Mfb Tanzmaus Owners Manual

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Tanzmaus

User Manual

Content:

MFB-Tanzmaus

User Manual

Function Overview 4

Connections and initial operation 6

The User Interface 8

Play-Mode 11

Playing with Patterns 12 Manual-Mode 14

Sound Generation 18

Record-Mode 21

The different Modes 21 Step-Record-Mode 22 Patterns with more than 16 Steps 28 Realtime-Record-Mode 30 Manual-Trigger-Mode / Manual-Trigger-Record 31

Memory-Functions 34

Setup- / MIDI-Functions 35

Setup-Menu 35 MIDI-Dump-Functions 37

Addendum 38 Sample Pool 38 MIDI-Implementation 38 Impressum 39

Overview

MFB Tanzmaus

Overview

OVERVIEW

Thank you from us at MFB.

First of all, we would like to thank you for having purchased Tanzmaus. We appreciate your choice very much and hope you will have lots of fun with your new instrument.

What is Tanzmaus (”Dancing Mouse”)?

Tanzmaus is a drum computer, featuring a combination of real analog and sample-based sound generation as well as a very sophisticated pattern-based step sequencer. The latter provides individual sound settings of any instrument for every step. This way, you can create very complex-sounding beats pretty easily.

Why Tanzmaus? Well, rst of all, it is small and cute (would you have thought...?). And

then, in 1950s Germany, this is what a blonde girl with pony-tail and petticoat skirts was called, dancing along to the exciting and infectious new rhythms of rock‘n‘roll music. History lesson over.

Infectious new rhythms...? Hang on a second...

What exactly is going on inside Tanzmaus? Here is a brief overview of its functions:

Sound generation:

• Seven drum instruments with up to seven tweakable and storable parameters. (ve

real analog instruments, two sample-based instruments with a total of 32 selectable

samples).

• Level pots on all drum instruments plus master volume (not programmable in memory).

• Individual outputs (for bassdrum, snare, clap, tom, and one sample-based instrument).

Sequencer:

• 64 patterns (four banks of sixteen patterns each).

• Nine tracks triggering the drum instruments.

• Five LFO tracks for programming pitch modulation (for bassdrum, clap, tom and sample instrument).

• Combination of step number (1 to 32) and scaling (ve settings) allows for almost

all kinds of time signatures.

• A/B pattern toggle

• Roll/Flam function (multiple triggering)

• Chain function (chaining patterns - not programmable in memory).

• Track mute function

• Shufe function (global setting – same for all tracks)

The following functions can be programmed for each track:

• Track length (up to sixteen steps resp. up to 32 steps when A/B function is active)

The following functions can be programmed for each step:

• Step on/off

• Accent level (four settings)

• Flam (multi trigger = am, rolls etc.)

• Sound setting of current instrument

• LFO settings for BD, tom, sample 1/2 (modulation depth, wave, and speed)

Operation Modes:

Play Mode

• Pattern selection

• Access to sound parameters via front-panel knobs

• Access to play functions (A/B pattern toggle, chain and mute functions)

Manual Trigger Mode

• Triggering instruments via step buttons and/or MIDI notes (with velocity).

• Access to sound parameters via knobs or MIDI controller.

Record Mode

• Programming a pattern.

Synchronisation:

• MIDI clock

Not bad, huh? Of course, it was not possible to place a dedicated control or button for each function on the front panel. Sometimes, a second function level and pressing some button combinations is required to access all functions. To make sure you and your Tanzmaus will become close friends really soon, we advise you to read this manual carefully. This will be the best and easiest way to explore your Tanzmaus thoroughly - and there is pretty much to be explored. So we beg you: please bother to read (and understand) this f...antastic manual.

4 5

Setup

CONNECTIONS AND INITIAL OPERATION

Rear panel connectors

MFB Tanzmaus

Setup

Power

Please connect the 12VDC / 500mA wall-wart here. Power up/down your Tanzmaus using the ON/OFF switch – do not simply pull the wall-wart from the socket if you only want to

turn off Tanzmaus. Please unplug the power supply from the wall outlet if you do not use your Tanzmaus for an extended period of time as the wall-wart is still drawing current and will eventually run hot in course of time. Don‘t waste energy by not using it..

Please use only the power supply originally included wih your Tanzmaus or

one with exactly the same specications - please do not mess around with other external power supplies which do not (or only half-ways) match our specications! We cannot be held liable for any damage caused by the use of improper power supplies – don‘t say we didn‘t warn you!

MIDI In / MIDI Out

Please connect MIDI devices here. Via MIDI In, Tanzmaus receives MIDI clock, MIDI notes, and controller data as well as program change data. When connecting a MIDI keyboard or MIDI drum pads here, sounds can be triggered live in realtime. Via MIDI Out, Tanzmaus transmits note data of all tracks, MIDI clock, and song position pointer data as well as program change data. Incoming MIDI information can be putted through to the

MIDI Out socket (Thru function).

Audio Outs

Tanzmaus features one main audio out using a 6.3mm (1/4“) stereo jack and ve additional

instrument outputs. The latter put out individual signals of bassdrum, snare, clap, tom, and

sample instrument 1 (e. g. for external processing). These are 3.5mm (1/8“) mono jacks.

Rimshot and sample instrument 2 are only available from the master out.

MIDI

sound source

MIDI notes

MIDI sequencer

MIDI

clock

Audio

MIDI keyboard

MIDI notes, controller data, program change data

12V DC

Wall ward

When plugging a cable into an instrument output, this instrument will be disconnected from the main out.

Please connect Tanzmaus‘ main output to an audio mixer, soundcard, or amp before powering up Tanzmaus..

To avoid a cracking or thumping noise, please power up your Tanzmaus rst,

then your sound system.

Please avoid excessive volume levels – your eardrums and neighbors will be

eternally thankful to you.

6 7

Audio mixer

Power

outlet

MFB TanzmausUser Interface

MFB Tanzmaus User Interface

THE USER INTERFACE

As mentioned already, most of Tanzmaus‘ buttons cover more than one single function. Depending on the selected mode, the function of the buttons will change.

The main purpose of the function buttons (left-hand side) is selecting the operation

mode (Play or Record), selecting patterns and banks as well as starting and stopping the sequencer and toggling between the A/B parts of a pattern. These are dual-function keys (except the Select key).

The Step keys (lower row) are also dual- or even triple-function keys. Depending on the operation mode, they change their function. In Play mode, they mute tracks and control

various playback functions (e.g. shufe, pattern length, scale, and A/B toggle). In Record mode, they are used to program the step sequencer. Apart from that, there is

an additional sound parameter hidden behind them which cannot be accessed directly via the sound controls. The Step keys are also required when it comes to storing, clearing, and copying patterns.

The Shift key (bottom left) accesses the „shift function“ resp. second function of the other keys. On the front panel, the shift functions are always labelled in a darker font so make

sure you put your glasses on (or turn on the ood lights).

