Rk-008 arp ?

Paul_Dablue

I understand the arp in the new RK-008 firmware might be changed but can you tell me the EXACT method to get the current version working, I asked Gerrit on insta and I thought I had the correct settings but I must be missing a step as I haven't got it working, thanks.

RobJD

Me too. I'm not quite sure how it's supposed to work but I've been messing around for a couple of hours and can't get a sound from the arp. I bet it's something simple I've overlooked! It would be good to have an explanation of all the arp settings.

Paul_Dablue

RobJD It would be good to have an explanation of all the arp settings.
This, glad I'm not the only one.

albert

maybe there is a bug or so (I'm not near my computer right now) but here is how it is supposed to work:

there are 3 possible 'global' FX blocks in a song (so these 3 blocks are shared by all parts and all tracks of the song)
at this moment there are only 2 FX types available : ARP and MUX ... probably more will follow
in order to use a FX the output of a track has to be routed to one of the 3 FX slots: this can be done by using the 'output routing' parameter: previous this could be set to 'all', 'out1', 'out2' etc. and now there are 3 extra options for this parameter: 'FX1', 'FX2' or 'FX3' (note that 'all' doesn't route to the FX slots.. so maybe this is a bit of a misnomer, but this is the legacy naming)
the output of each of the FX slots can be routed to the output, but also to other FX slots to create chained FX (note: you can only route to higher number, ie: FX1 -> FX2 -> FX3)

so basically:
1) select a track
2) open the output menu, and select output routing to be FX1 .. FX3
3) select the requested FX type for the slot you routed to

albert

we'll try to describe this better once we've crystallized out the UI and the handling for it

Paul_Dablue

I've got the correct settings but it's not happening.

albert

ohw.. that's annoying. Just tested here with my unit, and it works over here. Maybe you can check with following steps:

select an empty song: ALT-SYSTEM - LOAD SONG (any empty slot) - everything should be at default now.
ensure that 'ROUTE' is enabled
select any track and set the output-port to 'FX1' ('ALT-OUTPUT' - '1x '>' - PORT = FX1)
select FX1 slot -> it should show '(FX1 OFF)' to indicate that there is no FX1 currently selected
enter the FX1 slot settings to alter the FX type : change it to 'ARP' by pressing '1' (or 'ALT >')

and now the ARP on FX1 should be active for that track.

ps: do you by any chance have your unit externally clocked, and is the clock missing?

RobJD

albert Working for me now as well. You can breathe a sigh of relief! FX1, 2 and 3 are like Arp presets you configure and can switch between? Really powerful. What does the Hotkey function do? I see you can select different notes and that note seems to mute when selected.

This looks like a great addition.

Paul_Dablue

@albert
Yeah got it now thank you 👍

PORT FX1 was button 7, I didn't get that far Doh!

albert

tip: alternatively you can change most values of parameters by pressing 'ALT<' and 'ALT>' (to decrease/increase a value, and see all possible values of a parameter)

albert

no FX1,2 and 3 are 'FX slots' .. you can have 3 FX's in total for a song. Think of it like an analog audio mixer: the FX's are like MIDI FX busses. Each track can output directly to the outputs, but can also be set to be routed through the FXs. At this moment a track can only be routed to 1 of the 3 FXs directly

But the idea is to be able to route the FXs serially (so FX1's output goes to FX2's input etc.)
this way you could for example have a chord-trigger (which is not available yet) behind an Arp to get a arp'ed chord.

mind you: this whole FX section is very Beta right now, because we're not entirely sure how we will commence with it, and we're welcoming any customer-feedback in this regard :-)

Andrew J

Wait, how do you select/turn FX on? I have the Port routed to FX1, but FX1 is set to OFF, and none of the buttons do anything to change to Arp or anything

Paul_Dablue

REC

Andrew J

THANK YOU that’s it!

Guys, I can’t even explain this is a feature that I’ve wanted for years, and thought I’d always have to do some strange workarounds to get it to work. I have an AX-60, and when you turn the sampler input on, it does a round Robin of 6 notes on the midi out. I used to run the midi out of that into all of my gear with the arp on. It’s like a Ski Jam/Aquatic Ambience style wave sequencing sound, and I’ve used it on a ton of recordings. But I’d have to trig the arp, and essentially do it all by hand playing etc, annoying to ever record or sequence it…it’s what made me start using the MMT-8 in the first place. I’m rambling but being able to chain an arp into polymux, and sequence it all at once is a dream come true. Might not be the intended use of the polymux but goddamn, I’m really really happy about this update.

Also: this might finally make it so I can sequence the AX-60 and S612 in the Sampler In combo mode…retrokits y’all are the best

Andrew J

Was making stuff till the dawn on this. Can’t exactly figure out how to chain the FX slots, but hopefully you guys will be doing a video on the update. It’s also great that the midi step recording is so updated though I didn’t try it out much. For the most part I don’t think I encountered any bugs, though it did seem like the two modes for the PolyMUX were doing the same thing, and I had remembered it operating differently when I first started. The unit feels very very performative now with the Arp being included. It also functions great as a simple Note Repeat for drums. Excited to see what new FX are in store in the future, the Chord option would be awesome, as well as maybe a midi delay?