(Notes: This was written for the MEK. If you're gonna do this with a PEK, you need to use mono mode to make it work correctly. Step #6 is also for the MEK because it doesn't have a dedicated knob section for sequencer editing, you can simply skip it. Steps 7-11 refer to the MEK as well. On the PEK use the knobs labelled 1-5 in the sequencer section instead.)
1) Select bank1 program 128 “Basic program”
2) Select Oscillator 1. Turn the level down to 0
3) Select Oscillator 2. Turn the level down to 0
4) Select Oscillator 3. Turn the level up to 50
5) Turn the [Shape Mod] knob until the display reads “Shape Seq: Seq 1
6) Push/light the [Seq Edit] button (above the Filter [Key Amount] knob). The filter and amp section’s knobs now control the sequencer.
7) In the [Filter] section, rotate the [Resonance] knob (which, in Seq Edit, now controls the value of Seq step 1). Set its value to 10
8) In the [Filter] section, rotate the [Env Amount] knob (which, in Seq Edit, now controls the value of Seq step 2). Set it’s value to 20
9) In the [Filter] section, rotate the [Velocity] knob (which, in Seq Edit, now controls the value of Seq step 3). Set its value to 30
10) In the [Filter] section, rotate the [Key Amount] knob (which, in Seq Edit, now controls the value of Seq step 4). Set its value to 40.
With the Shape Mod parameter engaged, when you turn the sequencer step knobs, you should hear each waveform as it goes by. You don’t have to use waves 10, 20, 30, 40…you can use any waveform for each step that you like, of course…
11) In the [Amplifier] section, rotate the [VCA level] knob (which, in Seq Edit, now controls the value of Seq step 5). Set its value to RESET (second to last parameter). This will cause the sequencer to return to step 1 after playing Step 4.
12) In the [Misc Params] section, turn the [select] knob until you reach the [Trigger type] parameter. Use the [Value] knob in the same section to set this parameter to the [Key Steps Seq] value.
Now, every time you play a key, it should change waveforms. It should repeat the same four waveforms every four keystrokes. Note: You can use the [RESET] parameter in the sequencer (see Step 11) to make these sequences and length/amount of steps you want (up to 16 – I just did four steps to keep it simple – plus, each osc can have a separate amount of waves…in other words, you can have Osc 3 play four waveforms and set step 5 to reset the sequencer, and you can have Osc 4 play 8 waveforms and set step 9 to reset the sequencer
This will only be coming out of the left side, though. Select OSC 4, turn its level up, use the [Shape Mod] parameter to grab a different row of the sequencer (e.g. Seq 2), and select different waveforms for steps 1-4 again. Don’t forget to set Step 5 to Reset.
Now, detune Oscs 3 and 4 to fatten the effect up. Play for a while…
Next, if you want to smooth it out a bit, turn the levels back up for Oscs 1 and 2. Use them to make something like a nice brassy lead, or a fat bass that’ll layer on top of the shifting waveforms in Oscs 3 and 4. Set the levels for each Osc to get the balance that you want…you may want the wave sequence to subtly shift under the lead (make Oscs 1 and 2 louder), or you may want to use the analog waveforms to smooth out the wave sequences a bit (make Oscs 3 and 4 louder)
Detune Oscs 1 and 2, of course… ;^)
Turn the distortion up a bit…maybe to 3
Add some delay…
Have fun…
Advanced madness:
Set LFO 1’s frequency to lock to the sequencer – set it to the 8 steps value
Set LFO’s destination to something like [Low Pass] or [Resonance]. I actually like to use [LP Split]…
Turn LFO’s amount up.
The LFO will now run a duty cycle every eight steps of the sequencer, slowly and smoothly sweeping the filter as you play. If you want to make the sequence sound longer, set the LFO frequency to 32 steps. It’ll take 32 keystrokes for the LFO to run it’s full duty cycle.