Alesis PerformancePad Pro Reference Manual

8/9/2019 Alesis PerformancePad Pro Reference Manual

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REFERENCE MANUAL


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TABLE OF CONTENTS

CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION 11.1 WELCOME TO THE PERFORMANCE PAD DRUM MACHINE! 11.2 GROUND RULES 11.3 IMPORTANT: HOW TO COMMUNICATE WITH THE PERFORMANCE PAD 61.4 10 STEPS TO INSTANT GRATIFICATION (SETUP AND CHECKOUT) 7

CHAPTER 2: RECORD SETUP 92.1 PAGE 1: SELECT THE QUANTIZATION VALUE (QUANTIZE SELECT) 92.2 PAGE 2: SELECT THE SWING VALUE (SWING SELECT) 112.3 PAGE 3: ENABLE CLICK (METRONOME) AND SET RHYTHM (CLICK SELECT) 122.4 PAGE 4: SET CLICK (METRONOME) VOLUME (CLICK VOL) 122.5 PAGE 5: ADD/REMOVE BEATS FROM PATTERN END (LENGTH) 132.6 PAGE 6: ADD/REMOVE BEATS FROM PATTERN BEGINNING (‘START) 14

2.7 PAGE 7: OFFSET A PATTERN OR DRUM PART 142.8 PAGE 8: STEP MODE RECORDING (STEP MODE) 152.9 PAGE 9: NAME THE PATTERN (NAME) 17

CHAPTER 3: PLAYING BACK/RECORDING PATTERNS 183.1 PLAYBACK/RECORD BASICS 183.2 ERASE FUNCTIONS 233.3 COPY FUNCTIONS 24

CHAPTER 4: CREATING DRUM SETS 254.1 PAGE 1: SELECT DRUM SET (DRUMSET SELECT) 254.2 PAGE 2: ASSIGN SOUNDS TO PADS 264.3 PAGE 3: SET PAD VOLUME (VOLUME) 264.4 PAGE 4: SET PAD STEREO POSITION (PANNING) 27

4.5 PAGE 5: SET PAD TUNING (TUNING) 274.6 PAGE 6: SET TRIGGERING MODE (ASN MODE) 284.7 PAGE 7: SAVE DRUM SET (SAVE SET) 294.8 PAGE 8: MANUAL DRUM SET OVERRIDE (SET MODE) 29

CHAPTER 5: SONG MODE 305.1 SONG MODE BASICS 305.2 REAL TIME SONG CREATION 325.3 MANUAL SONG CREATION 33

CHAPTER 6: MIDI SETUP 366.1 PAGE 1: TRANSMIT PATTERN DATA VIA MIDI 366.2 PAGE 2: SEND CLOCK DATA TO OTHER DEVICES (CLOCKOUT) 366.3 PAGE 3: TRANSMIT PAD HIT DATA VIA MIDI 36

CHAPTER 7: UTILITY 377.1 ABOUT UTILITY 377.2 PAGE 1: SEND DATA AS MIDI TO A MIDI SYS EX STORAGE DEVICE (SEND OUT MIDI?) 377.3 PAGE 2: CHECK AVAILABLE MEMORY (FREE MEM) 37

CHAPTER 8: APPLICATIONS 388.1 MIDI SYNC APPLICATIONS 388.2 STRATEGIES FOR ASSEMBLING PATTERNS AND SONGS 398.3 UNDERSTANDING RHYTHMIC NOTATION 40

MIDI IMPLEMENTATION CHART 41SOUND LIST 42PRESET PATTERN TEMPOS 43KEY FEATURES 44

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS 44


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CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION

1.1 WELCOME TO THE PERFORMANCE PAD DRUM MACHINE!

The Performance Pad includes over 230 high-fidelity drum/percussion sounds, and iseasy to operate. As you strike the 8 drum pads (each of which can be assigned to anyof the available sounds), the Performance Pad's on-board computer records exactlywhen you triggered the drum sound and the dynamics of your playing. You can playback the part, and edit it in various ways.

Data is retained in memory even if the power is turned off. If the memory fills up withdrum Patterns and Songs, this data can be saved permanently to MIDI SystemExclusive storage devices.

The Performance Pad also includes a library of preset rhythm Patterns prepared byprofessional drummers for those who want to start creating Songs in the fastest andeasiest way possible.

1.2 GROUND RULES

The Performance Pad consists of two main elements:

The drum sounds themselves, recorded using 16-bit resolution (the same resolutionas CDs). For additional realism, many sounds use advanced "dynamic articulation"techniques so that these sounds, when hit loudly, have a different timbre than whenthey're hit softly.

• An internal computer to control and trigger the sounds. This computer simulates anadvanced, easily editable tape recorder.

The Performance Pad offers two main modes, Perform (for playback) and Compose (for recording). You can switch between these while the Performance Pad is playing,making it easy to test out different sounds without recording them and then drop backinto record mode.

1.2A The Pattern/Song Recording Method

When recording with a drum station, it's often easier to divide a song into shorter

individual Patterns and work on these rather than record an entire song. A typicalPattern might be 8, 16, or 32 beats long, and correspond to a verse, chorus, bridge,instrumental, intro, etc. While recording these Patterns, the Performance Pad will be inPattern mode . The Performance Pad holds 50 Preset (i.e., can't be edited) Patternsand 50 user-programmable Patterns, each of which can be from 1 to 128 beats long.

After perfecting these Patterns, Song mode offers two ways to create a song:

• Program a list of Patterns, in the order in which they are to be played.• Select Patterns in real time, and the Performance Pad will remember yourperformance.

The Performance Pad stores up to 100 User-programmable Songs.

Breaking a song into Patterns saves time since elements of a song often repeat.

Example: The second verse might have the same drum pattern as the first verse.Rather than record the same Pattern twice, simply record one Pattern, then list it twicewhen assembling a Song. This also saves memory (thus leaving room for morePatterns and Songs) since listing a Song step takes up much less memory thanrecording a Pattern.


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1.2B The Four Different Types of Patterns

The Performance Pad introduces exciting new Song construction techniques. The

Performance Pad excels at live performance—something usually not associated withdrum machines. The key to using these advanced features is to understand thedifferent types of available Patterns.

• Preset Patterns provide a variety of rock, jazz, pop, and other rhythms programmedby professional drummers.

• User Patterns are Patterns you can program, edit, and save. The Preset/User buttonselects between these two master banks of Presets. The only way to modify a PresetPattern is to copy it to a User Pattern, where it can be edited.

