Ground Control Manual
Ground Control Manual
Flight Check
First things first
RTFM – be so kind and read the manual. It will provide you with the information you need to fully indulge in
the module you just purchased – for which we like to thank you.
Enjoy your sound experiences, dear sonic traveller.
Beginning from the product's purchase date a 1-year warranty is guaranteed for each product in case of any manufactur-
ing errors or other functional deficiencies during runtime.
The warranty dœs not apply in case of:
• damage caused by misuse
• mechanical damage arising from careless treatment (dropping, vigorous shaking, mishandling, etc.)
• damage caused by liquids or powders penetrating the device
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• electric damage caused by improper connecting
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Hard Facts
Ground Control is a sequencer for CV/Gate signals as well as MIDI and USB-MIDI devices. It’s the best of two worlds: It takes an
alternative approach by using the 101 step input for melodical sequencing. That empowers you to create melodies on the fly
with easier polymetrical input so you can concentrate on the creative part with less menu diving. Programming beats is easy
as it ever was—typical X0X-style!
Speed up the workflow using shortcuts: i.e. button combinations to achieve proper action. See the shortcuts combinations list
in the addendum of the manual.
Shortcuts written with “+” symbol means, those buttons have to be pressed at the same time: Usually this works best press-
ing and holding the first button and then pressing the second button.
However, most of the user interface of the Ground Control utilizes a so called ‘sticky user interface’, which means that the but-
ton combinations can be pressed in a sequence using only one finger.
Shortcuts written with “>” symbol means, those buttons can be pressed in a sequence "button followed by button".
Hint: Everything that is sticky ">" can be ‘+’ as well, but not the other way around.
display
time/division/arp/roller buttons
24 piano keys
TRIGGERS/CV/GATE OUTPUTS
Ground Control has the following tracks:
• 1x drum track that consists of 8x drum triggers and 1x modulation track (by default assigned to MIDI CC#01). Each drum
trigger also sends individual velocity value via MIDI or USB-MIDI, with velocity setup available the edit page. By default, that
drum track assigned to Rx/Tx (Rx: Receive Midi Channel/Tx: Transmit Midi Channel) MIDI channel 10 (see MENU: M/midi).
Trigger outputs are v-trigger outputs with increased 0...10V output range to more efficiently drive LPGs etc. The default
accent modulation CV output is 0...+5V.
• 3x mono melodic tracks with physical 1V/Oct pitch CV and gate outputs. Pitch CV outputs cover 10 octaves -5v to +5v
(similar to the Shuttle Control outputs). Gate outputs are scaled to 0...10V output.
modulation output 8x drum trigger output 3x mono melody tracks with 1V/Oct pitch CV and gate outputs
The lowest recognizable MIDI note is C of -2nd octave (MIDI note #0) — its output voltage corresponds to -5V. The highest note
is C of 8th octave (MIDI note #120) with the corresponding output voltage of +5V. C3 is the central note that returns exactly 0
volts. It is important to notice that the range of output voltages for any CV output is limited to -5V ... +5V range.
TRACK SELECTION
Ground Control has 1 drum track (consisting of 8 trigger tracks and 1 modulation track) and 3 melodic tracks. Once we are
going to record, play, or edit one of the tracks, we activate it by pressing the appropriate TRACK D/1/2/3 button.
Each track has a special dot symbol used in the track names as well as on the associated buttons in form of palpable physical
‘nipples’ or ‘bumps’ on the rubber keys themselves to help navigate those main tracks with the fingers when performing:
You can only select one of the four tracks at a time. Depending on which track is active you can configure different MENU
settings.
In the menu settings of a specific track, TRACK D/1/2/3 buttons enter that track’s settings.
Pressing the combination of TRACK 1/2/3 + TRANSPOSE-/+ buttons will shift currently selected pattern by 1 octave up or down
on each combo press.
The combination of TRACK D/1/2/3 + 1/32...1/4 buttons set the time division of the current track. Holding that same combina-
tion for 1.5 sec. sets the same division but in triplets.
Combination of TRACK D/1/2/3 + PLAY during the playback resets pressed track to the first step.
The small dot near each track letter appears if that pattern is altered and is currently unsaved. That dot disappears if
we switch to another pattern which was not altered. After returning to the unsaved pattern the dot will appear again. Once we
save the pattern (or the SAVE ALL _______ action), the dot disappears. Once we turn off the module’s power, all unsaved patterns
will be lost, like tears in the rain.
PATTERNS
Each of the 24 projects that can be saved on the memory card of the Ground Control has 4x TRACKS: D/1/2/3. Each of those four
tracks consist of 24 patterns, which correspond to a twisted Latin alphabet of 24 letters from A to Z:
Each pattern consist of 64 steps maximum. The number of steps contained in each of the drum trigger tracks can be any num-
ber up to a total length of 64 steps. Set the amount of steps per melodic track or drum tracks by holding LAST STEP + one of the
MUTE BUS buttons. After choosing the track, we adjust its numbers of steps.
