PRACQ MELODIC STEP SEQUENCER Reference guide

Brand: PRACQ

Model: MELODIC STEP SEQUENCER

Type: Reference guide

PRACQ

REFERENCE

MANUAL

Rev18

PRACQ REFERENCE MANUAL Rev18

Table of Contents

1. Introduction

1.1. About this Manual . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

1.2. General Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

1.3. Concepts of PRACQ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

2. Main Mode

2.1. About Main Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

2.2. Basic Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

2.3. Keyboard-related features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

2.4. Tracks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

2.5. Number of Steps. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

3. The Other Modes

3.1. Property Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

3.2. Command Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28

3.3. Scale Mode. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32

4. Details of Sequence Data

4.1. Step Property . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39

4.2. Long Note . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40

4.3. Step Status. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41

4.4. Step Length. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46

4.5. Paste Filter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49

5. Advanced Functions

5.1. Func Pads . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51

5.2. Snapshot . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53

6. Optional Settings

6.1. External Keyboard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56

6.2. General Controller . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57

6.3. Sync with an external sequencer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59

PRACQ REFERENCE MANUAL Rev18

1. Introduction

1.1. About this Manual

1.2. General Information

1.3. Concepts of PRACQ

PRACQ REFERENCE MANUAL Rev18

1.1. About this Manual

Welcome to PRACQ! Thank you for your interest.

PRACQ has two manuals:

- PRACQ GETTING STARTED MANUAL (Setup guide and basic tutorials)

- PRACQ REFERENCE MANUAL (This document)

At first, read the GETTING STARTED MANUAL to set up PRACQ and feel what it is like. Then proceed

to this manual to get in-depth information.

The manuals will be revised with software updates. The latest software and manuals are available at

www.pracq.com for free. For the convenience of the manual maintenance, the corresponding

software version is not shown in the manual.

Pad operation

Most of this manual mentions methods of Pad operation.

A particular Pad is basically shown with a letter and digits on

the Pad layout. Examples are shown on the right. It is put in

square brackets like [S1] or [K28] in sentences. In addition,

digits part may be omitted like [S] or [K]. For example, [S]

means any one of [S1] to [S32].

Two Finger Operation, the characteristic of PRACQ, is shown

as follows.

Pad layout example

1. First, press [A]

and hold it down.

HOLD

DOWN

2. Then, press [B].

[A] + [B]

NOTE: Pad layout depends on the

Mode, so a certain Pad may work

dierently at another Mode.

Red, Amber, Green and O(Unlit)

The Pads will respond when pressed or released. Strength to press (velocity) doesn't matter.

Pad appearance can be one of the four states shown below. It makes no distinction of brightness.

It means the following operation.

S10

S11

S12

S13

S14

S15

S16

S17

S18

S19

S20

S21

S22

S23

S24

S25

S26

S27

S28

S29

S30

S31

S32

K22

K23

K24

K25

K26

K27

K28

K15

K16

K17

K18

K19

K20

K21

K10

K11

K12

K13

K14

PRACQ REFERENCE MANUAL Rev18

Character Display on the Pads

PRACQ will inform you about the status somehow without a LCD.

For example, display on the left shows two characters “BY.” It is put in angle

brackets like <BY> in sentences.

Confusing examples are listed below.

Zero Oh <5> <S><2> <Z><U> <V><M> <W><H>

<2> <3> <5> <8> <100> <120>

Small size numerals

PRACQ REFERENCE MANUAL Rev18

(4) SYNC (MIDI CLOCK)

See chapter ”6.3. Sync with an external sequencer” for details.

(5) Status bar : Auxiliary information about operation will be shown here.

(6) PREFERENCES : See the next section.

(7) EXIT : Press this button to close PRACQ program.

Settings

Setting items are classified into the following:

- Program window

MIDI settings for your controller and a instrument. See GETTING STARTED MANUAL for details.

- Preferences

Click “Preferences” button to open a Preferences dialog. Each tab in this dialog is referred to as

“Preferences -> (Tab name)” in this document.

NOTE: Basically, setting changes on Preferences dialog are valid immediately. Both "OK" and

"Cancel" buttons are for closing the dialog.

- Song/Track Properties at Property Mode

Made by Pad operation. See chapter “3.1. Property Mode” for details.

Most settings are saved to a configuration file “Pracq.ini” for next use when the program is about to

exited. To reset all settings, exit the program then delete “Pracq.ini” located the same folder where

the executable file ”Pracq.exe” is.

