Tools

About Tools

The Tools sub-menu contains different features that can be used to monitor, control, and configure NGEN's settings.

MIDI Monitor (`Monitor`)

The built-in MIDI Monitor lets you track incoming and outgoing MIDI messages. It can be used to make sure that NGEN is receiving MIDI clock, notes, and control changes from other devices and that it's also sending MIDI messages appropriately.

The four columns in the MIDI Monitor represent message type, number (note or CC number), value, and channel.

To switch between the different views (INPUT, OUTPUT, and STATUS), turn the MENU ENCODER or press the GENERATE button.

Status View

The STATUS view contains 3 indicators that can be used to quickly monitor if NGEN is receiving and sending MIDI.

CLK IN indicates if NGEN is actively receiving MIDI Clock
NOTE IN indicates if NGEN is actively receiving MIDI note messages
NOTE OUT indicates if NGEN is actively sending MIDI note messages

Template

The Template tool lets you load different track setup templates (Generator / MIDI FX / Clock Rate / Routings) to your current pattern.

Available templates:

House:

Track Number	Generator	MIDI FX	Input Channel	Output Channel	Aux Output	Clock Rate	Note
1	DRUMGEN	-	1	1	-	1/16	Main drums
2	ACDGEN	-	2	2	3	1/16	Bass
3	POLYFORM	-	3	3	-	1/16	Polyphonic short synth
4	ACDGEN	-	4	4	-	1/16	Lead synth
5	ARPER	-	5	5	-	1/16	Percussive instrument
6	POP	HUMANIZER	6	6	-	1/16	Piano
7	SAMBA	-	7	7	-	1/16	Percussion

Jungle:

Track Number	Generator	MIDI FX	Input Channel	Output Channel	Aux Output	Clock Rate	Note
1	SHUFFLER	-	1	1	-	1/8	1/8 Sliced Drum Break
2	ACDGEN	-	2	2	-	1	Pads / Legato Synth
3	ACDGEN	-	3	3	-	1/8	Sub Bass
4	ACDGEN	-	4	4	-	1/8	Sampled Stab
5	ARPER	HUMANIZER	5	5	-	1/8	Arp Synth

Gen Demo:

Track Number	Generator	MIDI FX	Input Channel	Output Channel	Aux Output	Clock Rate
1	ACDGEN	-	1	1	-	1/16
2	ARPER	-	2	2	-	1/16
3	DRUMGEN	-	3	3	-	1/16
4	INSEQ	-	4	4	-	1/16
5	MARP	-	5	5	-	1/16
6	MIDIPLAYER	-	6	6	-	1/16
7	POLYFORM	-	7	7	-	1/16
8	POP	-	8	8	-	1/16
9	SAMBA	-	9	9	-	1/16
10	SHUFFLER	-	10	10	-	1/16
11	THRU	-	11	11	-	1/16
12	TURING	-	12	12	-	1/16
13	NSL	-	13	13	-	1/16

Song Mode

The Song Mode available in NGEN works as 64-step event sequencer that can be used not only to sequence patterns, but also to sequence and automate actions like [Pattern] and [Track] generation, variation, and reloading.

When active, Song Mode will advance through the event list and trigger actions according to the settings of each event, without blocking any other user actions.

Besides it's primary use-case (to arrange patterns in to a song), Song Mode can also be used an automation tool for sequencing different actions like track muting, pattern / track generation, and track state randomization.

The Song Mode settings and data are stored in Projects.

Song Editor

The Song Mode Editor view consists of a grid of 4 columns and 4 rows. Each row represents an event slot and each column represents a value associated with that event: slot number, event type, value, and duration (in bars).

Turning the MENU ENCODER adjusts the selected column and clicking it advances to the next column.

It's also possible to move between columns by holding down FUNCTION while turning the MENU ENCODER.

To scroll through the event slot list, select the first column (slot number) and turn the MENU ENCODER.

Events

Each event slot can be set to a different event type, event value, and length (0 to 32 bars).

The currently available event types are:

Event Type	Description	Value
Empty (`Empty`)	Empty event slot (idle)	N/A
Play Pattern (`PTRN`)	Loads a pattern (with optional track mutes)	Pattern to be loaded
Generate Pattern (`G.PTN`)	Triggers a Pattern Generation	Probability (0-100%)
Generate Track (`G.TRK`)	Triggers the "Generate" action in the selected track (1 through 16)	Track Number
Variate Pattern (`V.PTN`)	Generates a variation of the current pattern	Probability (0-100%)
Variate Track (`V.TRK`)	Triggers the "Variate" action in the selected track (1 through 16)	Track Number
Reload Pattern (`R.PTN`)	Reloads the active pattern	Probability (0-100%)
Reload Track (`R.TRK`)	Reloads the selected track	Track Number
Randomize Pattern State (`S.PTN`)	Randomizes the Track State of all tracks	Probability (0-100%)
Randomize Track State (`S.TRK`)	Randomizes the Track State of the selected track	Track Number
Jump (`JUMP`)	Move the song position to the selected event	Event Slot Number

Track Mutes

Event Slots also include optional track mutes (per slot) that can be used to create further variations of existing patterns. When loading a pattern, NGEN will automatically turn off the "Active" parameter of the muted tracks.

To open the Track Mute UI, press the TRACK | CLK button.

Turn the MENU ENCODER to select between the 16 available tracks and click the MENU ENCODER to mute / unmute the selected track.

Press the RETURN button to return to the main Song Editor view.

Shortcuts

Shortcut	Description
`MENU ENCODER` (Scroll)	Adjusts the selected value / Scroll vertically (1st column)
`FUNCTION` + `MENU ENCODER` (Scroll)	Scroll horizontally
`MENU ENCODER` (Click)	Selects the next column
`FUNCTION` + `MENU ENCODER` (Click)	Selects the next row
`TRACK/CLK`	Opens the Track Mute UI
`FUNCTION` + `TRACK/CLK`	Copies the selected event
`FUNCTION` + `PATTERN`	Pastes event into the selected event slot
`FUNCTION` + `RETURN`	Removes the selected event
`FUNCTION` + `GENERATE`	Inserts an empty event at the selected event slot