Steppy 1U Manual
Steppy 1U
4-Track 64-Step Programmable Gate Sequencer
Manual Revision: 2018.10.10
Steppy 1U Manual
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Compliance
Installation
Before Your Start
Installing Your Module
Overview
Quick Start: Create a Track
Load an Empty Preset
Connect a Clock & Program a Track
Save the Preset
Next Step
Front Panel
Inputs & Outputs
Controls
Reference
Play Mode
Select Mode
Edit Mode
Ratcheting
Tap Recording
Steppy Architecture
Copying Patterns
Copying Pages
Firmware
Firmware Version Display
Technical Specifications
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Steppy 1U Manual
Compliance
This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the following two conditions: (1) this device may not cause harmful interference, and
(2) this device must accept any interference received, including interference that may cause undesired operation.
Changes or modifications not expressly approved by Intellijel Designs, Inc. could void the user’s authority to operate the equipment.
Any digital equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class A digital device, pursuant to part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference when the equipment is operated in a commercial environment. This equipment generates, uses, and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with the instruction manual, may cause harmful interference to radio communications.
This device meets the requirements of the following standards and directives:
EMC: 2014/30/EU
EN55032:2015 ; EN55103-2:2009 (EN55024) ; EN61000-3-2 ; EN61000-3-3
Low Voltage: 2014/35/EU
EN 60065:2002+A1:2006+A11:2008+A2:2010+A12:2011
RoHS2: 2011/65/EU
WEEE: 2012/19/EU
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Steppy 1U Manual
Installation
This module is designed for use within an Intellijel-standard 1U row, such as contained within the Intellijel 4U and 7U Eurorack cases. Intellijel’s 1U specification is derived from the Eurorack mechanical specification set by Doepfer that is designed to support the use of lipped rails within industry standard rack heights.
Before Your Start
Intellijel Eurorack modules are designed to be used with a Eurorack-compatible case and power supply. We recommend you use Intellijel cases and power supplies.
Before installing a new module in your case, you must ensure your power supply has a free power header and sufficient available capacity to power the module:
●Sum up the specified +12V current draw for all modules, including the new one. Do the same for the -12 V and +5V current draw. The current draw will be specified in the manufacturer's technical specifications for each module.
●Compare each of the sums to specifications for your case’s power supply.
●Only proceed with installation if none of the values exceeds the power supply’s specifications. Otherwise you must remove modules to free up capacity or upgrade your power supply.
You will also need to ensure your case has enough free space (hp) to fit the new module. To prevent screws or other debris from falling into the case and shorting any electrical contacts, not leave gaps between adjacent modules, and cover all unused areas with blank panels. Similarly, do not use open frames or any other enclosure that exposes the backside of any module or the power distribution board.
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Steppy 1U Manual
You can use a tool like ModularGridto assist in your planning. Failure to adequately power your modules may result in damage to your modules or power supply. If you are unsure, please contact usbefore proceeding.
Installing Your Module
When installing or removing a module from your case always turn off the power to the case and disconnect the power cable. Failure to do so may result in serious injury or equipment damage.
Ensure the 10-pin connector on the power cable is connected correctly to the module before proceeding. The red stripe on the cable must line up with the -12V pins on the module’s power connector. The pins are indicated with the label -12V, a white stripe next to the connector, the words “red stripe”, or some combination of those indicators.
Most modules will come with the cable already connected but it is good to double
check the orientation. Be aware that some modules may have headers that serve other purposes so ensure the cable is connected to the right one.
The other end of the cable, with a 16-pin connector, connects to the power bus board of your Eurorack case. Ensure the red stripe on the cable lines up with the -12V pins on the bus board. On Intellijel power supplies the pins are labelled with the label “-12V” and a thick white stripe:
If you are using another manufacturer’s power supply, check their documentation for instructions.
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Steppy 1U Manual
Once connected, the cabling between the module and power supply should resemble the picture below:
Before reconnecting power and turning on your modular system, double check that the ribbon cable is fully seated on both ends and that all the pins are correctly aligned. If the pins are misaligned in any direction or the ribbon is backwards you can cause damage to your module, power supply, or other modules.