Depending on the dedicated function, the shift function works in two different ways:

When a shift function only has two settings (e.g. on/off), or when all available values can

directly be accessed in the next lower level, simply hit the shift key and keep it depressed. Now hit the desired step key to toggle between the two possible settings or enter the desi-

red value. For example, the start/stop function and the selection of the four Accent levels works just this way.

Next, there are shift functions that access another level of possible value settings. It takes

an additional function level to access them. They include, for example, the shufe intensity, the step number of the tracks resp. pattern length („Last Step“), and the scale function. In this case, please select the desired function using both shift and step keys rst. Then

select the desired parameter value, again using a step key. The example below illustrates the adjustment procedure for the shufe intensity (Step key 1).

1. Select shift function: Press and hold Shift and press Step key 1. Shift will be ashing and the step with the current shufe intensity setting lights up.

2. Release Shift (ashes continuously) and select the desired value by hitting a step key. The step keys now correspond to the parameter values 1 - 16.

3. To exit the shift function, simply hit Shift again – done.

1. Select shift function

press Shift +

hold

LED flashes

press step key

(e.g. „Shuffle“)

LED with current value lights up

(e.g. „1“ = no shuffle)

2. Select parameter value

release

Shift

LED flashes

press step key

(e.g. „3“)

LED with new value lights up

press Shift +

hold

3. Exit shift function

press Shift

LEDs off

To determine whether the parameter setting/value of a shift function is

press step key

(e.g. „Accent 1“)

LED lights up

selected directly or requires an additional step to be selected, the shift LED will either be ashing intermittently or not. In the rst case (direct access), the shift LED will stay dark, in the second case (hidden function) it will be ashing.

8 9

MFB TanzmausUser Interface

MFB Tanzmaus Play Mode – Playing the Tanzmaus

The following gure will show you which modes and functions are related to specic buttons.

Please note that this is just an overview. You may use it mainly as an orientation or quick programming guide. The complete set of functions and the

operating steps necessary will be explained later in the text. Please feel free

to read on.

Tempo

Sound parameters

for:

- bass (BD)

- snare (SD)

- clap (CP)

- toms (TT)

- sample instruments

(SP1 + SP2)

(Data

add. sound parameter

per instrument)

PLAY MODE

First of all, let´s have a go at some demo patterns to give you an idea of what Tanzmaus

can do. At the same time, we will learn how to ”perform“ on the Tanzmaus – that is, how to

play back patterns, modify them, and how to tweak sounds.

To play back and tweak pre-programmed sounds and patterns, we need to go into PLAY

MODE.

The following gure shows an overview of the Play Mode and its functions.

Please bear in mind this is just an overview. You may use it mainly as an

orientation – all the necessary operating steps are covered in detail in the following text – please read on carefully.

Tempo

+ Snd

add. sound parameter

1 - 4 / 8 / 16

A/BToggle

Selects pattern A/B-part

manual / auto

-/-

Level controls (not storable)

+ Shift

Play/Stop

Function keys

Function

Hidden

sound param.

- / -

Realtime

Rec mode

Select fctn.

Play mode /

Step Rec mode /

Man Trig mode

Bank

selection

Pattern

chaining

Pattern selection

Pattern

A/B-toggel

Shift

Access to

dual/sub functions

Step keys 1-16 to:

- select Pattern (in Play mode)

- mute track (in Play Mode) / select track (in Record mode)

- select / set / erase steps (in Record mode)

- select sub functions (+ Shift)

- sequencer functions (shuffle etc.) (in Play mode / Record mode)

- add. sound parameter, LFO parameter (in Record mode)

- memory functions

- setup functions (MIDI etc.)

In Play mode the Rec/Real LEDs have to be off !

(if necessary, press Rec/Real key)

Sound parameter

+ Shift

Play/Stop

Save current

sound setting to pattern

Function

Access to hidden

Sound-Parameter

Reload sound setting

Function keys

from current pattern

Bank selection

Pattern chaining

Pattern selection

Pattern A/B toggel

Shift

Step keys 1 - 16

Access to dual/sub functions

Track mute

Scale

Scale (time signature)

32th. / 16th.-triplet /

16th. / 8th.-triplet / 8th.

1 - 5

Last Step

Pattern lenght

1 - 16 steps

1 - 16

Shuffle

Shuffle intensity

1 - 16

+ Shift:

- Function:

- Value range:

- Select with

step keys:

MFB TanzmausPlay Mode – Playing the Tanzmaus

MFB Tanzmaus Play Mode – Playing the Tanzmaus

To enable Play mode, please hit the Rec/Real key. Both LEDs above should be idle now.

In Play mode, you can play back patterns. The following functions are available:

• select patterns

• start / stop the sequencer

• adjust tempo

• mute tracks

• tweak the sound settings using the associated controls

• set the shufe intensity

• select pattern length („Last Step“)

• select scaling – only available when sequencer is stopped

• toggle between pattern parts A and B

Selecting patterns

Tanzmaus offers four pattern banks with 16 patterns each – 64 patterns in total. Bank 1 contains great beats created by Berlin-based techno wizard Yapacc. If desired, the content of Bank 1 can be overwritten (for example when you believe your beats to be smarter). Banks 2, 3, and 4 are waiting for great creations of your own.

The following gure shows how to select banks and patterns:

Select bank: Select preset:

hold Shift + press Patt/Bnk

Patt/Bnk LEDs:

Bank 1

hold Patt/Bnk + press Step 1-16

Pattern 1 to

(MFB-presets by Yapacc)

Pattern 16

Pattern 1

Bank 2

to Pattern 16

Starting / stopping the sequencer

• Hold Shift + press Play. The sequencer will start.

• Hold Shift + press Play again. The sequencer will stop.

Adjusting tempo

• Turn Tempo control.

There is no tempo readout on Tanzmaus. The value range of the control covers approx. 30 BPM to 180 BPM.

Muting tracks

• Press Step keys.

When in Play mode, the tracks are directly muted using the corresponding step keys, me-

aning Step 1 = bassdrum, Step 5 = clap etc. LFO tracks can also be muted. In this case,

the pitch of the corresponding instrument will not be modulated anymore. The LED of a muted track will glow at reduced brightness.

You can decide whether mutes will be stored in a pattern or not when using the Save Pattern function for permanent saving. Please use the Setup function #8, described on page 34 of this manual.

Tweaking sounds

• Turn sound parameter controls.

By moving the 19 sound parameter controls, you can tweak the sounds of the seven inst-

ruments in realtime just as you fancy (BD - bassdrum, SD - snare, CP - clap / rimshot, TT

- tom, SP1 / 2 - sample instruments 1 and 2).

• Press Select to reload the sound settings stored in the current pattern.

• Hold Shift + press Select to store all edits of a sound in the current pattern.

Attention: The sound settings previously stored in the patterns will be overwritten. There is no undo function so you better think twice!

Bank 3

Bank 4

Pattern 1 to Pattern 16

We will have a closer look at the sound parameters in the next chapter – stay tuned (no pun intended).

