Doepfer Dark Time Sequencer - Manual (Page 26)

Dark time DOEPFER
Addendum
26
Let’s come back to the programming of tonal patterns again. Using a continuously variable control, la-
beled ”1-10”, would not seem to be the best tool for determining musical pitch. That is because it would
not exactly resemble a specific pitch or note. Dark Time’s function named ”quantize” is a handy little
helper. Set to ”on”, the step controls won’t be continuously variable anymore. The range of control volta-
ges will be ”sliced” into semitones. Their number will depend on the setting of the range switch (1V = 13
semitones/1octave – or to be precise, a ’ninth’ which is e.g. from ”c” to “”c‘ ” or 13 semitones respectively;
2V = 25 semitones/2octaves; 5V = 61 semitones/5 octaves). Now it will be relatively easy to distinguish the
notes of an octave by ear – at least in the 1V- and 2V-settings.
Dark Time’s transpose switches can be used to transpose both step registers up or down by one octave.
You may also use an external control voltage, connected to the CV1 In and CV2 In sockets to shift the pitch
of both registers independently. A keyboard with discrete semitones will work, as well as another control
voltage source, e.g. an LFO, that generates continuous voltages. You may also use a MIDI keyboard or a
MIDI controller for this purpose and connect it to Dark Time’s MIDI-In socket or the USB port (do not forget
to set the MIDI-channel number…. see page 17).
Making music with a step sequencer like Dark Time is much more intuitive and much easier than you might
expect after having read the last couple of pages. You will certainly grow comfortable with this very exciting
way of musical performance the more you practice. The best way of practising still is having fun and enjoy-
ing yourself.
Anyway, we wish you lots of fun and success when exploring your Dark Time!