There are 50 of each type of Pattern, numbered 00-49. However, each numbered

Pattern actually contains four different "sub-Patterns":

• A pair of independent Main Patterns (A and B, selected by their respective buttons).

• A pair of associated Fill Patterns (A Fill and B Fill, selected by pressing the FILLbutton when either A or B is selected). The Fills primarily provide transitional Patternsbetween Main Patterns, which makes for more realistic drum parts. The associated FillPatterns share the same length, Drum Set, and name as their Main Patterns (e.g., if Ais 16 beats, A Fill is 16 beats). Otherwise, they are independent.

The reason for pairing the two different A and B Patterns together is simply so that you

can switch back and forth between them rapidly in live performance or whileimprovising. However, A and B Patterns can be treated as completely independentPatterns if desired and can have different lengths, Drum Sets, etc.

Always think of the Main Pattern and its associated Fill as a unit. For example, if youcopy a Main Pattern to another Main Pattern, its Fill will travel along with it.

Note that even though there are "only" 50 Patterns, the A and B variations double thatto 100 Patterns, and the Fills double that again to 200 Patterns. Added to the PresetPatterns, 400 total Patterns are available.

1.2C How "Looping" Simplifies Recording

To simplify recording in Compose mode, a Pattern will "loop" over and over again.Example: Suppose you want to record an 8-beat pattern. While recording, the patternwill record through all 8 beats, then immediately jump back to the beginning andcontinue recording through all 8 beats again. The Performance Pad will remain inrecord mode, and continue to loop, until you press STOP or switch over to Performmode. You will hear any previously-played parts as you record new parts. You canalso erase drum hits while the pattern is looping to correct for errors.


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1.2D What's a Voice?

Each of the 8 large pads triggers a voice . A voice is a sound-generating element with

several variable parameters: Drum sound, tuning, volume, and MIDI note number.

Each pad is velocity-sensitive: the harder you hit the pad, the louder the drum soundassigned to the pad will play. Thanks to the dynamic articulation techniques mentionedearlier, the timbre will often change as well, just like "real" drums.

There are eight levels of pad volume resolution, from soft to loud. However, whenusing the Performance Pad as a drum sound expander and triggering sounds viaMIDI, they respond to all 127 MIDI volume levels.

1.2E About Defaults

A default is a setting that is automatically assumed until you purposely change it.(Example: When you turn on a VCR, it automatically defaults to Stop—you have topurposely tell the machine to go into Record or Play. Stop is therefore the VCR'spower-up default status.)

The Performance Pad includes a default setup that assigns particular drum sounds toparticular voices (pads), at certain level and pan settings. The default drum soundassignments are explained. However, you can change these defaults and come upwith any type of "drum set" you'd like.

Defaults save time by giving you a setup that's instantly ready to go; sometimes you'll

need to change only a few parameters to customize the default setup to your liking.

Often the default is "whatever was selected last." (Example: If the Performance Padwas in Pattern mode and Pattern 23 was selected when you turned off thePerformance Pad, the next time the Performance Pad powers up it will be in Patternmode with Pattern 23 selected.)


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1.2F Physical Layout

The Performance Pad includes seven main types of controls, along with a group of

connectors (located on the back panel). The control groups (see diagram) are:

• Pads. Striking each pad triggers a voice.

• Function buttons. These six buttons select various functions, some of which includemultiple "pages" of options.

• Tempo/Page buttons. These alter the tempo and also select different "pages" presentin the Drum Set, Record Setup, MIDI Setup, and Util functions.

• Pattern select buttons. These choose between the A, B, and Fill variations for aPattern.

• Mode buttons. These choose between Pattern and Song modes, Perform (playback)and Compose (record) modes, and the Preset and User patterns.

• "Tape recorder" buttons. These control playback and stop, and work similarly to atape recorder.

• Display and data entry buttons. The display informs you of the instrument's status,and also prompts you for data from time to time. A detailed description of the displayfollows shortly. The data entry buttons include number entry buttons (0-9) and uparrow (increment, or INC) and down arrow (decrement, or DEC). The latter increase ordecrease parameter values on step at a time.

• Volume knob (on back of Performance Pad). This knob regulates the volume of theentire unit.


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1.2G Display Layout

The LCD is divided into several "windows." Each window contains information that

helps you monitor the Performance Pad's status, and/or indicates what type of datashould be entered.

• Name, "dialog" box, real time Song/Pattern readout, beat counter. This is the mostcommonly-used area of the display. It shows Pattern and Song names, the beatcounter if a Pattern or Song is playing, and the Pattern (including A/B/Fill/Preset orUser designators) that is currently playing in Song mode. When acting as a "dialogbox," it lists parameters and the value to be edited (e.g., MIDI channel and the channelnumber).

• Pattern/Song readout (also Drum Set edit and drum pad readout). This shows theselected Song or Pattern number; with Patterns, the A/B/Fill/Preset or Userdesignators are also shown. If you have edited a Drum Set to which a particularPattern was assigned, the display also shows DRUMSET EDITED. In operations thatrequire selecting a drum pad, this window displays the drum pad number.

• Press PLAY. For some operations, it is necessary to press the PLAY button toconfirm a particular operation, such as copy or erase. This portion of the display willsay PRESS PLAY if it is necessary to press PLAY to complete an operation.

• Page number and tempo display. When stopped or running, this shows the currenttempo and includes a visual metronome block that flashes on the beat. For functionsthat have multiple "pages" of parameters (Drum Set, Record Setup, MIDI Setup, andUtil), this portion of the display shows the currently selected page number.

• Compose/Perform. This indicates whether the Performance Pad is in Compose or

Perform mode.

• Click. In Compose mode, shows the current click rhythm in standard music notation(or OFF if click is off).

• Quantize. In Compose mode, shows the current quantization rhythm in standardmusic notation (or OFF if quantization is off).

• Selected function. This shows which function is currently selected: Drum Set, RecordSetup, MIDI Setup, Util, or Step Edit.

• Swing. In Compose mode, shows the current swing rhythm, expressed as apercentage (or OFF if swing is off).

• Play/Record. If the Performance Pad is playing and in Compose mode, this will sayRECORDING. If the Performance Pad is playing and in Perform mode, this will sayPLAYING.

