Using Figure

Setting up song length, tempo, key, tonality and shuffle

In the Song view you set the basic characteristics that should be global for your song.

• Tap the Song tab at the bottom of the screen.
  

Song length

At the very top of the Song view is the Song length selector.

• Tap the desired button to select the length of the song.
  
  

  If you choose to make the song longer, any existing recordings will be duplicated and repeated throughout the song. You can of course edit and/or re-record the copied parts afterwards if you like.

• If you choose to make the song shorter, the first section of the song is preserved. Any existing recordings in the last (truncated) section of the song will be permanently deleted.

Tonality

In the Tonality selector you select mode for the Bass and Lead sounds. The Tonality selector features 12 “pads” that represent one mode each.

• Tap one of the pads to change mode.
  

  The name of the selected mode is displayed in the black circle above the pads. The pad with the dot represents the default (major) mode for the selected Key (see below).

The Tonality pads are organized as follows:

• Use the inner pads for common modes (diatonic tonality):
  
• Use the outer pads for more exotic tonality (mixed modes and secondary dominants):
  
• Tap the black circle above the pads to switch to “Atonal” mode:
  
  

  The black circle displays “Atonal” and the Tonality pads below disappear.

  Tap again to revert to the previously set Tonality.

Tempo

• Tap the Tempo control and swipe up/down to set the tempo.
  

  The range is 60-180 BPM.

• Alternatively, tap the Tempo control repeatedly to set the tempo according to the tapping rate.
  

  The initial tempo is calculated based on the first three taps, and then refined according to the following taps.

  The Tempo range is 60-180 BPM.

Key

• Tap the Key control and swipe up/down to set the Key for your song.
  

  The selected Key also affects the Tonality (see above). The set Key affects both the Bass and Lead sounds.

Shuffle

• Tap the Shuffle control and swipe up/down to set the “swing factor” in your song.
  

  The range is OFF and 51- 75%.

Creating a drum beat

Here is how you create a drum beat in Figure:

1. Tap the Drum tab at the top of the screen.
   

   The Drum view appears:

   
2. Select drum kit by swiping sideways in the patch name field.
   

   Try out the kit sounds by tapping or swiping on the touchpads.

3. Touch the Kick pad.
   

   The Kick drum starts to play back according to the currently selected pattern in the Pattern selector.

   • Change drum sound by tapping/sweeping sideways on the Kick pad.
     

     Note that some instrument pads only feature single sounds.

   • Change the sound character by tapping/sweeping vertically on the Kick pad.
   • Rotate the iPhone to enlarge the drum pads. This way it will be easier to select the different drum sounds on each pad.
4. If desired, select another pattern by touching the Pattern selector and swiping up/down.
   

   The selected pattern is displayed around the Pattern selector.

5. Tap the sequencer Record button.
   

   The sequencer is now armed for recording.

6. Tap or hold the Kick pad to start recording the Kick beat. Alternatively, tap the Play button to start the sequencer in recording mode.
   

   The metronome click indicates the tempo and a red progress bar is displayed at the top of the screen.

   • Note that the song automatically loops after the selected song length. This means that any new tapping/swiping on the touchpads in recording mode will replace any previous recording.
   • If you want to change the Tempo, tap the Song tab at the bottom of the screen and swipe the Tempo knob up/down. Return to the (Drum) Pattern view by tapping the Pattern button at the bottom of the screen.
7. Record the other Drums, one by one, and select patterns for these as desired.

Creating Bass and Lead lines

This is how you create a Bass or Lead line in Figure:

1. Tap the Bass or Lead tabs at the top of the screen.
   

   The Bass or Lead view appears:

   
   
   

   Pattern mode is automatically selected.

2. Select a sound by swiping sideways in the patch name field.
   

   Try out the sounds by tapping or swiping on the touchpad.

3. Select Pattern mode by tapping the Pattern button at the bottom of the screen and then swiping the Rhythm control up/down.
   

   There are 16 predefined Rhythms (patterns) to choose from. The Rhythm pattern is displayed as long and short lines around the Rhythm control.

   • Each time you release your finger from the touchpad the Rhythm pattern is automatically restarted.
   • If you like, you can also use the Ties function to introduce legato in your Bass and/or Lead pattern, see “Using the Ties function to introduce legato”.
4. Set the note zone and range by swiping the Range control.
   
   • Set the note zone by swiping sideways.
   • Set the note range by swiping up/down.
     

     The maximum range is three octaves. The root notes in the selected tonality are shown in a darker color around the Range control and on the touchpad.

   • A good advise is to make sure you always have root notes in both ends of the zone. This will make it easier to come up with good melody lines on the touchpad (see below).
5. Set the number of notes per octave by swiping the Scale Steps control up/down.
   

   This determines how many notes per octave should be included in the selected tonality, see “Tonality”.

6. Tap/swipe your finger on the touchpad.
   
   • The note pitches are controlled on the x axis.
     

     There is also a grid on the x axis to make it easier to hit the right notes.

   • The predefined “sound character” parameter is controlled on the y axis.
     

     The “sound character” parameter can be different depending on selected sound.

