Roland Musical Instrument User Manual

RedMoon Music

evolutionary electronica

Published by RedMoon Music - www.RedMoon-Music.com

RedMoon's

maxWerk

~ mad scientist's music composing tool ~

Users' Guide

Revised March 2007

Application and documentation by

Çikira -- Amanda Pehlke

www.redmoon-music.com

This document uses the Arial font.

Published by RedMoon Music - www.RedMoon-Music.com

2

Meet maxWerk

maxWerk is a from give endless musical original ideas. Using tracks set up in GS set of environment, becoming mixing. Using different setup that suits your creativity. maxWerk lets you compose, without can formal

maxWerk can tracks along with maxWerk the following

the Max

standardized

devices if you

disturbing

produce

training,

loop-based

programming

and

preoccupied

making

widely

composition

compone

prioritize

normally

changes

or

divergent

instrume

incorporate

generated

MIDI

suggestions,

but

with sound design and

enabled

prefer

changing

nt "chops", or

your

develops,

nts:

composition

language

editable

the c

tracks, you can include up to 16

to

to various ways of

aspects that you

flavors of music in maxWerk without

recorded

ideas and

you can

with which it was built. It can

but it also

mode,

sounds in a

onstruction

address

knowledge

MIDI input to its looping on-screen create

tool that gets its name

you can work with a

of your Werk

a

structuring

encourages

single-device

multiple-device

favorite

experiment

already

of music

and

synthesizer

your music

notation.

edits. As your

change

entirely

before

as you

like. You

any of

* *

* * * *

* *

•

A note pattern: one to four bars long, with a selectable number of steps per bar A corresponding velocity pattern, randomized in groups A pattern of octave shifts per step A pattern of wrap steps (octave cutoff points) per step A harmon A mode of note duration (various types), including a random treatment of durations A loop timing offset relative to global bar lines Up to three parallel note lines. You can offset the above elements independently in each one, and you can reassign each to play through any other Basic Loop instrument. A pattern of play direction

y pattern (several types are available)

4

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•

Two control patterns and pitch bend. Control destinations are freely selectable, and pattern choices include various generated or hand-drawn sweeps, which can retrigger with new notes. You can enter step-synced patterns, and you can have patterns dynamically creep or randomize.

*

A pattern of progressively mutating the core note-pattern and reverting to the original, with adjustable parameters

Eleven features

completely

listed

above. Loop tracks with a purpose Melody the

Improv

For

tracks, for a total of sixteen. Specialized tracks include the

engine,

the Noodle track, and

player.

a full "Werk", you can

data for each bar: *

* Patterns * * * * * * *

Patterns of chord (triadic) transposition change

of transposition of an independent fourth chord note

Patterns of scale change underlying the chordal notes Patterns of key change underlying scales and chords Mid-bar changes to any of the data above Global key offsets underlying the other transpo Patterns of track muting Tempo changes Linear or parabolic level fades for each track

independent

Besides these,

pattern

generator,

create

Basic Loops

there

and

maxWerk's

incorporate

are two

three

dedicated

more

eager

volunteer,

all the

Drum

special-

and store the following kinds of

sitions

You can save and copy individual loops, move them current Werk or a Melody

While you are working on disable computer's live while you add your own Comprehensive using only the

Werk, and you can

single-loop

patterns

from

Transposer

keyboard,

key

computer's

file. You can also

a saved Werk.

information

or a

commands

QWERTY keys.

import

from

progression

and use a

hardware

fader

accompanying

let you play and Werk effectively

a

completed import

or melody ideas, you can

controller

box to "play" maxWerk

around

in the

and saved

Transposer

keyboard,

or

your

part to the mix.

5

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You can use or

destination.

it

records sequencer. MIDI

controller

external

its

output

Support

hardware

Your finished Werk plays in a

to a

standard

for an

unit is included.

or

midifile for

optional

software

Peavey PC-1600 or PC-1600x

as a MIDI clock source

locked-tempo

export

to a

mode

full-featured

as

What maxWerk Doesn't Do

maxWerk contains no music at all when you begin a new Werk, except for is not an huge

maxWerk is not a n of reference you need to know you may use fewer than seven scale pitches (as in the Pentatonic scale, for more.

array

information

arpeggiated auto-accompaniment

of possibilities begins with choices

about

text you can save and print that shows, by bar,

about

example),

However, it does let you store a custom scale for each Werk.

chords

otation

your

the

maxWerk does not

that help you

program

composition

structure

either,

audition

with

but it saves all the types

listed

of your

support

progressions

canned

made

above,

composition.

by you.

and it

scales that have

patterns!

creates

everything

Although

. It

Its

a

maxWerk does not directly with MIDI data, a world of possibilities music you begin production

environment,

here.

produce

maxWerk is not a

but it can be a

audio files. Because it deals

System Requirements

• A Power through install this MIDI studio setup

• At least 5 MB of free

• 40,000K of free RAM

• A MIDI

Macintosh

9.2. See the OMS document.

interface

running

management

hard

OMS, with

manual

system and how to

disk space

remains

full-featured

partner

for

instructions

for

developing

to your

operating

sequence

favorite

system 8.5

on how to

one.

create

the

a

6

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• A MIDI sound is highly multiple

polyphonic

mind that maxWerk allows up to sixteen

module

compatible

recommended.

and

with the Roland GS

Alternatively, you may

multi-timbral

synthesizers.

polyphonic

standard

address

Bear in

parts,

and

you are likely to think of uses for all of them!