Note: There are no patterns with the letters U and X due to the limitations of the 7 digit display.
Patterns don’t switch instantly to the next one selected, but after the current one was finished.
PATTERN CHAIN: By holding TRACK D/1/2/3 button + entering a sequence of the letters A...Z (even repeating the same letters)
will add the patterns to the chain—i.e. they will be played sequentially and in order once the chain is entered. If we choose
another pattern or its chains/create another chain, we loose the previously created chain. Maximum amount of patterns in a
chain is 24.
Note: Chains cannot be saved.
24 PIANO KEYS
Ground Control has 24 piano key buttons—they are momentary keys for entering melodies, selecting patterns, accessing
menus, entering alphabetical and numerical values etc.
The keys are not velocity or pressure sensitive.
• The piano keys are used to play melodies or trigger drums when we are in normal/non-recording mode:
Activate one of the melody TRACKS 1/2/3, pressing those keys will generate the pitch CV and gate information on appro-
priate 3.5mm TRACK 1/2/3 output jacks as well as generate MIDI note information on MIDI and USB-MIDI outputs on the
channels set in the MENU TEMPO > M/midi. The keyboard covers a range of two octaves (from F to E) and can be shifted
(transposed) up or down to play the keys in higher or lower octaves.
Activate the drum track by pressing the TRACK D button, to preview/play drum triggers with the top row of keys marked
P/1....Y/8. Each of those keys has a number, each digit 1 to 8 corresponds to appropriate 1 to 8 trigger outputs.
Activate the arpeggiator/roller with 1/32...1/4 buttons. The piano key buttons—once pressed—activate the note sequence/
arpeggio of i.e. a chord or a triad or activate drum rolls.
• The piano keys are used to select the next pattern on an active track by using a combination of the following buttons:
PROJECT> A...Z buttons. Once the new pattern (or pattern chain) selected, it will be launched once the current one has
finished playing its last step (or its full cycle in case of pendulum or random directions).
• The piano keys are used to enter the menu items using the lower row of keys from A...N and combination TEMPO + A...N
or TEMPO > A...N. Next to each of the letters A...N are small labels corresponding to various menu item group settings,
which are described in the MENU section below.
VALUE/TRANSPOSE BUTTONS
-OCT/VALUE/OCT+ (transpose) buttons in their basic functionality are used to transpose the keyboard output or recording
melodic TRACKS 1/2/3.
Ground Control’s range is 10 octaves per each melodic track so there are 4 octave shifts down to the lowest range with -OCT
button and 4 octaves shifts up to the highest range with OCT+ button. The transpose buttons do not affect the drum track.
Pressing a combination of TRACK 1/2/3 + TRANSPOSE-/+ buttons will shift the currently selected pattern of the current track
up or down by 1 octave on each combo press.
VALUE+/- buttons are also used to select various menu items (incrementing up or down) in any menu or for example changing
the number of steps per track via the combo LAST STEP + ANY MUTE BUS button and adjusting selected track length with VALUE
+/- buttons. In contrary to VALUE +/- buttons, which adjust incremental values by -/+1, the <PATTERN/ PAGE /PATTERN> but-
tons increment values usually by -/+ 10 or 16 depending on the context to speed up the adjustment of values.
SEMITONE TRANSPOSE (FOR MELODIC TRACKS 1/2/3 ONLY)
By pressing both -OCT + OCT+ buttons together once, we activate the semitone transpose mode. In that mode both -OCT/OCT+
buttons will be fully lit and you will see the message ‘SEMI’ on the display.
That means after pressing A...Z buttons the notes on the track can be shifted by the amount of semitones up or down from the
root C note (marked with E/ext. cv on the keybard). Press both -OCT + OCT+ buttons together to shift the keyboard to transpose
to higher intervals up or down on the currently selected active TRACKS 1/2/3.
In that mode, pressing the LAST STEP activates the LOCK SEMITOTE TRANSPOSE mode: you will see the message ‘LOCK’ on the
display. That means that semitone transpose will be applied to all three melodic TRACKS 1/2/3 at once.
You can exit transpose mode again by pressing both buttons -OCT + OCT+. Remember to save your edited patterns after you
shifted them up or down by some semitones. Otherwise, you will lose those changes on the module’s next shut down.
In the Arpeggiator mode pressing 1/32...1/4 + TRANSPOSE-/+ combination will set the arpeggiator octave swing: default is 0
octaves, possible options: -2,-1, 0, +1, +2.
MUTE BUS
The mute bus is a row of the buttons below the trigger/CV/gate outputs on the top side of the Ground Control. The main
function is to mute a certain track. In addition, each of those buttons blink each time a note happens on that track, which is
useful to monitor the activity on the tracks at once. ‘ALL DRUMS’ button isn’t blinking as every drum trigger mute button is
already signaling its own pattern.
