RK-008 Scale Mode?

Andrew J

Can someone explain Scale Mode to me? I feel as if something is maybe going over my head, but it really seems as if Scale Mode really only works if the sequence played or recorded into the RK-008 is strictly in the key of C Major (and maybe C Minor). So it seems it would make sense if there were an option to specify a Root Note. This is typically how MIDI scale functions are on other hardware/software. Anyone else notice this?

grit

Maybe it would have been better to call them keymaps or something, it's more of an experiment mode to just apply certain 'key snapping' to a Track (also e.g. to play with an inverted keyboard). I've added the list of scales below (it's from the RK008 manual).

With the 'scale' we just wanted to add a simple parameter to do something like that. Perhaps we could add a root note but we'd have to sacrifice mappings in the list which will change people's songs who use these settings [EDIT: Root note is added in newer firmwares and will be applied to these tables). keymaps

Andrew J

grit Ok I think I understand it more. So would you say it's smarter to play/record midi with it on first, rather than apply it later? And I just realized, a workaround would be transposing a sequence to be in the key of C, and then applying that transpose permanently before putting a Scale on it.

g3o2

I second the request for a root note feature. You could still offer root note option Off (and set it as default) plus the 11 root notes, so that existing songs written with Rk008 would not change. The mappings you would have to sacrifice in the list could still be enabled with the root note set to Off. Without root note, the scale remap feature feels a little half-baked in the sense that the potential you could open up by providing a root note feature would be stunning.

Pete

How does one turn this on? I triple-checked the manual and tried the instructions on the top of the scale page, but it did not do anything. I have the latest firmware installed. A quick step by step would be handy!

Also, does this apply to notes as they are played, e.g. it "filters" incoming notes through the applies scale, or does it snap notes recorded in a loop to the scale at the onset of playback? If it's the former that would be excellent!

grit

Because we wanted to be able to play tracks in a certain scale and some not (e.g. drumtracks) we made this in two steps:

First you select the scale / root note on the length menu ALT+1 ,>,> (scale type) and another > right for root note.
Select the Track where you want to apply scale on
Press ALT+5,>> (transform menu + 2 rights) and press 1 for applying scale (or 0 for no scale applied).

Track scale will be applied to incoming MIDI (and you can apply it on e.g the midi chord FX as well, routing generated chords through a selected scale) Note that incoming MIDI will only be processed by the RK008 if the 'route' button is lit.