1.2. General Information

Program Window

A program window is almost a thing for MIDI settings.

(1)

(2)

(5)

(3)

(4)

(6)

(7)

(1) CONTROLLER

See GETTING STARTED MANUAL for details.

(2) INSTRUMENT

See GETTING STARTED MANUAL for details.

“PANIC !” button will stop all sounds from the

INSTRUMENT device compulsory.

(3) EXTERNAL KEYBOARD

See chapter ”6.1. External Keyboard” for

details.

PRACQ REFERENCE MANUAL Rev18

Contents of Pracq.app (Control + Click, then select “Show Package Contents”)

(1) PRACQ program folder

(2) Exported MIDI file (You can change the folder for exported MIDI files.)

(3) Executable file for Windows

(4) Configuration file

(5) If this file exists, PRACQ will run on “Wine Optimized Mode.”

Wineskin files

(1)

(2)

(3)

(4)

(5)

For Mac Users

PRACQ is originally made for Windows, and it is converted into “Pracq.app” by “Wineskin.” (Wineskin

enables a Windows program to run on Mac.)

Pracq.app contains various files inside itself, so the file size is extra large.

A configuration file Pracq.ini is located the following place, the inside of Pracq.app.

You had better change the folder for exported MIDI files. (See section “MIDI File Export” in chapter

“2.2. Basic Operation” for details.)

Pracq.app

macOS 10.15 Catalina

Pracq.app is NOT compatible with macOS 10.15 Catalina due to Wineskin limitation.

Generally, paid software like the following, too, is used to run Windows program on Mac.

- CrossOver Mac (www.codeweavers.com)

- Parallels Desktop for Mac (www.parallels.com)

Both seem to be compatible with Catalina, though PRACQ is not tested for that yet.

CrossOver doesn’t require additional Windows license, whereas Parallels Desktop requires one.

It seems that CrossOver is easier, cheaper, and functionally enough for PRACQ.

How to use PRACQ with CrossOver

1. Install CrossOver.

2. Download PRACQ software for Windows (Pracq_V***.zip) and open it (”PRACQ” folder).

3. Launch “TextEdit” app and save an empty text file as “wine.rtf” in this folder.

(This makes PRACQ optimized for “Wine” based environment like Wineskin and CrossOver.)

4. Launch Pracq.exe. (If you are required to create a new “bottle”, follow that.)

PRACQ REFERENCE MANUAL Rev18

For Windows 10 Users

If PRACQ program window is blurry, try the following setting. (You may need to update your

Windows 10 first. This information is subject to change.)

Pracq.exe Properties -> Compatibility -> Settings -> Change high DPI settings -> High DPI scaling

override -> Override high DPI scaling behavior. Scaling performed by: System (Enhanced)

For Novation Launchpad X, MiniMK3 Users

- First, update to the latest firmware with “Novation Components.”

- Launchpad X and MiniMK3 have two “IN”s and two “OUT”s. Select the second ones each.

For AKAI Professional APC mini Users

The lowermost eight circle pads work as the uppermost ones on a Launchpad.

It seems that the lowermost eight circle pads can be lit only in Red, and the rightmost ones only in

Green. Therefore please judge the situation by being lit or not, not colors.

Contacts

Web: http://www.pracq.com

Mail: info@pracq.com (Bug reports are big welcome!)

In addition, if you use Mac...

- Follow the steps below to switch to Programmer mode.

1. Press and hold “Session” pad to enter the setting menu.

2. Press a bottom right corner pad.

3. Press “Session” pad again to exit the setting menu.

Windows Mac

“Session”

Live mode (default)

Programmer mode

PRACQ REFERENCE MANUAL Rev18

1.3. Concepts of PRACQ

Main Mode

Steps

Keyboard

Steps

Commands

Command Mode

Keyboard

Chromatic

Circle

Properties

Steps

(It depends)

Modes

PRACQ has several modes that have their individual Pad layout.

Main Mode may often be used, but you can switch modes if necessary.

Edit Steps with

Commands

Scale Mode

Edit Keyboard Scale

with Chromatic Circle

Property Mode

Edit Steps with

Properties

(and set up the

Sequencer)

Edit Steps with Keyboard

(Step Recording)

[MD]

[M1]

[M2]

[MD]

[M1] + [MD]

[MD]

[M2] + [MD]

[MD]

Switch

Modes

[MD] is lit in Amber during other than Main Mode.

