Alesis A6 User Manual

Similar to a sequence, an arpeggio is musical term that refers to the playing of notes of
a chord one after another instead of playing them simultaneously. The A6’s
Arpeggiator is used to create programmable arpeggios – Arpeggiator settings are
made per Program and stored in memory with each Program. An arpeggiator is
extremely versatile in that intricate patterns of notes can be constructed that would
otherwise be extremely difficult, if not impossible, to play manually. Also, arpeggios
can be played faster than is humanly possible, or span octaves above or below the
physical limits of the keyboard.

The A6 Arpeggiator is nearly identical to the Sequencer in its basic design. The main
difference lies in the display layout and what you’re playing on the keyboard (or
what the A6 is receiving via MIDI In).

Also, unlike the Sequencer, the Arpeggiator is a per Voice function rather than a per
Program function. This means that each playing voice is linked to its own
arpeggiator. This results in 16 arpeggiators – one per Voice – each with their own
status, position, and voice variables.

The Arpeggiator 

TRIG

, 

PROGRS

, 

SYN

 and 

MOD

 parameter pages are identical to those

of the Sequencer (refer to pages 76 through 78 for the information). The only different
set of parameters exist on the 

CONFIG

 page which is covered on the next page.

Enables and disables the
Arpeggiator. This is a
programmable function for all
voices in Programs or Mixes.

Pressing this button displays the
Arpeggiator’s 

SYNC

 page on the

screen. This page of parameters
allows you to set the source of the
Arpeggiator’s tempo.

Pressing this button recalls the
page of Arpeggiator parameters
that was last used (it defaults to
the 

CONFIG

 page). Using this

button to enter the Arpeggiator
edit mode allows you to examine

the current settings without making any changes. You can, of course, change any
setting but you don’t have to when using a 

 button.