By default, the mutes have quantized action – i.e. they mute/unmute not instantly, but when the certain track will start a cycle
(quantized to the track’s pattern length). Long hold (1.5 seconds) any MUTE BUS button will enable its momentary mute ac-
tion—i.e. the mute will be instant without waiting for the new cycle to start. It’s a musical decision – sometimes it’s important
to enable the track instantly, sometimes it’s good to queue the mute for one or multiple tracks, which frees up your hands to
do other maybe more interesting and important things.
‘ALL DRUMS’ button will mute/unmute all 8 drum trigger tracks immediately. Tracks that have been separately muted before
using ‘ALL DRUMS’ to mute all tracks at once, will still be muted when unmuting by pressing ‘ALL DRUMS‘ again. You can press
<PATTERN/PAGE/PATTERN> BUTTONS
The main functions of these buttons is to switch the patterns on the active track, incrementing up or down with <PATTERN/
PATTERN> buttons.
These buttons have additional labels such as ‘PAGE’, these increment values by numbers of 10 or 16 depending on the context
to speed up the values adjustment in the menus.
Pressing button combinations using TRACK D/1/2/3 + 1/32...1/4 buttons set the time division of the current track.
Same combination with the long hold (1.5 seconds) sets the same track’s division but in triplets.
1/16 is always default and most used time division for any new project therefore it’s marked with ° symbol at 1/16°.
Another function for those buttons is to enable/disable the ARPEGGIATOR on the melodic tracks 1/2/3 and the ROLLER for the
drum track. Pressing 1/32...1/4 buttons enables one of the arpeggiator modes: UP/DOWN/RANDOM/ORDER (the button select-
ed will start to blink). Pressing LAST STEP enables ARPEGGIATOR LATCH: arpeggiator notes are cleared when playing the next
chord. To disable the arpeggiator, press 1/32...1/4 buttons or LAST STEP (latch) again. The arpeggiator will always have the
current track’s time division set by TRACK D/1/2/3 + 1/32...1/4.
Pressing 1/32...1/4 buttons on the drum track will enable the ROLLER: each drum trigger note 1...8 pressed will repeat itself
following the selected time division 1/32...1/4. To disable the roller press 1/32...1/4 button again.
The roller on the drum track follows the pressed 1/32...1/4 time division—however only the time division initially selected for
the track will be recorded if recording the roller in realtime (see section below).
Hint: Once the arpeggiator is running the notes, you can change the modes on the fly. You can play and latch arpeggiators/
rollers on all available tracks at once.
Pressing the PROJECT button will enter the LOAD menu for PATTERNS. Any of the 24 patterns can be selected by pressing the
appropriate piano key. Pressing the LAST STEP button being inside that menu will change the load state from PATTERN to PROJ-
ECT. Now pressing any of 24 piano keys loads one of the 24 projects.
Pressing PROJECT > RECORD or PROJECT+RECORD buttons will enter the pattern save function.
Once you pressed PROJECT > RECORD, you can further:
• press RECORD one more time to SAVE ALL – means all unsaved patterns on all the tracks will be saved. That’s the fastest
combination to save anything you’ve just recorded.
• press any of A...Z piano keys to save current pattern to another pattern cell (A...Z)
• press TRACK 1/2/3 > A...Z to save currently selected pattern on currently active track into ANOTHER track’s pattern cell
(A...Z).
• press LAST STEP > A...Z to save the current project in one of the 24 project cells. Unused (clean) project cells are indicated
by unlit buttons and used projects will show as semi-lit ones. The current project is blinking. To confirm saving ‘SAVE’ is
visible in the display and can be confirmed by either pressing the RECORD or PLAY button. To cancel the procedure and exit,
press STOP once.
Remember the logic: You can always save current pattern/project only to itself or to another destination.
After saving any pattern on a certain track (or save all fast via PROJ>REC>REC), those chosen patterns are restored when the
module is powered up the next time as is the last project used.
TEMPO BUTTON
RECORD
STEP RECORDING
Step recording is a method for entering notes step-by-step (starting from first step) by entering notes and pauses (called
rests) into an existing grid with a fixed time division. It was introduced long ago in synthesizers such as Roland® SH-101
and as well used in Endorphin.es® Running Order trigger sequencer.
Once the RECORD button is pressed once, the existing sequence/pattern on the current track is cleared and overwritten by a
newly entered sequence of notes/pauses (rests). Exit that mode by pressing RECORD or STOP. This mode currently only works
when the sequencer is not running. To store the sequence of notes/rests, just press PLAY. The newly entered sequence is out-
put through the CV/gate jacks or via MIDI.
