ARPEGGIO (ARPEGGIATOR)
The SH-01A has an auto arpeggio function that automatically generates arpeggios according to the keys that you
hold down. The act of playing notes in a sequence like this is an arpeggio, but the device which executes an
automatic function of this nature is an arpeggiator. Language is fun, and I love words, so if you can, delight in the
inconsistencies of how we say things and what we call them. I’ve never been so tickled as I was when someone was
holding a 12” single of mine, beaming with enthusiasm, and told me “I just bought your new tape!” I love the world,
and how we work. Don’t you?
ARPEGGIO CONTROLS
[UP] BUTTON Plays the arpeggio in a low to hi (or upward) direction
[U&D] BUTTON Plays the arpeggio first upward, and then downward
[DOWN] BUTTON Plays the arpeggio in a hi to low (or downward) direction
[VALUE] KNOB Sets the internal tempo of the arpeggio
[HOLD] BUTTON Holds the arpeggio in play mode even after you release the keys
SCALE FUNCTION Hold the [UP], [U&D] or [DOWN] button and turn the [VALUE] knob to change the SCALE
PLAYING ARPEGGIOS
1.
Press the [UP], [U&D] or [DOWN] button (note the light goes on to report that the arpeggiator is active.)
2.
Press two or more keys at the same time
3.
Dig - the arpeggio plays
NOTE - it’s not such a bad thing that we aren’t able to arpeggiate a single note actually. I was immediately bummed
that I wasn’t going to be able to play my favorite duga-duga-duga arpeggios when I found this out, but consider this:
Since the arpeggiator only kicks in when you play two or more notes, this leaves you free to do all sorts of cool things
with one note at a time and then flourish with a little chord, or try all sort of interesting things. It’s easy to be
discouraged and complain about limitations, but consider that often a limitation is the source of a creative workaround
which opens an entirely new world to us. Most of the best things out there come from the result of failed attempts at a
workaround in a machine which didn’t immediately do what we were expecting it to. The TB-303 is a brilliant example
of just how priceless limitation in the face of convoluted instructions can be. Bleep!
STOP PLAYING ARPEGGIOS
1.
Press the [UP], [U&D] or [DOWN] button (note the light goes out to report that the arpeggiator is now off.)
2.
Resume playing normally.
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