After you have confirmed all the connections, you can reconnect the power cable and turn on
your modular system. You should immediately check that all your modules have powered on and are functioning correctly. If you notice any anomalies, turn your system off right away and check your cabling again for mistakes.
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Steppy 1U Manual
Overview
Steppy is a 4-track programmable gate sequencer with eight internal memory slots, external clocking, various playback options, and a performance-first design aesthetic.
Each track features numerous parameters that govern its playback independently of the other tracks. Specifically:
●Each track has its own length, which can range from 1-step to 64-steps, allowing for polyrhythms, fills, or constantly evolving gate interactions between tracks.
●Each track has its own gate length, which ranges from very short to very long, with tied gates possible at the extreme setting.
●Each track has its own clock divider, allowing patterns to play out over completely different periods of time.
●Each track has its own swing setting, which offsets the timing of every other step.
●Each track has its own delay setting, which offsets the timing of every step.
●Each track has its own probability control, which sets the likelihood that each programmed gate will fire when called upon by the pattern.
●Each track can be shifted (or ‘rotated’) forward or backward by a number of steps. So if you’ve created a pattern that ‘feels’ like it has its downbeat on step 3, you can shift that pattern two steps backward, so that the downbeat sits on step 1.
Tracks can be selected and modified in real time as the sequence plays. A SELECT button allows you to access each track (and each page of 16 steps within that track) directly through Steppy’s intuitive multifunction buttons array.
Tracks can be individually muted and unmuted, and a special performance mode (called “Loopy”) enables you to touch any two gate steps and instantly create a performance that loops between those steps.
In addition, each step within a track can be assigned a different number of ratchets (repeats), and a special Tap Record mode lets you record patterns in real-time, rather than via a step-recording grid.
Track patterns can be cleared without clearing their playback parameters, and all track patterns (along with their individual playback and performance parameters) can be saved as a preset to one of eight internal memory slots.
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Steppy 1U Manual
Quick Start: Create a Track
This tutorial is designed to get you up and running with Steppy as quickly as possible. Detailed descriptions of all functions, features and methodologies appear later in the manual.
Load an Empty Preset
First thing’s first. Just so we’re all on the same page, it’s probably a good idea to load an empty preset into Steppy’s active memory. To do so:
1.Press the red EDIT button at the bottom left to enter Edit mode.
The red Edit Mode LED lights, and any lit multifunction buttons glow red.
Edit functions are labelled in the text beneath the bottom row of multifunction buttons.
2.Press the LOAD button (bottom-right button).
The LOAD button will glow red, and the top row of buttons will be used to select which patch you want to load (and subsequently clear).
If a top-row button has a solid red light, it means a preset is stored in that ‘slot.’ The flashing red button indicates the currently loaded preset. If a button isn’t lit, then the ‘slot’ has no preset saved to it.
In this next operation, you are going to first load a preset into Steppy’s active memory. You will eventually be clearing (erasing) this preset, so make sure to select one that’s expendable.
3.Press whichever of the 8 top-row buttons corresponds to the preset number you wish to load. In this example, we’ll assume you press the first (top-left) button.
The buttons will all flash briefly to confirm that you’ve loaded a preset.
4.Press and hold the LOAD button (bottom-right) for 1 second (long-press) to clear the contents of the preset.
All buttons will flash, and the contents of the loaded preset will be deleted.
5.Press the red EDIT button to exit Edit Mode (turning off its red indicator LED) and return to Play Mode.
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Steppy 1U Manual
Connect a Clock & Program a Track
1.Connect the output from an external clock module to Steppy’s CLK input.
An external clock is needed to make Steppy start stepping. Steppy will advance one-step per clock pulse (unless you use the clock divider feature, discussed later in the manual).
Notice that the LED next to the CLK input flashes with each input trigger, and that a red button “marches” across Steppy’s 16 multifunction buttons, beginning at the top-left (step 1) and ending at the bottom-right (step 16) before repeating.
Notice, also, that the bottom-right button is constantly pulsing green. This indicates it’s the last step in the pattern, which (in this case) means the pattern is 16-steps long. Patterns can be of any length from 1-step up to 64-steps (requiring multiple Pages, which gives you potential insight into some of the panel labels). For now, we’ll stick with the default 16-step pattern length.
