Bassmaker
Bristol BassMaker
-----------------
The BassMaker is not actually an emulator, it is a bespoke sequencer design but
based on the capabilities of some of the early analogue sequencers such as the
Korg SQ-10. Supplying this probably leaves bristol open to a lot of feature
requests for sequencer functionaliity and it is stated here that the BassMaker
is supposed to be simple so excess functionality will probably be declined as
there are plenty of other sequencing applications that can provide a richer
feature set.
The main page gives access to a screen of controls for 16 steps and a total of
4 pages are available for a total of 64 steps. The pages are named 'A' through
'D'. Each step has 5 options:
Note: one octave of note selection
Transpose: +/- one octave transposition of the note.
Volume: MIDI note velocity
Controller: MIDI modulation, discussed further below
Triggers: Note On/Off enablers
The trigger button gives 4 options indicated by the LED:
off: note on/off are sent
red: only send note_on
green: only send note_off
yellow: do not send note on/off
The 'Controllers' setting has multiple functions which can be selected from
the menu as explained below. The options available are as follows:
Send semitone tuning
Send glide rate
Send modwheel
Send expression pedal (controller value)
Send Note: the controller will be 12 discrete steps as per the 'Note'
setting and this note will be sent on the Secondary MIDI channel.
The semitone tuning and glide work for the majority of the emulations. Some do
not support fine tune controls (Vox, Hammond, others). If you are missing these
capabilities for specific emulators raise a change request on Sourceforge.net.
At the top of the window there is a panel to manage the sequencer. It has the
following functions:
Speed: step rate through the notes
DutyCycle: ratio of note-on to note-off
Start/Pause
Stop: stop and return to first step/page
Direction:
Up
Down
Up/Down
Random
Select: which of the pages to include in the sequence.
Edit: which page is currently displayed to be edited.
Memory:
0..9 key entry buttons, 1000 memories available
Load
Save: doubleclick to save current sequence
Menu Panel
Up, Down menu
Function (return to previous level)
Enter: enter submenu or enter value if in submenu
The menu consists of several tables, these can be stepped through using the Up
and Down arrows to move through the menu and the 'Enter' arrow to select a sub
menu or activate any option. The 'Fn' button returns one level:
Memory:
Find next free memory upwards
Find next memory upwards
Find next memory downwards
Copy:
Copy current edit page to 'A', 'B', 'C' or 'D'.
Control - Set the control value to send:
semitone tuning
glide rate
modwheel
expression pedal (controller value)
note events
First midi channel
Primary midi channel for note events
Second midi channel
Secondary midi channel when 'Control' configured to 'Note' events.
Global Transpose
Transpose the whole sequence up or down 12 semitones
Clear - configure default value for all of the:
Notes to zero
Transpose to zero (midpoint)
Volume to 0.8
Control to midpoint
Triggers to on/off
As of the first release in 0.30.8 large parts of the Controllers functionality
was only lightly tested. If you do not get the results you anticipate you may
require a fix.