HomeGetting started

Introduction

Figure is a fun, inspiring and awesome sounding musical app for iPhone, iPad and iPad mini.
The slick interface makes it a breeze to come up with a great synth groove in virtually no time
and you dont even have to know how to play an instrument!
A song in Figure is pattern based, meaning that the tracks in the internal sequencer utilize a
number of selectable patterns that play back the beat and synth lines. All you have to do is select
suitable patterns for your groove, select key and you are ready to rock!
Soundwise, Figure holds two Reason Thor Polysonic Synthesizer sound enginesone for the
Bass and one for the Lead sound. The Drum section is based on the NN-Nano sampler of the
Reason Kong Drum Designerso whatever sound you will be playing in Figure, it will sound
just great!
Enjoy!

Getting started
Since you are probably eager to get started, all you need to do is this:
1. Select a sound by swiping sideways in the patch name section:

2. Tap or swipe the touchpadsideways to change pitch and up/down to change the sound
character:

When you touch the pad, the sound plays back according to the current preset pattern.

3. Tap the Record button to arm for recording:

4. Tap/swipe the touchpad to start recording your song.

5. When you are done, tap the Record button to disable recording.
The song continues to play back until you tap the Play button.

The sound sources

Figure features three sound sourcesor sections:

Drum

The Drum section is based on the NN-Nano sampler of the Reason Kong Drum Designer and can
have up to four drum instruments going at once. Each instrument can consist of several sounds
that you can alter between.

Bass

The Bass section is a synth based on the Thor Polysonic Synthesizer architecture.

Lead

The Lead section is a synth based on the Thor Polysonic Synthesizer architecture.
The three sections can be used on their own or together, as desired.

The sequencer

The built-in sequencer in Figure has three tracks; Drum, Bass and Lead.

A song in Figure can have a length of 1, 2, 4 or 8 bars. You select the length on the Song tab,
see Setting up song length, tempo, key, tonality and shuffle.

When you play the song, Figure will loop the selected number of bars infinitely until you tap the
Play button again.

Each track can also include parameter automation that you can record in real-time.

Notes and parameter automation are controlled from the touchpad.

The touchpads

The touchpads: Bass (and Lead) at the top and Drum at the bottom

The touchpad is where you play and record notes and parameter tweaks. The touchpad
has an x and a y axis that control different parameters depending on the situation.
The Drum section features four separate touchpadsone for each Drum instrument.
Sound character is controlled on the x axes and drum sound on the y axes.

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.

o

Change the sound character by tapping/sweeping vertically on the Kick pad.

Rotate the iPhone/iPad 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.
o

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.
o

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.
o

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.
o

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/iPad to enlarge the touchpad area.

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.
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.
o

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.
o

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/iPad 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.
o

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.

Mail

Its possible to e-mail Figure songs to other Figure users:

1. Tap Mail:

The Mail app on your iPhone/iPad opens and your Figure song is automatically attached to a new
e-mail:

2. Enter your friends e-mail address and tap the Send button.

The Figure song is e-mailed and you friend can open the song in Figure on his/her iPhone/iPad.
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. As a third option, you can upload
your Figure songs as audio files to SoundCloud.

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/iPad.
You can export as many songs as you like, by repeating the procedure described above. Next
time you connect your iPhone/iPad 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.

To export your song as an audio file to your SoundCloud account, proceed as follows:
1. Tap Share:

The following page is displayed:

2. Tap the SoundCloud button.

The currently open song is now being exported to SoundCloud as an audio file.
3. Follow the instructions in the Share to SoundCloud view to share your song on SoundCloud.
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:

Tap the Date or Name buttons to display the songs either by Date or by Name.

Tap a selected button to change the display order between ascending and descending.
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 e-mail the selected song, tap the Mail button.

The Mail app on your iPhone/iPad opens and your Figure song is automatically attached to a new
e-mail.

To transfer the selected song to another app on your iPhone/iPad, such as Dropbox or Google
Drive, tap the Open in button.

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 friends songs on another iPhone/iPad/iPod touch device. Here is
how you sync Figure on your iPhone/iPad to your friends Figure on another iPhone/iPad:
1. Tap the WIST button.

If Bluetooth is not yet active on your iPhone/iPad, an alert is displayed where you can activate
Bluetooth. Alternatively, you can activate Bluetooth from the Settings menu in your iPhone/iPad.
2. Tell your friend to tap the Wist button on his/her iPhone/iPad.

Your iPhone/iPad 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 friends iPhone/iPad to request connection.

On your friends iPhone/iPad, the following window appears:

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

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 Follow Us button to follow Propellerheads on Twitter.

This assumes that you have the Twitter app installed on your iPhone/iPad.

Tap the background to exit the About page.