This fully comments

functional

and

feedback

version of maxWerk is

are sincerely

appreciated.

freeware,

Being in touch

and your

with users who are enjoying maxWerk and finding it useful is the author's

An

“untitled.mWk” “maxWerk”

reward

important

application

for making it available to others.

note: The files

should

remain

"maxWerk_default_setup"

in the same

file.

folder

and

as the

7

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I. Concepts and a Tour

It's fine to simply a voyage of everything descriptions the window-opening they simply involve the shift key and the first letter of the window name. because your own style or

Many play this section, but you can often easily look for to the parameter is to show how even if you have little keyboard rewarding

entering

terms

composing

explore

discovery.

you'll find out this way, and listed later on are

of

maxWerk's

you'll see in the Key

Reading

it can give a p

functions

descriptions

labels

playing skill, with maxWerk you can set up

experiments

maxWerk without first

some notes and playing with its various

The

Key

Commands

through

erspective

approach

and

in the second part of this Guide. If you are used

process,

informative

in

song-design.

material

key

commands

Commands

are easy to

this first section is

to help you

to

composing

parameter

you will find many of the

enough.

settings are not discussed in

figure

The

knowledge

reading

that follows covers almost

that

expand

reference

remember

consider

complete

them out. If you can't,

primary

this Guide, by

functions

on some of

window. Most

valuable,

and develop

Werks.

function

aim of this Guide

of music

ambitious

as

because

however,

and

theory

or

and

1.1 Global Setup

On first "maxWerk_default_setup" prepares When you set tracks to GS range synthesizers, provide

The remains Global Setup window, which Screen for each OMS device you want to use, and

launching

the

of Roland Sound Canvas

the

correct

maxWerk_default_setup

separate

“Globals”

maxWerk,

file that lives in your maxWerk

program

this setup file,

from

button,

to talk to your

alphabetized

Werk

you can

you will need to modify and save the

synthesizer

mode,

among

set of

(.mWk-suffixed)

appears

which is

modules

other

patch list for your

customized,

when you press the Main

enable

folder.

setup

tailored

or

other

things, lets maxWerk

particular

user-created

song-data

GS or

confirm

normal

which one is to

thereafter.

to one of the

GS-compatible

files. In the

MIDI mode

This

model.

data

8

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be the play. maxWerk use You can find the GS in the "Werk Files" section

Checkboxes midifile of

and clock

can make click to beat clock. You can map mode settings for MIDI input Part II of this Guide,

After you have desired, MIDI defined progress" quickly enabled

target

according

normal

sound

source

send

transposer

you must

information

setup. A useful trick to know is that the "Back to Werk in

re-transmit

set of

for each of

creates

to the GS

let you

banks/program

settings. Other

and

settings

prepared

reload

it contains to be

command

sound-generating

a list of available

mode

transmit

clock

notes

read

"maxWerk

under

the

current

maxWerk's

module

MIDI

near

enable

for the

to an

about

a Global Setup for the

any

model

channel

the end of this Guide.

or

suppress

Global Setup

QWERTY keys and the

in Depth".

already-open

the Panic

Werk's MIDI settings to the

tracks and your live

preset

parameter

layout of

sending

changes

parameters

for driving

metronome,

external

from

devices.

your

Werk file in

directed

menubar

“Noodle”

names

as well as GS

external

and

device along with MIDI

controller

properly

for GS mode

setting in this file.

maxWerk's

and

recor

include MIDI

devices. You

there

heading

are options

at the start of

device/channels

order

to the newly

tracks

ding to

patches

keyboard

for the

lets you

currently

maxWerk opens one of your choice, and then track, which is this track to make basic settings for MIDI input These shift Noodle allow along with

from

launches

dedicated

include an offset for

center. Other

optional

forward

with an untitled

to your live playing. Open the window for

settings for your live play

automatic

or

reversed

incoming

mod wheel or

ramps

(default)

routes

note velocities and an octave

of GS sound

MIDI thru to the

1.2 Menu Items

Whenever 8-count of which resides in the maxWerk change

you choose New

meter

this locked file. While it's possible to

Werk file of

from

default

the File menu, maxWerk loads an

data called

application

untitled.mWk

folder.

change

Werk

from

aftertouch

shaping.

template

your

directed

You should not

the

Meter

or

Noodle

controller.

through

ramping,

, a copy

of an

9

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existing file, you will find copies of alternative "maxWerk many tedious used to creating loops

longer save! It's a good idea to use a save each automatically

maxWerk menus, to work for your assigned upper

Filing Cabinet"

associated

maxWerk,

your own

you might wish to use these as a basis for

template

than one bar. Be sure to

folder

editor

that can save you having to make

window

files, especially if you find you often use

rename

sequential

update;

appends

doesn't

and you should leave "All

properly. controller

for

example,

the suffix .mWk when you

use the

The

MIDI-thru

keyboard

"TuesdayTune_03".

standard

Macintosh

Windows

menu lets you

input to any of the

to tracks. Note that when the

left section of the Main Screen is

Auto-thru

enabled, each track visited for editing. At the top of the item THRU-ENABLED, which disables and play. This does not disable MIDI notes

triggered

template

changes.

