fn_block 02: operating instructions

Operating instructions:

- power device using a usb-c cord and power source

- connect TRS midi output (type A) to your gear using a simple stereo audio cable. you can also connect midi output to older gear that uses 5-pin din midi by using an inexpensive TRS to 5-pin midi adapter cable (available at ellitone.com)

- midi can also be accessed using the metal peg labeled “midi”. Use the included crocodile clip patch wire to connect to other fn_block modules that have a “midi input” metal peg. 

- to select a different midi output channel (default is channel 1) hold down “mode” button while tapping one of the 12 touch note keys. Midi output channels 1-12 are available. Channel 1 is represented by the touch pad at the bottom left. The layout of pads 1-12 go from left to right, bottom to top. So midi output channel 12 can be selected by tapping the touch pad located at the top right. 

- to select a new musical scale, hold down the “scale” button while tapping one of the 12 touch note keys. The 12 available musical scales are:

1: Chromatic

2: Major 1

3: Major 2

4: Minor 1

5: Phrygian

6: Nature (handpan drum scale) 

7: Akebono

8: Enigma (handpan drum scale)

9: Pentatonic 

10: Hutsul 

11: Lydian

12: Tonus 

- to transpose the entire keyboard to a new root note, hold down the “octave” button while tapping one of the 12 touch note keys. Transposition options are laid out left to right, bottom to top (same layout as selecting a new midi output channel). 

- change the octave of the entire keyboard by tapping the “octave” button. Tapping the octave button always increases the current octave and will roll-over back to octave 1 once you have reached the top limit (octave 5). 

- enter record mode by tapping the “mode” button once. Recording will not begin until a note key is pressed. Once recording has begun, the led will light up and remain on until recording is finished. you can record up to 50 notes, or 30 seconds (whichever comes first). When you have finished playing and recording your musical midi passage, press the “end” button. This will stop recording and immediately begin playback of the musical midi passage you just recorded. 

You can play additional notes on top of the recorded playback, these notes will be layered onto the recording. During playback, the scale, octave, and transposition of the recorded midi passage can be changed in real time, this can lead to some new interesting variations of the recorded passage. You can press “end” button at any time during playback to select a new end point for the loop. Pressing “mode” button will erase the recorded midi passage and exit record mode. Recorded midi passages are not stored in memory when the unit is powered off.