Name, "Dialog" box, Real

time Song/Pattern readout,

beat counter

Quantize

Selected Function

Swing

Click

Play/Record

Compose

Perform

Page number

and Tempo

display

Press Play

Pattern/Song

readout (also

drum set edit)


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1.4 10 STEPS TO INSTANT GRATIFICATION (SETUP AND CHECKOUT)

1. Connect the Main outputs (either left or right for a mono monitoring system, or both

for stereo) to a high-quality musical instrument amplifier, PA, or plug the includedheadphones into the headphone output on the back of the Performance Pad. The ampand Performance Pad volume control (on back) should be all the way down (counter-clockwise).

2. Leave the MIDI OUT jack (rear panel) disconnected for now.

3. Plug the Performance Pad's AC adapter into the wall. The smaller plug inserts inthe 9V AC Power jack on the back.

4. Turn on the rear panel On/Off switch, then turn on the amplifier.

5. The LCD will show a sign-on message. The upper right of the display should sayPATTERN and not SONG; if it shows SONG, press the PATTERN/SONG button andthe display will show PATTERN.

PRESS PLAY

TEMPO

PERFORM

EMPTY

PATT

PATTERN

A

USER

6. Start striking the pads with the drumsticks. Adjust the volume control for acomfortable listening level, and check out the sounds.

7. To hear the built-in demo, hold down the PATTERN/SONG button and press PLAY.To stop the demo, press STOP. If you want to play along with the demo, feel free tobash away on the pads.

8. Press PLAY, and you'll hear a Preset Pattern. (In case the Performance Pad hasalready been played with, make sure that the display shows PERFORM and does not show USER before continuing. To choose Perform mode, press thePERFORM/COMPOSE button until the Perform/Compose section of the display showsPERFORM). To choose Preset rather than User Patterns, press the PRESET/USER

button until the display does not show USER. If USER is not showing, then PresetPatterns are selected.


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PRESS PLAY

TEMPO

PERFORM

BEAT 001

PATTERN

A

USER

PLAYING

9. Try the following:

• Enter a two-digit number between 00-49 using the number keys, then press PLAY.

• Press the INC (up arrow) button to select the next higher-numbered Preset Pattern. Itwill play at the end of the current Pattern.

• Press the DEC (down arrow) button to select the next lower-numbered PresetPattern.

• Press the B button to select the B variation of the selected Pattern.

• Press the A button to select the A variation of the selected Pattern.

• Press FILL briefly while a Main (A or B) Pattern is playing. Note how the Main Patternswitches from either A to B or B to A after the Fill has played.

• Press FILL and hold it down until after the Fill has played. If the FILL button is helddown past the next downbeat, the Fill's associated Main Pattern (A or B) continues toplay rather than switch from A to B or B to A.

• Press the TEMPO/PAGE buttons to change the tempo.


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CHAPTER 2: RECORD SETUP

Several parameters are often adjusted prior to recording a Pattern, such asmetronome, Pattern length, etc. General instructions are:

1. Press the RECORD SETUP button.

2. Use the PAGE (up and down) buttons to select different "pages" of functions; thedisplay's lower right window shows the page number. These pages are describedbelow.

3. Adjust values on pages, if necessary, as described for each page.

4. After making all needed changes, press RECORD SETUP again to exit, or chooseanother page.

One of the pages, Step Mode, contains several sub-pages.

2.1 PAGE 1: SELECT THE QUANTIZATION VALUE (QUANTIZE SELECT)

The display shows QUANTIZE SELECT and a note icon in the lower left Quantizewindow.

PAGE

QUANTIZESELECT

SETUPRECORD

QUANTIZE

The note icon displays the quantization value in standard rhythmic notation. Enter thedesired quantization value with the INC/DEC or number buttons (1 = quarter note, 2 =quarter note triplet, 3 = 8th note, 4 = 8th note triplet, 5 = 16th note, 6 = 16th notetriplet, 7 = 32nd note, 8 = 32nd note triplet, 9 and 0 = Off, equivalent to 1/384th noteresolution).


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KEYPAD

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9, 0

NOTE VALUE

1/4

1/6

1/8

1/12

1/16

1/24

1/32

1/48

1/384

=

=

=

=

=

=

=

=

=

=

=

=

=

=

=

=

=

=

NOTE NAME QUARTER NOTE

QUARTER NOTE TRIPLET

EIGHTH NOTE

EIGHTH NOTE TRIPLET

16th NOTE

16th NOTE TRIPLET

32nd NOTE

32nd NOTE TRIPLET

384th NOTE

=

=

=

=

=

=

=

=

=

3

3

3

3

off

DISPLAY

Quantization shifts your playing to the specified beat while you play, so choose thedesired value before playing out your rhythms. Remember that you can also changequantization while recording if, for example, you want to record snare with eighth notequantization but high-hats with 16th note quantization.

Note: The quantize value also sets the step length in Step Edit mode (section 2.9).

Background As you record a Pattern, quantization shifts all drum events to thenearest selected rhythmic value to eliminate small timing errors. ( Example: With aquantize value of 1/16, all drum events you play will be shifted to the nearest 16thnote.)

Quantization is most effective when used sparingly. If you're recording a drum part,quantize the kick and snare, but try recording the hi-hat in real time (or quantize the hi-hat, and record the snare in real time). Another trick is to combine both quantized andnon-quantized parts. (Example: hand claps often sound too mechanical whenquantized—when humans clap hands, you end up with a bunch of different sounds

happening within a few milliseconds of each other. A good way to simulate this effect(yet still have a rock-solid rhythm) is to record a quantized hand claps part, then turnoff quantization and try to double the part. Sometimes what you overdub will be righton the beat, but sometimes it will be off by just enough to add that human touch.)


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2.2 PAGE 2: SELECT THE SWING VALUE (SWING SELECT)

The display shows SWING SELECT; the Swing window shows the swing value.

SWING

PAGE

SELECTSETUPRECORD

SWINGOFF

Enter the desired swing percentage with the INC/DEC or number buttons (1 = 54%, 2= 58%, 3 = 62%, 4-0 = Swing Off).

Swing shifts notes as specified while you record, so choose the desired value beforeplaying out your rhythms.

Background Swing affects the timing of pairs of equal-value notes. Each notenormally defaults to taking up 50% of the total duration of both notes; adding swinglengthens the first note of the pair, and to keep the total duration of both notes thesame, shortens the second note of the pair. This imparts the kind of feel found inshuffles and some jazz tunes. ( Example: With Swing set to 62%, the first note of thepair takes up 62% of the total duration of the pair of notes, while the second note takesup 38% of the total duration.)