[MD]

PRACQ REFERENCE MANUAL Rev18

Sequence Data

PRACQ treats sequence data with the following hierarchy.

Each hierarchy (Step, Track, and Song) has its own Properties (Data items).

Step (1-32) A place to put a Note

1 2 3

...

Track (1-4) A group of Steps

Each Track is played

back individually.

Song A group of Tracks (The whole Sequence data)

Step 1 2 3 32

Track 1

Track 2

Step 1 2 3 32

Track 4

Step 1 2 3

( 128)

...

128

Step 97 98 99 128

( 128)

9899

Block

By switching Blocks, you can use up to 128 Steps.

See the chapter “2.5. Number of Steps” for details.

...

321

PRACQ REFERENCE MANUAL Rev18

2. Main Mode

2.1. About Main Mode

2.2. Basic Operation

2.3. Keyboard-related

features

2.4. Tracks

2.5. Number of Steps

PRACQ REFERENCE MANUAL Rev18

2.1. About Main Mode

Overview

PRACQ is in Main Mode just after startup. This mode is designed for basic workflow of PRACQ, a

repetition of sketch and playback, so it may often be used.

By the way, settings like BPM (Tempo) are made on Property Mode, not Main Mode. See chapter “3.1.

Property Mode” for details.

Workflow and Features on Main Mode

Features listed below are described in the following chapters.

Sketch Playback

Playback Note indicatorKeyboard

MIDI File Export

Func Pad

Track Track Sync on Playback

Step Recording

Copy, Cut and Paste

Non-scale Note

Workflow

Features

Sequence PlaybackStep Preview

PRACQ REFERENCE MANUAL Rev18

S10

S11

S12

S13

S14

S15

S16

S17

S18

S19

S20

S21

S22

S23

S24

S25

S26

S27

S28

S29

S30

S31

S32

K22

K23

K24

K25

K26

K27

K28

K15

K16

K17

K18

K19

K20

K21

K10

K11

K12

K13

K14

2.2. Basic Operation

Steps [S]

Keyboard [K]

[F] : Func Pads

[M] : Multipurpose Pads

Pad layout (Main Mode)

Keyboard

[K] : Playing the Keyboard

Here is a 28-key Keyboard. By default, only notes on C Major scale appears on Keyboard Pads. You

can change a scale on Keyboard Pads through Scale Mode or Property Mode.

Play

Shift

Loop

Mode

[MD] is unlit

in this mode.

[T] : Top Pads

C Major Scale (Default)

[K] + [M1] : Keyboard Range Shift (Upward)

[K] + [M4] : Keyboard Range Shift (Downward)

Keyboard Pads range is shifted per row.

This is kept by each Track.

A#6

A#5

A#4

A#3

D Minor Scale

[K] + [M1]

Property Mode

or Scale Mode

See chapter “3.1. Property Mode” and

“3.3. Scale Mode” for details.

PRACQ REFERENCE MANUAL Rev18

HOLD

DOWN

1. Press the first [S]. 2. Press the last [S]. 3. Release both.

Selected Steps

Step Recording

[S] + [K(unlit)] : Putting a Note into the Step

[S] blinks to indicate that it is ready for putting a Note. Then a Note on [K] is put into this Step. After

that [S] is lit in Amber to indicate that a Note is in this Step.

If another Note has already been put in this Step, this Note will be replaced by a new one. (At the

moment, you can put only one Note per Step.)

In addition, reverse order, [K] + [S], also will do.

[S] : Step Preview

If this Step contains a Note, it is played back and a corresponding [K] is lit in Amber.

NOTE: By default, Step Preview is disabled during Sequence Playback. It can be enabled on

“Preferences -> General.”

[S] + [K(Amber)] : Removing a Note from the Step

A lit [K] turns unlit to indicate that a Note is removed.

4. Proceed to next

action.

Selecting Steps

[S] + [S] : Selecting Steps

Pads between both Pads are selected and lit in Green. The Selected Steps become targets of a

subsequent specific action (like “Making a Loop Region” mentioned later).

Press any [S] again to reset the selection.