Once you are

Werk files you wish to

numbering

name

Edit and Windows

Active" checked for it

change

instrument/channels

checkbox in the

MIDI thru will follow

menu

enables

is a switchable

keyboard

by the QWERTY keys. You can quickly check the state of this the

presence

external

MIDI input is against which the LED flashes yellow on When it is computer

or

absence

disabled,

keyboard

of color in the MIDI

enabled,

the LED

continues

play, but the

you will see a

incoming

to flash yellow in

background

color is gray.

indicator

green

MIDI signals.

files in the

scheme

maxWerk

your file.

the

target

thru

computer's

function

LED. When

background

response

to

by

to

The auditioning default

The Panic menu includes a Stop Play sends an All second Panic a last

Arp-thru

Arpeggiator

Noodle.

procedure,

resort

menu lets you

to any

Learn

about

which resets several

Notes

menu

in case of

Off

item

command

triggers

intractable

redirect

pitched-note

this

feature

manual

the

notes

track

under

trigger

"The

for

internal

to all MIDI

notes-off

message

behavior

from

other

Transposer".

maxWerk's

functions

destinations.

from

a GS

the

chord-

than the

normal

and

The

by itself. As

module, choose the item GS reset to initialize your device. Built into this system exclusive 11 as well as the

Controllers message

message

default

addresses

is the GS

command

10 to Drum Kit

all

targets.

assigning Channel

instruments.

The Reset

The Back to Werk in

10

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progress command

the

current based settings and to last save lets you go back to your

The Commands menu simply lets you bring up an reference the same. The Key describes using are no

The Extras menu controlling engaged. command. quick midifile access brings up a Idea track in Part II, and "Werk Files".

maxWerk,

state, saved or

list in the Key Commands

each in detail. Since

longer

buttons

necessary.

play of multiple tracks

It also has handy

From

recording

in the Note and Drum Editors. The last

complete

restor

patches,

Commands

it's a good idea to

offers Quick

this

menu

es your sound

unsaved,

according

you can also open the Idea window for

from

Werk text

about

your

Reference

keystroke

editor

Leadsheet

the

generating

of

maxWerk's

to the Global Setup. Revert

last-stored

window. Typing

at the end of this Guide

shortcuts

refer

Mutes

manually

controller

Leadsheet

to this list until

, a handy window for

when

window

buttons

keyboard,

. Read

in the closing section

setup to match

MIDI

set of

information.

[shift-k] does

greatly

Automute

more

message-

important

speed

reminders

is not

and a key

which has

menu

about

item

the

1.3 The Main Screen

Music is them bars for brevity of labeling. maxWerk can store data for up to 128 bars. An eighth-note Meter your the Main Screen, which the

eighth-note guidance you can switch in and out with a key determines special-purpose other that you can

comprised

important

beats or counts you want in a bar, and

can be set at 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, or 12 beats. You can make

desired

is

Improv,

choice in the meter menu in the

click of the

as you

the a

impose.

of time

enter

tracks. One of these is the Melody line, and the

where maxWerk

data while listening to your tracks, and which

utomatically

We won't cover

segments

first decision in

defaults

metronome,

to 8

computed

"expresses

eighth-counts.

everything

or

measures,

composition

upper

which is

command.

step

itself" given

now

and we'll call

is how many

maxWerk's

left section of

Meter

provided

Meter

resolution

constraints

about

governs

purely for

of two

how

also

11

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these work, but using them comes easily once you get a feel for making looping tracks.

While maxWerk tracks based on step are

compatible

Meter.

In

other choose step Similarly, besides 12, 24, and 48, the or 32 in a Meter, Meter,

6-count

you can save a Werk to

edit as that at a later time you can paste midifiles of each. You should take into number

of counts may

that notes may be lost, and

supports

numbers

only one

Meter

choice per Werk, but

that are multiples of 6 and 8 counts

in the same Werk, and may be included in either

words, besides steps in multiples of 8, you can

numbers

necessary,

of 12, 24, and 48 in an

number

Werk. To

create

become

a piece that has

a midifile

and save it again

together

of steps can be 8, 16,

under

music

account

shorten

some loops and Melody lines such

increasing

the count will of

empty steps. Tempo

slider. You can adjust it by using key c not in Tempo

in BPM

(beats

Performance

slider is the

per

mode,

tempo

minute)

which

refers

map

is set

ommands

button

from

to a

a Main Screen tempo

Tempo

, which is the "Main Settings" section of Part II. Briefly, the effect when you change

at each bar. When you open Werk file, the

saved for bar 1

engage

appears

Perfo

as the

rmance

default.

mode

and allows a

8-count

Werk.

