28: ...edo Up Down Execute Command item list Clipboard NOTE Regarding the Ripple Commands refer to the next section C1 Copy CP Step data is copied to clipboard C2 Cut CT C5 Ripple Cut RC Step data is deleted...

Page 29: ...te pitch is transposed in octaves C12 Transpose Circle TC Note pitch is transposed with Transpose value circle Rearrangement C13 Reverse RV Step order is reversed EX 1 2 3 4 4 3 2 1 NOTE If an incompl...

Page 30: ...elected Steps Green 2 Select a Command 3 Execute a Command CP CoPy These Pads have been copied One Shot Commands C1 C7 C9 C13 2 Select a Command 3 Change the value TP TransPose Execute Up Down 3 3 sem...

Page 31: ...6 7 8 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 C7 Ripple Paste C9 Ripple Insert 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12...

Page 32: ...operations on this mode will a ect to Scale settings only and won t a ect to Sequence data Pad layout Chromatic Circle A B Fit to Scale Up Fit to Scale Down Chromatic Circle Chromatic Circle that cont...

Page 33: ...tave Preset Scales CR Chromatic MJ Major _ _ _ _ _ MN Minor _ _ _ _ _ HM Harmonic Minor _ _ _ _ _ MP Major Pentatonic _ _ _ _ _ _ _ NP Minor Pentatonic _ _ _ _ _ _ _ BL Blues _ _ _ _ _ _ JP Japanese _...

Page 34: ...anspose 1 2 L4 Root Tonic Select with Total Transpose The whole sequence data in all Tracks with Snapshot will be transposed to fit to a selected root So this operation will a ect to Sequence data 2 1...

Page 35: ...F G B C D E F G A C D E F G A A D E F G A A B 2 Add A C D E F G A A C D E F G A A C D E F G A A C D E F G A A A C D A G F E 3 Remove B NOTE Root Tonic A1 can t be removed Scale Save L2 Chromatic Circ...

Page 36: ...is available only if current scale is Scale Builder Bu er Scale Builder Bu er Scale Builder Bu er U2 User 2 Scale Edit Rotation L5 L7 Right Left Rotation VII I II VI V IV III 1 Major scale So called I...

Page 37: ...e Down PREVIEW Toggle You can listen the result without a ecting to Sequence data Press the Pad again to cancel PREVIEW F2 K1 Fit to Scale Up SAVE F3 K1 Fit to Scale Down SAVE The result is saved to S...

Page 38: ...PRACQ REFERENCE MANUAL Rev18 38 4 Details of Sequence Data 4 1 Step Property 4 2 Long Note 4 3 Step Status 4 4 Step Length 4 5 Paste Filter...

Page 39: ...ensity of sound Velocity is set on Property Mode See section P3 Step Properties in chapter 3 1 Property Mode for details Step Length Step Time Magnification Range 1 8 and some fractions Default 1 Gate...

Page 40: ...ification will appear x 1 x 2 ON ON TIE Prolonging Step Length Connecting Steps OFF 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 times S Step Time Magnification 2 Holding S down press one of Step Time Magnification Pads HOLD DOWN...

Page 41: ...may be no need to explain about this 1 At the beginning all the Step Pads are OFF Status 2 Put a Note into a Step by the above mentioned method HOLD DOWN OFF 3 This Step Pad turns from OFF Status to O...

Page 42: ...M3 is lit in Green to indicate MUTE Status M3 Step Pad in MUTE Status isn t lit MUTE Status This Status allows you to mute a Step temporarily without losing Step data On Main Mode On Property Mode 1 M...

Page 43: ...p Pads in TIE Status aren t lit M3 is lit in Amber to indicate TIE Status Shortened Long Note HOLD DOWN 7 This Long Note is shortened ON TIE OFF 8 On the other hand you can lengthen it too HOLD DOWN T...

Page 44: ...de Description OFF No Note will be played back TIE M3 Amber on Step Preview Red on Sequence Playback If a Note in the previous Step is played back the Note will be prolonged on this Step Otherwise no...

Page 45: ...Any Status except SKIP Selected Steps K The second and following Selected Steps The first Selected Step K K K LONG press leads to a LONG note TIE Double tap Step Status appearing on S Step Pads Status...

Page 46: ...ccato Swing Staccato Base of Step Time Property Mode TIME Long Note STEP TIME Base of Step Time Track Property Step Time Magnification Main Mode Each Step Swing Value Track Property Swing Response Ste...

Page 47: ...ion Mode Divided Step Partial Triplet HOLD DOWN 1 4 1 4 SF Magnification Magnification Fraction Mode can be customized at Preferences Step Time 4 Release both Pads Quarter the length of Base of Step T...

Page 48: ...Property P10 Swing Response Each Step can be disabled the Swing e ect individually Furthermore you can switch Pad s colors Amber Green with Shift Pad SF Ratio 1 1 Default Set Value 33 Ratio 2 1 TIME O...

Page 49: ...o use 1 On Preferences Paste Filter check the Enable checkbox If it is not checked Type 1 will be always applied 2 On Command Mode select one of four Types and then execute Paste Command It is availab...

Page 50: ...PRACQ REFERENCE MANUAL Rev18 50 5 Advanced Functions 5 1 Func Pads 5 2 Snapshot...

Page 51: ...Alt Step Pad Proceed Stay These are equivalent to the last blinking Step Pad Pressing Proceed Pad in succession makes blinking Step Pad proceed Snapshot Enter exit Snapshot View Snapshot is a temporar...

Page 52: ...mand items are available here too See chapter 3 2 Command Mode for the Command items Mouse PC Keyboard Emulate these operations These functions may not work on Mac Send MIDI Message Hex Inputted messa...

Page 53: ...ller Select one of the eight slots you want to recall Red Recalled only one O Not recalled Overview Snapshot is a temporary memory for a Pattern Sequence data You can keep up to eight Patterns and rec...

Page 54: ...cessing will be actually executed at a moment Snapshot View has been exited Delete Deleted automatically Operation To utilize Snapshot repeat the following round Enter Snapshot View F Snapshot View Op...

Page 55: ...PRACQ REFERENCE MANUAL Rev18 55 6 Optional Settings 6 1 External Keyboard 6 2 General Controller 6 3 Sync with an external sequencer...

Page 56: ...and then select its device from EXTERNAL KEYBOARD IN menu 28 key Keyboard MIDI keyboard External keyboard Operation Just use the MIDI keyboard instead of 28 key Keyboard Note will be sent to the seque...

Page 57: ...Pad 0 when a Pad is released INPUT Turn a Pad OFF when 90h Pad 1 is input Turn a Pad RED when 90h Pad 2 is input Turn a Pad GREEN when 90h Pad 3 is input Turn a Pad AMBER when 90h Pad 4 is input 1 4 S...

Page 58: ...Bluetooth MIDI setting TouchOSC App CoreMIDI INPUTS My Port CoreMIDI OUTPUTS My Port First of all add virtual midi port and name it My Port PRACQ PRACQ Mac CASE 1 Via Bluetooth MIDI CASE 2 Via USB wit...

Page 59: ...top etc Unfortunately however it seems that there are not many sequencer software that can act as a MIDI Clock Slave adequately Recommended sequencers are Ableton Live Live Lite Native Instruments Mas...

Page 60: ...pad is NOT used for Control Surface 2 On the same tab 3 Control Bar Native Instruments Maschine 1 File menu Audio and MIDI Settings MIDI Inputs then turn on the device for MIDI Clock Input 2 File menu...

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