12 13

MFB TanzmausPlay Mode – Playing the Tanzmaus

press Step 11

hold Shift

MFB Tanzmaus Play Mode – Playing the Tanzmaus

Step Mode and Manual Mode

It is about time to try out a very interesting feature of your Tanzmaus: As you may have

noticed when playing back patterns, all steps of each instrument can have individual sound settings. In other words, you can program individual sound settings for each step of the

sequencer. We will nd out later how to operate sounds for individual steps. However, this feature also effects the Play mode – that is why we do not want to keep it secret any

longer.

Basically, trigger data (the active steps) and sound settings are stored separately in each

pattern. Using the sound controls, you can tweak the sounds at any time without overwriting the stored settings or tampering with the trigger data of the pattern. This opens up two

different programming options that we call „Step mode“ and „Manual mode“.

Pattern

Trigger data

Sound

controls

Sound settings

To toggle between Step mode and Manual mode, please use Shift and Step key 11. When holding down Shift and Step key 11 lights up, Tanzmaus will be in Step mode. Step mode is the default setting.

hold Shift

press Step 11

Manual Mode

Step Mode

In Step mode, each step of a pattern can have its own individual sound setting. Step mode

is the default factory setting. When loading a pattern (page 12), you will hear its sound

settings the way they are stored in memory. Now you can tweak the sounds any time, using the front panel controls. Of course, they will now lose their individual sound settings per step.

Step Mode

(default setting)

• To reload the sound settings stored within the current pattern, simply press Select.

• To store the tweaked sound setting in the current pattern, hold Shift + press Select.

Attention: The sound settings previously stored in the patterns will be overwritten. There is NO UNDO! Don‘t say we didn‘t warn you.

Alternatively, you can store the entire pattern (trigger and sound settings) permanently any

time, using the Store Pattern function. Please see page 34.

Manual Mode

When loading a pattern in Manual mode, only its trigger data will be loaded. The sound settings are matching the current settings of the front panel controls. That means, when playing back the same pattern in Manual mode, you will not hear individual sounds per step but the sound that matches the current front panel control settings across the entire pattern length. Of course you can tweak the sound settings again as you feel and store the new creation

permanently in the current pattern by using the Store Pattern function (please see page 34).

The following chart compares the options of Manual- and Step mode:

Soundsettings:

When Pattern is loaded, you hear:

Pattern store options:

Manual Mode

Sound complies with the current control settings

• Store pattern (triggers + sound)

Store Pattern function

with

Step Mode (defaul setting)

Sounds per stepSound per pattern

Sounds comply with the setting stored in current pattern

• Store pattern (triggers + step-sounds)

Store Pattern function

with

• Set „live tweaked“ sounds back to pattern setting

with Select

• Store „live tweaked“ sounds in pattern with

Shift+Select.

Again: The key shortcut Shift + Select only exits the currently selected

sound-editing process and prevents unintentionally overwriting the sound

with your new sound setting.

To store the entire pattern (trigger and sound settings) permanently, you

need to use the Store Pattern function. Please see page 34.

14 15

MFB TanzmausPlay Mode – Playing the Tanzmaus

MFB Tanzmaus Play Mode – Playing the Tanzmaus

Shufe

This function alters the shufe ratio of a pattern. This is a global parameter, all tracks will be given the same degree of shufe intensity.

• Hold Shift + press Shufe (Step 1) to access the shufe function. Shift LED is ashing, the Step key representing the shufe intensity value currently

active will light up.

• Press Step 1 - 16 to select one of 16 available shufe intensities. Shift LED is ashing, the newly selected Step key will light up.

• Press Shift to exit the shufe function.

Last Step

This function determines the pattern length resp. its number of steps.

• Hold Shift + press Last Step (Step 2) to select the Last Step function. Shift LED is ashing, the Step key representing the currently active Last Step

setting will light up.

• Press Step 1 - 16 to select the last step of the pattern resp. the pattern length. Shift LED is ashing, the newly selected Step key will light up.

• Press Shift to exit the Last Step function.

Using this function while the sequencer is running can produce interesting

results. Please keep in mind that, in this case, the sequencer will be unable to locate the original downbeat resp. the rst note of the pattern. This might cause sync problems when using multiple sequencers, rhythm units, or DAWs.

Scale

Through this function, you can select the scaling of a pattern or, in other words, the note values and the directly related maximum number of steps per pattern. The step keys 1 - 5 provide the following values:

• Step 1: 32th note (32 steps, spread across pattern parts A and B)

• Step 2: 16th note triplets (24 steps, spread across pattern parts A and B)

• Step 3: 16th note (16 steps, default / standard setting)

• Step 4: 8th note triplets (twelve steps)

• Step 5: 8th note (eight steps)

This is how to operate the scale function:

• Hold Shift + press Scale (Step 3) to select the Scale function. Shift LED is ashing, the Step key representing the currently active scaling will light

up.

• Press Step 1 - 5 to select the desired new scaling. Shift LED is ashing, the newly selected Step key will light up.

• Press Shift to exit the Scale function.

A/B Toggle

As you have just learned from the scale function, a pattern can have a maximum number

of up to 32 steps. In order not to waste precious studio space, we have equipped your neat

little Tanzmaus with just 16 step keys. Thus, a pattern consists of two halves „A“ and „B“. The A/B Toggle function determines how both halves of the patterns are played back. You

have the following options:

• Auto: The entire pattern will be played back, Tanzmaus automatically toggles between part A and part B.

• Manual: Part A or part B will be played back optionally. The selection is done manually using the A/B key.

Both LEDs of the A/B key show the pattern part that is currently being played back. The left LED of the A/B key represents part A, the right one part B.

This is how to operate the A/B Toggle function:

• Hit A/B chain key to toggle between the played back pattern halves. The respective

LED will light up.

To change the A/B toggle mode:

• Hold Shift + press A/B Toggle (Step 4) to select between the two available A/B Toggle modes:

- Auto: A/B Toggle (Step 4) will light up.

- Manual: A/B Toggle (Step 4) will stay dark.

Chain

Through this function, you can daisy-chain up to sixteen patterns to form a longer

sequence. Any pattern order is allowed. The pattern chain cannot be stored permanently,

so the function is intended to be used in a live situation. Programming can be done while the sequencer is running. This is how to operate the Chain function:

• Hold A/B Chain key + and press up to 16 step keys in any order to program the desired pattern sequence.

• Release A/B Chain key.

• Hold Shift + press A/B Chain.

The pattern sequence that has just been entered is now being played back as an innite

loop.

To stop the playback of the pattern chain,

• again hold Shift + press A/B Chain.

The sequencer will now play back the last pattern selected. You do not need to stop the

sequencer playback to access the chain function.

16 17

MFB Tanzmaus MFB TanzmausSound Generation

Sound Generation

SOUND GENERATION

In this chapter, we are going to introduce the sound generation and its parameters.

Instruments

Tanzmaus offers seven different instruments. Bassdrum, snare, rimshot, clap, and tom use

real analog sound generation. Next, you will nd two sample-based instruments („SP 1“ and „SP 2“). The latter exist as two different parameter settings each („ALT“). This way, the sequencer provides a total number of nine instruments (sounds) at a time.