changes

source,

a new

segments

that

decreas

change

name,

ing the

course

from

add

as long as you are

Map. Next to the

described

Tempo

fully in

Map takes

tempo

Tempo

setting

in

so

The

round

start/stop

play. Play always starts at the

play status

indicator

button, though

below the

it's easiest to use the sp

beginning one that was in play when it was command while editing. This lets you think example,

you can switch playback

you are working with a

higher

about swing feel. Below the

bank of equivalents.

play-status

function

These

always reflect the status of their

section of the

switch-buttons

Tempo

indicator

acebar

of the next bar

stopped.

from

full

By

means

tempo to

half-timed

exact note positions if, for

resolution

information

that have key

pattern

panel

that has a

there

command

respective

is also a to toggle after

the

of a key

is a

12

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contributions. of the Main Screen show the four maxWerk's through

name, a chord

A panel of maxWerk's equivalent Automute function,

A vertical row of blue LED's lies to the left of the track

buttons volume

LED's are also window. A described hardware, PC-1600

11

quality

and the left panel

on the Main Screen, across

knobs

Important

transposition

representing A though

Tonic

window-opening

Main Screen. When you use one of these key

windows, maxWerk

“maxWerk”

in detail in Part II,

along with a set of

fader

note

. We explain fully the significance of these below.

command

for each. Besides showing track play status, the

mute/enable

is

reserved

dynamic

status at every bar: a Key number

number, a

to open the

function

preset for Peavey’s PC-1600 MIDI

to echo the bar scrolling key

indicators

elements

G# with an

(+)Note

buttons

automatically

switches

provides

faders

fills the lower right section of

switch-button

from like those in the more

that

in the lower left section

offset

number, and a triad

Transposer,

enables

sets of virtual

mute/enable

control

track

that

reflects its state.

contribute

flag

, a Scale

buttons

Melody,

the

associated

Quick-Mutes

controller

buttons

volumes.

command.

from

or an

access

pan

to

0

or

and

,

in

One

1.4 Features to Note

A

display

larger Melody Editor. This displays, and is included to damaging lock frontmost, this

Also let you move quickly to edit Scales window, where you also

re-activates

feature,

shared among

lock

editor

data until you are

but you can

locator

switch appears

screens,

when the window that includes it

which affects the displays in all three windows.

bar

numbers,

the

Automute

feature

these windows is a row of

between

locks out

ready

un-check

sections of your Werk. When you go

you will find this

at the

window, the

prevent

to

change

an

accompanying

audition

bottom

manual

errant

various scales or

of

maxWerk's

Transposer

edits to the

mouse clicks from

it. By

locator

function

default,

control

residing

and the

graphic

display

becomes

box for

buttons

modes.

three

that

in the

13

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Pairs of windows. Some edit last arrow press one of the

arrow-shaped

"go-to"

button

bar you

"Go-to"

functions

manually

or one of the co

locator buttons

bar

buttons appear

take effect set. To go to any bar quickly, hold an

mmand

and then

beginning

keys for bar scrolling, or simply

fine-tune

in many edit

at or only on the

the bar location.

1.5 Automute

In

order a preview of you have making level.

maxWerk plays looping counting Automute mute or information window. The graphs track stores a value of 0 or 1 for each bar. Values of 1 colored enabled state is that all tracks are enabled command. able to into your composition in

to

offer a perspective

Automute

created

the Melody track, which we will discuss

active, you can have Basic Loop and Drum tracks either

continue

that

Automute

of 128 bars that have a vertical range of 1, so that each

bars in the strip and 0's are

strips

or

bypassed

Bear in mind as you

introduce

a few tracks.

controls

appear

creative

- a

playing as they

track strips are essentially

entirely filled-in in a new file, for the default

for all tracks at once by

whatever

of a full Werk, we'll jump right away to

function

patterns

this

appears

enabled

track

muting

that is

Then

create

way suits your

we'll zoom in to the

on

reach

empty,

all the time.

and

normally

thirteen

for editing in the

track

interweaving

not used until

of its tracks, not

separately.

each new bar. The

horizontal

and the

Automuting

material

creative

thirteen

means

that you'll be

pattern-

With

Automute

appear

may be

of a key

of

patterns

style.

bar

as

fully

The first of the individual (toggle) system exclusive MIDI provides stored

You can the track bars easier. A single click of the label brings up a small window

box to

a handy

data, even

enter

label

temporarily

Automutes

switch-button

temporary

though

Automute

mute GS

commands.

way to silence parts without

the

Automute

by

hand,

make the job of editing across many

track strip

instrument

For

tracks in GS

function

but two

different

controls

parts by

may be

ways of using

is a check

means

mode,

affecting

enabled.

of

this

14

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where you can any point in the Werk, control

entry

zeroes

button.

dialog

that will apply

At each bar where a track is plays to its pattern pattern

muted

restarts having played its third bar. With multiple your intent if you mute and dynamically

Say for has a function

example

two-bar

is bars of listening are automatically

enable

or mute all 128 bars of the track at once from

Double-clicking

, where you can

starting

beginning

after

state.

two bars and

at the head of the loop on being

updating

feature

that track 1 does its looping job over four bars. It

graphic

triggered

editor

that

required

displays the

depending

the track label brings up a enter

with the last set

muted,

For

example,

enable

of

Automute

pattern,

produces

to

number

on the status of the window's

pattern-

a binary

pattern

"go-to"

of ones and

bar.