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2.3 PAGE 3: ENABLE CLICK (METRONOME) AND SET RHYTHM (CLICK SELECT)

The display shows CLICK SELECT; the Click window shows the click's rhythmic

value.

CLICK

PAGE

SELECTSETUP

RECORD

CLICK

Enter the click value with the INC/DEC or number buttons (1 = quarter note, 2 =quarter note triplet, 3 = 8th note, 4 = 8th note triplet, 5 = 16th note, 6 = 16th notetriplet, 7-0 = Click Off).

The click is audible only in Compose mode.

2.4 PAGE 4: SET CLICK (METRONOME) VOLUME (CLICK VOL)

The display shows CLICK VOL and a two-digit number representing click volume (00 = inaudible, 99 = maximum volume). Enter the desired click level with the INC/DEC ornumber buttons.


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2.5 PAGE 5: ADD/REMOVE BEATS FROM PATTERN END (LENGTH)

This option either adds beats to, or subtracts beats from, the end of the Pattern. The

Pattern length can be set prior to, or after, recording. Shortening a Pattern's end pointerases any drum events that fall outside the remaining part of the Pattern; lengtheninga Pattern's end point adds silence at the end of a Pattern. It is also important to notethat changing a Pattern's length also changes the length of the associated Fill Pattern.

The display says ### BEAT and LENGTH. This indicates a Pattern's length in beats(quarter notes). Enter the desired length with the INC/DEC or number buttons (thismust be a three digit number; enter leading zeroes if necessary). To preventaccidental length alteration, you must press PLAY before the Performance Pad willstore the new Pattern length. The display shows CHANGED LENGTH for as long asPLAY is pressed.

Background Odd time signatures are not a problem since Patterns can be anynumber of beats (up to 128). (Example: For a measure of 13/4 followed by a measureof 5/4, program a 13-beat Pattern and a 5-beat Pattern.)


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Drums offset to before the first beat "wrap around" to the end of the Pattern; drumsoffset past the end of the last beat "wrap around" to the beginning of the Pattern.

2.8 PAGE 8: STEP MODE RECORDING (STEP MODE)

The display shows STEP MODE? This is your "gateway" to step editing, whichprovides detailed Pattern editing and recording. To enter the step editor, press PLAY.

The display now shows the beat and sub-beat. If a drum event exists on this beat/sub-beat, the display will also show the drum pad that played the event and the eventvolume. If more than one drum event occurs on the same sub-beat, the PAGEUP/DOWN buttons step forward or backward respectively through each drum one at atime.

If no drum event exists on this

beat/sub-beat, the display willshow no pad number, andEMPTY in place of volume data.

To navigate through the steps atthe current quantization rate, usethe PAGE UP button to moveforward or PAGE DOWN tomove backward. If a drum existsbetween those beats that fall onthe current quantization value,

the drum will sound as you gopast it, but the display will notstop on that drum.

If swing is on, step mode will step in "swinged" increments (see section 2.2).

Background Step mode provides detailed Pattern editing. (Note that "step" does notrefer to Song steps, but to the steps in a Pattern that hold drum events.) You canmove through a Pattern one step at a time, stop at each event as desired, and deletethe event, add an event, or change an event's volume. While occasionally somewhattedious, Step Edit mode allows editing drum parts to your exact specifications.

Each step (also called a sub-beat) is 1/96th of a beat in duration, so at maximumresolution it takes 96 steps to "move through" a quarter note. To save time, you canstep through the Pattern at various note values, as set by the quantization value(which is why it's preferable to select the quantization rate at which the Pattern wasrecorded). Example: A 16th note consists of 24 sub-beats, so setting the quantizationvalue to 1/16 lets you step through the Pattern 24 sub-beats at a time. The followingchart relates the number of sub-beats to note/quantization values.

001/00VOL 8 DRUM

STEPEDIT

QUANTIZE SWING OFF


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NOTE VALUE

1/4

1/6

1/8

1/12

1/16

1/24

1/32

1/48

=

=

=

=

=

=

=

=

NOTE NAME QUARTER NOTE

QUARTER NOTE TRIPLET

EIGHTH NOTE

EIGHTH NOTE TRIPLET

16th NOTE

16th NOTE TRIPLET

32nd NOTE

32nd NOTE TRIPLET

SUB-BEATS

96

64

48

32

24

16

12

8

=

=

=

=

=

=

=

=3

3

3

3

=

=

=

=

=

=

=

=

The following sections summarize the step edit options.

2.8A Add a New Drum to a Step

Use the PAGE buttons to select the step where the drum is to be added. Press thepad that corresponds to the sound you want to add. That drum, along with its volume(how hard the pad was struck), will be recorded into the displayed step.

If you hit a pad and there is already a drum event played by that pad on the displayedstep, you will edit the volume rather than add another event. This is true even if thereare several events on the displayed beat, and an event other than the one to be editedis showing.

2.8B Erase a Drum Sound From a Step

Use the PAGE buttons to locate the step containing the drum to be erased. Press theERASE button and PLAY button simultaneously. The drum that was being displayedwill be erased.

2.8C Change a Drum Sound's Volume in a Given Step

Use the PAGE buttons to select the step containing the drum whose volume needs tobe changed. Either press a number button from 1-8 (1=softest, 8=loudest), use theINC/DEC buttons, or tap the displayed drum pad at the desired level. If you play a padto change the level and there are several events on the same step, the display neednot show the specific drum whose volume you want to edit.

2.8D Exit Step Mode

To exit step mode, press STOP, RECORD SETUP, or PLAY.


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2.9 PAGE 9: NAME THE PATTERN (NAME)

The display shows NAME and

the current name (or NO NAME ifthe Pattern has not yet beennamed). To name, use the PAGEUP/DOWN buttons to select thecharacter to be changed; selectthe desired character with theINC/DEC buttons. Lower caseand upper case letters, numbers,punctuation, and various special-purpose characters are available.You can also enter numbers withthe number buttons.

NO NAME

PAGE

NAMESETUPRECORD

PATTERN A

PERFORM


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CHAPTER 3: PLAYING BACK/RECORDING PATTERNS

3.1

PLAYBACK/RECORD BASICS

The PATTERN/SONG buttonchooses between Pattern andSong modes. For all of thefollowing Pattern operations,Pattern mode must be selected,as confirmed by the display.

3.1A Perform/Compose Modes

The Performance Pad doesn't have a record button. Instead, press PLAY to start thePattern, then select either Perform or Compose mode (as selected by thePERFORM/COMPOSE button).

