Changes

= Playing a sequence =

= Playing a sequence =

ZynPad is the performance view. It shows each sequence as a _pad_. The pad has a colour and its name has a prefix (A-Z) representing its group and a number identifying its sequence number. Each pad triggers a different sequence. By default there are 16 sequences, 1-16.

ZynPad is the performance view. It shows each sequence as a ''pad''. The pad has a colour and its name has a prefix (A-Z) representing its group and a number identifying its sequence number. Each pad triggers a different sequence. By default there are 16 sequences, 1-16.

Each pad has an icon indicating its play mode. The default mode is _Loop All_. This means the pad will play the whole sequence then wait unit the next sync point / bar before starting again.

Each pad has an icon indicating its play mode. The default mode is ''Loop All''. This means the pad will play the whole sequence then wait unit the next sync point / bar before starting again.

Similar to how we navigate the cursor in the Pattern Editor we can move the cursor in ZynPad with the BACK and SELECT encoders. Move the cursor to the top left to highlight pad A1 (it is probably already there) then short press SELECT encoder to start playback of sequence A1. This can also be achieved with a touchscreen by simply tapping pad A1.

Similar to how we navigate the cursor in the Pattern Editor we can move the cursor in ZynPad with the BACK and SELECT encoders. Move the cursor to the top left to highlight pad A1 (it is probably already there) then short press SELECT encoder to start playback of sequence A1. This can also be achieved with a touchscreen by simply tapping pad A1.

[[File:Zynpad 4x4 stopping.png|right|300px]]

[[File:Zynpad 4x4 stopping.png|right|300px]]

The playback indication icon changes to red to indicate it is stopping and then disappears to indicate it has stopped. Most play modes will continue to play the sequence until the next sync point. A sync point may be thought of as the start of a bar, indeed their spacing is set using the menu option _Beats per bar_.

The playback indication icon changes to red to indicate it is stopping and then disappears to indicate it has stopped. Most play modes will continue to play the sequence until the next sync point. A sync point may be thought of as the start of a bar, indeed their spacing is set using the menu option ''Beats per bar''.

Most play modes will wait until the next sync point before starting. If you start a sequence part way though a bar then it will show an orange _starting_ icon indicating it is waiting to start and will start at the end of this bar. This may also occur if a sequence length results in it stopping mid-bar in which case it may wait in _starting_ state until the next bar. (See section on Play Modes.)

Most play modes will wait until the next sync point before starting. If you start a sequence part way though a bar then it will show an orange ''starting'' icon indicating it is waiting to start and will start at the end of this bar. This may also occur if a sequence length results in it stopping mid-bar in which case it may wait in ''starting'' state until the next bar. (See section on Play Modes.)

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Start pad A1: see its play icon showgreen and hear its sequence loop.

Start pad A1: see its play icon showgreen and hear its sequence loop.

Start pad A2. Pad A2 shows an orange _starting_ icon but does not start to play yet. A1 pad's icon changes to red and continues to play. Red indicates sequence is playing but will soon stop. A2 pad icon change to green and start playing as A1 stops. The behaviour occurs because these pads are in the same group, "A" (see below).

Start pad A2. Pad A2 shows an orange ''starting'' icon but does not start to play yet. A1 pad's icon changes to red and continues to play. Red indicates sequence is playing but will soon stop. A2 pad icon change to green and start playing as A1 stops. The behaviour occurs because these pads are in the same group, "A" (see below).

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By default sequences are arranged in columns of groups with the first column being in group A, second column in group B, etc. and the last column being in group J. (This is because the default configuration also allocates MIDI channels 1,2,etc and 10 for last column which is traditionally used for percussion.) ZynPad tries to keep things simple with each sequence containing a single track and a single pattern. We will see later how this can be changed with Arranger. Following this simple workflow, a pad's MIDI channel may be set from the menu option _MIDI channel_. This also sets the pad (sequence) group. There are 16 colours used to indicate groups so that each MIDI channel may have a different colour.

