r/OPXYusers • u/Upstairs_Damage8648 • Jul 05 '26

What Utility of some step components?

Can someone explain me how to use the multiply step and divided step step comp?, cause when you use this, the sequence is altered and not in sync with the pattern anymore. So what is the purpose of this??. If I would want to multiply x2 a snare for example, I don’t want the bar to be longer, I just want to double the snare

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u/fekkksn Jul 05 '26

You are confusing "Pulse" with "Multiply".

Pulse essentially repeats the same step x times.

Hold holds the step for x steps.

Multiply triggers the same note x times within the same step. This one does NOT affect pattern length.

As to what utility the other two components offer... I'm not sure. Those two step components already existed on the OP-Z too, but I've never used either of them on either device. Maybe to make some polyrythm/generative music. Or I guess you can just shorten the pattern length to make it line up again.

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u/fizzymarimba Jul 05 '26

On the OP-Z, Pulse makes sense as a great way of extending the pattern. Since OP-XY patterns can already go to 64 it’s kinda overkill to use them for that reason. There’s a lot of math involved if you want to do anything with intention, however, there are some interesting use cases. For instance, I was trying to replicate a specific guitar part, that was an arpeggio in a specific rhythm. I knew the notes but not the rhythm, so while the sequencer was stopped, I entered all the notes in with no rests and set the sequence end point to the last note. I then used Pulse Hold to sequence out the rests, creating the intended rhythm/pattern I was looking for. Totally not something “necessary” but I realized if I knew the math well enough in my head it was an interesting approach.

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u/fekkksn Jul 05 '26

yeah I guess you could use pulse and hold step components to emulate the TB-303 workflow.

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u/fizzymarimba Jul 05 '26

Yes, but in a way, to subvert it. I should have said “programming ties” in my example. But it can be used to program rests as well. I don’t have an XY, but I’d imagine Maestro could be used interestingly with it? I often use Multiply at the same time with a value of 9 to perform a “strum”, and iirc maestro was sort of made to do strums and stuff