This is work-in-progress documentation for Matrix OS 3.0 Beta π§ͺ version.
For most up-to-date stable version documentation, see the latest version (2.6.0).
Version: 3.0 Beta π§ͺ
Note App
The Note App (V2) serves as a comprehensive MIDI note interface, allowing users to play MIDI notes with various layouts, scales, modes, and advanced features including auto chords, arpeggiators, split views, and customizable color presets.
Upon launching, you will enter the note pad. Click the function key to access the config menu, and click again to return to the note pad.
To exit the Note App, enter the config menu and hold down the function key. This will return you to the application launcher.
The Note Pad is the main view of the Note App. It displays the current note pad with the selected layout, scale, and mode.
The appearance of the pad will vary depending on the customization options. Refer to Example Layouts to see how the note pad looks with different settings.
Clicking the function key will bring you to the config menu.
When Enforce Scale mode is enabled (not available for Piano Mode), only notes in the selected scale will be shown. When disabled, all notes will be shown, but notes that are not in the selected scale will be dimmed.
The Arpeggiator Setting Menu provides comprehensive control over the arpeggiator settings. This menu is only accessible when the control bar is enabled in the Play View.
The arpeggiator setting menu has 7 different parameter pages, each with a distinct color coding:
BPM (Red): Controls the tempo/speed of the arpeggiator
Swing (Orange): Adjusts the timing swing between notes
Gate (Yellow): Sets the note duration/gate time
Direction (Green): Selects the arpeggiator pattern direction
Step (Cyan): Controls the step the arp will progress (Loop # times with step offset added each loop)
Step Offset (Blue): Adds pitch offset notes after each step
Repeat (Magenta): Sets how many times the pattern repeats
Adjusts the timing between alternating notes to create a swing feel.
Swing percentage controls how much the second note of each pair is delayed, creating rhythm variations.
Range: 20-80% Default: 50%
Arpeggiator Swing Configuration
Arpeggiator Swing Configuration
Configure arpeggiator swing timing (20-80%)
BPM Setting
Switch to BPM configuration page
Swing Page (Selected)
Swing configuration page
Gate Time Setting
Switch to Gate Time configuration page
Direction Setting
Switch to Direction configuration page
Step Setting
Switch to Step configuration page
Step Offset Setting
Switch to Step Offset configuration page
Repeat Setting
Switch to Repeat configuration page
Swing Display
Shows current swing percentage (50% in this example)
Selects the arpeggiator pattern direction from 16 different options.
Directions:
Up
Down
Up Down
Down Up
Up & Down
Down & Up
Random
Play Order
Converge
Diverge
Con & Diverge
Div & Converge
Pinky Up
Pinky Up Down
Thumb Up
Thumb Up Down
Default: Up
Arpeggiator Direction Configuration
Arpeggiator Direction Configuration
Select arpeggiator pattern direction (Up shown)
BPM Setting
Switch to BPM configuration page
Swing Setting
Switch to Swing configuration page
Gate Time Setting
Switch to Gate Time configuration page
Direction Page (Selected)
Direction configuration page
Step Setting
Switch to Step configuration page
Step Offset Setting
Switch to Step Offset configuration page
Repeat Setting
Switch to Repeat configuration page
Direction Visualizer
Visual representation of the selected arpeggiator direction pattern
White shows next repeated sequences
Shows Rnd in Random Mode
Shows ORd in Play Order mode
You can customize the color combination of the active note pad layout using the Note Pad Color Selector. This setting is independent of the layout configuration.
Note Pad Color Selector - Presets
Note Pad Color Selector - Presets
The Note Pad Color Selector allows you to pick a color preset for the note pad layout
Note Pad Preview
Preview of the active note pad layout with the selected color combination
Color Preset Menu (Current)
Select colors from preset
Custom Color Menu
Modify the colors
White Out of Scale mode
Make out of scales keys dim white instead of dimmed color
Color Preset 1
Select color preset 1
Color Preset 2
Select color preset 2
Color Preset 3
Select color preset 3
Color Preset 4
Select color preset 4
Color Preset 5
Select color preset 5
Color Preset 6
Select color preset 6
Rainbow Color
Select rainbow color mode
Poly Color
Select poly color mode
Return to Config Menu
Tap to return to the config menu
Note Pad Color Selector - Customize
Note Pad Color Selector - Customize
The Note Pad Color Selector allows you to customize the color combination of the note pad layout
Note Pad Preview
Preview of the active note pad layout with the selected color combination
Color Preset Menu
Select colors from presets
Custom Color Menu (Current)
Modify the colors
White Out of Scale mode
Make out of scales keys dim white instead of dimmed color
The Control Bar provides quick access to various controls and effect when enabled in the Play View.