To select ONE Step only: “[S] + [M1]” or “[S](Held Down) and proceed to next action”

1. Putting a Note

HOLD

DOWN

2. Release both.

3. Step Preview 4. Removing a Note

HOLD

DOWN

PRACQ REFERENCE MANUAL Rev18

Playback

[PL] : Sequence Playback

Steps are played back in order. Current played Step is lit in Red as Playback Position. And if a Note

exists in the Step, it is played and a corresponding Keyboard Pad is lit in Red.

If Playback Position reaches the last Step, it returns to the first Step and playback is continued.

Press [PL] again to stop playback. At this time, Playback Position stays at the latest played Step. Next

playback will start from the top of the Step where Playback Position is.

[SF] + [PL] (during whether playback or stopping) : Sequence Playback from the first Step

[M1] + [PL] (during stopping) : Sequence Playback from where last playback started from

[SF] (during stopping) : Display Playback Position

A Step where Playback Position is is lit in Red. Next playback will start from this Step.

[SF] + [S] (during whether playback or stopping) : Moving Playback Position

Playback Position (lit in Red) is moved to pressed [S].

Loop Region

Selected Steps -> [LP] : Making a Loop Region

Selected Steps, if any, change to a Loop Region. By doing so, playback will looped within it. [LP] is lit

in Amber to indicate that a Loop Region is set.

[ST] + [LP(Amber)] : Displaying a Loop Region

[LP(Amber)] shows a Loop Region is set. In this case, a Loop Region will appear in Green.

[LP(Amber)] (Without Selected Steps) : Resetting a Loop Region

Copy, Cut, and Paste Steps (Clipboard)

Selected Steps -> [F4] : Copy

Selected Steps -> [F4](Double Tap) : Cut

Sequence data in Selected Steps are copied to Clipboard. When “Cut” is executed, data in original

Steps will be deleted.

[F4] + [S] (and then release [F4] first) : Paste

Sequence data in Clipboard is pasted (overwritten) into where it starts from a pressed [S].

NOTE: Before this operation, confirm that no Step is selected. Otherwise, it will result in “Copy.”

Step 1 Step 2 Step 3 Step 4

TIME

If last playback is like this,

[SF] + [PL]

Step 5

[M1] + [PL] [PL]

[PL] [PL]

next playback starts from:

...

PRACQ REFERENCE MANUAL Rev18

Exit the Program

[M1] + [F4] : Exit the Program <BY>

An alternative to “X” button or “Exit” button on the program window.

Resuming

If you want to restore sequence data automatically when you start PRACQ next time, check the

checkbox on “Preferences -> General -> Resuming.”

Otherwise you can restore it manually on Property Mode. See section “[P1] : Song Properties” in

chapter ”3.1. Property Mode” for details.

Desktop

Applications

Pracq.app

drive_c

Program Files

Pracq

Users

(User name)

Desktop

Documents

“Browse for Folder” Dialog

(Preferences -> Export -> Select Folder...)

Folder

hierarchy

example

Executable file

Default folder for export

(The inside of Pracq.app)

Your Desktop

Your Documents folder

Macintosh HD

For Mac Users

Note that the folder path is represented like Windows.

[F] : Func Pads

Actually, this “Clipboard” function is a part of “Func Pads.” Regarding Func Pads, see chapter “5.1.

Func Pads” for details.

MIDI File Export

[M1] + [F1] : Export a MIDI File <XP>

Current Track’s sequence data is saved as a MIDI file named like “Pracq_yymmdd_hhmmss.mid.”

By default, a MIDI file is saved in the folder where the executable file is, but you could change the

folder through “Preferences -> Export.”

PRACQ REFERENCE MANUAL Rev18

...

K25

K26

K27

K28

...

G#2

A#2

C#3

D#3

F#6

G#6

A#6

C#7

D#7

For example, the following pads will be lit when C Major Scale is selected as a Keyboard Scale.

Above

Below

Non-scale

On scale

(Scale Notes)

Non-scale

[M3] is assigned to Long Note (TIE

Status) or Muted (MUTE Status). See

chapter “4.3. Step Status” for details.

On scale AboveBelow

Playback Note indicators

During playback, the following pads are lit depending on a current playback Note.

2.3. Keyboard-related

features

Overview

Keyboard of PRACQ consists of Scale Notes, and there are several features that complement the

Keyboard.

K25

K26

K27

K28

Displaying Octaves

[K] + [SF] : Displaying Octaves

For example, if you press [K] that means note G4, Pads

that means note G3 and G5 are lit in Green at the same

time. It may be useful when Chromatic Scale or the like

is selected.

