Future Retro Orb Owner Manual - Manual (Page 11)

SELECTING THE AMOUNT OF SWING
The Orb’s Swing function will delay the playback of all even-
numbered steps. This can be used to add a more human feel to
patterns.
To change the swing amount, first select the pattern you want
to edit and then enter Pattern Edit mode. Press and hold the
Swing/Tempo key and the display will show a value ranging from
0–3. While holding the Swing/Tempo key, use the Up/Down keys
to select a new value of swing. A swing value of 0 means no swing
will occur. A swing value of 1 will have a small amount of effect
while a swing value of 3 will have the greatest effect.
SELECTING A TIME SIGNATURE
There are two time signatures to choose from when writing a
pattern: 3/4 and 4/4.
Each time signature simply divides the measure of a pattern
into 12 (3/4) or 16 (4/4) equal parts.
The artwork around the Step key numbers best illustrates the
divisions of the 4/4 time signature. You may also notice the small
outer ring of artwork surrounding the sequencer step keys will
illustrate the divisions of the 3/4 time signature.
To change the time signature for a pattern, select the pattern to
edit and then enter Pattern Edit mode. Press and hold the
Time/Copy key and the display will show the current time
signature as either 3/4 or 4/4. While holding the Time/Copy key,
you can use the Up/Down keys to select the appropriate time
signature. Once the time signature is set you can release the
Time/Copy key. You can change this time signature setting while
the unit is playing or stopped.
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TRANSPOSING PATTERNS
When playing patterns in Pattern mode, the Transpose function has
a global effect on all the patterns. The Transpose function allows
you to shift all of a pattern’s notes up or down 36 half-steps from
the pitches originally programmed into the pattern.
To change the transpose setting, first enter Pattern Edit mode.
Press and hold the Xpose/Paste key and the display will show the
current value (–36 to 36) of transposition. While holding the
Xpose/Paste key, you can use the Up/Down keys to change the
transpose setting.
The range of notes the Orb can play is C1 to D#6. If a pattern’s
notes are transposed beyond this range, the notes will be
interpreted as rests.
Once the Xpose/Paste key is released, the new transpose value will
take effect. This transpose setting will be saved even when the
unit’s power is turned off. If you want to reset the transpose setting
to 0 while in Pattern Edit mode, hold the Shift/Clear key and press
the Xpose/Paste key.
As an alternative method, you can also latch the transpose
function on or off by quickly pressing the Xpose/Paste key. When
this key is pressed quickly, its indicator will remain on, and again
the Up/Down keys are used to select the transpose value. Changes
made to this transpose setting will be updated once a pattern loops
and begins playing the first step again. When you are done
changing the transpose value, quickly press the Xpose/Paste key
again to exit Transpose mode.
You can permanently transpose all the notes for a pattern. First
select the correct transpose setting for a pattern, then while holding
the Xpose/Paste key, press the Time/Copy key. The pattern’s notes
will be rewritten to the new pitch values and the transpose setting
will be reset to 0.
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