maxWerk also resets the loop it

enabled

patterns

if you play a

several bars later, the

enabled

in play, it may spoil

three-bar

without

at the wrong places; so a helpful

is

but on

changed

appreciate

provided

alternate

note values, so that four

the effect. maxWerk

as follows:

repetitions

of bars in one pitch cycle by way of the small number tag located to the right of the track label. The gradual

'mutate'

function

is an

exception

not

reflected

this way.

a

Noting the

001111

a

repeating last. This full

function

then the play On its own in the

song

in its

under

settings automatically

maxWerk's

end

bar of your Werk and optionally applies it to all the loops.

reminder

into the dialog

sequence

particular

pattern

cycle. After it plays you'll

pattern

upper

entirety,

the bar

locators

bonus strolling musician.

in this case, you might

presented.

starting

from

This

the

"go-to"

enter a pattern

appears

causes two bars of silence followed by a

of ones

left window

hear

repeats.

corner

two

is a setting to

and across the top of the

is a set of editing

buttons. Enable

bring in and silences one

Another

such as

in the track strip as

bar all the way to the

more

silent bars, and

loop

Automute

window

the

improv

interlude

from

setting specifies the

You can move mutes, shifting them by several bars in either direction.

You can

randomize

mutes or copy and invert mutes

15

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relative to data processing

Automute found you'll find a determines plays not follow the designed and leave your mix, and, like end bars, the when

Another function Automute button all bars of the last edited Basic or Drum Loop track. A track-

switching track strips store an Expression

0 out of your Werk in a subtle Autofade creatively layer the two levels are down, you may not be able to enabled (polyphony)

for each track in the lower panel of the Note Editor.

before

Automute

brings up a single bar graph display at a time that

through

always begins

has a global

16ths

the

to allow

window can lend

menu in 127 at each bar, giving you a way to bring tracks in and is always active along with

by

of the

present

sustain

number

automuting

transpositions

creative

is

enabled.

Automute

targeted

in any

from

end

bar

on mute menu setting for each loop that

of

sixteenth-note

cuts notes off.

overlapping

to

Automute

interest

functions.

still

consume

sound-generating

other

the

"go-to"

setting

of

succeeding

does the obvious.

Controller

manner

Be aware that when Autofade

track. Keep in mind that

bar.

, a

refinement

durations

These

of sounds as tracks enter

and accessible only

to your mix. The

over any

Automute,

the available MIDI notes

delayed

bars. This

function

11 value with a

hear

device.

the last step

note-offs

applies only

These

number

anything,

switchable

and you can

to which is

feature

from

Autofade

represents

range

of bars.

but notes

There

do

is

the

of

1.6 Basic Loops

Let's go back to the Main Screen to begin making some looping tracks. A click on the opens the Note Editor window (as does a key loop you are editing is

indicator

Automute suspends

The first items at the top of the window, the and

loop

LED/button

is

enabled

muting

length

(enables

menu, set the event

number

temporarily at the

and this track is

ed panel

bottom

the

track)

solo'ed,

while the Note Editor is open.

resolution

button

of the Note Editor. Even if

currently

for any one of them

command),

as shown by the

muted,

steps

number menu

for this loop and

maxWerk

and the

enable

16

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the

number with no order

to be able to tell what is going in a able to edit loops easily, it is a good idea not to number by the style step stored

midifile motif may

of bars it

change

of play

contains.

direction

The length of a Basic or Drum Loop

can be

of steps; that is, the steps per bar

number

sequencer.

of bars.

Instead,

think of maxWerk as an

Step-entering

sometimes

notes to match a previously

call for a

from

one to four bars. In

multi-track

menu

number

higher

Werk and to be

overdo

the total

multiplied

analog-

step resolution so that the results can reflect as well as possible the timing of the original. doing that easy. We'll talk

(There

are window

about

buttons

them later

and key

under

commands

"Keyboard

that make

Entry".)

Each previously Meters an even multiple of the

Meter

offers

mentioned,

are

interchangeable.

appropriate

several levels of step resolution, and as we have

step

Meter

choices, and the rejected

number

choices for 6 and 8 count

If you pick a

count, a dialog

number

appears

menu

of steps that is not

reminding

you of

selection will not "stick". (If the total steps were out of sync with bar starts on playthrough, end steps would cause discover

If you are of bar offers a fundamental begin making musical seven pitches values 1 rest or silence. When you computer's for each bar, maxWerk displays to play over any of the seven positions in the patterns not as

the

resulting

maxWerk's

much

unfamiliar

graph

data in the Note Editor, the

found

through

in most

7. As you might expect, a value of 0

QWERTY key

current

you

enter

here

representations

repetition

confusing better

with music

maxWerk

patterns,

western

enter

board

transposes

Scale. This

as

patterns

of fixed ones.

of

beginning

track

steps or skipping of

behavior.

Read on to

ways of creatively shifting loops.)

theory,

concept.

using as your

the first of the four sections

nine-value

notes

display

Here is where you can

components

musical scales,

represented

represents

a

number

or play back

all the

patterns different

means

of

relationship

0

through

numbers

made

triadic

7 on the

that you store

in the note

chords

that you should view the

between

pitches,

the

by

or

,

a

Value 8 in note variable.