In that record mode, TEMPO button acts as a REST—i.e. inputting an empty step and engaging to the next one. Overlapping
the keys (i.e. holding one of A...Z buttons and pressing another A...Z button) will put a SLIDE on that steps transition. Pressing
TIE (1/4 button) in record mode in conjunction with pressing one of the A...Z keys will create a TIE—i.e. creating a note that
occupies more than one step in the pattern and has a longer duration. Thus using TIEs creates longer notes. After years of trial
and error we found that this method is one of the most effective for entering patterns fast, which are melodic, occasionally
unpredictable and can have a various metric (steps length) which is useful in various electronic music styles.
EXAMPLE 1: Press STOP and switch to melodic TRACK 1. Select new pattern B by pushing PATTERN> button. Press RECORD
button and program a note sequence using the A...Z keys paired with the TEMPO button creating RESTs. Press play to start the
currently entered sequence. Press another TRACK D/1/2/3 button to instantly continue entering steps on another track. That
is useful to quickly fill the patterns on all tracks.
EXAMPLE 2: Press STOP and switch to drum TRACK D. Select the pattern you wish to record and then try some of the 1...8 piano
keys (upper row) to check, which drum trigger you are going to record. After you decided which drum you want to record in
step mode—just press RECORD and enter that drum sequence of triggers pressing the same 1..8 drum trigger keys and REST
button. After you have a sequence ready, you can either: press play to start that sequence playing or press another 1...8 button
to immediately start to record another drum trigger sequence. Once you press that buttons, the amount of steps and all the
triggers/rests on the previously recorded track will be saved.
Hint: selecting other 1...8 drum triggers on drum track or choosing other TRACKS D/1/2/3, will switch the step input or live
recording on next track while keeping the recording enabled. In such way you can speed up the step input or live record of
tracks one by one.
EDITOR
Once you want to edit already recorded notes you can do that via the editor. That’s also the only way to adjust recorded
notes velocity/modulation without external MIDI controllers.
Press and hold RECORD button for more than 1 second to enter the currently selected track editor.
In the editor, you can navigate thru the steps via the <PAGE> buttons—the current step will be shown on the display. Once
there is an active note on that track you will see that specific piano key lights up. Be aware that piano keys only show current
middle view of the keyboard so if you are sure the note is present on the current step but you don’t see it, then you can navi-
gate with the TRANSPOSE-/+ buttons to find that note in lower/higher octaves. Once you will reach the last step of the current
track, it will be marked with two dots, i.e if you are on the pattern A with length of 16 steps, then reaching the 16th step you
will see: A.16. Pressing the PROJECT button anywhere in the editor will add one extra step at the END of the currently edited
pattern. Pressing REST/TEMPO anywhere in the editor will clear the current step from any notes and associated flags (tie, slide,
ratchets, rest).
Once navigating thru the steps, you can edit the note information stored and their features—so called flags. You can turn the
notes on or off in the editor. To clear the step you can either press it again—i.e. press on the light up piano key or press the REST
button. Each step can have following flags: RATCHETS, TIE or SLIDE or REST (empty step). Those are ON/OFF features, meaning
they are either present or not.
• TIE (1/4 button) merges the current note with the next one creating a note twice as long. If that next note will also be tied
with a third one, then the overall note’s duration will be triple as long (in the grid of the track’s time division etc.).
• REST (TEMPO button lights up red) always cleans the current note and any modulations/velocities that were stored in that
current step.
• RATCHET (1/8 button) flag means the ratchet is enabled on the current step. The amount of ratchets can be set per track
via the menu: TEMPO > I/ratchets
• SLIDE (LAST STEP button) flag means that the note will slide to another note with adifferent pitch. Slide time can be set via
menu: TEMPO > J/slide time.
2 15
1 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 16
In that drum mode we see only 16 steps at once: from step 1 to 16 (page 1 or shows as P 1). Press VALUE-/+ buttons to navi-
gate to next pages: page 2: 17-32 steps, page 3: 33-48, page 4: 49-64 steps. You can access to those next pages 2 to 4 only if
a certain selected drum has more than 16 steps (selected via LAST STEP + MUTE BUS DRUM TRIGGER + VALUE-/+ or <PAGE>).
LIVE EDITOR
It is possible to adjust notes and drums step-by-step on the go—i.e. when the sequencer is running. Once the playback is
running, press the RECORD button for long (1.5 sec.) will enter the live editor mode.
On the drum track you have accessed the X0X editor where you can see steps running in realtime and navigating thru the
pages with VALUE-/+ buttons. On melodic TRACKS 1/2/3 you will see the step editor and the notes will blink as they play on the
currently selected step.
Clock and reset are analog logic INPUT and OUTPUT signals made to synchronize Ground Control together with Eurorack
equipment or other music gear. The trigger outputs have a range from 0...+10V to be compatible to gear of many different
maufactuerers. Trigger inputs are typically designed to receive 0...+5V with the threshold of 0.65V.
