User Manual

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Tempo

Displayed as: ClockRate

Initial value: 120 BPM

Range of adjustment: 40 to 240 BPM

ClockRate sets the basic tempo of the arp sequence and you can make it play faster

or slower by adjusting it. The range is 40 to 240 BPM. If Peak is being synchronised to an

external MIDI clock, it will automatically detect the incoming tempo and disable the internal

clock. The tempo of the arp sequence will then be determined by the external MIDI clock.

If the external MIDI clock source is removed, the Arpeggiator will

continue to “ﬂywheel” at the last known tempo. However, if you now

adjust ClockRate, the internal clock will take over and override the

ﬂywheel rate.

Clock source

Displayed as: Source

Initial value: Auto

Range of adjustment: Auto, Internal, Ext-Auto, MIDI, USB

Peak uses a master MIDI clock in order to set the tempo of the arpeggiator and to provide

a time base for synchronisation to an overall tempo. This clock may be derived internally

or provided by an external device able to transmit MIDI clock. The Source setting

determines whether Peak’s tempo-synchronised features (Arpeggiator, Delay Sync and

LFO Rate Sync) will follow the tempo of an external MIDI clock source or follow the tempo

set by the ClockRate parameter. The options are:

• Auto – when no external MIDI clock source is present Peak will default to the

internal MIDI clock. Tempo will be set by the ClockRate parameter. If an external

MIDI clock is present, Peak will synchronise to it.

• Internal – Peak will synchronise to the internal MIDI clock irrespective of what

external MIDI clock sources may be present.

• Ext-Auto – this is an auto-detect mode whereby Peak will synchronise to any

external MIDI clock source (via USB or MIDI connection). Until external clock is

detected, Peak will run at its internal clock rate. When external clock is detected,

Peak synchronises to it. If external clock is subsequently lost (or stopped), Peak’s

tempo then “ﬂywheels” to the last-known clock rate.

• MIDI – synchronisation will be to an external MIDI clock connected to the (DIN)

MIDI input socket. If no clock is detected, the tempo “ﬂywheels” to the last-known

clock rate.

• USB – synchronisation will be to an external MIDI clock received via the USB

connection. If no clock is detected, the tempo “ﬂywheels” to the last-known clock

rate.

When set to either of the external MIDI clock sources the tempo will be at the MIDI

Clock rate received from the external source (e.g., a sequencer). Make sure the external

sequencer is set to transmit MIDI Clock. If unsure of the procedure, consult the sequencer

manual for details.

Most sequencers do not transmit MIDI Clock while they are stopped. Synchronisation

of Peak to MIDI Clock will only be possible while the sequencer is actually recording

or playing. In the absence of an external clock, the tempo may ﬂywheel and will assume

the last known incoming MIDI Clock value. In this situation, the 4th row of the OLED will

display F LY. (Note that Peak does NOT revert to the tempo set by the ClockRate

parameter unless Auto is selected.)

Arp Mode

Displayed as: Ty p e

Initial value: Up

Range of adjustment: See table below

When enabled, the Arpeggiator will play all notes held down in a sequence which is

determined by the Type parameter. The third column of the table describes the nature of

the sequence in each case.

ARP MODE DESCRIPTION COMMENTS

Up Ascending Sequence begins with lowest note played

Down Descending Sequence begins with highest note played

Up-Down 1

Ascend/descend

Sequence alternates

Up Down 2

As Up-Down 1, but lowest and highest notes

are played twice

Played Key order

Sequence comprises notes in the order in

which they are played

Random Random

The notes held are played in a continuously-

varying random sequence

Chord Chord

The notes making up the sequence are played

simultaneously, as a chord

Arp Rhythm

Displayed as: Rhythm

Initial value: 1

Range of adjustment: 1 to 33

As well as being able to set the basic timing and mode of the arp sequence (with the

ArpMode and SyncRate parameters), you can also introduce further rhythmic

variations with the Rhythm parameter. The Arpeggiator comes with 33 pre-deﬁned

arp sequences; use the Rhythm parameter to select one. In very general terms, the

sequences increase in rhythmic complexity as the numbers increase; Rhythm 1 is just a

series of consecutive crotchets, and higher-numbered rhythms introduce more complex

patterns, shorter duration notes (semiquavers) and syncopation.

You should spend some time experimenting with different combinations of

Rhythm and Ty p e. Some patterns work better with certain choices of

Ty p e.

Octave range

Displayed as: Octaves

Initial value: 1

Range of adjustment: 1 to 6

The Octaves parameter allows upper octaves to be added to the arp sequence. When

set to 2, the sequence is played as normal, then immediately played again an octave higher.

Higher values extend this process by adding additional higher octaves. Settings other

than 1 have the effect of doubling, tripling, etc., the length of the sequence. The additional

notes added duplicate the complete original sequence, but octave-shifted. Thus a four-note

sequence played with Octaves set to 1 will consist of eight notes when Octaves is

set to 2.

Swing

Displayed as: Swing

Initial value: 50

Range of adjustment: 20 to 80

If Swing is set to something other than its default value of 50, some further interesting

rhythmic effects can be obtained. Higher values lengthen the interval between odd and

even notes, while the even-to-odd intervals are correspondingly shortened. Lower values

have the opposite effect. This is an effect which is easier to experiment with than describe!

Arp Rate Sync

Displayed as: SyncRate

Initial value: 16th

Range of adjustment: See table at page 36 for full details

This parameter effectively determines the beat of the arp sequence, based on the tempo

rate set by the ClockRate parameter.

Arp Key Sync

Displayed as: KeySync

Initial value: Off

Range of adjustment: Off or On

KeySync only applies only when Key Latch

is On. It determines how the sequence

behaves when a new set of notes is played. With KeySync off, the notes are changed

but the constant rhythm dictated by the arp pattern is maintained. If KeySync is On, the

arp pattern will be interrupted immediately the keys are struck.