In

patterns

order

are not part of the

is a

more

to allow musically

current

chord

triad, 8’s

elusive symbol for a pitch that is

sophisticated

trigger

leading tones that

notes

(again,

17

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either stored separate

and

7. Although an other

values in the display

or played live)

independent

8-step

has the

Scale pitch value that it and it is always value 8

If the

together

description transposing stepped

pattern), Transposer". make tonic patterns

that contain experience to make your

A

nine-value

a

range

To

accomplish

of 0

randomizes value 8 entered

triggers a constant

as value 7 actually floats and 127 as 127, and the of offset in turn

mapped

with a 1, 3, and 5 sounds a

above was

disabled,

simply

leaving out

With maxWerk in play, try out the key

transpositions

first-hand

patterns

a sense of this

sound pleasing and musically useful!

velocities

through

8, and

this, steps 1

at the start of each bar within

repetitions

progress,

minimum

rotates

from

of the one

appearance

because

represents

to

correspond

hard

enter

a

transposition

triggered

its vertical bar is

can in fact

to one of the

to follow,

some notes

8-steps

engine

by values 1

of being

“larger”

longer,

change

at each bar,

other

four-note

don't

worry

chord.

about

(perhaps

until we get to "The

comma

happen.

primarily

display

, the second in the Note Editor, has

produces

though 7 trigger

value of 127. As an

Do some

experimenting

1's, 3's, 5's and 0's

explanation.

values

It's

maxWerk's

from 0 through

values that maxWerk

subgrou

ps of 16, while

example,

around

somewhere

between

but value 8 is always the

value 0 is always velocity zero. The

dynamically

between

all tracks at each bar.

that is

through

than the

the

seven. A

it. With

a stair-

nds that

with

(rests)

to

job

127.

a velocity

112

maximum

amount

When the relationship displays. Velocities that cycle by one variable notes devise an int such that respect with each loop

velocities

menu in the lower panel is set to normal, the

of velocities to notes is always just as

become

increment

note-gating

pattern

eraction

certain

with the start of each new loop. This

effect when

or the velocities

of

arpeggiating

pitch

patterns

pattern.

kick in and out. Velocities that

existing rests, but values 1-8

repetition,

and can be used to fade a loop in and out.

offset in time relative to notes

0-values

notes lined up with velocities

increment

Try the 2 ways setting that activates both

are

encountered

In

other

functions

depicted

in the

creates

in the

words, you can

rotate

and wrap

around

at once!

a

18

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The data in the value of 4. This initially places all the notes you

octaves

display

, the third of the set,

enter

into the octave

defaults

to a

that includes middle C. While maxWerk stores Basic Loop pitch step information according range

from 0 through like note and velocity data, so by making you can easily

in the

to

changing

construct

default

middle sound

data that comes

8, and they are

wide-ranging

range,

from

read

this set. Octave values

on a

patterns

arpeggio

notes'

per-step

of octave steps

loops.

octaves shift

basis just

You can also specify for each step an octave cutoff point, or the scale step above which maxWerk will result of any desired Editor

range.

graphic,

transpositions,

This is a

the wrap

function

steps

so that you can keep loop notes in a

display

wrap values only when your loop is playing over transpositions. maxWerk uses a bar. Value 8 tells it to use the repeating

figure

When you set any or all wrap steps to value 0,

random

wrap step value that

current

takes on craziness with

bump

down by one octave the

of values in the

. You can

hear

changes

(+)Note

creative

value as wrap step. A

octave

fourth

and last

the effects of

changing

once per

wrapping.

tonic

Four refresh desired octaves display

dedicated

buttons

display

set all note, velocity, octave, or wrap steps to the

value at once. The

mirrors

setting, to quickly shift the To spark your

options of

heavier

starting

found

step step that is add

random

In the lower panel the plays forward, causes repeating the loop strictly a

forward-backward

both

length.

direction

imagination,

in the Note Editor window

stuff. Using

other

counted

menus

than 1, or opt instead to

as 1 with each loop pass. Here you can also

note-re-triggers

direction

backward

beginning

A

fourth

parameter.

reset

the Noodle track window's

incoming

controls

controller

notes

we'll

describe

with

menus

THRU menu above the

octave

from

your MIDI

just a few of the play

before

going on to a taste

along the top, you can choose a

to any

step-starting

menu

determines

, or in a reversing

pendulum-like

readout

rotate

fashion.

or

randomize

style.

whether

Reversing

of all step data,

and end values and effectively

menu

item called

alt-scrambles

This option allows all data to play in a

and quick

offset

controller.

the

the loop

play

doubling

is not

19

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forward

direction,

but applies a

note-scrambling

function a fresh shuffle of existing step values at each new leaving rhythmic

inward and two ends-in.

next-to-last, pattern. an inward pass begins at the middle. behavior

With the a note sounds until is given a note-off wrap data at the same step note off,

unchanged

feel. The next play

These

and so on, working toward the middle of the displayed

The 'alt'

ends-inward

mixes with

play

mode menu set to its

companion

of the last, and uses by

whatever

the

pattern

variations

of

durations

direction

of this

that gives the loop its

is random, followed by

pattern,

alt

ends-in

play the first step, then the last, the

variation

pass, plays

begins with

normally

normal

forward

again, and on the next ends-

Randomized

normal

another

velocity of 0. Each

play for the final

default

of a

different

value

changed

default

number.