Ground Control sends one short trigger from its RESET OUT jack once the playback starts by pressing the PLAY button.
Applying a trigger to the RESET IN jack (or manually pressing PLAY while the sequencer is running) will reset all the sequences
on all 4 TRACKS D/1/2/3 to the first steps.
There is a row of separate track reset inputs, meaning you can apply a trigger on a certain track to reset to the first step inde-
pendently from the other tracks. You can also manually reset certain tracks to the first steps by TRACK D/1/2/3 + PLAY combo.
Each track’s separate reset is synchronized to the grid of each track’s selected time division (1/16 by default).
CLOCK OUT is the master clock output by default set to sixteenth notes (corresponds to PPQN/6 or 1/16th notes): S
It is possible to adjust this clock output divisions via MENU: TEMPO > K/sync. Div > <PAGE>.
The options are:
• o. 1 – original 24 PPQN output clock (typically used for DIN sync)
• o. 2 – 24PPQN/2 twice slower than original clock output
• o. /32 – output clock in 32th notes (corresponds to 24PPQN/3)
• o. 4 – output clock in 24PPQN/4
• o. /16 – output clock in 16th notes (corresponds to 24PPQN/6) – default clock output set from CLOCK OUT jack
• o. /8 – output clock in 8th notes (corresponds to 24PPQN/12)
• o. /4 – output clock in 4th notes (corresponds to 24PPQN/24)
• o. /2 – output clock in 8th notes (corresponds to 24PPQN/48)
• o. 1br – output clock in 1/1 notes (corresponds to 1 tick per 1 bar, 24PPQN/96)
• o. 2br – output clock in 2/1 notes (corresponds to 2 bars, 24PPQN/192)
• o. 4br – output clock in 4/1 notes (corresponds to 4 bars, 24PPQN/384)
• o. ¬2 – twice faster than original output clock (corresponds to 24PPQN*2 = 48PPQN a.k.a. Korg® standard)
Hint: ‘o.’ symbol in the beginning means we adjust output clock division.
MIDI I/O
Those are similar as class compliant USB-MIDI type A and type B sockets.
If you familiar with Endorphin.es Shuttle Control, they are similar to the Ground Control. Moreover, Shuttle Control may and will
work as a perfect MIDI expander module for the sequencer to assign all the velocities, internal generators etc.
You can plug any USB class-compliant USB-MIDI device:
• usually TO DEVICE is connected to the computer or tablet. In that case Ground Control works as a USB-MIDI to CV converter
or you can use Ground Control as MASTER clock for your DAW since USB-MIDI is bidirectional.
• usually TO DECIVE is connected to various MIDI controllers: from USB-MIDI keyboards to faderbanks etc.
By default, any MIDI input events are routed to any MIDI outputs. However with the USB-MIDI sockets we can decide if we wish
to pass the MIDI flow from host to device or from device to host or have a host loopback (a.k.a. MIDI THRU) in the MIDI MENU
settings via TEMPO > M/midi.
Note for using the Ground Control with Arturia® Beastep Pro/Keystep Pro devices via USB: Those devices mirror any MIDI notes
that enter that via USB-MIDI connection. That may cause issues and double notes press or unwanted loops using the arpeggia-
tor.
Hint: Set Tx (Transmitting CMidi Channel) channels on Beatstep Pro/Keystep Pro device to unused MIDI channels (i.e. 4 or
other) to make everything run smoothly.
EXT. CV INPUTS
In further firmware updates the modulation matrix will be accessed via MENU: TEMPO > E/ext. cv.
There is no menu diving in the module except TEMPO > A...N or TEMPO + A...N.
By that combos we instantly access various sequencer settings, which are organized into 14 PAGES—1 page per A...N button.
Some of the menu items are related to similar initial letters (i.e. ‘A’ for ‘Arpeggio’) to remember their access—all other coinci-
dences are for technical purpose only.
A/ARPEGGIO
This menu item is reserved for are arpeggiator/roller settings in further firmware updates.
Currently all arpeggiator settings are selected with 1/32...1/4 buttons, which correspond to arpeggiator modes: UP/DOWN/
RANDOM/ORDER.
When we are on the active melodic TRACKS 1/2/3 pressing combination of the 1/32...1/4 + TRANSPOSE-/+ buttons set the
arpeggiator octaves swing (0 by default, possible options: -2, -1, 0, 1, 2).
Currently all drum roller settings are selected with that buttons as well and correspond to drum rolls speed: 1/32...1/4.
Arpeggiator and rolls can be recorded in the live recording mode. However remember the rolls will always be recorded having
the current track’s time division settings applied.
B/NUDGE
This setting is reserved for shifting the track notes on their pattern’s grids back and forth in further firmware updates.
