The Zyklus' MIDI Performance System allows you to record sequences: 99 polyphonic single-channel sequences, to be exact. These can be organised into groups of 12 sequences which are known as Configurations, of which the MPS allows you to store 24 in its internal memory. Once you've recorded a few sequences and organised them into a Configuration, you can "play" them from a MIDI keyboard and from dedicated front-panel Control buttons. These actions can in turn be recorded into one of 12 Performances. The important point to bear in mind is that the MPS's sequences are totally independent of one another. You can treat the MPS as a 12-track sequencer, but that's only one of countless options available to you, and it's really missing the point.

The Zyklus MIDI PERFORMANCE SYSTEM is a MIDI equipment controller designed to provide an unprecedented level of musical control. It achieves this by allowing the musician to interact with previously recorded MIDI data such as sequences so that complex music can be build up in real time. In a typical setup, the MIDI PERFORMANCE SYSTEM would be used in conjunction with a MIDI master keyboard or keyboard synthesizer, plus up to 64 slave MIDI devices - synthesizers, expanders, drum machines, MIDI-equiped signal processors, etc.

The MIDI PERFORMANCE SYSTEM can be thought of a collection of sequencers, MIDI control boxes and MIDI effects units integrated into a single system. This system is designed so that it can be "played" like a musical instrument in its own right. At its most basic level it is rather like 12 polyphonic sequencers, each of which can be run at any transposition or set of simultaneous transpositions independently of the others, simply by pressing a note or chord on the MIDI control keyboard. 99 different sequences can be stored in each memory bank, of which any 12 can be assigned to the front panel for immediate access together with related control information. These sequences need not consist of repeating musical phrases. They could be single chords, short fast runs which end on held chords, segments of control data such as MIDI program changes, the synthesisers/drum part for an entire song, etc.
In addition to keyboard triggering, sequences can be triggered from a footswitch, an external trigger source or directly from the front panel. The panel controls consist of 40 keys mostly with LED indicator, plus a encoder wheel used for tempo control, editing functions, menu selection, etc. User information is provided by a 40 x 2 backlit LCD with externally adjustable brightness and contrast.