A note value of 0 turns the last

the velocity, octave, and

menu

first item

replaces

the velocity at that time.

that causes

loop-start,

and rdm

second, play, makes ends-inward

option.

play

changes

it, or until it

note

triggers

while

ends-

the

,

a

When you choose the second item triggers the of the

The third maxWerk to

a new note at each

manner

changing

of older

state of note values or step

menu

item is

trigger

non-zero

analog

hardware

sustain

and sustain all

added

play

step in a

step

all

robotic

sequencers,

resolution.

note-groups

pitches until the next note

steps

. This

, maxWerk

manner

after

regardless

mode

tells

(not velocity!) value of 0 in the Editor, or until the end of the loop, whichever difference ignores and move with note value of 0 in the loop, with the only

changes When you try out this alongside Leave it modes. than a full step, albeit with high. Read

occurs first. The only velocity values that make a

are those that begin notes; in sustain

velocity values of 0. You can make a

transpositions

for up to four bars, for if

transposing

in pitch cause the notes to cut off and

the

there

In

modes

mode,

mode menu

or at its full right position while you

about

other

gating possibilities

than sustain, you can store a setting

the

color-changing gate

automatically

coarse

resolution

under

resets to its

when step

"Loop

mode

multi-note

maxWerk

pad hold

there

function

re-trigger.

time slider

default

investigate

resolution

Magic 1" in Part II.

is no

enabled

value 0.

play

shorter

is

20

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The zero

fourth

produce note-offs

item is random retrig, and at this setting note values of

as always, but which would tie notes in notes a

randomly,

degree

so that each

of

unpredictable

repeating

play-changes

repetition

rhythmic

interest.

values 1

mode,

instead

of the pitch

through

trigger

pattern

8,

new

is given

The final six Each set includes mode These

variations,

settings loop. This effect, note

pattern

tones. Note filtering is an effective and

modes

of play are sets of alt1 and alt2

all-steps, changes

, random, and retrig play

which differ only in their switched state on

remove

therefore,

contains

passing tones on

can be

heard

even-numbered

alternate

only when the

scale steps, not just triadic

entertaining

passes of the

function

you apply it to busier loops that have many passing tones. In the

the differentiated window shortcut. Split Tricks" in Part II, as are opening

Below the four

generate

parameters, maxWerk's Part II, but the basics can be fun to discover experiments. of the Note Editor for the keep you

upper

right

step-split

button

The

button

patterns

most useful

oriented

margin

window

between

is a

step-split

labeled

graphic

, to

of the Note Editor, the

, where you can make note

several

split-status

function

target

LED that is also a disabling

is

described

features

loops all at once. Below the

lying

<-expand-pattern->

displays are various

add

offset

note

and to direct these lines to

features,

Take note of the handy

metronome

and clear

about

these are also

checkboxes

click and for track soloing, to

what's going on in the loop.

split

button

pattern

in detail

behind

under

the window-

in the top left section.

additional

lines

with a variety of

other

tracks. Perhaps

covered

through

in the lower panel

notefilter

starting.

entered

when

opens

entries

"Step-

controls

in detail in

your own

s.

to

It

doesn't

form

the basis for a Werk. You might feel like crazed useful results by applying one or two

take much doing to make a set of

pianos at first, but

remember

that you can achieve the most

functions

interesting

creating

to a few notes. Try making loops that pair complex (more

on these follows) with simple,

sustained

pads. Simpler note

a swarm of

pattern

controller

loops that

of just a patterns

21

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patterns that have a lot of

In the Note Editor's lower panel you can give your loop a track name of up to 12 c update track labels in destination Leadsheet. between

are best if you intend your final MIDI tracks to play patches

programmed

haracters.

track lists displayed in the Global Setup window as well as

Automute,

menus,

You can visit

Werks

and the text

however

Copy/Import

you please.

movement!

Newly

the

Copy/Import

recap

assigned

of Werk

to mix and match loop data

track

window's

names

information

always

source

and

in the

1.7 Drum Loops

The Editor for the two Drum Loops lacks some of the Basic numbers necessary

generator

right of the Drum notes display, and it will of hits into the down one of the slider-selected through remove place them again more

Loops,

the kit with

all beats at the

about

but has tricks of its own. It displays a

compatible

to

trigger

lets you choose a note

remainin

kit

looping

with GS

the sounds in a non-GS device. The

g available steps

test

buttons

instrument,

button

last-selected

differently

percussion,

drums,

, you'll

and you can

presses.

until you like your

see

but you can offset these as

number

drop a selectable

randomly.

hear

Using

note

"Deeper

number

using the slider to the

repeating

rotate

another

Drums" in Part II.

button,

and let maxWerk

groove.

features

range

When you hold

beats of the

up or down

of note

number

you can

To learn

of

beat

1.8 Controllers

In

maxWerk's add two messages. one called 96 for

sync

at a rate of 96 steps per loop, creates one step time accompanying

different

. By

default,

denser

generates a control

duration.