To record, choose Compose mode (as shown in the display). This also activates theclick.

To listen, choose Perform (this

de-activates the click). You candrop in and out of these twomodes as you record. (If youswitch from A to B or to a fill,though, you will not be able toswitch between Compose andPerform until the Pattern isstopped.) While thePerformance Pad is in eithermode, you can change Patternquantization, swing, click

rhythm and volume, padvelocity response, name,drumset, drumset parameters,and MIDI parameters. You cantherefore keep the groove goingat all times, even while youmake adjustments prior torecording another part.

NOTE: Compose mode cannot be selected when using Preset Patterns,since they cannot be altered. If you wish to alter one of the PresetPatterns, copy it to an empty User Pattern first. (see section 3.3A)

PATTERN

A

PRESS PLAY

TEMPO

PERFORM

ROCK 1

PATTERN

USER

A

TEMPORECORDING

COMPOSE

QUANTIZE SWING OFF

CLICK

BEAT 001


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3.1B Set Pattern Tempo

The tempo range extends from 20 to 255 beats per minute. Tempo can be changed

while the Performance Pad is stopped or running. There are two ways to set tempo.

• Before initiating Pattern play, tap the STOP button several times at the desiredtempo. The Performance Pad will average the time between taps and derive a tempo;the display will update the tempo with each tap. This technique works only if thePerformance Pad is stopped.

• Use the TEMPO/PAGE up and down buttons. Press once to increment/decrement 1BPM at a time, or press and hold to scroll through the tempo values.

Background While in Pattern mode, the tempo remains as is until changed because

the tempo is a global setting—it is not stored with individual Patterns. If you switchover to Song mode (Chapter 5) and the programmed Song tempo is different, thePerformance Pad will assume the Song's tempo—even if you switch back into Patternmode—until the tempo is changed again (either manually, or by selecting a differentSong).

3.1C Select Individual Patterns

1. Make sure the Performance Pad is in Pattern mode.

2. Enter a two-digit Pattern number (remember to enter a leading 0 if necessary).

3. Press the A button to select the A Main Pattern, or B to select the B Main Pattern.To select a Fill Pattern, first select the desired Main Pattern (A or B) then press the FillButton.

4. Press PRESET/USER to select either a Preset or User Pattern.

When a Main Pattern reaches its end, it will loop back to the beginning and continueplaying from that point unless you select a new Pattern, selected a Fill Pattern initially,or stop the Pattern (section 3.1E).

3.1D Stop/Restart a Pattern

1. To stop the Pattern, press STOP.

2. To restart the Pattern from the beginning, press PLAY. Pressing PLAY will alwaysrestart a Pattern from the beginning, regardless of whether the Pattern is stopped oralready playing.


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3.1E Select New Patterns While in Perform (Playback) Mode

In Perform mode, you can select a new Pattern number (with the desired A or B

designator) or switch from A to B Patterns within a Pattern number at any time. Thenewly-selected Pattern will play back as soon as the current Pattern plays through itsentire length. The display shows the Pattern to be played next.

To select a new Pattern inPerform mode, enter the two-digit Pattern number. If an APattern is currently playing, thenew Pattern number will play theA variation. If a B Pattern iscurrently playing, the newPattern number will play the B

variation.

You can also enter a two-digitPattern number followed by A orB or PRESET/USER to call upan A or B or Preset or User Pattern, regardless of the Pattern that is currently playing.Fills are a special case that will be discussed next.

Notes

• If you change your mind or select the wrong Pattern, you can select a new Pattern

number at any time before the next Pattern begins.

• If you press STOP before the next Pattern begins playing, the Performance Pad willstop and remain on the currently selected Pattern.

• Shortcut: To choose the next higher-numbered Pattern than the one in the display,press the INC button (if 49 is the current Pattern, pressing INC calls up Pattern 00). Tochoose the next lower-numbered Pattern than the one in the display, press the DECbutton (if 00 is the current Pattern, pressing DEC calls up Pattern 49).

• If you select a new Pattern and press PLAY, it will immediately start playing the nextPattern.

3.1F Select Fill Patterns in Perform (Playback) Mode

Fill Patterns are the key to creating expressive drum parts. However, Fill is asophisticated feature that requires some explanation.

Remember that Fills are always the same length, and use the same Drum Set, as theassociated Main Pattern. This lets you "drop in" a Fill at any time. As soon as youpress the FILL button, the Fill takes over from the Main Pattern and starts playing untilthe end of the Fill.

Generally, Fills are transitional Patterns. (Example: Suppose an 8-beat A MainPattern is playing and you press the FILL button on beat 4. The A Fill Pattern will playthe 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 Performance Pad willtransition to the A Main Pattern.) You can select the Fill at any time the Main Pattern isplaying.

However, Fills do not have to be transitional Patterns. If you press the FILL buttonbefore the Fill has finished playing and hold it down until after the Fill has played (i.e.,

PATTERN

A

PRESS PLAY

TEMPO

PERFORM

003 NEXTPATT24

PLAYING

USER

B


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past the downbeat of the next Pattern), the Performance Pad will return to the originalMain Pattern. (Example: Suppose an 8-beat A Main Pattern is playing and you pressthe FILL button on beat 4 but hold it down past beat 8. The A Fill Pattern will play thelast 4 beats, then the Performance Pad will return to the A Main Pattern.)

Fills cannot start on the downbeat since a Fill, by definition, starts at some point intothe Main Pattern. However, anything you record on the Fill downbeat will play on thefirst downbeat following the Fill (i.e., the downbeat of the next Pattern). To show whythis is a useful feature, consider that when coming out of a fill, you'll often want to hitsomething like a cymbal crash on the downbeat of the next Pattern yet not have thatcrash repeat every time the Pattern plays. This way of handling Fills lets the downbeatcymbal crash be part of the Fill instead of the Pattern.

Background This way of handling Patterns explains the logic behind having A, B, andFill Patterns. In typical pop tunes, A would be the verse and B the chorus. A Fillprovides the Fill that transitions from verse to chorus, and B Fill provides the Fill that

transitions from chorus to verse. Thus, one of the numbered Patterns may be all youneed to put together a tune.

This structure makes it possible to put together songs in minutes using the PresetPatterns. It also makes it easy to play drum parts live. For example, if there's a solohappening over the A Main Pattern, you can keep the Pattern repeating until the solois about to end, at which point you select the Fill that leads out of the A Main Pattern.

