KORG SQ-64 Polyphonic Sequencer Owner’s Manual

KORG SQ-64 Polyphonic Sequencer

Product Information

SQ-64 Poly Sequencer

The SQ-64 is a polyphonic sequencer designed for music production. The system version (2.0) adds new features that improve the step input for pitch and keyboard modes, drum pad mode to track D, new Rec Quantize settings, new step recording functionality, and other features. The improved step input allows users to use parameter knobs to add and delete notes while holding down the button for the step to input. The drum pad mode added to track D allows users to select from four different layouts using the newly added DRUMPAD. The new Rec Quantize settings allow users to record in real-time while applying quantization.

Product Usage Instructions

Improved Step Input for Pitch and Keyboard Modes

1. Press the PITCH button to enter pitch mode.
2. Move the cursor to the note you wish to edit, and use the PARAM1 knob to edit the note. Turn the knob all the way counterclockwise to delete the note.
3. Move the cursor to a location where there is no note (steps marked with a hyphen), and use the PARAM1 knob to add a note. Input for keyboard mode has been improved.
4. Hold down a step and use the keyboard to register new notes in that step.
5. While holding down the step, use the keyboard to register new notes in succession. Also, you can press the notes on the keyboard to delete them if they’re already registered. When you delete a note, the note is not output via MIDI/CV.

Note: You can’t use the parameter knobs for step editing while you are using the keyboard to input notes.

Drum Pad Mode Added to Track D

1. Press the GLOBAL button to enter global mode.
2. You can select from four different layouts by using the DRUMPA that was newly added to pad B-13 in global mode.
3. Hold down the PITCH button and press track button D to enter track D drum pad mode.

New Rec Quantize Settings

1. Press the GLOBAL button to enter global mode.
2. Set the quantize threshold (boundary value) in the RECORDINGS setting, which was newly added to pad A-12 in global mode.

New Step Recording Functionality

1. Press the REC button and the unit switches to keyboard mode (or drum pad mode for track D) and the first step blinks, indicating that the unit is waiting for input (all steps that are waiting blink white).
2. Use the keyboard or drum pad to input notes in order, starting with the first step.
3. Use the REST, STOP (and Exit), and Next Step (or TIE) buttons to control the recording process.

New features available in SQ-64 system version 2.0

The system version (2.0) for the SQ-64 adds the following features.

• Improved step input for pitch and keyboard modes
• Drum pad mode added to Track D
• New Rec Quantize settings
• New step recording functionality
• New Step Copy function
• Other features

Improved step input for pitch and keyboard modes
You can now use the parameter knobs to add and delete notes while you hold down the button for the step to input.

1. Press the PITCH button to enter pitch mode.
2. Move the cursor to the note you wish to edit, and use the PARAM1 knob to edit the note. Turn the knob all the way counterclockwise to delete the note.
3. Move the cursor to a location where there is no note (steps marked with a hyphen), and use the PARAM1 knob to add a note.

Input for keyboard mode has been improved.

1. Hold down the PITCH button and press Track buttons A–C to enter keyboard mode.
2. Hold down a step and use the keyboard to register new notes in that step.
3. While holding down the step, use the keyboard to register new notes in succession. Also, you can press the notes on the keyboard to delete them if they’re already registered.
   When you delete a note, the note is not output via MIDI/CV.
   You can’t use the parameter knobs for step editing while you are using the keyboard to input notes.

Drum pad mode added to track D

A new drum pad mode has been added for Track D, in contrast with keyboard mode for melody tracks A–C.
In drum pad mode, you can make this unit output MIDI/CV signals in real time when you press the pads. It is also possible to record in real-time.
Also, when you use drum pad mode during step edit, you can edit each sub-track for track D by using the same steps as with keyboard mode for tracks A–C.
1. Press the GLOBAL button to enter global mode.
2. You can select from four different layouts by using the “DRUMPAD” that was newly added to pad B-13 in global mode.
3. Hold down the PITCH button and press track button D to enter track D drum pad mode.