Control

There

control

Sync

message

A,

Control

controller

are

three

control

maxWerk sends Control and Bend MIDI

data, as each

mode

patterns

play

sweeps, one called trig, and one called

pattern

pairs each Note Editor step with a single

of your choice for

B,

and

to each loop and pitch bend

modes

whatever

Bend

to choose

the loop

changed

modified

controller,

windows

from

note of

to fit into its allotted

bend,

for each:

messages

length.

more

you can

Trig

than

or GS

22

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sound-shaping, create

distinct

The Control and Bend windows differ that once you MIDI

output display. This lets you block and unblock while you values

consider

here

It's best not to move open you can

positioned

conveniently notes. While you can draw in values by and the Bend Editor pulse, generate

triangle,

one to four can compress values on quickly the

generate

desired a series, and dialog box

sending

rhythmic

enter

via the

values, to have them

values just

changes

activation

patch selections. You can invert

too, and maxWerk

Controller

over the Note Editor on your

compare

or

offer

either

generated

of two

cycles

entry.

repeating

set

beginning

enter

the

presented.

sequences

at step 1. Press the

number

You'll find the same

or

stepped

ahead

from

of note

effects. the main Note Editor in

transmit

menu in the right

controller

remembers

the activation setting.

and Bend windows

their

patterns

against your pa

hand,

patterns

parabolic

curves. You can

of any of these

As an

alternative

by

entering

of steps to be

information

you must enable

margin

and bend effects

because

computer

both Control Editors

of

sawtooth,

waveform

approach,

one instance of

button

labeled repeat

repeated

function

available for

each of the displays in the Note and Drum Editor windows.

to

of the

transmit

ted

they

screen,

ttern

so

of

sine,

auto-

s, and you

you can

into the

You can shift vertical arrow patterns Instead a

control

vertically, all values

of a

to set the using the loop play

The

direction

randomize/latch button

When you use the single set of When you check the

entered

buttons

function

starting

direction

changes

step-synced

values up or down all at once by using the

to the right of the displays. When you adjust

to

horizontally

step

optio

ns menu you can

0-127

of the displayed

wrap

rotate

displayed values,

called for by the Note Editor.

always

randomizing

random

function,

values that you can keep or edit.

engages

random-latch checkbox,

a new set of step values each time the loop sample-and-hold

style

function

is

particularly

around

in the display.

sequence.

control

step-sync

maxWerk

repeats.

interesting

there

is

Finally,

response

to

mode.

generates

This dynamic

when you

a

23

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apply it to filter cutoff, latching because window's step patterns in the display. Part II the Control A, Control B, and Bend Editors.

checkbox,

maxWerk

mode

are not

editable,

creates

resonanc

there

indicator

describes

is no need to

a new one at the start of each loop. The

the

e or pitch

changes

changing

in detail these and

to

sets of values

1.9 The Transposer

The Werk can chord maxWerk is in play and the chordal itself do to patterns

Transposer

change

changes

transformations

according

competently

emotively on the white keys in C.

contains

Key and Scale

within both Key and Scale. As a fun

to Key and Scale as you play, so that all you have to

noodle

maxWerk's

Transposer

to

stored

a live line over tracks is

pitch-filtering

automatically

patterns,

enter

read

is

your

bend.

rdm, but since these

enabled

If you use the

a

starting

don't

more

system. Your

as it makes modal

bonus,

and making

keyboard

repeat

pattern

appear

features

while

re-maps

simple

of

The

Transposer for 128 bars. The values that you see in the Transposer

window

buttons window reflects the state of any 16 bars of Werk that you wish to bring into focus. bar scrolling becomes

A

more which Map, accessed by a window. Here you can shift the root pitch of your Werk and your MIDI from overall shifts in the making form Screen. Global Offsets work

, which is accessible via one of the

along the

the first shown in the Patterns display.

fundamental

there

controller's

the

default

further

of a

semitone

has

bar-graph

appear

function

is no

again in the smaller displays of the Patterns

bottom

Whenever

with

buttons

form

graphic

button

input up or down by semitones up to a full octave

C (key

mood

offsets at any bar. The offset flag

number

signature

of your piece when all is said and done by

displays of four

edge of the

it is

opened,

or key

of

transposit

display, comes

at the top of the main

3). You can use it to

following the Key display on the Main

behind

the scenes, along with all the

Transposer.

and

commands,

ion

different

primary

secondary-window

whenever

underlying

from

the

sets of data

window of the

The Patterns

you use the

the

current

Global

Transposer

appears

bar

these, for

Offset

create

in the

Roland Musical Instrument User Manual

Contents

Meet maxWerk

What maxWerk Doesn't Do

System Requirements

I. Concepts and a Tour

1.1 Global Setup

1.2 Menu Items

1.3 The Main Screen

1.4 Features to Note

1.5 Automute

1.6 Basic Loops

1.7 Drum Loops

1.8 Controllers

1.9 The Transposer