initial tests for sequencing instrument thoughts: Form Factor: 3u 84hp, self contained (semi modular, optional rack ears for eurorack), expansion port for additional modules with patching options (CV, Midi) card based storage? Accessibility: left/right handed, colorblind Basic Interface: on back: power port (eurorack power +/- 12v) USB port for firmware updates expansion port on faceplate power button 3.5mm audio jack 16 encoders 16 led rings switch/led for 16/32 left side lighted soft-latching buttons to select "programming" mode: Voice Rhythm Pitch Velocity or (see expert mode) voice pattern right side lighted buttons for Patch actions Play/pause Store/Recall ( 1 thru 256. lit contain stored patches ) Delete Tempo Scale Track actions Pattern length Shuffle Euclidean Mute Concepts: Patch: "song" consisting of 8/16 tracks, tempo, scale (store/recall up to 256 patches) Track: one "instrument" consisting of a voice and pattern Voice: 16 parameters describing how a track sounds Pattern: consisting of 16/32 beats and pattern length beat: consists of gate, pitch, velocity, accent gate: whether or not the voice triggers on a beat pitch: fundamental frequency of a beat velocity: amplitude of a beat accent: number representing modulation of a beat (interpreted by the voice) pattern length: number of beats to play before looping Tempo: global clock for patch Scale: global set of pitch intervals for patch Use Cases: 1. modify rhythm of a track pattern: a. Push and hold rhythm programming button b. Push knob to select track to edit c. Knob lights to indicate selected track d. Release both knob and button e. programming mode button stays lighted f. each knob now represents one beat of the selected track g. adjust parameters: push knob to toggle gate turn knob to adjust accent push and turn to adjust randomness h1. push lighted programming mode again to exit (each knob now represents one track) -or- h2. push a different mode to switch to display/edit a different mode of the same track. 2. modify velocity of a track pattern: a. Push and hold velocity programming button ... f. each knob now represents one beat of the selected track g. adjust parameters: turn knob to adjust velocity press and turn knob to adjust randomness h1. push lighted programming mode again to exit (each knob now represents one track) -or- h2. push a different mode to switch to display/edit a different mode of the same track. 3. modify pitch of a track pattern: a. Push and hold pitch programming button ... f. each knob now represents one beat of the selected track g. adjust parameters: turn knob to adjust pitch (in increments of scale) press and turn knob to adjust randomness h1. push lighted programming mode again to exit (each knob now represents one track) -or- h2. push a different mode to switch to display/edit a different mode of the same track. *or: expert pattern programming mode Push to toggle gate turn for velocity push and turn for pitch Maybe use color to differentiate 4. change patch pattern type: a. toggle 16/32 switch: 16 mode: every knob is a track (16 tracks) each track has 16 steps 32 mode: every column is a track (8 tracks) each track has 32 steps row 1 is steps 1-16 row 2 is steps 17-32 in 16-mode, should still retain voice and pattern information for steps 17-32 5. modify a voice: a. turn to knob 1 to choose waveform type: sin, square, fm, noise, grain, sample, vosim, kick, pluck, etc. push & turn for preset or shuffled parameters b. other knobs might change depending on waveform but generically something like: k2 envelope shape/pitch shape ( staccato portamemto legato rising falling sustain ) k3 thru k6 adsr k7 low pass k8 hi pass (or turn for low pass, push and turn for high pass) or push turn for slope or resonance, etc k9 effect ( reverb, delay, ring, etc) k10 effect depth or push turn 9 for depth k11 effect 2 k12 effect 2 depth k13 fundamental k14 # chord voices k15 detune k16 chord delay (arp) 6. store a patch 7. recall a patch In "euclidean" home mode, turn knob to increase decrease Euclidean split, or press and turn to bit shift left or right