Bassdrum, clap, tom as well as both sample instruments, are assigned to LFO tracks

which allow for pitch- or tone colour modulation of the respective instrument. All LFO tracks

can be edited and muted individually.

The instruments can be edited directly using the controls on the front panel. Apart from

that, all instruments offer two additional parameters that can be accessed and edited using the Data control resp. the function key „Snd“ and a corresponding step key.

direct access to sound parameter

1. Snd key

provides hidden

sound parameter

- press + hold

2. Step keys

• select instrument resp.

hidden sound parameter

• selects parameter value

mapping of step keys with parameters and values

mapping of Data control

Snd key and Data control

The Data control offers an additional sound parameter for each instrument (listed as „Data Value“ on the front panel). This is how the sound parameter is accessed:

When the sequencer is idle and the Manual Trigger Mode is active (press Rec key – the left LED above the Rec key will light up), the alterations will be immediately audible when

triggering an instrument, using its corresponding step key and turning the Data control.

When the sequencer is active, you rst have to assign the Data control to the desired instrument (sequencer is running in Play mode):

• Hold Snd key.

• Additionally press step key to select the desired instrument.

• Release Snd key.

• Turn the Data control. It has now been permanently assigned to the selected instru- ment and alters the parameter labelled on the front panel („Data Value“).

Snd keys and Step keys

Through the Sound key (Snd) you can access a hidden sound parameter for some instruments (listed as „Sound – Step Button“ on the front panel). This is how the hidden sound

parameter can be accessed:

• Hold Snd key.

• Additionally press step key to select the desired instrument (depending on the number of available parameter values, several step key LEDs will light up).

In Record mode, this selection is not required since there is an instrument selected all the time.

• Press step key again (while still holding Snd) to enter the desired parameter value, e.g. between 1 and 16. You may press several step keys consecutively to try out

different settings. The last step key selected will light up permanently.

• Release Snd key.

Here you will nd a list of all available sound parameters of all instruments:

BD (Bassdrum)

• Attack controls level of the attack transients

• Decay controls decay time

• Pitch controls duration and intensity of the pitch envelope

• Tune controls pitch (modulation via LFO possible)

• Noise controls level of the noise signal

• Noise Decay controls decay time of the noise signal

• Data controls intensity of the saturation/distortion effect („Drive“)

• Snd+BD+Step selects between sixteen different attack transients

18 19

MFB TanzmausSound Generation

MFB Tanzmaus

Record Mode – Programming Patterns

SD (Snaredrum)

• Tune controls pitch

• Noise controls level of the noise signal

• Noise Decay controls decay time of the noise signal

• Snd+SD+Data controls intensity of the pitch envelope

• Snd+SD+Step selects between eight different attack transients

CP (Clap)

• Decay controls decay time

• Filter controls tone color of the sound (modulation via LFO possible)

• Snd+CP+Data controls level of the attack transients

• Snd+CP+Step selects between sixteen different attack transients

TT (Tomtom)

• Tune controls pitch (modulation via LFO possible)

• Pitch controls duration and intensity of the pitch envelope

• Attack controls level of the attack transients

• Decay controls decay time (up to innite tone)

• Snd+TT+Data controls panorama position (only audible when stereo master out is used)

• Snd+TT+Step selects between eight different attack-transients

SP1 and SP2 (sample instruments 1 and 2)

• Tune controls pitch (modulation via LFO possible)

• Decay controls decay time

• Snd+SP1/2+Data controls the attack phase of the sample („Sample Attack Phase“)

• Snd+SP1/2+Step selects between sixteen different samples („Sample Select“). You will nd the samples available listed on the MFB website (http://mfberlin.de).

Both sound variations named „ALT“ feature the same set of parameters.

LFO (modulation tracks for BD, CP, TT, SP1, SP2)

• Snd+LFO+Data controls modulation amount („Amount“)

• Snd+LFO+Step 1-12 controls LFO speed („Speed“)

• Snd+LFO+Step 13-16 selects LFO waveshape („Waves“): saw up /

down, sine up / down

RECORD MODE – PROGRAMMING PATTERNS

It is about time now to create your own patterns – please stay tuned.

The different record modes

As you (hopefully) will have learned in the Play mode section, you can program individual

sound settings for each sequencer step. Patterns programmed that way can sound much more interesting than you would expect from a drumcomputer with only seven instruments. Still, you might not want to use this cool feature all the time. Sometimes, it can make sense when every beat of a pattern sounds exactly the same across the entire pattern length. Or maybe you feel like tweaking the sound in realtime while the sequencer is running? This is all possible.

Apart from that, you can play Tanzmaus „live“ via step keys or external MIDI devices such as a keyboard, or drum pads. You can even program your pattern in realtime by recording

these steps into the sequencer. To provide you with all these features, Tanzmaus uses

several different record modes that will be discussed right now (sweaty hands already).

Step Record Mode (page 22)

In this mode, you can set steps, program accent and am settings as well as sound settings for each step individually, or in groups.

Realtime Record Mode (page 28)

Here, you can tweak the sound settings using the frontpanel controls and record them into an existing pattern in realtime.

Manual Trigger Record (page 29)

In this mode, you can record steps via step keys or external MIDI devices such as a

keyboard, or drum pads in realtime. The sounds can be tweaked (but not recorded) via

frontpanel controls or MIDI controller in realtime.

Pattern length and scaling (Last Step and Scale)

No matter which mode you select – it makes perfect sense to select specic scaling and pattern length rst. This goes for Record mode as well as for Play mode – with one important difference: in Record mode, each track can have an individual length (resp. number of steps). The functions „Last Step“ and „Scale“ are described on page 16 in section „Play Mode“.

In addition to the parameters listed above, each instrument comes with a dedicated level control that cannot be programmed / stored. Same thing goes for the Master Volume control. We thought we should point this out in case you were wondering.

Record Mode – Programming Patterns

MFB Tanzmaus

Record Mode – Programming Patterns

Step Record Mode

1. Enabling Step Record mode / select track / select track length

To enable Step Record mode and select the desired track (resp. the instrument) at the same time, please

• hold the Rec key + press a Track key.

When releasing the keys, the right LED above the Rec key will light up. If the selected track contains any steps, their LEDs will light up as well.

You may now (or after any other programming step) determine the length resp. the step number of the selected track using the shift-function „Last Step“ (page 16).

Please note: In Record mode, each track may have an individual number of steps while in Play mode, „Last Step“ is a global parameter. „Scale“ is always applied globally.

2. Setting Steps

• Press Step key(s). Their LED(s) will be ashing.

When pressing a step key once, its associated LED will be ashing, telling you that the step is „set“ and puts out a trigger. At the same time, the step is „selected“, waiting for further editing, e.g. sound, accent, and am settings. Pressing the step one more time will erase the step from the sequence (LED off).

The tracks SP1/ALT resp. SP2/ALT cannot have identical steps. Setting e.g.

step 1 on track SP1 erases a previously setted step 1 from its connected

ALT-track and vice versa. The same goes for the tracks SP2/ALT.

3. Editing sounds per step

• Turn sound controls (and perhaps the Data control) of the selected track/instrument.