C/METRONOME
Ground Control has a small buzzer installed which, if enabled, acts as a physical metronome so you can start recording grooves
without necessity to patch something to make the clock audible first.
Metronome settings are accessible with TEMPO > C. With the VALUE-/+ buttons you choose the following options: CLC (CLC
means CLICK):
• — (none)
• d (drum track)
• 1/2/3 (certain melodic tracks).
When you choose any value other than ’—‘, the metronome is enabled and follows selected track’s time division. If you choose
‘—‘, then metronome click sound is off.
Info: The metronome speaker is a small physical buzzer located on the back side of the module and its volume can be per-
ceived differently depending on the physical structure of your case and the noise in your surrounding.
E/EXT. CV
This menu item is reserved for the MODULATION MATRIX and will be available in future firmware updates.
F/MOD. OUT
This menu item is reserved to maintain settings for the MODULATION OUTPUT CV JACK and will be available in future firmware
updates.
By default the MODULATION OUTPUT jack is assigned to a special modulation track, which—together with 8 trigger track out-
puts—form the DRUM TRACK. Default modulation output range is 0...+5V and with the further firmware updates it’ll be possible
to adjust and reassign that modulation output jack to other generators or CV destinations.
G/SHUFFLE
SHUFFLE or swing (shown at display as ‘Gr.50’ meaning ‘groove’) is settings per one of the TRACKS D/1/2/3 inspired directly
from famous AKAI® MPC vintage machines by Roger Linn. That means delaying all the even-numbered 16th notes within the
beat (2, 4, 6, 8, etc.). Is set in values 0-50-100, which is a ratio of time duration between the first and second 16th note within
each 8th note. At value 50% there is no swing. At value 66% is a perfect triplet swing. Most used (and secret) value in electronic
music: 53-54—this value gives a light yet musical shuffled vibe.
H/PROBABILITY
Probability or humanization means some of the notes on the track can be accidentally skipped, imitating imperfection of the
human nature. It is shown at display as ‘HN._0’ meaning ‘humanization’.
Zero setting corresponds to zero imperfections (default values on all the tracks). The higher the values increase from 0 to max.
99 the more notes or triggers will be skipped.
I/RATCHETS
Ratchet means that a trigger fires not once per current step, but up to 3 times more (4 in total including the initial trigger).
Value ‘0’ means no ratchets while value of 4 results in 4 notes/triggers on one the step, if the RATCHET FLAG was enabled.
In the future: It is very interesting to modulate the amount of ratchets per track using external CV via MODULATION MATRIX.
K/SYNC. DIV
That menu sets the master clock synchronization source (JACK (INTERNAL/EXTERNAL), MIDI, USB HOST, USB DEVICE) and their
dividers.
If JACK is selected and no cable is inserted into the CLOCK IN jack, the clock used is the internal clock of the Ground Control (can
be taken from the CLOCK OUT jack). It is forced to switch to external analog pulses ‘Eurorack’ clock once a cable is inserted into
CLOCK IN jack.
Info: See clock I/O divisions settings in the CLOCK IN/CLOCK OUT section in this manual.
Default clock settings for analog Eurorack synchronization are sixteenth notes (shown as /16 on the display) which corre-
sponds to 24PPQN/6 in terms of internal MIDI divisions. If you use MIDI or USB-MIDI as master clock for the Ground Control, then
the typical division is PQ.24 (24PPQN).
L/GATE LENGTH
Currently all notes are hard tied to the grid. The track’s grid is set by time division buttons via TRACK D/1/2/3 + 1/32...1/4 but-
ton combo (and long hold (1.5 sec). to obtain triplets values of those divisions). 1/16 is always default and the time division
used most for any new projects—therefore it’s marked with ° symbol at 1/16°.
Each note on a certain melodic TRACK 1/2/3 has a strictly fixed duration of the gate (the gates we receive from melodic TRACK
1/2/3 GATE output jacks). Those values vary from: 1 to 99, measured in % of the step length. There is no 100% gate length since
it means that current note will be TIED with the upcoming one. Default gate length is 50% and is the always constant for all the
notes in the same track.
M/MIDI
This menu covers all the MIDI settings. New settings might be added with further firmware updates. Once we press TEMPO >
M/midi combination we enter the MIDI settings menu and see the lower row of keys light up. Each of those lit up keys defines a
menu item we can select or adjust. By pressing on each of those keys we see corresponding menu hint on the display and the
values which we can adjust using the VALUE-/+ buttons. Since most of the settings are per-track settings, we can select these
using the TRACK D/1/2/3 buttons.