Each button have different shift feature as well. Holding any of the octave button will enable shift mode.
Features:
Pitch Bend Down (X=1): Velocity-mapped pitch bend down (Shift: MIDI Stop)
Pitch Bend Up (X=2): Velocity-mapped pitch bend up (Shift: MIDI Play)
Note Latch (X=3): Note sustain with three states (Shift: Enable Toggle Latch Mode)
Chord (X=4): Open Chord Control
Arpeggiator (X=5): Open Arpeggiator Speed Control (Shift: Enter Arpeggiator Setting)
Key Mode (X=6): Change the key of current layout (Shift: Enter Scale Selector)
Octave Down & Up (X=7 & 8): Transpose notes by octave (Hold any as Shift)
Swap Layout: Tap Octave Down + Octave Up together to swap layout.
Split View Behavior: The control bar only affects the primary note pad (left pad in vertical split, top pad in horizontal split). However, any modes or effects you enable will persist when switching between pads. You can configure latch, chord, or arpeggiator on one pad, then switch to the secondary pad and those settings will continue to function independently.
note
Non-Persistent: Control bar configurations (latch, chord, arpeggiator, etc.) are not saved across sessions. When you exit and restart the Note App, all control bar settings will reset to their default states.
Note Pad Control Bar
Note Pad Control Bar
Control Bar with pitch bend, playback modes, and octave controls. Hold shift for additional functions on pitch bend buttons.
Note Pad
Note Playing Area
Pitch Bend Down
Pitch bend down (velocity mapped)
Shift: MIDI Stop
Octave controls allow you to transpose all notes up or down by octaves. These buttons also serve as the shift modifier for accessing secondary functions.
Controls:
Octave Down (X=7): Decrease octave
Octave Up (X=8): Increase octave
Special Functions:
Hold Either Button: Activates shift mode for other controls
Tap Both Together: Swap between primary and secondary layouts in split view
The pitch bend controls allow you to bend the pitch of playing notes up or down. The amount of bend is velocity-mapped, meaning pressing harder creates a larger pitch bend.
Controls:
Pitch Bend Down (X=1): Bends pitch down (red button)
Pitch Bend Up (X=2): Bends pitch up (green button)
Note Latch keeps the notes you pressed sustained after release. If you hold multiple keys, they will all be sustained. When a new note is pressed after you've released all previously latched notes, all notes will be freed and the new note will be latched.
Controls:
Tap (X=3): Toggle Latch Enable
Shift Tap: Enable Toggle Latch mode
Color States:
Yellow (Default): Latch disabled - notes stop when released
White: Latch enabled - notes sustain until cleared
Magenta: Toggle mode - each press on note pad toggles note on/off
To clear all latched notes, turn off the note latch.
Chord control transforms single note presses into full chords, allowing you to play complex harmonies with individual keys. The chords automatically adapt to your selected scale and root note.
Controls Bar Button:
Tap (X=4, Y=8): Open chord selector interface
Shift Tap: Toggle chord toggle mode
Color States:
Cyan: Chord control closed
White: Chord control active
Chord Building Control:
Base: Major, Minor, Diminished, or Suspended. You can select from one of them
Multiple extensions: 6th, 7th, 9th - You can select multiple to combine freely
Hold Combo: Hold a combo to chord while you perform on the note pad
Shift Tap: Latch chord types and extensions
Inversion: Select an inversion or slide across them when chord is latched to strum.
Chord Control
Chord Control
Control bar with Chord Control
Note Pad
Note Playing Area
Pitch Bend Down
Pitch bend down (velocity mapped)
Shift: MIDI Stop
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