Freakier Firmware

Patterns A and B, length, copy and erase

Two patterns per sound, switching between them live, and how to copy, reload and clear them.

Do it in the simulator ↗Lesson 18 · 4 min

Each sound stores two sequences, A and B, and they share one length. Only one plays at a time: you can switch between them while it runs. The icons Up | A and Order | B select them, and the screen says which one loaded.

  • What sequences A and B are
  • How to switch between them while playing
  • How to copy, erase and reload a pattern
  • How the sequence length works
The steps4 steps
  1. Select sequence B: touch Order | B. The screen says Sequence B Loaded. Each sound has an A and a B.
    Stuck?

    Touch the Order | B icon, next to Up | A.

  2. Record a short pattern into B: touch Record, play three notes one at a time, then touch Play.
    Stuck?

    Rec, then three notes (release each), then Play.

  3. While B plays, touch Up | A. The sequencer switches to pattern A, which is empty here. Touch B to return.
    Stuck?

    Touch A, then B.

  4. Stop with Play. Copying, erasing and the shared length are real-unit features, listed in the notes below. Press Next.
    Stuck?

    Touch the Play icon.

A and B are two takes on one sound, switched live. On a real unit you can also copy, clear and reload them; the notes below show how.

On the real MicroFreak

Hold the source pattern and touch the destination to copy (the screen confirms). To erase, hold A or B and touch Hold: both icons blink, and when they stop the pattern is gone. Shift plus A or B reloads the last saved version, which undoes unsaved edits. You can erase or reload A while B plays. The length is one value for both patterns, from 4 to 64 steps, in Utility > Preset > Seq/Arp > Seq Length. Both sequences are saved with the preset.

Where the model differs

Copy, erase and reload are not modeled. Switching and playing are.

Questions2

Can A and B play at the same time?

No. They are two alternatives for the same sound. Switch between them while playing for variations.

Does saving a preset save my sequences?

Yes. Both sequences and their modulation tracks are saved with the preset.