The settings items are the following:
• A: Display shows ‘Ch.Rx’ – means CHANNEL RECEIVE and is a MIDI channel from which the track will RECEIVE its informa-
tion. It can be either OFF, 1 to 16 or OMNI meaning it will receive from any MIDI channel. By default TRACKS D/1/2/3 are set
to Ch.Rx. correspondent MIDI channels 10/1/2/3. Setting them to OMNI will be an easy solution if you use MIDI keyboard
to enter the notes so you will just switch the tracks with TRACK D/1/2/3 buttons and enter the notes with the keyboard
without reassigning the MIDI channel on the MIDI keyboard every single time.
• B: Display shows ‘Ch.Tx’ – means CHANNEL SENT and is a MIDI channel on which the track will SEND its information. It can
be either OFF, 1 to 16. By default TRACKS D/1/2/3 are set to Ch.Tx. correspondent MIDI channels 10/1/2/3.
• D: Display shows ‘HS I- D’ – means USB HOST to DEVICE data transfer. Available options are: ON/OFF. With that feature en-
abled all the USB-MIDI data (notes/CC from all 16 channels and MIDI clock) that appear from USB HOST will be routed to USB
DEVICE. Use this feature if for example you use Beatstep Pro as a Master Clock source connected to the USB HOST and you
wish that clock appear to USB DEVICE which connected to the computer DAW.
• E: Display shows ‘De I- H’ – means USB DEVICE to HOST data transfer. Available options are: ON/OFF. With that feature
enabled all the USB-MIDI data (notes/CC from all 16 channels and MIDI clock) that appear from USB DEVICE will be routed
to USB HOST. Use this feature if for example you want to send the master clock and all the notes from your computer DAW
connected to DEVICE to be send also to Beatstep Pro as a slave source connected to the USB HOST.
N/SCALE
Those item is reserved for note scales filter which will be available with upcoming firmware updates.
SD CARD/SETTINGS
Everything from track’s notes and modulations to all the settings and calibration data are saved on the SD card.
That means if you have a few Ground Control sequencers—you can simply duplicate or swap SD card between them and you
will have instant access to all the projects and settings, scales, MIDI channels etc.
Hint: NO settings and recorded scores will be erased during firmware updates.
Lots of settings from the TEMPO > A...M keys are global settings and are automatically applied to all projects at once. Other
settings are related to the project and/or certain channel only.
Each of the 24 PROJECTs are stored the SD card in separate folders, which correspond to the project name: ‘A’ to ‘Z’.
These global settings are set for all 24 projects in GlobalSettings.txt file:
• LastLoadedProject – defines the last opened project to be loaded when the Ground Control is powered up the next time
• BuzzEnabled – if mechanical buzzer (metronome click is enabled)
• buzzerTrack – sets which of TRACK D/1/2/3 selected time division the metronome click follows
• masterClockSource: sets the master clock input
• midiHostLoopback – enables the host’s loopback option.
• If enabled: everything that enters the USB MIDI HOST IN will be rerouted back into USB MIDI HOST OUT
• midiHostToDeviceForward – enables all MIDI routing from USB MIDI HOST into USB MIDI DEVICE
• midiDeviceToHostForward – enables all MIDI routing from USB MIDI DEVICE into USB MIDI HOST
• clockOnStop – enables running MIDI clock if the sequencer is stopped.
• keyLed – enables the PIANO KEYS to blink to indicate active notes appearing on the active track
• RXTransport – enables receipt of MIDI TRANSPORT commands (start/stop/continue) from external MIDI and USB-MIDI devices
• TXTransport – enables transmit/send of MIDI TRANSPORT commands (start/stop/continue) to external MIDI and USB-MIDI
devices
• muteExternalGateLed – enables the MUTE BUS button’s LEDs to blink if the active notes appeared on those tracks
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Additionally, extra 4x CV output calibration settings are stored in Calibration.txt file:
• channel – calibration settings per channel. 0 corresponds to modulation output on the drum track. 1 to 3 corresponds to
TRACK 1/2/3.
• low_mv/zero_mv/high_mv – calibration values for -3/0/+3 volts, entered in milivolts
Each of the 4 tracks parameters of every project are stored in TrackSettings.txt file:
• channelRX – MIDI channel from which that TRACK D/1/2/3 accepts the MIDI data. Options are: 1 to 16, OFF or OMNI (any
channel)
• TXCopyRX – MIDI channel which transmits is the same channel that receives MIDI data
• channelTX – MIDI channel from which that TRACK D/1/2/3 send the MIDI data. Options are: 1 to 16 or OFF.
• enableRX – enable MIDI receipt on a certain TRACK D/1/2/3 (option: ON/OFF)
• enableTX – enable MIDI transmit (send) from a certain TRACK D/1/2/3 (option: ON/OFF)
• OmniChannel – enable MIDI receive from any input MIDI channel
• Slide – slide time, default: 50 (100ms), options are 0 (instant) to 100 (1-2 seconds)
• Shuffle – shuffle time, 0 by default corresponds to zero shuffle
• humanize – probability option per drum tracks or per musical tracks. Options are 0 (100% probability) to 99 (1% of probability)
• ratchet – ratchet per individual drum tracks or per musical tracks. Options are 0 to 3.