2.Connect a cable from Steppy’s OUT A jack to another module (such as a trigger input on a drum module or an envelope). In this example, we’re triggering a kick drum sound on an Intellijel Plonk.
Each Steppy preset consists of up to four Tracks (A, B, C, and D), each with its own gate output. Because you previously loaded an empty patch, Steppy’s Play Mode defaults to showing and controlling the gates and parameters for Track A.
3.Unless you got overly anxious and started pressing buttons already (it happens), then all 16 steps are currently off — meaning no gates are being sent to OUT A. Press one of Steppy’s 16 multifunction buttons to assign a gate to that step. Press another, and another.
You will see the OUT A LED flash every time Steppy plays a step with a gate. You should also hear the sonic impact of those steps (assuming you’ve got everything patched up right).
4.Continue to turn various steps on and off until you’ve got a kick drum pattern you like.
5.Next, patch OUT B into a gate or trigger input on another module (such as a snare drum sound on a second Intellijel Plonk).
6.Press the black SELECT button in the upper left corner.
Its yellow LED lights to indicate you’re in Select mode, and the 16 multifunction buttons will now take on different functionality, as indicated by their yellow color.
Select Mode functions are indicated by text labels with black backgrounds. Notice the four left buttons in the top row are used for track selection, and that the Track A button is currently lit (indicating Play Mode controls Track A).
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Steppy 1U Manual
7.Press the button corresponding to Track B (causing it to light instead of Track A), then press the black SELECT button again to exit Select Mode, and return to Play Mode.
8.The 16 multifunction buttons now control Track B, so start punching out patterns for your snare module.
Save the Preset
1.Press the red EDIT button at the bottom left to enter Edit mode.
Edit functions are labelled in the text beneath the bottom row of multifunction buttons.
2.Press the SAVE button (bottom row, second from right).
Presets are saved into one of 8 locations, which map to each of the 8 multifunction buttons in the top-row. If a button has a solid red light, it means a preset is already saved in that ‘slot,’ and if you select it, you will overwrite that preset. The flashing red button indicates the currently loaded preset, which you are actively modifying. If a button is off, then the preset ‘slot’ is currently empty.
6.Decide which of the 8 preset slots you wish to save your work to, and press its corresponding top-row button.
All the buttons will flash briefly to confirm that you’ve saved the preset.
Next Step
This has been a very simple and rudimentary tutorial designed only to help you get comfortable with some operational basics and navigation. Steppy features numerous additional techniques for modifying and fine-tuning your tracks, be it through pattern length adjustments; gate length changes; clock division; swing; gate probabilities, or playback and performance features such as the Page Follow ( 
) and Loopy ( 
) settings. All will be discussed, in depth, later in this manual.
So this next tutorial has but a single step:
1.Read the rest of the manual. Knowledge is good.
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Steppy 1U Manual
Front Panel
Inputs & Outputs
A.OUT A - Gate output (+5V) for Track A. Corresponding LED lights when gate is high.
B.OUT B - Gate output for Track B. Corresponding LED lights when gate is high.
C.OUT C- Gate output for Track C. Corresponding LED lights when gate is high.
D.OUT D- Gate output for Track D. Corresponding LED lights when gate is high.
E.CLOCK (CLK) IN- Connect an external clock (or any other trigger source) to this input. Each time the Clock input voltage goes high, the sequence advances one step (unless you’re using the built-in clock divider). The corresponding LED lights every time it detects an input pulse. Note that Steppy will not play without a CLK input.
NOTE: Steppy performs best when driven by a steady clock signal. Syncopated gate sequences or random triggers may result in unpredictable gate lengths, delay settings, swing and ratcheting patterns, since these are derived from the Clock input.
F.RESET (RST) IN- Accepts a trigger or gate signal, which resets all patterns (across all four tracks) back to their first step. This is particularly useful if your tracks have different lengths and you wish to re-align them to their first beats.
Controls
1.MULTIFUNCTION Buttons - These backlit button perform different functions depending on Steppy’s current mode.
●Play Mode: In Play Mode, the buttons set and display gate patterns.
Play Mode is indicated when neither the yellow Select Mode nor the red Edit Mode LEDs are lit. You can also tell you’re in Play Mode because (in general) the
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