3.1G Record a Pattern

An empty Pattern defaults to an 8 beat length, with 16th note quantization and swing

off (50%). If you need to change the length, it's best (though not essential) to do sobefore recording. Other parameters can be changed while you're recording.

To record, select the desired User Pattern. Select Compose mode and press PLAY.Remember that you can switch between Compose and Perform while recording. (Ifyou switch from A to B or to a fill, though, you will not be able to switch betweenCompose and Perform until the Pattern is stopped.)

As you record, the display will show the current beat number and the tempo indicatorwill flash at the current tempo. You will hear any drum sounds already recorded in thecurrently selected Pattern.

To record drum parts into the Pattern, strike the drum pads, or send MIDI data to thePerformance Pad (sections 6.1 and 6.2) that triggers corresponding drum notes. ThePattern will "loop" during the record process so that you can overdub different drumson different passes.

To exit Record mode, press STOP. Pressing PLAY while in Compose mode will re-start the Pattern from the beginning; the Performance Pad remains in record mode.

Note: When sending MIDI data into the drums when the Performance Pad is notrecording (i.e., the Performance Pad serves as a drum sound expander module), thedrum sounds respond to 127 different levels of dynamics. However, if MIDI is used as

a trigger during the recording process, the Pattern will "quantize" the incoming level tothe nearest of eight levels—the same eight levels produced by striking the pads atvarious levels.


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3.1H Select New Patterns and Fills While in Compose (Record) Mode

In Compose mode, Main Pattern selection works in the same manner as Perform

mode—select a Pattern number (with the desired A or B designator), and the newly-selected Pattern will play back as soon as the current Pattern plays through its entirelength. The display will show the Pattern to be played next.

In Perform mode, Fills are transitional Patterns. If you press FILL in Compose mode, aFill will continue playing—not transition to a different Pattern when it's finishedplaying—so you can record into it, like a standard Pattern. Remember, as mentionedearlier, that the Fill also plays the downbeat of the next Pattern.


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3.2 ERASE FUNCTIONS

3.2A Erase Mistakes While Recording

While the Performance Pad is recording, you can erase any individual drum event tofix up errors. Erasure occurs only on those beats that coincide with the currentquantization and swing values. In other words, when you want to erase an event,make sure the values for quantization and swing are the same as they were when youcreated those events.

1. The Performance Pad should be in Compose mode and recording.

2. To erase a single event, hold down the ERASE button and press the correspondingpad on that single event.

3.2B Erase an Entire Pattern

If you erase both Main and Fill Patterns associated with a numbered Pattern, or youerase a Main or Fill Pattern and the other is empty, the Drum Set assignment (but notits Drum Set parameters), name, and length will revert to the default settings (i.e., theDrum Set with the same number as the Pattern, EMPTY PATTERN as the name, anda length of 8 beats). However, as long as either a Main or Fill Pattern containspreviously-programmed data, the numbered Pattern will remember the Drum Setassignment, name, and length.

1. The Performance Pad must be in Pattern mode and stopped to allow erasing a

Pattern.

2. Enter the two-digit Pattern number to be erased with the number or INC/DECbuttons.

3. Press and hold the ERASE button. The display says PATTERN ERASE?

4. While continuing to hold the ERASE button, press PLAY. The display saysPATTERN ERASED, followed by FILL ERASE?.

5. While continuing to hold the ERASE button, press PLAY again. The display willread FILL ERASED.

6. Release both buttons.


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3.3 COPY FUNCTIONS

The following Copy functions assume that you are copying a Main Pattern to a Main

Pattern (remember, copying a Main Pattern to another Main Pattern copies the Fillalong with it). Other combinations take the following rules into account.

• Copying a Main Pattern to a non-empty Pattern or to itself appends the Fill to theexisting Fill, as well as appends the Main Pattern to the existing Main Pattern.

• If you copy from Main to Fill (or vice-versa) within a particular numbered Pattern, thedestination will be erased and replaced with the source Pattern since Main and FillPatterns must have the same length. This is useful if you want the Fill to containvariations on the Main Pattern—just copy the Main to Fill and make youradditions/changes.

• Copying a Fill to a Fill follows the same rules as copying a Main Pattern to a Fill.• The only copy technique that appends a Pattern to another Pattern is copying a MainPattern to another Main Pattern.

3.3A Copy, Append, and Double Patterns

1. The Performance Pad should be in Pattern mode and stopped.

2. Select the Pattern to be copied.

3. Press and hold the COPY button, and keep holding it down until step (6). The

display says COPY TO PATT.

4. Enter the destination Pattern number into which the current Pattern will be copiedwith the INC/DEC or number buttons.

• Copying a Pattern to a blank destination Pattern replaces the blank Pattern with theoriginal Pattern data.

• Copying to a Pattern that already contains data appends the original data to the endof the data in the destination Pattern. If this would result in a Pattern with more than128 beats, the display will say TOO MANY BEATS.

• Copying a Pattern to itself doubles the length.• The Drum Set assignment and Pattern name are copied along with the drum dataonly if the destination Pattern is empty.

5. Press PLAY. The display says COPY DONE.

6. Release the COPY and PLAY buttons.


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CHAPTER 4: CREATING DRUM SETS

The Performance Pad's 8 pads can be assigned to various drum sounds, with differentlevels, tuning, panning, and triggering mode. Each set of pad parameters is given anumber and collectively are called a Drum Set; each A and B user Pattern can have itsown Drum Set assignment. There are 50 preset Drum Sets and 50 user-programmable Drum Sets. Drum Set assignments have their own dedicated memoryand can be thought of as equivalent to the "programs" or "patches" found insynthesizers.

Note that if you edit a Drum Set, any Pattern using that Drum Set will be affected. MostPerformance Pad aficionados keep a one-to-one correspondence between Drum Setsand Patterns by assigning Set 00 to Pattern 00, Set 01 to Pattern 01, Set 02 to Pattern02, etc.

General instructions for Drum Set construction are:

1. Press the DRUM SET button.

2. Use the Page (up and down) buttons to select different "pages" of functions; thedisplay's lower right window shows the page number. These pages are describedbelow.


4. After making all needed changes, save the Drum Set if desired (Page 8), then press

DRUM SET again to exit (or choose another page).

4.1 PAGE 1: SELECT DRUM SET (DRUMSET SELECT)

The display shows DRUMSET SELECT, the currently selected Drum Set number, andwhether the Preset or User Drum Set bank is currently selected.

