Direction change

This function allows Score, Random and Draw type layers to change their playing direction.

This optional layer setting allows layer types that have a sense of playing direction to reverse their playing direction, or cycle forwards/backwards, or play through once only.

This function is found under the Layer menu:

This provides 6 direction options:

• Forwards : This is the default behavior in the stock Yamaha firmware

  • Score : The play head moves between the loop points from left to right. After reaching the right hand loop point it jumps back to the left hand loop point.
  • Random : The play head moves in order from the first entered note, to the second entered note, etc. . After reaching the last entered note, the play head moves towards the first entered note.
  • Draw : The notes play in order as entered.

• Backwards : This is the opposite of the above behavior.

  • Score : The play head moves between the loop points from right to left. After reaching the left hand loop point it jumps back to the right hand loop point.
  • Random : The play head moves from the last entered note to the first entered note. After reaching the first entered note, the play head moves towards the last entered note.
  • Draw : The notes play in reverse order of entry.

• Cycle : The playing direction oscillates between forwards and backwards.

  • Score : The play head moves between the loop points, reversing direction at the start or end of the loop. The first/last note are repeated (in order to maintain layer synchronisation).
  • Random : In the forwards direction, after playing the last entered note and looping to the first entered note, the direction changes to backwards. In the backwards direction, after playing the first entered note, the direction changes to forwards. The first and last note are not repeated.
  • Draw : The notes first play in the order of entry. After reaching the end of the draw “bar”, the direction of travel reverses. This maintains synchronisation.

• Bounce : The playing direction oscillates between forwards and backwards.

  • Score : Same as Cycle, but the first/last note are not repeated. This will break layer synchronisation.
  • Random : The same as cycle, but in the forwards direction, after immediately playing the last entered note, the direction changes to backwards. This will potentially break synchronisation.
  • Draw : The notes first play in the order of entry. After reaching the last played note, the direction of travel reverses. NB : If the pattern entered in draw is longer than 1 bar, strange things happen : the inversion happens at the first played note, i.e. overlaps are not played.

• Forwards Once : The loop is only played once, in the forwards direction. The play head position is reset on a block change or stop/start.

• Backwards Once : The loop is only played once, in the backwards direction. The play head position is reset on a block change or stop/start.

Note that layer direction changes are triggered at the end of the playing bar.

The layer direction can be also changed using the key combination [L4]+[R4]. This changes forwards to backwards (and vice versa), and forwards once to backwards once (and vice versa). It has no effect on cycle or bounce.

Compatibility Issues

None known.

Releases

First included in A043.