Chord Mode: OXI ONE MKII manual

6.7 Chord Sequencer Mode

Chord mode enables chords consisting of up to 8 notes to be played and sequenced by each pad. This offers a fast way to build progressions while at the same time learning about chord theory in practice.

Chord inversions and voicing. Voicing is the term used when referring to inversions. Typically the root note of a chord is the lowest bass note. A chord inversion is the adjustment of chord notes in order to place another note in the lowest bass position of the chord instead of the root note. Iterative inversions can be applied. This is also called voicing, the term used often in ONE, and can help make smoother and more musical chord transitions. ONE manages voicing through its parameter application and auto voicing feature in chord mode for the best musical effect coupled with a simple workflow.

The grid can be presented in two main views. Sequencer view represents chords on each row based on the selected scale and by degrees between the grid rows. Also keyboard view gives access to a multi functional grid with a piano roll style chord layout and direct mode control using pads plus the more expanded chord palette.

Activate or deactivate step. Quickly tap [Pad].

Tapping any pad in a column will select it, or deselect if already active. Each pad row represents a chord in the selected scale.

Create tie. Hold 1st [Pad] + tap last [Pad]

Inverted ties. Hold last [Pad] + tap 1st [Pad].

Muting steps. Hold last [Mute] + tap [Pad].

In Chord mode, any existing step notes that are not visible in the current pad range will be indicated by the illumination of the top or bottom row of the grid pads to indicate that notes exist off the grid in the indicated column. Off grid, upper notes are lit white and lower notes are lit red. Scrolling the octave range will bring these notes into view. The octave intervals are also shown when navigating with dimly lit white and red rows.

Chord Sequencer Parameters

The generic details of the sequencer setup and track and step options have already been covered, so here is a refresher on the general options. Any unique chord mode parameters are described here. The [Page] button will flash to signal if multiple pages exist. Press [Page] to cycle through the available pages.

Page button flashes to signify that multiple pages exist. Tap [Page] to cycle through available pages.

ChMx. Channel Multiplexing. Hold (ChMx) knob to switch between Lo and Hi options. The ChMx setting will redistribute the active voices, typically created from a chord, to the other incremental MIDI channels, upwards from the base. See Domino sequencer for expanded details.

Oct. Navigate grid, up or down. Knob 1.

Dir. Playback direction. Knob 2.

Div. Randomisation of time division. Knob 3.

Div. Sequencer time division. Knob 4.

To reset a parameter back to its default setting, press and hold the respective knob for >2 seconds.

Step Options

Some step parameters can be edited globally, covering all chord steps, or can be edited at an individual step level. Multiple steps can also be edited collectively while the pads are held. The voicing is also accessible at an individual step or global level. Press [Page] to cycle through multiple page options.

Global - Press [Step]

Tap (Knob) for the selected parameter to edit, switching between the upper and lower options in a dual parameter row display.

Strm. Sets a slight timing offset on each note to play back in order rather than together. This applies a strum style effect. Positive values affect time separation lower to upper notes and negative values affect upper to lower. Range is -100% to 100%.

Quick, direct access, hold [Shift] + [Chord] or use [Page] from within the step menu.

Affects the chords in the sequence globally. See table below for parameter details. Bass affects sequencer and keyboard view.

Parameters titles in this table refer to both the global and individual step page option labels. For example Voic/Voicing is titled ‘Voic’ in global menu and the same parameter is titled ‘Voicing’ in the step submenu. These affect the same parameter but for all or individual steps depending on the process. Bass note has priority over voicing spread limit.

Columns 13 & 14, voicing, column 15, spread, and column 16 in keyboard view also give access to editing of these parameters.

To reset a parameter back to its default setting, press and hold the respective knob for >2 seconds.

Transposing Chords

Pick & Place Chords

The last chord selected in keyboard view can be placed in the sequencer grid. This is an iterative process switching between keyboard view to audition and select a chord from the library of options and then back to the sequencer view to place the chord into a pattern and build progressions. Holding the [Keyboard] button will temporarily switch to the keyboard view where a chord can be selected. Releasing the [Keyboard] button will switch back to sequencer view and tapping a pad will place the chord into the selected grid step.

