User Manual

8
BL-6 Bassline
The BL-6 Bassline is a classic monophonic step sequencer synthesizer with four oscillator waveform types, a sequencer of up to 16 steps, delay, and
distortion. Each patch has 12 patterns which are usually variations of a bassline. These patterns can be selected during performance via MIDI keys
between C4 (pattern 1) and B4 (pattern 12). The bassline can also be played as a monophonic synth (without the sequencer playing) by clicking the
“Play” button off. In the center of the BL-6 is a strip of step sequencer values, and below this is a keyboard, which can be played via mouse clicks.
The Oscillator Section
Wave: the BL-6 has four waveform types: Sawtooth, Square, Triangle, and Unison Saw.
Sweep:
the Sweep control affects the shape of the chosen wave—
Sawtooth
. . . . . . . sweep varies sync
Square . . . . . . . . sweep changes pulse width from square to pulse
Triangle
. . . . . . . . . sweep clips the triangle so that it gradually becomes a ramped square, similar to a TB-303
Unison Saw . . . . . sweep detunes sawtooth unison
Decay: filter envelope decay time—the filter envelope has a zero attack time and a zero sustain level so the decay parameter controls the
speed of the filter sweep.
Depth: filter envelope depth—this controls the amount of the filter envelope sweep.
Cutoff: sets filter cutoff frequency.
Resonance: filter resonance amount.
Glide:
portamento time—the time it takes for the synth to “slide” from one note to the next.
Drive:
distortion—this is a specially programmed overdrive effect.
The Delay Section
Time: governs the delay rate (or speed) of the tempo-synced delay effect. Holding the mouse over this knob displays the delay rate.
Fbk:
controls the delay effect‘s feedback (or regeneration).
Mix: controls the wet/dry balance of the delay effect.
Step Sequencer Section
Steps: this box on the right of the BL-6 sets the number of steps used by the sequencer. Clicking and dragging down or to the left reduces
the number of steps (graying out the unused steps on the display) while clicking and moving vertically or to the right increases the numbers
of steps up to the maximum of 16 available.
Grid
: sets the playback rate to 8
th
note, triplet or 16
th
note.
Pattern: this drop-down menu selects which of the 12 patterns you are currently playing or editing.
Edit
The parameters listed below can be edited using the step-sequencer grid in the BL-6. To sequence these parameters, choose one from the
middle drop-down list (on the left of the display), click the appropriate step, and then adjust the parameter value. Parameters can be edited
while a sequence is playing and the LEDs in the keyboard flash red to display the sequence position.
Note: this edits the pitch of the steps in whole notes plus or minus 24 semitones. A setting of zero creates a space (no note).
Accent: any sequenced note can have an accent, which makes that note a little louder and brighter (i.e. higher cutoff).
Glide: on/off decides whether a note will glide from the previously played note. The glide time is set via the “Glide” knob, but the “Glide Time”
parameter (below) allows the glide time to be offset for any steps in the sequence.
Depth: produces an offset to the depth knob (filter envelope depth) setting.
Cutoff:
produces an offset to the cutoff knob setting.
Resonance:
produces an offset to the resonance knob setting.
Glide Time:
produces an offset to the glide knob setting, allowing each step that contains a glide setting to have its own glide speed.
Scale: forces sequences to play within specific music key scales. Use the “Chromatic” setting when no scale limiting is desired.