PAGE

DRUMSETSELECTDRUM SET

DRUM

USER

SET

1. Press the PRESET/USER button to choose the desired bank of Drum Sets.

2. Enter the desired Drum Set number (from 00 to 49) with the number or INC/DECbuttons. With the number buttons, enter a leading zero if necessary.

3. User Patterns will remember the selected Drum Set assignments (Preset Patternshave fixed Drum Set assignments; if you exit from the Preset Pattern, the PerformancePad will forget any assignment you made).


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4.2 PAGE 2: ASSIGN SOUNDS TO PADS

The display shows the currently selected pad number and the sound assigned to that

pad.

FATSNARE

PAGE

001DRUM SET

DRUM

You can assign any of the Performance Pad's sounds to any of the pads, or to morethan one pad. Each individual Drum Set can have its own drum sound assignment.

To assign a sound to a pad:

1. Hit the pad.

2. Enter the desired drum sound number with the number or INC/DEC buttons.

3. When the display confirms your choice, either store the edited Drum Set (seesection 4.8) or do more assignments by striking another pad to select it, and assigninga drum sound to it.

4.3 PAGE 3: SET PAD VOLUME (VOLUME)

The display shows VOLUME, the currently selected pad number, and the volume ofthe sound assigned to that pad.

VOLUME

PAGE

99DRUM SET

DRUM

To change the volume associated with a given pad:

1. Press the pad (the display will show the pad number).

2. Enter the desired volume, from 00 (full off) to 99 (maximum volume), with thenumber or INC/DEC buttons.

3.When the display confirms your choice, either store the edits you've made (seesection 4.8) or do more assignments by striking another pad to select it, then assigningthe pad volume.


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4.4 PAGE 4: SET PAD STEREO POSITION (PANNING)

The display shows PANNING, the currently selected pad number, and the pan position

assigned to that pad. (Note the cute little arrows indicating pan position; they movewhen you pan the drum sound.)

PAGE

PANNING

DRUM SET

DRUM

To change the pan position associated with a given pad:


2. Enter the desired pan position, from full left to full right, using either the number orINC/DEC buttons. The seven available pan positions correspond to the numberbuttons shown in parenthesis: hard left (1), soft left (2), left of center (3), center (4),right of center (5), soft right (6), and hard right (7).

3. When the display confirms your choice, either store the edited Drum Set (seesection 4.8) or do more assignments by striking another pad to select it, then assigningthe pan position.

4.5 PAGE 5: SET PAD TUNING (TUNING)

The display shows TUNING, the currently selected pad number, and the tuningassigned to that pad.

TUNING

PAGE

+3DRUM SET

DRUM

To change the tuning associated with a given pad:


2. Enter the desired tuning with the INC/DEC buttons. The range is from +3 (mostsharp) to 0 (normal pitch) to -4 (most flat).

3. When the display confirms your choice, either store the edits (see section 4.8) or domore assignments by striking another pad to select it, then assigning the new tuning.


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4.6 PAGE 6: SET TRIGGERING MODE (ASN MODE)

The display shows ASN MODE (short for Assignment Mode), the currently selected

pad number, and the mode assigned to that pad.

PAGE

ASN MODEMULTI

DRUM SET

DRUM

To change the mode associated with a given pad:


2. Enter the desired mode with the INC/DEC buttons or number buttons 1-4.

3. When the display confirms your choice, either store the edited Drum Set (seesection 4.8) or do more assignments by striking another pad to select it, then changingthe new assignment mode.

Background Each mode affects triggering in a different way:

Multi: When hitting a pad repeatedly, each hit will cause the sound to go through itsentire decay. This is useful with cymbals, since early strikes will continue to decay asyou play later strikes.

Single: When hitting a pad repeatedly, a new hit will automatically terminate anysound that is still decaying. This is useful with many percussion sounds (such astambourine, agogo, etc.).

Group 1 and 2: Pads assigned to a particular group (1 or 2) will cut each other off if agroup pad is struck while another pad assigned to the same group continues to sound.The classic use of this is with hi-hats; a closed high-hat will cut off an open hi-hat, andhitting an open hi-hat sound will cut off a closed hi-hat.

The Performance Pad can play up to 16 voices at a time, so it's possible to run out ofvoices if you play a flurry of notes and have lots of pads in the Multi assign mode. If 16sounds are playing and you ask the Performance Pad to play another one, the soundthat's closest to finishing its decay cycle will be "stolen" so that the most recent soundcan be played. In practice, it's difficult (and usually not artistically desirable!) to createdrum parts so complex that voice-stealing becomes a problem. However, if this is a

problem, try assigning all the toms to a group so that they only require one voice at atime.


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CHAPTER 5: SONG MODE

5.1 SONG MODE BASICS

After creating the Patterns that make up a Song, it's time to string those Patternstogether in a musically useful way. You can incorporate Preset Patterns, or acombination of Preset and User Patterns. There are three ways to create Songs:

• In real time. As the Performance Pad plays in Song Mode (with Compose modeselected), it will remember the Patterns and Fills you select.

• Manually. Select Song mode and program a list of Patterns and Fills in the order inwhich the Patterns are to be played. You can specify the beat and sub-beat on whichthe Fill takes over from the associated main Pattern.

• A combination of real time and manual recording. Create a Song in real time, thenedit it manually to insert extra Song steps, delete Song steps, etc.

The Performance Pad holds up to 100 Songs, and each Song can contain up to 254steps. Each step holds either a Pattern number or Fill. Each Song remembers thetempo at which it was last played.

5.1A Select Songs and Enter/Exit Song Mode

1. The Performance Pad should be in Song mode.

2. Select PERFORM mode.

3. Enter a two-digit Song number with the number or INC/DEC buttons. Song numbersmust always include two digits; enter a leading zero if necessary.

4. Press PLAY to begin playback. Press STOP to stop playback.

5. To exit Song mode and return to Pattern mode, first stop the Song with the STOPbutton, then press the PATTERN/SONG button.

5.1B Set Song Tempo

The tempo range extends from 20 to 255 beats per minute. Song tempo can bechanged while the Performance Pad is stopped or running, and the Song remembersthe last tempo that was chosen. There are two ways to set tempo.

1. Before pressing PLAY to start a Song, tap the STOP button several times at thedesired tempo. The Performance Pad will average the time between taps and derive atempo; the display will update the tempo with each tap. This will work only if thePerformance Pad is stopped.

2. Use the TEMPO/PAGE up and down buttons. Press once to increment/decrementrespectively 1 BPM at a time, or press and hold to scroll through the tempo values.