   • Rotate the iPhone to enlarge the touchpad area.
7. Record your Bass or Lead line by tapping the Record button and then tapping/swiping your finger on the touchpad.
   

   The metronome click indicates the tempo and a red progress bar is displayed at the top of the screen.

   • A good advise is to let the song play one lap before you start to record the Bass/Lead line.
   • Note that the song automatically loops after the selected song length. This means that any new tapping/swiping on the touchpad in recording mode will replace any previous recording on the selected track.
8. When you are satisfied with your recording, tap the Record button to stop recording or tap the Play button to stop the song.

Using the Ties function to introduce legato

The Ties function can be used to introduce legato effects in your Bass and Lead patterns:

1. Tap and hold the Rhythm control.
2. Swipe your finger to the right until the Rhythm control flips around.
   

   Do not remove your finger from the screen.

   
3. Swipe up/down to introduce desired number of Ties in the pattern.
   

   Ties are shown as thin black lines distributed around the Rhythm control.

   
4. Remove your finger from the screen when you are satisfied.
   

   The Rhythm control could now look as follows:

   
   

   The thin black lines shows where in the pattern the legato effect will be introduced.

• For the legato effect to be audible, you will have to switch notes on the touchpad when the Ties appear in the pattern. In many situations the legato function will introduce a portamento effect i.e., notes will slide between each other. Note also that different sounds respond differently to legato.
• Try playing the touchpad using both hands (or two fingers) to achieve faster note changes around the Ties marks.
• To disable the Ties function, tap and hold the Rhythm control, swipe to the right and then down to “OFF”.
  

  When you release your finger the thin Ties lines have disappeared around the Rhythm control.

Tweaking the sounds

All sounds in Figure feature a number of extra parameter groups that can be tweaked and automated in the song. The basic principle on how to use these parameters is as follows:

1. With a Drum kit, Bass or Lead sound selected, tap the Tweaks tab at the bottom of the screen.
   

   The Tweaks view appears.

   
2. Tap one of the hexagonal parameter group icons.
3. Tap the Play button and then tap/swipe the touchpad to change the parameters of the selected parameter group (or drum sound in Drum mode).
   

   The actual parameter names are indicated on the x and y axis of the touchpad.

4. To record your tweaks, tap the Record button and then tap/swipe the touchpad.
5. Repeat the procedure for the other parameter groups/drum sounds if desired.
   • To record several parameter group changes in one go, tap all desired parameter group icons simultaneously (or swipe across the icons). Then tap Record and move all parameter group symbols on the touchpad using several fingers.
   • Rotate the iPhone to enlarge the touchpad area.

Editing the song

Replacing drum strokes/beats, notes or tweaks

1. Tap the tab for the instrument you want to change.
2. To change drum strokes or notes, tap the Pattern tab.
   

   If you want to change parameter tweaks, tap the Tweaks tab.

3. Tap the sequencer Record button.
   

   The sequencer is now armed for recording.

4. Tap the Play button.
5. Tap on the Drum pads or touchpad to replace the current drum beats/strokes, notes or parameter tweaks with new ones.

• If you are not satisfied with the changes you made on the track, tap the Revert button which appears below the Record button.
  

  This will revert to the original recording.

Erasing drums, notes or tweaks

1. Tap the tab for the instrument you want to change.
2. To erase drum strokes or notes, tap the Pattern tab.
   

   If you want to change parameter tweaks, tap the Tweaks tab.

3. Tap the sequencer Record button.
   

   The sequencer is now armed for recording.

4. Tap the Play button.
5. Tap the Erase Mode button that appears above the Pattern selectors.
   
6. Tap/hold the touchpad or Drum pads to erase the current strokes, notes or parameter tweaks.

• If you are not satisfied with the deletions you made on the track, tap the Revert button which appears below the Record button.
  

  This will revert to the original recording.

• To erase an entire track in your song, tap the big Clear All button above the touchpad.
  

  This will remove everything on the track. In the Drum view, a Clear button is available for each drum sound.

Using the Mixer

In the Mixer you can mute and set the levels for the different instrument tracks, as well as apply side chained Channel Compression to the Lead and Bass sounds. The final mix is routed through the built-in Master Bus Compressor for the “final touch”. The Compressors are derived straight from the main mixer in Reason, which guarantees supreme sound quality.

1. Tap the Mix tab at the bottom of the screen.
   

   The Mix view appears:

   
2. Tap the Play button and adjust the levels for the three tracks by swiping the respective level bars up/down.

• Tap the Mute buttons to mute the corresponding tracks.

Pump

The Pump control affects the Channel Compressors of the Bass and Lead channels. The Channel Compressors are side chained from the Kick sound of the Drum track. The Pump control affects both the Bass and Lead Channel Compressors and adds that nice “dance feel” to your song.

The System view

The System view features the Song handling functions. Here you can create, (re)name, load, save and export songs. You can also sync your Figure songs with musical apps on other iPhones/iPads by using the WIST feature, see “WIST”.

Save

• Tap the Save button to save the current song.
  

  If the song has not been saved before, it will be saved with the name displayed in the box surrounded by the black frame.

