I use it like a modular (with my modular). I get something going, turn it off, and I like the fact that it just saves it automatically.
I had a 64 step pattern on track one. I forgot that I hadn’t set the sequencer to advanced mode (I start from scratch all the time).
So, then I went to the cv track, and set it to 13 steps.
oops. it reset it globally. I then set it to advanced mode, set track one back to 64 steps, but the pattern is gone forever.
Can one swear mightily on this forum? What is the logic behind that. Why not retain the memory as it was? I will never get this back. (yes I know that I should have saved, but that’s one of the things that I LIKE about these instruments - that you don’t have to)
edit - oh, this is silly. my guess is that it had retained it, but the len parameter got reset to 13. really don’t like the way this works. Not at all. so I probably totally lost the pattern because I didn’t edit THAT parameter, and recorded over. Too late now.
edit - so what would I want, if my above analysis is correct? I want the damn a4 to ALWAYS be in advanced sequencing mode. I want THAT to be the default. I want to be able to set different defaults, so that when I do an empty reset, they are retained. I would NEVER want to be in anything other than advanced mode. I want it deleted from the universe.
WARNING: you have to set a least one step (trig) for the pattern to actually be saved. If you erase all trigs (incl p-locks etc…) the pattern will be reset to default!
I lost lots of work when I first started working with Elektron machines, but eventually it all became second nature, and I don’t get frustrated at all anymore. Part of that learning process was learning to SAVE patterns and KITS all the time.
I think most people who are new to Elektron gear have to realize that not only does Elektron gear have a very unique work flow, but that you also have to let go of any preconceived notions as to what you expect it to do, and how it’s done.
I’m on my 3rd Elektron box now. If there is anything I’ve learned from the prior two, it’s that you shouldn’t get too attached to anything you do in the first couple months because it is likely you’ll have a SNAFU or two that will wipe out something you like. Save early, save often, and hit the record button just in case.
if you dont want to lose a pattern by accident, use the COPY function before you tweak something to temporarily store it. That way if you screw it up you can just paste it back the way it was
but beware, you will lose the clipboard if you restart the machine
i often copy/paste to a blank spot before i shut down or do that as soon as i start up, then when i turn it back on if i want to start from scratch i can just clear it all out, but stuff like advanced tracks stays as i left it.
sometimes i’ll start by muting everything except one track on the copy, clearing that, when i’m ready to move on unmute the next track, clear that, and so on. it can also lead to some nice surprises when stuff you had leftover interacts with the new stuff. sorta like how you can get good stuff when you start unpatching a modular.
but yeah. there can definitely be some confusing stuff. watch out for the one where you can globally mute tracks and what’s going on with the mode buttons.
