Arturia KeyStep - Controller / Sequencer - Manual (Page 75)

8.10.3.14. Arp Random
This sets the type of randomness exhibited by the arpeggiator when Arp Mode knob is set
to "Random"
Total: This is the original (legacy) version of random mode that KeyStep has had since its
introduction. It plays your selected notes in totally random order. At each step, any of the
keys you have pressed is equally likely to be played.
Pattern: This is a mode originally introduced in our MicroFreak synthesizer. It can be used
to quickly and spontaneously generate semi-random patterns that repeat. The "random but
repeating" nature combined with the fact that users can set the length of the randomized
loop makes this a very "musical" way of generating interesting ideas.
In this mode, every new note entered or released in the Arp will generate a random pattern
using the pressed/held notes and the current octave. You can set the length of the pattern in
steps by holding Rec and pressing keys 1-16. Note that you can create sequences up to 64
steps by holding down Rec and pressing multiple keys. For example, pressing Rec + 16 + 16
+ 8 + 2 would generate a random but repeating pattern of 42 steps (16 + 16 + 8 + 2 = 42) with
your chosen notes. Changing any note (or even pressing the same note again) or changing
the octave range instantly regenerate a new looping pattern!
This may sound complex, but in practice it's actually a very quick and fun way of generating
patterns.
Brownian: Brownian motion is type of randomization colloquially known as the "drunk walk"
due to its meandering motion. In this mode, notes are arranged in the order that they
were played (similar to KeyStep's "Order" mode) except that the arpeggiator plays through
the notes in a "Brownian" motion. By that, we mean the arpeggiator has a 50% change of
moving forward to the next note, a 25% chance of moving backward in the sequence and a
25% change of staying in the same place (i.e., playing the same note). This produces a kind
of "movement" through the arpeggiation that is generally forward-moving but accentuated
with stops and backward fumbles that can be strangely musical!
8.10.3.15. Sequencer Length Update
This setting determines what happens to the "leftover" notes in a sequence that you shorten.
The default "Keep content beyond sequencer length" setting will keep any leftover notes so
that if you lengthen the sequence again, the notes continue to play as they did before the
shortening. The "Clear content beyond sequence length" setting clears leftover steps when
you shorten a sequence. In this case, if you lengthen the sequence back to its original length
the newly added steps will be silent (rests).
Arturia - User Manual KeyStep - MIDI Control Center 70