All steps previously set / selected will now feature the new sound setting you have just dialled in. Any further step(s) you are entering right now will also be ashing and feature

this sound setting.

If one (or more) step is to feature individual sound settings – the actual purpose of the Step Record mode –, the steps previously selected rst have to be „locked“ before other steps can be set and/or selected for further sound editing. The process of „selecting“ and „locking“ sequencer steps is described in the section Programming steps 7 and 8 on pages 24/25. This way,

you can set steps and provide them with individual sound settings without having to stop the sequencer.

+ Track

You may also proceed with further editing of the steps set previously. The following functions are available:

4. Programming Accents

You can assign one out of ve different accent levels to each selected step. This is done

using the shift function.

Let‘s pretend a track has been selected and the Record mode enabled (see programming step 1). The selected track features some steps (see programming step 2), which – if necessary – have to be selected to be edited (Hold Select + press step(s) – their LEDs will start ashing). Please now proceed as follows:

• Hold Shift + press Step key 12 – 15 („Accent 1 – 4“). This will determine the accent level of the selected step(s). The Step key in question will light up.

All steps selected previously (ashing) will now receive the current accent setting. Every further steps you set will also receive this setting. To change these settings again, rst „lock“ (see programming step 7) and re-select (see step programming 8) the desired steps

before you enter new values.

5. Programming Flams

Flams are double or multiple drumhits. Drummers use these to make their performance sound more sophisticated, and to attract girl-friends. Tanzmaus provides the option of

assigning sixteen different am patterns to each sequencer step. This is also done by using

the shift function.

Again, let‘s pretend a track has been selected and the Record mode enabled (see

programming step 1). The selected track features some steps (see programming step

2), which – if necessary – have to be selected in order to be edited (Hold Select + press

step(s) – their LEDs will start ashing). Please now proceed as follows:

• Hold Shift + press Step key 10 („Flam“). Shift and all sixteen step keys will be ashing, telling you that a shift function has been enabled (am, in this case) and

sixteen different parameter values are up for selection using the step keys.

• Press a Step key 1 - 16 to select a am pattern. You may press several step keys consecutively to try out different settings. The

step key selected last will light up permanently.

• Press Shift to exit the shift function. The shift LED will go dark again.

All steps previously selected (ashing) will now receive the current am setting. All further steps you set will also receive this setting. To change these settings again, rst „lock“ (see

programming step 7) and re-select (see programming step 8) the desired steps before you enter new values.

6. Impuls parameter and sample selection

Bassdrum, snare, clap, and toms feature an additional sound parameter that can be

22 23

Record Mode – Programming Patterns

MFB Tanzmaus

Record Mode – Programming Patterns

accessed via the shift function („Impuls“). Also, the sample selection for the sample instruments SP1 and SP2 works this way („Sample Select 1 - 16“).

Again, let‘s pretend a track has been selected and the Record mode enabled (see programming step 1). The selected track (BD, SD, CP or TT for Impulse parameter, SP1 or SP2 for sample selection) features some steps (see programming step 2) which – if necessary – have to be selected in order to be edited (Hold Select + press step(s) – their corresponding LEDs will start ashing). Please now proceed as follows:

• Hold Snd. Depending on the previously selected track, the step keys 1-16 (for BD, CP, SP1, SP2) or 1-8 (for SD, TT) will be ashing, telling you that a parameter value

between 1 and 16 resp. 1 and 8 can be selected using corresponding step keys.

• Keep on holding Snd + press step keys 1-16 or 1-8 to select a sample resp. an Impulse setting.

You may press several step keys consecutively to try out different samples and

Impulse settings. The step key selected last will light up permanently.

• Release Snd to exit Shift mode. The selected steps will start ashing again.

All steps selected previously (ashing again) will now receive the current Impulse setting resp. sample selection. All further steps you set will also receive this setting. To change these settings again, rst „lock“ (see programming step 7) and re-select (see programming

step 8) the desired steps before you enter new values.

7. „Locking“ already programmed steps

Do you like the track you have come up with? That‘s cool – please

• Press Select.

The steps that have previously been ashing will now light up permanently. This is to tell

you that the steps have been set and un-selected, i. e. the editing process of these steps has been completed for the time being. Their parameter settings are now protected against

overwriting them unintentionally – in other words, they are rmly „locked“ away.

You may lock any steps at any time during the programming procedure described above.

Please note: The currently „locked“ settings are now only protected against getting overwritten unintentionally but they have not yet been stored perma-

nently in the pattern itself. If you were to change the pattern now (or decide

to power down your Tanzmaus because of your neighbors complaining), the step settings that had just been programmed would be lost forever. To store them permanently, you need to use the „Store Pattern“ function which will be

discussed on page 34.

The following diagram shows a slightly simplied programming sequence of a track. To simplify matters, all step edits (sound, accent, ams etc. – see programming steps 3-6)

are summed up in one single programming step.

new

track

with

same

sound

new

step(s)

with new

sound

start Step Rec

/ select track

set step(s)

tweak sounds,

set accents, flams

etc.

lock step(s)

exit Step Rec

• hold Rec + press Track

right Rec LED lights up

• press Step(s)

Step LED(s) flash

• move Sound/Data control use accent, flam, sample-select functions etc.

Step LED(s) flashes

• press Select

Step LED(s) lights up

• press Rec

Rec LED off, Step LED(s) off

8. Continuing programming process

Still not satised with your track? No problem – you can proceed with your track programming work any time and set / edit / erase steps or edit already existing ones, no matter whether individually or in groups.

To re-select and edit already set steps, please

• Hold Select + press step key(s).

The LEDs of the selected step will ash again, showing you that these steps have now

been selected and are ready to be edited. The process continues from programming step 3.

To create / edit another track, start again at programming step 1. That way you can create an entire pattern track by track.

9. Copying sound setting to other steps

You are lucky – you do not need to perform the entire programming procedure for every

new step all over again. Tanzmaus features a copy function that copies the sound, accent,

and am settings to other steps very easily, as well as the impulse and sample selection of

any step. Please

• Hold Select + press the source step key. Its associated LED will start ashing.

24 25

Record Mode – Programming Patterns

MFB Tanzmaus

Record Mode – Programming Patterns

• Release Select.

• Press new step keys to set new sequence steps. These steps will automatically adopt the sound, accent, and am settings as well as the impulse and sample

selection of the source step.

Please note: In this operation mode, the sound controls only access selected

(ashing) steps.

10. Programming LFOs

An LFO – low frequency oscillator – provides a continuously sweeping control voltage at a low frequency (usually in sub-audio range). In other words, a slowly rising and falling vol-

tage that is used to modulate sound parameters. This is exactly what is happening inside your Tanzmaus: Bass drum, clap, toms, and both sampling instruments use dedicated LFO

tracks to control their respective pitch (tone colour of the clap) – in sync with the beat of

your patterns! If so desired, you can also program individual parameter settings for each LFO step. Instrument track and related LFO track work independently from each other. Whereas steps on an instrument track trigger sounds, a set step on an LFO track triggers a modu-

lation waveform. This waveform oscillates at the selected „speed“, „wave“, and „amount“

settings until the next step set has been reached. Here, it will be triggered again, if desired with different „speed“, „wave“, and „amount“ settings. The following chart shows the relation between Instrument and LFO tracks:

Instr.-Trigger

BOOM...

