Scale & Root
Scale selects the note set used by the selected Track. Hold [CTRL] to access Root, which sets the key center for that scale. Together, they keep melodies, chords, and tonal patterns musically consistent.
Knob Behavior
| Action | Description |
|---|---|
| Turn | Select a scale. |
| [CTRL] + Turn | Set the root note of the scale. |
Value Button Behavior
| Action | Description |
|---|---|
| Push [VB9] - [VB15] | Select one of the preset scales shown on the front panel. |
| Hold [VB16] | Edit the user scale. |
| [CLEAR] + Push | Reset Scale and Root to their default settings. |
How Random modulation applies to Scale:
- Clockwise: Selects random scale
- Counterclockwise: Selects random scale and root
- Unit: Per cycle
See the Random Behavior Reference.
Selecting Scale and Root
Scale constrains pitch output to a defined set of notes, while Root shifts that scale to the desired key.
- Select a Track.
- Turn (SCALE) to choose a scale.
- Hold [CTRL] and turn (SCALE) to choose the root note.
- The Track’s pitch output will follow the selected Scale and Root.
- Use (PITCH) to transpose within that tonal framework.
You can multi-select Tracks before adjusting Scale to apply the same tonal setup to several parts at once.
User Scales
Use a user scale when the preset scales do not fit the musical context.
- Select a Track.
- Hold (SCALE) or double-tap it to latch the Scale view.
- Hold [VB16] to open the user scale editor.
- While holding [VB16], enable or disable pitches using the other [VALUE] buttons.
- Release [VB16] to store the edited scale.
User scales are defined with C as the root note. Use [CTRL] + (SCALE) to transpose the scale by changing its root.
Per-step Availability Across Cycles
Different Cycles on the same Track can use different Scale and Root settings. Editing always reflects the currently active Cycle.
Keyboard Availability
In the Pitch keyboard and Step Sequencer, notes outside the active Cycle’s Scale are unavailable. Only in-scale notes can be selected while that Cycle is active.
Per‑step Locks Across Scales
Playback constrains per-step locks to the active Cycle’s Scale and Root. If you switch to a Cycle with a different tonal setting, locked notes are interpreted within that scale rather than producing out-of-key output.
Editing Flow
Double-tap (PULSES) to open the Step Sequencer, then hold [CTRL] and tap a [VALUE] button to select a step for detailed editing. Press (PITCH) to choose an in-scale note for that step. Disabled notes indicate pitches that are not available under the current Cycle’s Scale and Root.
If you want consistent note availability while editing across multiple Cycles, keep their Scale and Root aligned. Use Harmony, Voicing, or Range differences between Cycles to create variation without changing the underlying tonal palette.
Practical Use
Use different Scale and Root settings to reshape the tonal character of a Track without changing its rhythmic structure.
- Keep Scale and Root the same across Cycles for a stable tonal center.
- Change Scale between Cycles to create modal shifts.
- Use a user scale to limit the Track to a small custom note set.
- Combine Scale and Root changes with Harmony, Voicing, or Range for more variation within the same Track.