[A6] Sequencer + sustain pedal has strange behaviour

[Steffen Grøndahl]

Hi A6'ers :-) 
  
  I'm facing some problems with the sequencer when using the sustain  pedal. I belive it's due to some bugs in the OS, but perhaps I've  overseen something. And perhaps theres another way out of this.
  
  Well to begin begin with: What I want at the moment is to use my Andy  as a mutipart sequencer synth and just using the internal sequencer. I  want to be able to start one or several sequencers, somehow have these  sequencers to run by themselves, so I don't have to have som key  pressed and now and then changing the base key by pressing a key.
  At fist it seems like this is simply done with a sustain pedal, but it doesn't work as I expect. 
  
  I have two cases where the sequencer + sustain pedal behaves strange:
  
  **********************************************
  problem #1. Using mono legato and sustain pedal 
  **********************************************
  (This problem has previous been posted to the Andromeda/Ion forum on yahoo groups, but unfortunately with no answers)
  
  For a monophonic program I've made simple 4 step sequence, running C0 - C0 - A0 - C0, but the last step is a rest.
  Some relevant parameters for the sequencer:
  config -> kytrig = on (of course)
  config -> length = 4 (allready said)
  config -> lpcnt = sustn or infint (what is the difference btw ?)
  config -> monleg = on
  trig -> source = pgm key trigger
  trig -> retrig = off
  trig -> trgvox = newest
  trig -> mode = normal
  
  When I press C3 the sequencers starts going
  C3 - C3 - A3 - [rest] - C3 - C3 - A3 - [rest] - ... etc
  as expected.
  If I, for instance at step 3 in the second loop press C4 (playing legato) I get
  C3 - C3 - A3 - [rest] - C3 - C3 - A4 - [rest] - C4 - C4 - A4 - [rest]... etc also 
  as expected (moving the base key up one octave in the middle of the cycle doesn't restart the sequence).
  
  But - and this is the problem - I would like the sequencer to run by itself and only 
  interact (changing the key) now and then. So I press the sustain pedal and a key, 
  say C3 and the sequencer starts and go
  C3 - C3 - A3 - [rest] - C3 - C3 - A3 - [rest] - ... etc
  as expected, even if I release the C3 key. 
  If I at step 3 in the second loop press C4 I get
  C3 - C3 - A3 - [rest] - C3 - C3 - C4 - C4 - A4 - C3 - C4 - C4 - A4 - C3 - ... etc
  Uhh this is not what I expected. It seems like the I have a retrig and at the same
  time the rest is ignored and the note from the 'original' sequence (C3) is being
  played where I expected a rest (or rather where one would expect a rest if one
  accept the retrig).
  
  Is there any way out of this ? I've tried to modulate the env 3 level  with the velocity from the sequence (seq B as source) and it helps a  little: If I set velocity = 0 for the fourth step (the rest step) I  avoid the note being played where I want a rest, but I still have a  retrig in the middle of the cycle, though retrig is set to off and  monleg is on. (I can also do this without modulation env 3 explicitely  but just using env 3->dynamics->velmod=100, but still I need to  put vel = 0 for the rest step explicitely)
  
  I'm not dedicated to use the sustain hold pedal. If there's another way of having 
  the sequencer to run by itself without having to have a key (physical) pressed all 
  the time its Ok.
  
  From test on some of the presets it seems to be an general problem.
  
  Do you get the same results ? And can I avoid this if I trig the sequencer with something else ? 
  
  For now I've dropped the idea of playing monolegato and set retrig=on. But still I would like to understand what is happening. 
  
  **********************************************
  problem #2. Mix with layered sequencers 
  **********************************************
  
  I assign two monophonic programs to mix channel 1 and 2 respectively.  Both having a simple sequencer, and typical sequencer settings like:
  
  config -> kytrig = on 
  config -> lpcnt = sustn or infint 
  config -> monleg = off
  trig -> source = pgm key trigger
  trig -> retrig = off
  trig -> trgvox = newest
  trig -> mode = normal
  
  And the two mixes are assigned to the same part of the keyboard (this  is important - if they are assigned to two non overlapping parts theres  no problem, so it a "layered sequencer problem").
  
  I the press and hold a key and plays. The sequencers starts :-) When I  play legato and press another key then both sequencers are retrigged  and the base key changes to the new key. All as expected :-) 
  Now I press my sustain pedal and try once again. An this time something  "funny" happens: The lowest of the two mixes starts as expected: Every  time I press a key the sequencer is retriggered and the base key is  changed to the new value. But after I've done this 7 times I only get  retriggering of the sequencer. The base key does not change ! 
  For the sequencer in the highest mix channel there no problem, is keeps being retriggered and changing the base key as expected.
  
  Any explanation ? And any way out of this ?
  
  
  I have a third question in this respect. The manual indicated that the  sustain pedal should have a 1/4" TRS jack (ie with two black rings  separating tip, ring and sleeve) and the cv pedal should have a 1/4"  jack (ie with just one black ring separating tip and sleeve). Is this  correct ? I would have found it more logic to be the other way around.
  As sustain pedal I'm using a Roland EV-5 which is a continues latched  pedal with a 1/4" TRS jack. And it seems to work except for the  abovementioned sequencer problems.
  I've also tried to use my Boss FS-5L latched swich pedal which is just  with a 1/4" jack. And this gives the same result ! Can you explain ?
  
  
  Regards Steffen
  
  PS: OS = 1.40.12. 
  
 
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