Pattern play mode is used to play various patterns programmed into the x0xb0x memory in an arbitrary order. Theres a lot of functionality in pattern-play mode, allowing for multiple patterns to be looped together, changing pitch, tap-tempo, different syncs, all-rest, all-slide and all-accent modes, etc.

There are 3 different pattern play modes - MIDI sync, DINSYNC, and sync out. The main difference between all three is where the tempo comes from. In MIDI sync, the sync signal (which defines the tempo) comes from the MIDI IN port. in DINSYNC, the sync signal comes from the DINSYNC port. In sync out mode, the tempo is internally generated by the microcontroller, and adjusted by the tempo knob or by tap-tempo, and MIDI sync & DINSYNC signals are sent out to control other synthesizers or drum machines. Otherwise, all three modes have the same functionality.

	To enter pattern play mode, and use internally-generated tempo, turn the function knob to Pattern Play (sync out)
	To enter pattern play mode, and use DINSYNC-generated tempo, turn the function knob to Pattern Play (DINSYNC)
	To enter pattern play mode, and use MIDI clock-generated tempo, turn the function knob to Pattern Play (MIDI sync)

 

 

 

 

Note that changing from one mode to another will re-initialize the current play settings (which pattern is being played, any settings such as all-rest, pitch-shifting, etc)!

There are 16 banks and 8 locations per bank for storing patterns, for a total of 128 total possible patterns to play. Patterns are selected this way for all three modes. In addition, the pattern can be selected in MIDI sync mode using the "Song Select" command or they can be chained together as described later.

	To select the pattern bank, turn the pattern BANK knob to the desired bank. The pattern location will be set to 1 by default.
	To select the pattern location, press one of the 8 numbered keys.
	If the x0xb0x is not playing a pattern, the selected pattern location LED will be lit and this pattern will be immediately played when it receives a start signal (from internal or external sync)
	If the x0xb0x is playing a pattern, the newly selected pattern location LED will start blinking and this pattern will be played after the current pattern is finished.
	To play multiple patterns, use pattern chaning, descibed below.

Patterns within one bank can be chained together, in arbitrary order, up to 32 patterns in a row. In this way, repetitions of patterns can be programmed, either for playing or for trying out possible tracks.

	Press and hold down the CHAIN key. The CHAIN LED will light up and the numbered key LEDs will be cleared, showing that a new chain is ready to be entered.
	While still holding down the CHAIN key, select the patterns to be put in the chain by pressing the 8 numbered keys, one at a time. The patterns will be entered in order of selection. The same pattern can be entered multiple times. Chains can be 1 to 32 patterns long. Patterns in the chain will light up solid as they are selected.
	Once the chain has been decided on, release the CHAIN key. The chain will start playing at the end of the next pattern.
	While a chain is playing, the patterns in the chain will light up solid, the current pattern playing will be blinking
	Essentially, selecting a single patterns is the same as creating a 1-pattern-long chain.

When using Pattern Play (sync out) the tempo is created by the x0xb0x using either the TEMPO knob or tap-tempo. Whenever the tempo is changed, it is displayed via the TEMPO LED.

	Turning the TEMPO knob clockwise increases the tempo by 1 BPM per 'click.' Turning the TEMPO knob counter-clockwise decreases the tempo by 1 BPM per 'click.' The TEMPO knob may have a button in it, but it is not used for anything (yet)
	tap-tempo allows the tempo to be set by measuring the time between button presses. To set the tempo via tap-tempo, press the DONE key two or more times. The tempo will be set by measuring the delay between the last two key presses.
	If the x0xb0x is connected to a computer, the current BPM will be displayed.

In sync out mode, the x0xb0x can be used to control other synthesizers via MIDI out or DINSYNC by generating clocking signals. Since the DINSYNC port can also be used as an input, make sure that the other machine is configured for DINSYNC in. By default the sync rate is 24 DINSYNC pulses and 24 MIDI clocks per quarter note. Start signals (MIDI start and DINSYNC start line high) are generated when the pattern starts playing (by pressing the RUN/STOP key) and stop signals (MIDI stop and DINSYNC start line low) are generated when the pattern stops (pressing RUN/STOP again, or changing out of pattern play.)

	To start playing patterns, press the RUN/STOP key. The pattern will always start playing at note step #1. This will also send DINSYNC and MIDI start signals.
	The pattern(s) will continue playing until the RUN/STOP key is pressed again, or the FUNCTION knob is changed to a different function. This will also send DINSYNC and MIDI stop signals.

MIDI sync allows the x0xb0x tempo, start/stop and pattern selection to be controlled via another computer or synthesizer. Make sure the MIDI cable is plugged into the MIDI IN jack. The x0xb0x listens for "MIDI Start," "MIDI Continue," "MIDI Stop," "MIDI Clock," and "MIDI Song Select" messages. These messages do not use the MIDI address specification. For more information about the MIDI standard, you can refer to this specification webpage.

	To start playing the current pattern, send a MIDI Start message.
	There should be 24 MIDI Clock messages per quarter note.
	To stop playing the current pattern, send a MIDI Stop message
	Not currently implemented: [To change patterns via MIDI, send a MIDI Song Select message. The song select data byte ranges from 0-127 and selects which out of 128 possible patterns to play. Note that Song Select #0 will start playing the pattern in bank 1, location 1, #1 will play bank 1, location 2, up to #127 which plays bank 16 location 8.]

Older (pre-MIDI) synths and drum machines such as the Roland TR-606/808/909. By default, the start signal is a low-to-high to transition on the DINSYNC start pin, a stop signal is a high-to-low transition on the same pin. Clock signals are defined as a low-to-high transition ont he DINSYNC clock pin.

Pitch-shifting allows the current pattern to be played at a higher or lower scale than it was originally programmed in. The pitch can be shifted in either direction, in 1/2 note increments, up to one octave. Pitch-shifting is available in all three modes.

	To shift the pitch up, hold down the UP key. The current pitch shift is displayed as a blinking light on the note keys. A pitch shift of 0 is displayed as low C, a pitch shift of +1/2 note is displayed as C#, A pitch shift of +1 octave is displayed as high C. If no LEDs light, the current pitch shift is negative. To select a new pitch shift, press a note key while the UP key is held down. The new pitch shift value will light up solid and will become effective at the start of the next pattern.
	To shift the pitch down, hold down the DOWN key. The current pitch shift is displayed as a blinking light on the note keys. A pitch shift of 0 is displayed as high C, a pitch shift of -1/2 note is displayed as B, A pitch shift of -1 octave is displayed as low C. If no LEDs light, the current pitch shift is positive. To select a new pitch shift, press a note key while the DOWN key is held down. The new pitch shift value will light solid and will become effective at the start of the next pattern.
	Pitch shifts are cleared when a new chain is started.

The REST, ACCENT, and SLIDE keys can be used to turn on all-rest (treat all notes as rests), all-accent (accent all notes), and all-slide (slide all notes).

	To turn on all-rest, press the REST key. The REST LED will light up and no new notes will be gated until the REST key is pressed again.
	To turn on all-accent, press the ACCENT key. The ACCENT LED will light up and all notes will be accented until the ACCENT key is pressed again.
	To turn on all-slide, press the SLIDE key. The SLIDE LED will light up and all notes will be slid until the SLIDE key is pressed again.