• Gatelenght – length of the gate per step. Values are 25%, 50% ,75%.
FIRWMARE UPDATE
Firmware updates are essential for any digital modules. They bring new features or bug fixes.
Feel free to write any bugs, features ideas or improvements to [email protected]
To update the firmware of your Ground Control sequencer first download the latest firmware file once available on Endorphin.
es website.
Take the sequencer out of your rack and eject micro SD from it (located on the backside of the module). Insert that card into
your computer using SD adapter or card reader (sold separately). Unzip gc-firmware_XXX.hex file from downloaded archive and
place it into the ROOT directory of your SD card.
Eject the micro SD card from the computer and insert it back into the Ground Control. Turn on the power of the Ground Control:
you will see ‘BURN’ message on the screen meaning the firmware is flashed and you will see the process of lower row of A...N
keys light up showing the upload process. After approximately 10-15 seconds the module will reboot with the new firmware
and new features installed.
Note: the firmware updates doesn’t alter any of your recorded patterns information. However we strongly advice to occasion-
ally back up your micro SD card. Different memory cards have different amount of read/write cycles. Don’t worry, even using
your sequencer every day, your SD card will serve you for years. However SD cards they are considered as consumables and
sometimes are good to backup.
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CREDITS
• PLAY: starts the playback. Acts also as confirmation yes in call to actions. During sequencer is running, pressing PLAY
resets current patterns on all TRACKS D/1/2/3 to first steps
• STOP: stops the playback. When we are in menu, single press exits the menu keeping the playback running.
Next STOP press stops the sequencer.
Another long hold STOP press acts as a panic action in case of hanging MIDI notes.
And one more long STOP press sends ALL NOTES OFF on all MIDI channels in case of hanging the MIDI notes on external MIDI
devices
• TRACK D/1/2/3: selecting the active track
• TRACK D/1/2/3 + 1/32...1/4 buttons sets the time division of the track
• TRACK D/1/2/3 + PLAY during the playback resets certain track to the first step (quantized to each track’s time division)
• RECORD while sequencer is not running: starts step record mode
• RECORD when sequencer is running: starts live recording mode
• RECORD long hold (1.5 se.) while sequencer is not running: enters the editor
• TEMPO + RECORD starts RECORD WAIT mode
• LAST STEP + MUTE BUS + VALUE-/+ (or PAGE or 0...9) setting the number of steps per track
• LAST STEP in arpeggiator/roller mode acts as arpeggiator’s latch.
• TEMPO + LAST STEP locks the BPM value on the screen
• TRACK 1/2/3 + TRANSPOSE-/+: shift currently selected pattern by 1 octave up or down
• Both TRANSPOSE-/+ buttons pressed together > A...Z buttons: semitone transpose current pattern from foot C key
• Both TRANSPOSE-/+ buttons pressed together > LAST STEP activates transpose lock and semitone shifts apply to all
TRACKS 1/2/3 at once
• TRACK D/1/2/3 + <PATTERN/PATTERN>, TRACK D/1/2/3 + A...Z piano keys, PROJECT > A...Z: selecting the pattern on active track
• <PATTERN + PATTERN> both buttons pressed together activates the patterns LOCK –to switch patterns of all tracks simul-
taneously
• TRACK D/1/2/3 button + entering a sequence of the letters A...Z: entering a pattern chain
• 24 PIANO KEYS: playing/entering the notes/drum triggers on active track
• 1/32...1/4: activating the arpeggiator/roller on the active track
• TEMPO + A...N or TEMPO > A...N: selecting the menu setting items
• 1/32...1/4 + TRANSPOSE-/+ in arpeggiator mode sets the arpeggiator octave swing.
• MUTE BUS long press (1.5 sec.) selecting quantized (one blink) and momentary (double blink) mute buttons action
• PROJECT: ‘shift’ function button related primarily to saving patterns/projects
• PROJECT+ MUTE BUS:
1) first press clears the notes/triggers on the selected track but leaves the same number of steps.
2) second press resets the step count of that track to 16 steps default.
• PROJECT > RECORD or PROJECT + RECORD buttons will enter the pattern save function
• PROJECT > RECORD > RECORD saves ALL unsaved patterns/settings in the current project
• PROJECT > RECORD > A...Z: saves current pattern on any of 24 patterns cells in the current track
• PROJECT > RECORD > TRACK 1/2/3 > A...Z: saves current pattern on any of 24 patterns cells in the other selected TRACK 1/2/3.
• PROJECT > RECORD > LAST STEP > A...Z: saves current project into any of 24 project cells. Occupied keys (containing a
project already) will be lit.