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FUNCTION 7: CHANNEL SELECT
DATA FAR sets the Altura Send channel, which defaults to 1 on startup. You can daisy-chain
many devices, and only those set to receive on this channel will respond to the Altura MkII.
FUNCTION 8: ARPEGGIATOR / STEP SEqUENCER
This is a major new functionality introduced with the MkII version of the Altura. Follow this typical
work flow until you get familiar with this powerul and flexible tool.
•
Turn FUNCTION knob to 8. You are in Arpeggio Play mode, and the display shows the
current key and scale. Hold your right hand steady, close in front of the right sensor. Do you
hear an arpeggio? Probably not.
•
To create or edit an arpeggio, touch the Preset Increment button (
▲
) to toggle into Arpeggio
Setup mode. The display shows “
ARP
” and the seven knobs will now build your arpeggio.
•
Twiddle the seven knobs, left to right, to display a variety of positive and negative integers.
Now you should hear a crazy arpeggio! Moving your right hand sets the starting note for
the arpeggio, which always plays within the current key and scale.
•
In “
ARP
” mode, the Preset Decrement button (
▼
) is now the Tap Tempo button. Tap it a few
times to set the tempo.
•
Move your left hand to set a tempo multiplier, 1, 2, 4 or 3. (4 and 3 will sound the same in
this context.)
•
Touch the Preset Increment button (
▲
) to toggle back to Arpeggio Play mode. The display
shows “
THR
”. You can now change the key, scale, and octave range, or leave Function 8.
•
Touch the Preset Decrement button (
▼
) to cycle down to a preset number of your choice.
Press and hold the Preset Recall / Save button to save your arpeggio.
That’s the basic gist of what’s going on. Here are a few more specifics:
Arpeggio Note Numbers
In “
ARP
” mode, twirling the knobs gives you access to one full
octave of notes above and below the note being played by your right hand. Your right-hand
note is
always Note
1
in the arpeggio scale. The knobs will present you with a range of numbers
based on the currently selected scale:
Diatonic
-1 -2 -3 -4 -5 -6 -7 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 1.
Pentatonic
-1 -2 -3 -4 -5 1 2 3 4 5 1.
Whole Tone
-1 -2 -3 -4 -5 -6 1 2 3 4 5 6 1.
Diatonic
-1 -2 -3 -4 -5 -6 -7 -8 -9 -10 -1 1 -12 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 1 1 12 1.
For example, Note -5 is the same as Note 5, but an octave apart. Note 1 is the note your hand
is playing, -1 is an octave below, and 1. is an octave above.
With the Altura in “
THR
” mode, you can change the scale on the fly. Moving between scales with
different numbers of notes may yield peculiar results.