Alesis SR18 User Manual - Page 18

Changing Pattern Tempo, Selecting Fill Patterns, Using the Start/Stop Footswitch, The ROLL Button

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ƒ Changing Pattern Tempo The tempo range extends from 30 to 300 beats per minute. Tempo can be changed while the SR18 is stopped or running. There are two ways to set tempo. 1. Before playing a Pattern, tap the TAP TEMPO button several times at the desired tempo. The SR18 will average the time between taps and derive a tempo; the display will update the tempo with each tap. If a footswitch is plugged into the Count/A/B/Fill jack, tapping the footswitch at the desired rate is equivalent to tapping the TAP TEMPO button. 2. Hold down the TAP TEMPO button and turn the VALUE dial to select a new tempo. Alternatively, you can use the INC / DEC buttons while holding down TAP TEMPO to increase or decrease by 1 BPM, or hold down to scroll through the tempo values. Note that you can customize how the SR18 deals with tempo. In the System Setup pages (page 9), you can specify whether the SR18 will follow the tempo associated with each Pattern or whether the unit will follow a global tempo setting, ignoring any tempo data associated with the Patterns. ƒ Selecting Fill Patterns Fill Patterns are the key to creating expressive drum parts. However, Fill is a sophisticated feature that requires some explanation. ƒ Fills are always the same length, and use the same Drum Set, as the associated Main Pattern. This lets you "drop in" a Fill at any time. As soon as you press the FILL button, the Fill takes over from the Main Pattern and starts playing until the end of the Fill. ƒ Fills are transitional Patterns. Example: Suppose an 8-beat A Main Pattern is playing and you press the FILL button on beat 4. The A Fill Pattern will play the last 4 beats and then automatically transition into the B Main Pattern. ƒ Conversely, if B Main is playing and you press Fill, after B Fill has played, the SR18 will transition to the A Main Pattern. You can select the Fill at any time while the Main Pattern is playing. However, Fills do not have to be transitional Patterns. If you press the FILL button (or footswitch) before the Fill has finished playing and hold it down until after the Fill has played (i.e., past the downbeat of the next Pattern), the SR18 will return to the original Main Pattern. Example: Suppose an 8-beat A Main Pattern is playing and you press the FILL button on beat 4 but hold it down past beat 8. The A Fill Pattern will play the last 4 beats, then the SR18 will return to the A Main Pattern. 18

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18
±
Changing Pattern Tempo
The tempo range extends from 30 to 300 beats per minute. Tempo can be changed
while the SR18 is stopped or running. There are two ways to set tempo.
1.
Before playing a Pattern, tap the TAP TEMPO button several times at the desired
tempo. The SR18 will average the time between taps and derive a tempo; the
display will update the tempo with each tap. If a footswitch is plugged into the
Count/A/B/Fill jack, tapping the footswitch at the desired rate is equivalent to
tapping the TAP TEMPO button.
2.
Hold down the TAP TEMPO button and turn the VALUE dial to select a new
tempo.
Alternatively, you can use the INC / DEC buttons while holding down
TAP TEMPO to increase or decrease by 1 BPM, or hold down to scroll through
the tempo values.
Note that you can customize how the SR18 deals with tempo.
In the System Setup
pages (page 9), you can specify whether the SR18 will follow the tempo associated
with each Pattern or whether the unit will follow a global tempo setting, ignoring any
tempo data associated with the Patterns.
±
Selecting Fill Patterns
Fill Patterns are the key to creating expressive drum parts. However, Fill is a
sophisticated feature that requires some explanation.
±
Fills are always the same length, and use the same Drum Set,
as the associated
Main Pattern. This lets you "drop in" a Fill at any time. As soon as you press the
FILL button, the Fill takes over from the Main Pattern and starts playing until the
end of the Fill.
±
Fills are transitional Patterns.
Example:
Suppose an 8-beat A Main Pattern is playing and you press the
FILL button on beat 4. The A Fill Pattern will play the last 4 beats and then
automatically transition into the B Main Pattern.
±
Conversely, if B Main is playing and you press Fill, after B Fill has played, the
SR18 will transition to the A Main Pattern. You can select the Fill at any time
while the Main Pattern is playing.
However, Fills do not
have
to be transitional
Patterns. If you press the FILL button (or footswitch) before the Fill has finished
playing and hold it down until after the Fill has played
(i.e.,
past the downbeat of
the next Pattern), the SR18 will return to the original Main Pattern.
Example:
Suppose an 8-beat A Main Pattern is playing and you press the
FILL button on beat 4 but hold it down past beat 8. The A Fill Pattern will
play the last 4 beats, then the SR18 will return to the A Main Pattern.