BOOM... BOOM... BOOM...

...

All ve LFO tracks are identical. In our example, we will focus on the bassdrum LFO track.

Programming the LFOs is done in a fairly similar fashion as setting the Impulse parameter and the sample selection (please see above). It is done using the shift function.

Let‘s pretend a bassdrum track has already been programmed completely. The BD-LFO

track has been selected and the Step Record mode enabled (see page 22, programming step 1). Please now proceed as follows:

• Press step key(s). The steps set will start ashing and tell you that they have been

activated for further editing.

• Turn the Data control („LFO Amount“) clockwise. This increases the modulation depth and the effect will become audible.

• Hold Snd. The step keys 1-13 resp. 14-16 will start ashing, showing you that parameter values between 1 to 13 („LFO Speed“) or 14 to 16 („LFO Wave“) are now

available.

• Keep Snd pressed + press step key 1-13 resp. 14-16 to select LFO speed and wave. The selected step key will light up permanently. You may press several step keys consecutively to try out different settings. The step key selected last will light up permanently.

Please keep in mind to dial in a sufcient LFO amount to make the modulation

effect audible.

• Release Snd. The step key set last will be ashing. Now you can select more steps using Snd + Step(s) in order to assign different LFO settings to them.

• Press Select. The edited steps will now be de-selected and the parameter settings „locked“ (when in doubt, please refer to page 25, programming step 8).

The key assignment for the LFO parameters works as follows:

LFO

LFO-Trigger

Speed: 8th. note Wave: Sine Amount: 75%

Step 1 whole note Step 7 1/16th. triplet Step 13 sine up

Step 2 1/2th. note Step 8 1/16th. note Step 14 sine down

Step 3 1/4th. triplet Step 9 1/32th. triplet Step 15 saw up

...

Speed: 4th. note Wave: Sawtooth up Amount: 100%

Step 4 1/4th. note Step 10 1/32th. note Step 16 saw down

Step 5 1/8th. triplet Step 11 1/64th. triplet

Step 6 1/8th. note Step 12 1/64th. note

26 27

Record Mode – Programming Patterns

Initial situation: Result:Function:

TomTom

SnareDr um

Claps

Sampl e 1

Sampl e 2

Ma ster Level

Ri mshot

Pla y

Real

Bnk

Chain

SP1

SP2

TomTom

SnareDr um

Claps

Sampl e 1

Sampl e 2

Ma ster Level

Ri mshot

Pla y

Real

Bnk

Chain

SP1

SP2

MFB Tanzmaus

Record Mode – Programming Patterns

11. Shufe

You can assign some shufe to you pattern (i. e. delaying one note by a certain factor, shifting the focus of the rhythm a bit – real drummers tend to do this all the time, but not always in musically meaningful ways). To accomplish that, you do not need to exit Record mode or even stop the sequencer. Please note that shufe is a global parameter which

affects all tracks in the same way.

You already know the programming procedure of the shufe function from the Play mode

section. Please refer to page 16 when in doubt. In Record mode, it works exactly the same way.

12. Saving patterns

To save your pattern permanently, you need to use the „Store Pattern“ function, described on page 34.

Programming patterns containing more than sixteen steps.

As you already know, you can program patterns with a length of more than sixteen steps. In the section „Play Mode“ on pages 16 and 17 you have learned about the functions „Last Step“, „Scale“, and „A/B Toggle“ and the way they interact. These functions are also

available in Record mode and work the same way here.

Please use the A/B key to toggle betwen both pattern sections „A“ and „B“. This way, you can play back only the section you are currently working on (don‘t complain, the 808 you sold for peanuts ages ago did that in a similar fashion). To use the toggle function, please set the „A/B Toggle“ mode to „Manual“:

• Hold Shift + press A/B Toggle (Step 4) to select the A/B Toggle function. If the LED of step key 4 stays dark, the function is set to „Manual“. Now you can toggle between the pattern sections A and B manually:

• Press A/B key to select the pattern section that is to be played back.

The corresponding LED will light up.

The following gure shows the different modes of operation of these two functions:

Copy A:

Copy B:

Pattern

A-Part

empty

B-Part

Pattern

A-Part A-Part

B-Part B-Part

This is how to operate the Copy A / Copy B functions:

Load or create a pattern. This is how to use the copy functions:

• If required, press A/B key to select the target section (to copy section „A“ to the empty section „B“, rst you have to select „B“ with the A/B key and vice versa – please see gure above).

• Hold Shift + press Step 7 resp. 8 (Copy A / Copy B).

Please note:

• In Record mode, these functions will affect the selected track.

• In Play mode, these functions will affect all tracks, resp. the entire pattern.

Clearing Pattern

This function is closely related to the copy functions explained above. You can optionally

clear the entire pattern or only the section currently selected.

This is how to clear the currently selected section:

• Hold Shift + press Step 6 (Clear Pattern).

This is how to clear the entire pattern:

• Hold Shift + press Step 6 (Clear Pattern) two times.

Copy A / Copy B functions

These two copy functions are pretty useful for creating several variations of an existing A/B pattern easily and instantly. Depending on the function („Copy A“ / „Copy B“), the rst or

second section of the pattern will be copied to the respective other section. It can be used as a starting point for variations.

28 29

Please note:

• In Record mode, these functions will affect the selected track.

• In Play mode, these functions will affect all tracks, resp. the entire pattern.

Attention: There is no undo! Please think (!!!) twice before using the Clear Pattern function.

Record Mode – Programming Patterns

Shift

MFB Tanzmaus

Record Mode – Programming Patterns

Realtime Record mode

Instead of programming the sound parameters stepwise, you can record parameter changes in realtime. In other words, you can tweak the sound controls of an instrument and record these tweakings into the sequencer. This is how it works:

1. Enabling Record mode / select track

To enable the Record mode and select the desired track (resp. the instrument) at the same time, please

• hold the Rec key + press a Track key.

When releasing the keys, the right LED above the Rec key will light up. If the selected track contains any steps, their LEDs will also light up. To record parameter changes in Realtime Record mode, it obviously is recommended that the selected track contains a certain number of steps. Setting steps works as described on page 22.

2. Enable Realtime Record mode

• Hold Shift + press Rec. Then release both keys.

+ Track

For the selected track, the Realtime Record mode has now been enabled.

When the sequencer reaches the next downbeat (resp. step 1), the record

function will automatically become active and wait for your input.

3. Recording parameter changes

• Move sound controls and/or Data control.

Manual Trigger mode / Manual Trigger Record

You can trigger Tanzmaus‘ instruments in realtime – by hitting step keys or via MIDI, using a suitable MIDI device such as a keyboard, or drum pads. At the same time, you can tweak

the sounds of the steps played back in realtime, either using the controls on Tanzmaus‘

frontpanel or via MIDI controllers. In this operation mode, Tanzmaus will act just like a MIDI expander. We call it „Manual Trigger mode“.

