Skip to content

Sequences

Across Atrium’s interface, you’ll find displays with light-glyphs consisting of 11 individual segments:

These indicate sequences, which can hold up to 11 steps of state information for their associated parameter. They are found near scale, shape, lens and drone. Tapping the key near these parameters selects a new set of data, which is why we refer to these keys as sequencers. sequences will wrap after the sequencer reaches its last stage.

In Atrium sequences all operate on complex data. Each stage contains a list of values too complex to perform in a live manner. These tiny systems enable us to expand the capabilities of the instrument, while asking the player to manage only a simple "next" gesture.

By default, each sequence is clamped by a small range, so as not to overwhelm with possibility. As you orient to Atrium’s system, you may desire more states to bounce between. Perhaps you want only a subset of those possibilities — there is significant joy to be uncovered in simply toggling between two meaningful states.

Refining & Extending sequences

To change the length of any of the sequences:

All sequences contain one to eleven steps.

  • Hold alt and press the sequencer key corresponding to any of the above-mentioned sequences. Each of the available options will be illuminated with a cross.
  • The extension display will now show an E, indicating that we are editing the selected sequence's bounds.
  • The selected sequencer will display the length of the sequence.
  • Press the octave keys to adjust the length of the sequence up or down.
  • Press alt to exit.

This is only half the story, though it is the most common usage. You can change the length of the sequence, as well as the start point. Thus we can begin counting from 2 or 3, not always 1. Furthermore, the value we edited above is not in fact the length, but rather it is the last stage of the sequence. Increasing the start will shorten the length!

  • Hold alt and press the sequencer you wish to edit.
  • Press the sequencer key again to toggle between start and last stage.
  • Note the lights beside the octave keys flip as you press the sequencer, indicating start (down) or last (up).
  • Press alt to exit.

The start and last stages may be set to the same value, and these values will not be allowed to cross.

When editing sequences, you can edit multiple different elements by pressing another sequencer key.

Hexadecimal

The keen eye might notice that we can only display the numbers 0-9 on these small displays. As such we lean on the hexadecimal system to count the numbers 10 (A) and 11 (B). There's no greater meaning here, just a solution to a problem!