Pads Color

Amber

A Note under Step Preview

Red

A Note under Sequence Playback

D#5

F#5

G#5

G#4

A#4

C#5

C#4

D#4

F#4

F#3

G#3

A#3

Chromatic Scale

PRACQ REFERENCE MANUAL Rev18

HOLD

DOWN

HOLD

DOWN

1. Initial state. 2. Enabling Semitone

Keyboard.

3. Putting a Non-scale

Note into the Step.

4. Disabling Semitone

Keyboard.

C Major Scale

Semitone

Keyboard

[M2]

HOLD

DOWN

C Major Scale

Non-scale

note (D#)

HOLD

DOWN

5. A Non-scale Note

appears on [M2].

6. Putting a Non-scale Note played most

recently into another Step.

7. Switching to Scale

Mode...

Handling of Non-scale Notes

Scale Notes are available from Keyboard pads, while Non-scale Notes are available by the following

methods.

Semitone Keyboard

[K] + [M2] : Enabling Semitone Keyboard

[M2(Green)] : Disabling Semitone Keyboard

Keyboard pads will be temporarily semitone (Chromatic) arrangement in which a note position of

pressed [K] is kept. When Semitone Keyboard is enabled, [M2] is lit in Green. Semitone Keyboard will

be automatically disabled when Keyboard Pads arrangement is changed.

Complementary Key

[S] + [M2(Amber)] : Removing a Non-scale note from the Step

[S] + [M2(unlit)] : Putting a Non-scale note into the Step

[M2] is used as a kind of Keyboard pad that represent a Non-scale note played most recently as Step

Playback (including Chromatic Circle). If Non-scale note hasn't played yet, this function won’t work.

Scale Mode

[M2] + [MD] : Switching to Scale Mode

On Scale Mode, you can select and build scales. See chapter “3.3. Scale Mode” for details.

Operation Example (When C Major Scale is selected)

HOLD

DOWN

[MD]

PRACQ REFERENCE MANUAL Rev18

2.4. Tracks

Operation

[T1] - [T4] : Track Selector

Only one Track appears on Step Pads at once, so you need to select a Track to edit first. [T1] to [T4]

represent Track 1 to 4 respectively. Selected Track is lit in Amber.

[SF] : Displaying Track mute state

[SF] + [T] : Track Mute (Toggle)

HOLD

DOWN

[T1] Track 1

[T2] Track 2

[T3] Track 3

[T4] Track 4

Green : Not muted (To be played back)

Unlit : Muted

Overview

PRACQ has four Tracks. Each contains 32 (or up to 128) Steps and it is played back individually. For

example, you can play back melody and bass line at the same time.

1 2 3 4

Track 1

Time

Steps

...

M Ch. 1

M Ch. 2

Track 2

...

2 3 32

Step Time (of Track 2)

Track

1 2 3

...

Steps

Settings

Settings about Tracks (Step Time, MIDI Channel, and so on) are made on Property Mode. See section

“[P2] : Track Properties” in chapter “3.1. Property Mode” for details.

[SF]

PRACQ REFERENCE MANUAL Rev18

[PL] : Start Sequence Playback

[PL] : Stop (Pause)

[PL] : Restart

1 2 3 4

5 6 7 8

TIME

: 1/8

: 1/4

PLAYBACK

POSITION

STEPS (Not Pads)

TRACK 1

TRACK 2

(Selected)

STEP TIME

[SF] + [PL] : Rewind [SF] + [S] : Moving Playback Position

Track Sync will be kept.

Move to the top of the

current Step. (Based on

selected Track.)

Track Sync will be kept.

Move to the top of each

Track.

[S],

PRESSED

STEP

Track Sync will NOT be kept.

Move to [S], pressed Step.

(Apply to selected Track only.)

[SF] + [PL] : Rewind

Track Sync will be kept again.

Track Sync on Playback

Each Track has its own Playback Position, and it is played back individually at the same time. In some

cases, these Playback Positions may be out of sync. Some examples are shown below.

LOOP REGION

: 1 to 3

Also, each Track has its own Loop Region.

Track Sync will NOT be kept.

Step Time means the length that one Step

occupies. See section “[P2] : Track Properties” in

chapter “3.1. Property Mode” for details.

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PRACQ MELODIC STEP SEQUENCER Reference guide

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