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Nava user tutorial, please help!

Posted: Aug 24th, '20, 18:24
by Fmann
Hello, I've sucessfully (or apparently successfully) completed my Nava 1.02 build and finally have the machine on. Despite having been able to complete the whole build, I now can't seem to follow the simple instructions in the user manual. :roll:

I can't find a tutorial on youtube for how to use the Nava but would I be correct in guessing that it's operation is the same roughly as the Roland 909? I'm begining to suspect that it's possible that I can't get the Nava to behave the way it's supposed to - not because I can't follow the manual but because I've done something wrong with the build.

I'd really like to try to understand what the issue is though if somebody would have the patience to walk me through a series of step by step instructions on how to get the nava to play back correctly?

When I turn on the machine the Nava is in 'pattern play mode' (the play button is flashing), the sequencer buttons are all lit and the first sequencer button Bassdrum (C) and the 'Start' button are both flashing.
When I press 'Start' the sequencer plays through the 16 steps once (with a clap, toms and cymbals sounding on each step), then there is silence for about 10 seconds and then the machine continues to play these sounds until I press stop. The lights only cycle through the sequencer buttons maybe every 30 or 40 seconds. I suspect that there are a many number of this same 16 step sequence glued together but I'm not sure how to undo them, I can't see anything in the manual about how to ungroup patterns.

I cannot at any point add or remove instruments (while the pattern is playing nor while it is stopped) nor can I clear these patterns it seems.

If I enter pattern edit mode (by pressing Shift+play) and then re-enter pattern play mode the pattern will not play anymore, I then need to power off & on the machine to even get that initial tangle of patterns to cycle again.

I'm not sure what I'm doing wrong. As far as I can tell from the manual & from a Roland 909 operation tutorial the standard functions/ selections don't seem to be behaving correctly, please help me to understand if I'm insane or if it sounds like there's something wrong with the build. Has anybody else encountered these issues?

Kind regards,
Fmann

Re: Nava user tutorial, please help!

Posted: Aug 27th, '20, 11:02
by Oortone
Hello.

I'm an ordinary user so I don't have deep knowledge of the Nava system but a few ideas/remarks.

I believe that flashing button means you're in pattern step edit mode, not play mode.
The error sounds a little bit like there's something wrong with a step counter, maybe you should check soldering of logic IC:s?
It sounds a little bit like you're in chain mode also but maybe that's me misunderstanding your description.
Also, the 909-system is not quite like the Nava system. A lot of functionality is different so the manual for 909 is not of so big use.