Arpeggio Key Modes

Arpeggio Key Modes

There are several different “Key Modes” for the arpeggiator. Each has a different reaction to when you trigger notes. It will be important for you to get this point clear in order to understand how an arpeggio works:

Settings: sort, thru, direct, sort+direct, thru+direct

sort
When you play specific notes (for example, the notes of a chord), the same sequence plays, no matter what order you play the notes.

thru
When you play specific notes (for example, the notes of a chord), the resulting sequence differs depending on the order of the notes.

direct
Note events of the Arpeggio sequence do not play; only the notes you play on the keyboard are heard. When the Arpeggio plays back, the events such as Pan and Brightness are applied to the sound of your keyboard performance. Use this setting when the Arpeggio types includes non-note data or when the Category type “Ctrl” (Controller) is selected.

sort+direct
The Arpeggio is played back according to the “sort” setting here, and the note pressed is also sounded.

thru+direct
The Arpeggio is played back according to the “thru” setting here, and the note pressed is also sounded.

The “Sort+Direct” and “Thru+Direct” KEY MODE types allow both the “direct” trigger notes to pass, and the sorted or thru’d notes that are generated by the arpeggio pattern to pass. Because of Velocity Limits to the Elements and precise Velocity values in the arpeggio data - these are used to create the feel of a Performance in VOICE mode. This is why these Voices (found in PRESET 7) are so rich and complex.

The Z-PAD (or ZONE-PAD) arp type, especially developed for this purpose, allows the programmer to have a Pad sound when velocities exceed a value of 3 (3-127) and have access to percussive sounds that will be arpeggiated by events restricted to velocities of either 1 or 2… Combined with the new Wave Random and Wave Cycle articulations this makes for exciting possibilities.

For more on Velocity Zones and Arpeggios please see the following articles:
Velocity Zone Arpeggios and Velocity Limits Motif XS/XF
Velocity Zone Arpeggios and Velocity Limits MOX6/MOX8