• If you are about to save a previously saved song that you now have edited, the following is displayed:
  
• To save your edited song and overwrite the original (last saved version), tap the Overwrite button.
  

  This saves the edited version of the song, overwriting the older version.

• To keep the last saved version of the song and save the edited version under a new name, tap the name box (see below).

Song name

1. Tap the Name field to edit the song name.
   
2. Type in a name.
   
   • If you want to give your song a random name, tap the Generate button.
     

     This will give your song a random name generated by the Figure app.

3. Tap the “OK” button to store the name.

New

• Tap the New button to create a new song.
  

  The new song will automatically be given a random name. You can change the name by tapping in the Name field as described above. The new song defaults to a length of 2 bars. You can change the length in the Song view, see “Song length”.

• If you have an unsaved (or edited) song open already, the following is displayed:
  
• To discard the current unsaved song and create a new empty one, tap the Discard? button.
  

  The open song is discarded and is replaced by a new empty song.

• To keep the existing song and get the option of renaming and saving it, tap the name box.
  

  Rename your existing song first or tap the Save area to save the song under its current name.

Share

If you like, you can export your songs as AIFF audio files and then fetch them in iTunes. You can also export your songs in the AudioCopy format. This makes it possible to export your Figure songs to other apps that support the AudioCopy format.

To export your song as an AIFF file to iTunes, proceed as follows:

1. Tap Share:
   
   

   The following page is displayed:

   
2. Tap the iTunes button.
   

   The currently open song is now being exported as an AIFF file and is stored (hidden) on your iPhone.

You can export as many songs as you like, by repeating the procedure described above. Next time you connect your iPhone to iTunes on your computer, all exported audio files can be found in the Apps tab under your device in iTunes.

• The exported AIFF files also contain tempo data, which can be interpreted by Propellerhead Reason. This means that if you import a Figure AIFF file to an audio track in Reason, the audio will automatically stretch to the current sequencer tempo in Reason! Also, if you import a Figure AIFF file into a Reason Sampler device, the loop points will be set automatically.

To export your song to an AudioCopy compatible app, proceed as follows:

1. Tap Share:
   
   

   The following page is displayed:

   
2. Tap the AudioCopy button.
   

   The currently open song is now being exported as an AudioCopy file. After the conversion, the following window is displayed:

   
3. Tap the Name field and type in a name (or use the existing one).
   

   You can also listen to the AudioCopy file by tapping the Preview button.

4. Tap the Copy Audio button.
   

   The following window is displayed:

   
5. Select one of your AudioCopy compatible apps in the list and tap Done.

Browse

On the Browse page you can preview (listen to) previously saved songs, open songs and also delete songs.

1. To view all previously saved songs, tap Browse:
   
   

   The following page is displayed:

   
2. Tap on a song in the list to preview it.
   

   The song starts to play back. To stop the playback, tap the selected song again.

• To open the selected song, tap Open.
  

  Note that if you have an unsaved (or edited) song open, opening a song in the list will discard the existing one. To give you a hint about this, the Open button switches to “Sure?”. Tap this to open anyway, or tap the Cancel button to abort the operation.

• To delete the selected song, tap Delete.
  

  The song will be permanently deleted from your iPhone. To give you a second chance to change your mind, the Delete button switches to “Sure?”. Tap this to delete the song or tap the Cancel button to abort.

• To exit the Browse page, tap the Cancel button.

WIST

WIST (Wireless Sync-Start Technology) is a standard by Korg for synchronizing musical apps on two separate iPhone/iPad/iPod touch units to each other via Bluetooth. This makes it possible to sync your Figure songs to your friend’s songs on another iPhone/iPad/iPod touch device. Here is how you sync Figure on your iPhone to your friend’s Figure on another iPhone:

1. Tap the WIST button.
   
   

   If Bluetooth is not yet active on your iPhone, an alert is displayed where you can activate Bluetooth. Alternatively, you can activate Bluetooth from the Settings menu in your iPhone.

2. Tell your friend to tap the WIST button on his/her iPhone.
   

   Your iPhone now starts to search for other nearby iPhones/iPads/iPod touches. Once a unit is detected, the following window is displayed:

   
3. Tap the name of your friend’s iPhone to request connection.
   
   

   On your friend’s iPhone, the following window appears:

   
4. Ask your friend to tap the Accept button on his/her iPhone.
   

   Once you are connected, the WIST text appears on the Play button in the Figure apps. On the WIST button is also shown if your app is Master or Slave:

   
   • The device who requests WIST sync will always be the Slave, and vice versa.

   Now, the Master device controls synced playback as well as Tempo, and the two devices will play perfectly in sync.

• To deactivate WIST sync, tap the WIST button on any of the devices.

About Figure

• Tap About Figure to open the About page:
  
  

  Here is information about the installed Figure version, as well as the following buttons:

• Tap the Help Bubbles button to activate the on-screen help bubbles.
  

  Tap the background to exit the About page. The other pages now feature help bubbles with short descriptions of most of the Figure functions.

• Tap the Online Manual button to open the web browser and access the on-line manual you are reading right now.
• Tap the background to exit the About page.

• Introduction
• Getting started
• Overview