Saga Mode: OXI ONE MKII manual

6.11 Saga Sequencer Mode

Saga is a duration based step sequencer. Unlike standard step sequencers which play to a fixed grid, Saga operates with individual step lengths. This offers an interesting creative environment where steps can play polyphonic chords or notes at different durations, allowing uneven, yet musically expressive sequences without the constraints and rigidity of the fixed grid.

When working with Saga think of each step, represented by individual pads, as hosting a 'stage' in the sequence. A stage is a set of parameters and notes which operates with its own duration. Each stage time is controlled by the duration, set in steps and which affects the overall sequence duration. The interface is a single page of grid pads with each pad representing a stage. The sequence is arranged top left pad, stage 1, counting up to the right to Stage 16, then continues with stage 17 on the first column, next row down and so forth.

Creating a Sequence

Select the Sequencer. Quickly tap [Pad].

Select the sequencer, Tap sequencer pad [1] - [8]. Set the sequencer mode to 'Saga'.

Tap an empty pad to set the length of the sequence. Each pad represents a stage of the sequence and length is show with deep red pads. Also use [Init] to set the start and [End] to select the last stage.

Set the length. Tap empty [Pad].

Activate a Stage. Tap a red [Pad].

Tap a red [Pad] within the active stage with the default note. Tap again to toggle the stage off. Active stages are pink. Stages and their settings will create the melodic phrase in the sequence.

Hold a red, empty [Pad] + tap the keyboard note or play a chord. This will be applied to the stage chosen with the pad. Ensure the sequencer voice setting, found on page 3, is set to 'Poly' in order to apply chords.

Saga Sequencer Parameters

The generic details of the sequencer setup, track and step options have been covered elsewhere in this manual. Here is a summary of the options for the Saga mode sequencer. The [Page] button will flash to signify that multiple pages exist. Press [Page] to to cycle through the available pages. Hold a knob to reset its parameter to default.

Voice. The voice option will switch between 'Mono' and 'Poly'. Typically you can use mono for single note phrases, maybe percussion applications, while poly, the default, is used for chords and multiple voice applications.

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.

Stage/Step Pages

Some stage parameters can be edited globally, covering all stages. Active stages can be edited individually. Multiple steps can also be edited collectively by holding more than one pad simultaneously.

Stage Options

The repeat and accumulator functions have been explained elsewhere in the manual. Here we focus on the Saga specific, individual stage settings. These are on page 1, displayed while holding an individual stage pad.

Hold a [Pad] for an active or inactive stage within the track.

* While the range is generally stated as 'st', semitones, the actual interval is based on the relationship between notes in

the currently active scale. The +/-24 therefore is a note interval between notes in the scale and not strictly semitones

Stage Behavior

Once a track length is set, indicated by red pads, the notes or chords can be applied using the keyboard pads and also by manually adjusting each stage parameter set. Some useful information on the behavior of the Saga sequencer will highlight the key creative attributes. Duration and offset affect the note timing.

In addition to the base sequencer parameters, Saga also has an accumulator and repeat function which can add more variation and interest to the creation of patterns and arrangements.