By default sequences are arranged in columns of groups with the first column being in group A, second column in group B, etc. and the last column being in group J. (This is because the default configuration also allocates MIDI channels 1,2,etc and 10 for last column which is traditionally used for percussion.) ZynPad tries to keep things simple with each sequence containing a single track and a single pattern. We will see later how this can be changed with Arranger. Following this simple workflow, a pad's MIDI channel may be set from the menu option ''MIDI channel''. This also sets the pad (sequence) group. There are 16 colours used to indicate groups so that each MIDI channel may have a different colour.

If you start pad A1 then start pad B5 you will see that B5 shows orange _starting_ icon then green _playing_ when the next sync point is reached whilst A1 continues to play.

If you start pad A1 then start pad B5 you will see that B5 shows orange ''starting'' icon then green ''playing'' when the next sync point is reached whilst A1 continues to play.

This is a powerful performance feature of ZynPad. You can assign any quantity of pads to any group providing groups of mutually exclusive (only one can play at a time) sequences. Sequences from different groups can play simultaneously but sequences from the same group will play sequentially.

This is a powerful performance feature of ZynPad. You can assign any quantity of pads to any group providing groups of mutually exclusive (only one can play at a time) sequences. Sequences from different groups can play simultaneously but sequences from the same group will play sequentially.

= Sequence Modes =

= Sequence Modes =

So far we have used the default mode for sequences which will loop the sequence until requested to stop at which point it will continue to play until the next sync point. There are many modes available which each offer features for different workflows / requirements. To change mode, select _Pad mode_ from the ZynPad's menu. This will allow change of mode of the highlighted sequence. The mode is indicated by an icon.

So far we have used the default mode for sequences which will loop the sequence until requested to stop at which point it will continue to play until the next sync point. There are many modes available which each offer features for different workflows / requirements. To change mode, select ''Pad mode'' from the ZynPad's menu. This will allow change of mode of the highlighted sequence. The mode is indicated by an icon.

Available modes are:

Available modes are:

= Banks =

= Banks =

There are many _banks_ of grids. Each bank contains a set of sequences. Different banks may have different quantity of sequences. Sequence 1 in bank 1 is different to sequence 1 in bank 2. Up to 999 banks may be configured. Banks may be selected from ZynPad using the LAYER encoder or by selecting _Bank_ in the menu.

There are many ''banks'' of grids. Each bank contains a set of sequences. Different banks may have different quantity of sequences. Sequence 1 in bank 1 is different to sequence 1 in bank 2. Up to 999 banks may be configured. Banks may be selected from ZynPad using the LAYER encoder or by selecting ''Bank'' in the menu.

A _bank_ may be considered a view or page of sequences / pads and allows more than 64 sequences to be configured, e.g. 2 pages of 8 x 8 grids provides 128 sequences.

A ''bank'' may be considered a view or page of sequences / pads and allows more than 64 sequences to be configured, e.g. 2 pages of 8 x 8 grids provides 128 sequences.

Banks may be cleared and reset to default 4 x 4 grid from the Arranger menu.

Banks may be cleared and reset to default 4 x 4 grid from the Arranger menu.

It is possible to trigger a sequence from a MIDI controller, e.g. a MIDI keyboard connected to the Zynthian.

It is possible to trigger a sequence from a MIDI controller, e.g. a MIDI keyboard connected to the Zynthian.

To set the channel that ZynSeq listens for triggers, select _Trigger channel_ from the menu.

To set the channel that ZynSeq listens for triggers, select ''Trigger channel'' from the menu.

Each sequence may be triggered by a MIDI note. Select "Trigger note" from the menu to adjust the MIDI note that will trigger the highlighted pad. By default triggers are disabled. To disable a sequence from being triggered set its trigger value to None which is below C-1 or above G9, i.e. increase to maximum value.

Each sequence may be triggered by a MIDI note. Select "Trigger note" from the menu to adjust the MIDI note that will trigger the highlighted pad. By default triggers are disabled. To disable a sequence from being triggered set its trigger value to None which is below C-1 or above G9, i.e. increase to maximum value.

Each sequence has a timebase track which may have tempo and time signature (beats per bar) events. These will influence the all playback. The ability to manipulate sequence timebase events is not yet implemented.

Each sequence has a timebase track which may have tempo and time signature (beats per bar) events. These will influence the all playback. The ability to manipulate sequence timebase events is not yet implemented.