Drum pad mode layout

Pad position| Global parameter name| PARAM knob| Value (initial value is in boldface)| Parameter details, remarks
---|---|---|---|---
B-13| DRUMPAD| PARAM1| 4×4-A , 4×4-B, 16+Velocity, 8×2|

Product New “Rec Quantize” settings

You can now record in real time while applying quantization.

1. Press the GLOBAL button to enter global mode.
2. Set the quantize threshold (boundary value) in the “RECORDINGS” setting, which was newly added to pad A-12 in global mode.

Rec Quantize settings

Pad position| Global parameter name| PARAM knob| Value (initial value is in boldface)| Parameter details, remarks
---|---|---|---|---
A-12| RECORDINGS| PARAM1| None , 1/8Step, 1/4Step, 1/2Step, 1/1Step| The “None” setting produc- es no effect

(same as previous version).

New step recording functionality

In addition to the existing input method in which you turn on/off the desired steps in gate mode, a method of step recording has been added for inputting notes in order, starting with the first step.

1. With the sequencer stopped, press the (REC) button and then click the Track buttons A–D.

2. The unit switches to keyboard mode (or drum pad mode for track D) and the first step blinks, indicating that the unit is waiting for input (all steps that are waiting blink white).

3. Press a note on the keyboard (64 pads), the REST button or elsewhere. The note name, rest or other information is shown in the display.

4. When you take your finger off the keyboard, the note, rest, or tie is recorded in that step, and the sequencer automatically moves to the next step.
   Recording notes
   The note names for the keys you press on the keyboard (or for track D, the drum pad) are shown on the display. Check the note name in the display. If it is correct, release your finger to record that note.
   TIP You can input a chord by pressing more notes on the keyboard without taking your fingers off.
   Recording a rest
   You can record a rest by pressing the REST button.
   Recording a tie
   Press the Next Step button while holding down a key on the keyboard. The note will be tied to the same note in the previous step and recorded.
   TIP You can select the step for input by pressing a step button.

5. When you’ve finished inputting the set number of steps, step recording automatically ends.
   You can also exit step recording at any time by pressing the stop button or by switching to a different mode.

New Step Copy function

You can now copy all data from one or more steps to other steps. This works in gate, pitch and modulation modes.

1. If you press the SHIFT button while holding down a step you wish to copy, “Copy Step, Select Dest. Start Step” is shown in the display, and the white LED for the copy source step button and the LED for the SHIFT button blinks.
   TIP When you press multiple steps, all steps in between are set as the copy source.
   TIP To cancel, press the SHIFT button again or switch to a different mode.

2. Press the first step to which you wish to copy (copy destination).
   “Step Copied” appears, and the copy operation is finished.
   TIP In order to copy to a different track, press the corresponding track button.

You can’t copy from melody tracks A–C to track D. Conversely, you can’t copy from drum track D to tracks A-C.
All steps that exceed step 64 are discarded, such as in the case where you try to copy multiple steps.

Other functions

SHIFT button latch

Quickly press the SHIFT button twice to make it “latch”, which makes the buttons behave as if the SHIFT button is always pressed.
This is useful when you need to operate the buttons frequently while the SHIFT button is held down. The SHIFT button blinks while it is in latched mode. Press the SHIFT button once more while it is blinking to unlatch.

Changes to how loop mode works
The loop is no longer canceled when you switch to gate mode or pitch mode while setting the loop.

Changes to how keyboard mode works
The “OVERWRITE” mode has been newly added, in addition to the previous “TRANSPOSE” and “OVERDUB” (name changed from “OVERRIDE”) settings. In OVERWRITE mode, the sequence playback sound is not heard while you are inputting notes with the keyboard.

Optimized LED brightness
The LED brightness has been optimized when the unit is powered with the AC adapter, making the GATE ON/OFF easier to distinguish.
The LED brightness works the same as the previous version when the unit is powered via USB.

www.korg.com
Published 10/2022

Read User Manual Online (PDF format)

Read User Manual Online (PDF format)  >>

Download This Manual (PDF format)

Download this manual  >>