Apart from that, the „Manual Trigger Record“ function provides recording of steps played ‚live‘ (but not sound parameter changes).

Triggering and recording instruments in realtime

1. Enable Manual Trigger function

• Press Rec key. Its left LED should light up.

The Manual Trigger function has now been enabled. You can trigger all instruments via step buttons and „play along“ to a running pattern (you may also sing along if you feel so inclined). Please keep in mind that nothing will be recorded at this point (speaking of which, this might not be too bad when it comes to your singing).

Using the sound controls, you can tweak all instruments in realtime.

Please note that these tweaks only affect the sound of those steps that

have just been played live – not of those that might already be a part of the

existing pattern.

Over the duration of one pattern, Tanzmaus will record all control tweaks you are now per-

forming on the selected instrument. As soon as the end of the pattern has been reached, the record function will automatically be disabled. If the pattern uses an A and B section,

the recording will take place across both sections. In case you are not happy with the result, simply enable the Realtime Record mode again (programming step 2) and repeat the recording process. Feel free to „ne-tune“ your parameter recordings later in Step Record mode. To make things easier, it can be helpful to reduce the tempo while recording.

4. Saving Patterns

To save your pattern permanently, you need to use the Store Pattern

function, described on page 34.

30 31

2. Enabling Manual Trigger Record

To record your „live-performance“ resp. steps played in realtime, you need to enable the

Manual Trigger Record function. This is done by setup function # 7.

To perform that, please open the setup menu rst:

• Hold Shift + press Setup (Step 16). The Shift LED will start ashing.

Enabling „Manual Trigger REC“ (setup function #7):

• Press Step key 7. If the Manual Trigger Record function is „on“, step LED 7 will light up.

Exit setup function:

• Press Shift key.

Record Mode – Programming Patterns

MFB Tanzmaus

Record Mode – Programming Patterns

Please note: The setting „Enable Manual Trigger REC“ is a global function

which is permanent, even when you change operation modes or power

down Tanzmaus. Through this function you can basically determine whether steps played „live“ will be recorded or not as soon as you enable the „Manual Trigger“ function.

3. Recording / erasing steps in realtime

• Please start the sequencer.

• Press step keys. As soon as you hit step keys, these steps will be recorded into the

current pattern. The quantisation corresponds to the setting of the Scale parameter.

To erase steps quickly without stopping the sequencer, please

• hold Select + press Track key.

While holding both keys, the steps set previously will be deleted as soon as the running

sequencer reaches their position. You can enter new steps immediately.

4. Tweaking sound settings

• Turn Sound controls and/or Data control.

As soon as you turn a Sound control and/or the Data control, the sound of the correspon-

ding instrument will change.

Please note that these tweaks only affect the sound of those steps that have

just been entered „live“ on the y, not of those that might already be part of the existing pattern. This „performance at the controls“ will not be recorded!

To record parameter changes, you need to use the Realtime Record mode

(please see page 30).

Please also bear in mind that these tweaks will only affect the sound of steps entered live and on the y, not of those that might already be part of the

existing pattern.

5. Storing patterns

To store the new pattern permanently, you need to use the Store Pattern

function which will be discussed on page 34.

However, you have to adjust some of Tanzmaus‘ MIDI functions rst. To do that, please use Tanzmaus‘ MIDI learn function (smart mouse, eh?). The MIDI learn function is used to assign MIDI note numbers and MIDI channels (1 - 9) to drum instruments. The MIDI learn

function is to be found in the setup menu.

Please open the setup menu rst:

• Hold Shift + press Setup (Step 16). The Shift LED will be ashing.

Select „MIDI learn“ (setup function #1):

• Press Step key 1.

Executing MIDI learn function:

• As soon as the MIDI learn function is enabled, the instrument LEDs will light up successively – starting from step 1 (BD) –, waiting for a MIDI note (and the channel #). As soon as you send a MIDI note to Tanzmaus, it will be assigned to the rst instrument (the one with its LED ashing). Now Tanzmaus will automatically switch to the next instrument and wait for input of the next MIDI note (and channel).

When all instruments have been assigned to MIDI notes, the LED of the Select key will start ashing. Now hit Select to conrm the assignment and exit the MIDI learn function.

After that, you will need to exit the setup menu:

• Press Shift key.

Tanzmaus‘ sound controls and the Data control will receive MIDI controller data on the

MIDI channels that have just been assigned and/or pre-selected.

In the setup menu you can determine whether Tanzmaus is to send MIDI notes and controller data.

Please note: Aside from the Step Record mode, Tanzmaus receives MIDI

notes and controller data in all operation modes. This way, you can trigger

steps via MIDI notes and tweak sound parameters via MIDI controllers without setting any functions previously. Only recording steps via MIDI notes needs to be activated rst by enabling the Manual-Trigger-Record function.

This is done via setup function # 7.

Manual Trigger Recording via MIDI

As mentioned above, you can record steps via MIDI – e.g. using a MIDI keyboard, or MIDI drumpads. Sounds can also be tweaked „live“ via MIDI controller (but not recorded).

Step recording in the Manual Trigger Record function via MIDI works the same way as with step keys.

32 33

MFB TanzmausMemory Functions

MFB Tanzmaus

MIDI / Setup Functions

MEMORY FUNCTIONS

To enjoy your newly created or edited patterns forever, you have to save them permanently – would you have guessed?

Please note: The so-called „locking“ of one or more edited sequencer

steps in Step Record mode only prevents overwriting of parameter settings

unintentionally by further editing. To save a pattern permanently and in its

entirety – individual steps and the sounds assigned to them –, you have to use the Store Pattern function.

The following section describes how to store and erase patterns permanently.

Storing patterns

You can save the current pattern in any pattern memory location. To do so, please

• (If necessary hold Shift + press Patt/Bank key to change the current preset bank.)

• Hold Shift + press Step 5 (Store Pattern). All sixteen step LEDs will start ashing.

• Release Shift.

• Press Step key to save the current preset in the corresponding memory location.

• If necessary, press Shift any time to abort the Store Pattern function.

Attention: There is no undo! Please think (yes, insert multiple exclamation

marks here) twice before you overwrite an existing pattern which was to be used with your million-selling hit record!

SETUP / MIDI FUNCTIONS

The setup menu is hidden behind step key # 16 and makes use of eight step keys there,

each of them assigned to a sub-function. Here you will nd Tanzmaus‘ MIDI functions in the rst place. Also, you can enable the „Manual Trigger Record“ function (please see page

31) and determine whether the „Store Pattern“ function is to store muted instruments within the current pattern or not (please refer to page 13). All setup functions are global settings that will be retained after powering Tanzmaus down.

To open the setup menu, please

• Hold Shift + press Setup (Step 16). The Shift LED will start ashing.

To edit setup functions:

• Press Step key 1-8. The corresponding setup function (please see below) will be set to on/off or toggle between two available settings.

To exit / abort a setup function:

• Press Shift key.

