Arturia write this on their product website:
""Reassign" mode for the 8-Voice Programmer (like in the original one, the SEM V will first use the boards that are not gated in its voice assignment)"
I think it's about this:
In the original SEMs each voice had a module. That meant that each voice/ module normally sounded at least a little different from the other voices/ modules, unless you had the excact same settings for each module. This could also be used to give each voice/ module a totally different sound.
In Arturias version you have one module that can handle multiple voices. The 8 voice programmer can in this regard make it up for multiple modules, as each "step" can have different settings.
Now try this example:
A.
1. Set the Arpeggiator to off.
2. Select the mode "FWD" for the 8 voice programmer.
3. Now strum 3 notes and hold them - (keep the gates open.)
4. Lift one finger and press a note again. You will see that the used "step" in the programmer move FWD.
B.
1. Set the Arpeggiator to off.
2. Select the mode "REASSIGN" for the 8 voice programmer.
3. Now strum 3 notes and hold them - (keep the gates open.)
4. Lift one finger and press a note again. Now you'll see that the same "step" in the programmer is used for the new voice. It reassign.
This can be used to allways have a certain "step/ module" to be assigned to a certain note number you play in a strummed chord played like above.
I don't know if this is what Arturia mean. It make some sort of sense. But i'm noy sure how the original handled modules. Like could a certain note be assign to a certain module. If so, then that also would be a feature i would like to have.
I furthermore don't know if gates was/ is open when on release in the original. But i would find it great, if there was a choice to include release time, so a step/ module was'nt reassigned a voice while in the release phase, and a choice to not include the release time.
I'm not sure the REASSIGN mode work like intended - especially when you have the arpeggiator on. It only use the 2 first steps in the Programmer no matter how many notes you play.
I think most things can be done using the features in the 8 voice programmer incuding the on/ off for each "step". But i'm not completely sure about that either. There are many possibilities.