Any existing step notes that are not visible in the current pad range will be indicated in the top or bottom row of the grid to indicate that notes exist off the grid in the indicated column. Scrolling the octave range will bring these notes into view.

Keyboard View & Chord Palette

When in chord mode, keyboard view offers a set of tools for playing, composing and performing with chords. An extension to the classic keyboard chord view is the chord palette, adding more flexibility and aids to chord management. Select keyboard view in a chord sequencer by pressing the [Keyboard] button. The last chord played will be remembered and can then be placed into the grid in sequencer view. Also a collection of user chords can be built directly in keyboard view and then can be used for performing and recording a progression.

Keyboard View - Chord Palette OFF *

* Major scale illustrated.

Functions explained also apply with chord palette set to On

The keyboard view presents chord columns and a chord playback interface. The same functions and options exist when extending the mode to the chord palette where additional chord options are presented. These modes enable a creative environment for developing chord progressions without too much need for musical theory.

Tapping any pad in a column will trigger the chord. Chord layout is based on the current scale and root.

Tapping the pad will switch between the chord banks A, purple or B, Magenta. The display will indicate the bank selected.

Any pad in column 13 or 14 will select the chord type based on the keyboard played scale and root.

Pads on rows 1-7 from column 15 will select the voicing / inversions for a played chord.

Pads on rows 1-6 from column 16 will select the voicing spread to add higher octave notes to the played chord.

Tap any pad to select auto voicing on/off. On sets chord inversions automatically for smooth chord movement.

Tapping the modifier pad will toggle the audible preview for columns 13-16 on or off.

Chord Quality Palette

The bottom 3 pad rows represent the quality aware tables. This means that chords are clustered into table groups that have a musical relationship, meaning they sound good together. The brighter the pads the higher tension, increasing up in rows from the basic chord. The colors of the groups represents the chord quality, amber for major, blue for minor, orange for dominant, purple for diminished, magenta for augmented and green for suspended. This feature is an aid to building melodic phrases and progressions without referring to music theory.

Chord Banks

Chord bank A covers the more typical and simple chord options allowing a quick start in developing progressions. Chord bank B covers more dissonant chords like augmented, diminished and dominant chords. These are more complex and require more knowledge of musical theory to get the best from these options when building progressions. Its safe to say that with less experience of the theory of musical structures, bank A is the better place to get started.

Supported scales are the 7 diatonic scales: Major, Minor, Dorian, Phrygian, Lydian, Mixolydian, Locrian, Pentatonic Major & Minor, Harmonic Minor and Melodic Minor - ascending.

User Chord Slots

User slots are available in keyboard view which store up to 12 chords, captured from playing the keyboard. The root note, type, spread and voicing / inversion are all saved with the chord in one of the selected chord slots. These can then be played back as a predefined progression or melody and can also be used to record into the sequencer or played with the arpeggiator. Holding chords plays in legato.

Play chord slot. Tap or hold slot [Pad].

The last chord played in [Keyboard] view can be placed into a step in sequencer view using the pick and place process.

External Keyboard with Chord Sequencer

An external MIDI keyboard can be used to play and capture chords in Keyboard / Chord Palette mode. Chord played will be received on any channel along with its anchor by the ONE and will refresh live in Chord mode.

Clear a chord

Chord Arpeggiator

Chord mode has a dedicated arpeggiator which uses the notes from the sequenced chords or chords played in chord keyboard view as the source from which to create an arpeggio instead of the global keyboard. Access to the chord arp is made using the [Arp] button in a chord sequencer. The chord arp is integral to the chord mode engine but still follows the general principles and functionality as the keyboard arpeggiator.

The sequencer must be playing to play chords using the arp.

Tap (Knob) of the respective parameter to toggle between the upper or lower option for editing.

Corner tagged parameters can be modulated.

Tap [Page] button to cycle through the arp pages. Page button flashes when pages are available.