FUNCTION + ACT STP

ammanuel · Post by **ammanuel** » Mon Dec 15, 2014 3:45 am

According to the Manuel when FUNCTION + ACT STP all steps in Active mode will / should be turned on.

unlike the VBeats, the one step on is the roaming step light running up and down the steps .... I checked by loading one of the preset patterns, and pressed both the FUNCTION and ACT STP.

Is anyone having or have had the situation. it's highly possible I'm overlooking something....Or dare I say a defect ( doubt it).

Any insight is much appreciated.

Thank You.

ammanuel · Post by **ammanuel** » Mon Dec 15, 2014 5:35 am

I failed to mention Volca Keys is the subject of the challenge

Hope to hear from you.

Thank you

volcaPaul · Post by **volcaPaul** » Mon Dec 15, 2014 12:56 pm

I'm not sure what you mean.

If I play a pattern on the vKeys then press func+active step all the leds light up below the keys and if I press any, they go out and that step in the pattern is skipped during playback.

the active step and func keys flash when it's in active step - are yours doing that?

ammanuel · Post by **ammanuel** » Mon Dec 15, 2014 1:44 pm

Yes, they are blinking when on, and I'm able to turn and off any keys. What I am not understanding is, the role of ACT.STP on the step keys (15 and step 16)

Another question is regarding distortions when adding layer to a pattern, the keys give very distorted noise...

volcaPaul · Post by **volcaPaul** » Mon Dec 15, 2014 1:52 pm

If you press function and step key 15, that resets the active step sequence so that all the steps play. Function and step key 16 clears all the sequence data.

ammanuel · Post by **ammanuel** » Mon Dec 15, 2014 2:05 pm

I have been resetting it manually, and it gets dodgy getting btn keys, and tripping on them.

Thank you

volcaPaul · Post by **volcaPaul** » Mon Dec 15, 2014 5:54 pm

One pretty cool feature is that pressing func+step 15 (clear act step) resets all the steps so they play, but pressing func+step 15 again reverts it back to the previous active step settings, so you can toggle between all notes playing and the previous active step pattern to give quick variety.

ammanuel · Post by **ammanuel** » Mon Dec 15, 2014 6:13 pm

Like having another memory option.

Thank you.

roblabs · Post by **roblabs** » Mon Dec 15, 2014 6:24 pm

likewise if you hit MUTE+ALL, it reverts between what you currently have muted and all voices on. Knowing these little tricks can enhance your performance

volcaPaul · Post by **volcaPaul** » Mon Dec 15, 2014 6:34 pm

it's a shame there isn't a sticky "tips and tricks" type thread on here.

ammanuel · Post by **ammanuel** » Mon Dec 15, 2014 6:40 pm

That would be so helpful! Much appreciate your contribution, tho.

I'm sure a thread like that will appear, as all things do when they reach a critical mass.

I have been so focused with the Keys trying to get familiarized, barly touched the Bass and Beats.

ammanuel · Post by **ammanuel** » Mon Dec 15, 2014 6:44 pm

Thanks robiabas

ammanuel · Post by **ammanuel** » Mon Dec 15, 2014 6:44 pm

Edit: robiabs

roblabs · Post by **roblabs** » Mon Dec 15, 2014 6:48 pm

ammanuel, if I were you I would start with the beats first, then the bass, then the keys. with the beats I think you learn the interface the easiest. You then carry that knowledge over to the bass or keys and then work with a more involved synthesis. I think the beats is really the most fluid of the 3 and the best to learn with.

btw, I find it funny that of the 3 units, the only one without motion sequencing is the bass. I wonder why they left it out.

volcaPaul · Post by **volcaPaul** » Mon Dec 15, 2014 7:04 pm

Unlike the keys, you can't control the filter cutoff via midi on the bass either.

I guess this was a deliberate trade-off to differentiate the keys and bass - the 3 units compliment each other very well.

I've been dabbling with the ios StepPolyArp app over the last day or so, and that really compliments these little volcas well.

User defined 32 step, chainable, arpeggio patterns. with ability to send midi controller information for the things that can be processed eg envelope cutoff intensity, envelope decay etc. Also does a neat trick of being able to set the probability that a note in the arpeggio will play for variety.