If you take a look at the Scale device, you’ll notice that right below the Base knob, there’s a Transpose control. And yet, I said you should use Base when changing the key of a preset scale…
The difference is that Base simply transposes the scale, while Transpose will transpose each incoming note. Er, or something like that. Let me explain…
Let’s say you’ve loaded the C Major preset. If you play a C it comes through exactly as you played it. If you play a C# though, a C will come out. That’s how the preset is designed. Any note that isn’t in the scale will be forced down to the closest note in the scale.
If you move the Base knob to G, now it’s a G Major scale. If you play a C, it will come through exactly as played because C is contained in the G Major scale. Same goes for D, E, G, A and B.
Another option is that you could leave Base set to C, and set Transpose to + 7.
The difference is that each note you play will be forced to conform to a C major scale, and then transposed up a perfect fifth (seven semitones).
Therefore, when you play a C a G will be output. In the end, you’ll still end up in G Major but the notes you play on your keyboard will never sound as played. They’ll always be up a fifth.
In the end, there’s no right or wrong way to do it as long as you understand how it all works.
