Arpache SX

Arpeggiator vs. Sequencer Mode

Arpache SX has two different modes: Arpeggiator and Sequencer. Arpeggiator mode determines the basic behavior of Arpache SX. Sequencer mode uses the events of an additional MIDI part as a pattern. This pattern forms the basis for the arpeggio, in conjunction with the MIDI input.

Step Size

Determines the resolution of the arpeggio, that is, its speed. The button to the left of the pop-up menu allows you to switch between a musical and linear time base. In Sequencer mode, you can use the step size of the sequence by activating SEQ.

Note Length

Determines the length of the arpeggio notes, either in note values or PPQ ticks. The button to the left of the pop-up menu allows you to switch between note values and PPQ ticks. In Sequencer mode, you can use the note length of the sequence by activating SEQ.

Velocity

Determines the velocity of the notes in the arpeggio. If Use Fixed Velocity is activated, you can set and use a fixed velocity. If this button is deactivated, the velocity values of the notes in the chord you play are used. In Sequencer mode, you can use the note velocity of the sequence by activating SEQ.

Pattern Direction

In Arpeggiator mode, this allows you to choose how the notes in the played chord are arpeggiated.

Sequence Playback Order

In Sequencer mode, this allows you to choose the playback order of the sequence.

Sort Mode

If you play a chord, the arpeggiator sorts the notes in the chord in the order specified here. For example, if you play a C-E-G chord, with Note Lowest selected, C is the first note, E is the second, and G the third. This affects the result of the Arpeggio Style setting.

One-Shot Mode

If this option is activated, the phrase is played only once. If deactivated, the phrase is looped.

Transpose

With a setting other than Off, the arpeggio is expanded upwards, downwards, or both (depending on the mode). This is done by adding transposed repeats of the basic arpeggio pattern.

Repeats

Sets the number of transposed repeats.

Pitch Shift

Determines the transposition of each repeat.

Maximum Polyphony

Determines how many notes are accepted in the input chord. If Unlimited is selected, there are no limitations.

MIDI Thru

If this is activated, the played notes pass through the plug-in and are sent out together with the arpeggiated notes.

Sequencer Mode Settings

In Sequencer mode, you can import a MIDI part into Arpache SX by dragging it from the Project window onto the plug-in panel.

The notes in the dropped MIDI part are sorted internally, either according to their pitch, if Sort MIDI Sequence by Pitch is activated, or according to their playback order in the part. This results in a list of numbers. For example, if the notes in the MIDI part are C E G A E C, and they are sorted according to pitch, the list of numbers reads 1 2 3 4 2 1. In this case, there are 4 different notes/numbers and 6 trigger positions.

You can choose to keep the original note timing, note length, or note velocities from the dropped MIDI part, by activating SEQ for Step Size, Note Length, or Velocity.

The MIDI input (the chord you play) generates a list of numbers, with each note in the chord corresponding to a number, depending on the Sort Mode setting.

Furthermore, the two lists of numbers are matched – Arpache SX tries to play back the pattern from the dropped MIDI part using the notes from the MIDI input. The result depends on the Play Mode setting. The following Play Mode options are available:

Trigger

The whole pattern from the dropped MIDI file is played back, but transposed according to one of the notes in the MIDI input. Which note is used for transposing depends on the Sort Mode setting.

Trigger Continue

As above, but even if all keys are released, the phrase continues playing from the last position (where it stopped) when a new key is pressed on the keyboard. This is typically used when playing live through the Arpache SX.

Sort Normal

Matches the notes in the MIDI input with the notes in the dropped MIDI part. If there are fewer notes in the MIDI input, some steps in the resulting arpeggio remain empty.

Sort First

As above, but if there are fewer notes in the MIDI input, the missing notes are replaced by the first note.

Sort Any

As above, but if there are fewer notes in the MIDI input, the missing notes are replaced by random notes.

Arpeggio Style

As above, but if there are fewer notes in the MIDI input, the missing notes are replaced by the last valid note in the arpeggio.

Repeat

In this mode, the chords played are not separated into notes. Instead, they are used as is, and only the rhythm of the dropped MIDI part is used for playback.

Voicings

The whole pattern of the imported MIDI sequence is played back using voicings. Playing chord events via MIDI input generates additional temporary voicings, which determine the pitch value of the played MIDI sequence note.

Note

For this to work, the imported MIDI sequence must contain voicing information.