The following setup functions are available:

Step key 1: MIDI learn

The MIDI learn function assigns MIDI note numbers and MIDI channels (1 - 9) to Tanzmaus‘ drum instruments. This is how to operate the MIDI learn function:

Clearing Pattern

If desired, you can erase resp. initialise the current pattern. To do so, please

• Hold Shift + press Step 6 (Clear Pattern) two times.

The current pattern has now been erased from memory permanently.

Patterns with more than sixteen steps in length allow for alternatively erasing either their

A or B section.

• Press Patt key to select the desired pattern section.

• Hold Shift + press Step 6 (Clear Pattern).

Attention: There is also no undo! Please think (no kidding here this time

around) twice before you erase the current pattern or its individual sections! The consequences might be dreadful.

As soon as the MIDI learn function has been enabled, the instrument-LEDs will be ashing successively, starting at step 1 (BD) and waiting for a MIDI note (and the channel #) to be entered. As soon as you send a MIDI note to Tanzmaus, it will be assigned to the rst instrument (the one whose LED is ashing). Now Tanzmaus will automatically switch to the next instrument and wait for input of the next MIDI note (and channel). When all instruments have been assigned to MIDI notes, the LED of the Select key will be ashing. Now hit Select to conrm the assignment procedure and exit the MIDI learn function.

Step key 2: MIDI note send on/off

Selects whether Tanzmaus will transmit MIDI note numbers while the sequencer is running.

Default setting = on

Step key 3: MIDI Ctrl send on/off

Selects whether Tanzmaus‘ front panel controls will transmit MIDI controller data or not.

Default setting = off

MFB Tanzmaus MFB TanzmausMIDI / Setup Functions

MIDI / Setup Functions

Step key 4: MIDI Clk send on/off

Selects whether Tanzmaus transmits MIDI clock data while the sequencer is running.

Default setting = on

Step key 5: MIDI Clk Thru on/off

Selects whether Tanzmaus transmits incoming MIDI clock data to its MIDI out socket or not.

Default setting = off

Step key 6: MIDI Clk Receive on/off

Selects whether Tanzmaus receives MIDI clock data or not.

Default setting = on

Step key 7: Manual Trigger REC

This function determines whether steps set „live“ in Manual Trigger mode (by step keys, or received via MIDI) will be recorded into the current pattern or not. In other words: You can

enable the Manual Trigger function through this setting. If this setting has been disabled, instruments can be triggered via step keys or MIDI notes but the steps will not be recorded.

Default setting = off

Step key 8: Saving track mutes

This function determines whether track mutes (please see page 13) will be saved into the current pattern when using the „Store Pattern“ function. The function is active when step

LED #8 lights up. Please note that this function is not labelled on Tanzmaus‘ frontpanel.

Default setting = off

Step key 16: Firmware version display

This function shows Tanzmaus‘ rmware version. Two Step LEDs will light up and show the

version number like this:

• Step LEDs 1 - 6: Pre-decimal place

• Step LEDs 7 - 16: Post-decimal place

E.g. Step 1 and Step 7 = version 1.0

MIDI dump functions

Tanzmaus allows for transmitting the current pattern bank as a MIDI SysEx datale. Apart

from that, a pattern bank, sent from a suitably equipped MIDI device, can be received by your Tanzmaus.

These functions are only available in Play mode (see page 11). The sequencer must be inactive.

Sending pattern bank

By using the shift function you can send the current pattern bank to a suitable MIDI device.

e.g. your DAW.

• Hold Shift + press Step key 9 (Dump Patt Bank).

The LEDs of the step keys visualize the progress of the data upload: The LED of the

corresponding pattern that is currently being transmitted is ashing. As soon as the data

transmission has been completed, the function will exit automatically.

Receive pattern banks

As long as the sequencer is inactive, Tanzmaus will always be ready to receive a pattern bank as SysEx datale. You do not need to enable any additional functions. The LEDs of

the step keys will again tell you about the progress of data transmission.

Attention: When receiving a bank dump, the pattern bank currently selected will be overwritten. There is no undo! So please think (…) twice if you really want to send a bank dump to your Tanzmaus!

36 37

MFB TanzmausAppendix

MIDI Implementation

MIDI Controller assignment

MIDI_CC_BD_ATT 2

MIDI_CC_BD_DECAY 64

MIDI_CC_BD_PITCH 65

MIDI_CC_BD_TUNE 3

MIDI_CC_BD_NOISE 4

MIDI_CC_BD_NOISE_DEC 5

MIDI_CC_BD_DIST 6

MIDI_CC_BD_TRIGGER 66

MIDI_CC_SD_TUNE 11

MIDI_CC_SD_NOISE 13

MIDI_CC_SD_NOISE_DEC 67

MIDI_CC_SD_TRIGGER 70

MIDI_CC_SD_DECAY_TONE 71

MIDI_CC_CP_DECAY 75

MIDI_CC_CP_FILTER 18

MIDI_CC_CP_ATTACK 76

MIDI_CC_CP_TRIGGER 77

MIDI_CC_TT_TUNE 19

MIDI_CC_TT_DECAY 20

MIDI_CC_TT_TRIGGER 78

MIDI_CC_TT_ATTACK 79

MIDI_CC_TT_PITCH 82

MIDI_CC_TT_PAN 73

MIDI_CC_SAMPLE1_TUNE 84

MIDI_CC_SAMPLE1_DECAY 85

MIDI_CC_SAMPLE1_SAMPLE_SELECT1 86

MIDI_CC_SAMPLE1_SAMPLE_SELECT2 87

MIDI_CC_SAMPLE1_ATTACK 88

MIDI_CC_SAMPLE2_TUNE 89

MIDI_CC_SAMPLE2_DECAY 90

MIDI_CC_SAMPLE2_SAMPLE_SELECT1 91

MIDI_CC_SAMPLE2_SAMPLE_SELECT2 92

MIDI_CC_SAMPLE2_ATTACK 93

The MIDI channel for controller data transfer is

always the same as the channel of the corres-

ponding instrument. It is selected with the MIDI

Learn function.

Tanzmaus responds to the following MIDI data:

MIDI_CLOCK

MIDI_START

MIDI_CONTINUE

MIDI_STOP

MIDI_NOTE_OFF

MIDI_NOTE_ON

MIDI_CONTROLLER

MIDI_PROG_CHANGE: 0...63

MIDI_SYSEX

MIDI_SONG_POSITION_POINTER

Service and terms of warranty

Concerning service and warranty conditions, please refer to our terms of business.

Imprint

Copying, distribution or any commercial use in any way is prohibited and needs the written permission by the manufacturer.

Specications subject to change without notice.

Although the content of this owners manual has been thoroughly checked for errors, MFB

cannot guarantee that it is error-free throughout. MFB cannot be held liable for any misleading or incorrect information within this guide.

MFB – Ingenieurbüro Manfred Fricke

Neue Str. 13 14163 Berlin

www.mfberlin.de

Sample selection

You will nd the samples available for the sample instruments 1 and 2 listed on the MFB website (http://mfberlin.de).

Tanzmaus

Mfb Tanzmaus Owners Manual

Specifications and Main Features

Frequently Asked Questions

User Manual