Background While in Pattern mode, the tempo remains as is until changed. If youswitch over to Song mode and the programmed Song tempo is different, thePerformance Pad will assume the Song's tempo—even if you switch back into Patternmode—until the tempo is changed again (either manually, or by selecting a differentSong).


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5.1C Continue, Re-start, or Jump to Next Song Step

• In Compose mode, if you stop a Song and then press PLAY, the Song will continue

from the first beat of the Pattern that was playing when STOP was pressed.• In Perform mode, if you stop a Song and then press PLAY, the Song will re-start fromthe beginning.

• In either Compose or Perform mode, press PLAY while the Song is playing toimmediately jump ahead to the next Song step. Its associated Pattern will begin on thedownbeat. This is a convenient way to "fast forward" over certain parts of a Song.

5.1D "Loop" a Pattern Indefinitely

In Song Perform mode, pressing and holding FILL until the end of a song step will

cause that step to repeat.

Examples: Use this feature if a soloist decides to take another few bars.

5.1E Start from the Middle of a Song

You need not start a Song from the beginning each time; in Compose mode, a Songcan start at any Song step.

1. Make sure the Performance Pad is in Compose mode, even if you don't plan torecord anything.

2. Use the INC/DEC buttons to select the Song step at which you want thePerformance Pad to start playing.

3. Press PLAY. The Performance Pad will start playing at the downbeat of the selectedSong step.

4. If you don't want to extend the Song length, go into Perform mode before reachingthe end of the Song. If you do want to extend the Song length, remain in Composemode.

5.1F Name a Song (NAME)

1. The Performance Pad can be in either Compose or Perform mode.

2. Press RECORD SETUP. If the Song has been named, the name will show on thetop line. If the Song has not been named, the display says NO NAME.

3. Enter the name using the PAGE UP/DOWN buttons to select the character to bechanged, and the INC/DEC buttons to select the desired character. Lower case andupper case letters, numbers, punctuation, and various special-purpose characters areavailable. You can also enter numbers with the number buttons.

5.1G Change Song Tempo as the Performance Pad Plays

To change the Song tempo as it plays, press the TEMPO/PAGE UP button to increasethe tempo, and the TEMPO/PAGE DOWN button to decrease the tempo.


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5.2 REAL TIME SONG CREATION

To create a Song in real time (this assumes an empty song):

1. (Optional) In Pattern mode, select the Pattern you want for the first Song step.

2. Select Song mode and the desired Song number.

3. Select Compose mode. The display will show STEP 01 and the contents of the step,which is currently END (if the first step says END, that indicates that the Song is emptysince it contains no data. If the first step shows a PATTern number, then the Song isnot empty).

4. If you did not perform step (1) above, enter the desired Pattern for step 1 (Preset orUser, A or B, A Fill or B Fill).

5. Press PLAY. If you performed step (1) above, the Pattern you selected will beginplaying. Otherwise, the Pattern specified in step (4) above will start playing.

6. If you enter a new Pattern number (Preset or User, A or B) while the first Pattern isplaying, the new Pattern will begin playing after the first Pattern has finished and bestored as another Song step in the Song. If you let the original Pattern keep playing, itwill add a new Song step with its Pattern number every time it repeats.

7. In addition to selecting different Patterns, you can press FILL at any time. ThePerformance Pad will remember where you pressed FILL.

As in Pattern mode, pressing FILL will automatically transition to the B Pattern if the APattern is currently playing (and vice versa), or will continue playing the same Patternif the FILL button is held past the end of the Fill.

A Fill can transition into any Pattern number, A or B, by specifying the Pattern beforethe end of the Fill and releasing FILL before the Fill has finished playing. If you holdFILL past the end of the Fill, the associated Main Pattern will continue playing and anyPattern you may have previously specified for the next Step will be forgotten.

5.2A Real Time Song Editing

If you have already recorded material in a Song, pressing PLAY while in Composemode will not allow recording until after the last Song step (as indicated by the displayswitching from PLAYING to RECORDING). However, you can overdub Fills at anytime, and these will be recorded in the Song where played. Under these conditions,holding FILL past the downbeat doesn't make any difference; the Patterns used inSong steps are not altered.


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5.3 MANUAL SONG CREATION

5.3A Enter a Pattern

1. Select Song mode and the desired Song number.

2. Select Compose mode. The display will show STEP 01 and the contents of the step,which is currently END (if the first step says END, that indicates that the Song is emptysince it contains no data. If the first step shows a PATTern number, then the Song isnot empty).

3. Enter a two-digit Pattern number with the number buttons. If desired, choosebetween the A/B variations and Preset/User options.

4. If you want to enter another Pattern, press the INC button to move to the next step;

or press the DEC button to return to a previous step and change its Pattern.

5.3B Add a Fill

1. With the Performance Pad in Song and Compose modes, select the step where theFill is to be added.

2. Press and hold the FILL button.

3. Enter the number of beats and sub-beats after the start of the current step in whichthe Fill is to start playing with the number buttons and INC/DEC buttons respectively. It

is not necessary to press PLAY; the step will remember where the Fill is to occur.4. As the Song plays the step where the Fill occurs, the display will show FILL whenthe Fill begins playing.

5.3C Remove a Fill

While in Compose mode, there are two ways to remove a Fill from a Song:

• When the Fill step appears, press the A button for an A Pattern or press the B buttonfor a B Pattern and the Fill will be removed.

• When the Fill step appears, press the FILL button and ERASE button simultaneously.

5.3D Insert a New Step Between Two Existing Song Steps

1. The Performance Pad should be in Song and Compose modes.

2. Use the INC/DEC buttons to select the step number that the inserted step shouldoccupy. (Example: To insert a step after step 04, select step 05.)

3. Press and hold COPY, and keep holding it down until step (6). The display says

INSERT.4. Enter the two-digit Pattern number to be inserted.

5. Press PLAY. The new step is inserted, and all subsequent steps are automaticallyre-numbered to reflect the addition of the inserted step (e.g., what used to be step 05is now step 06, what used to be step 06 is now step 07, etc.).

6. Release the INSERT and PLAY buttons.


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5.3E Delete a Step

1. The Performance Pad should be in Song and Compose modes.2. Use the INC/DEC buttons to select the step number to be deleted.

3. Press and hold ERASE. The display says ERASE STEP?

4. While continuing to hold ERASE, press PLAY. The step is deleted, and allsubsequent steps are automatically re-numbered to reflect the deletion of the insertedstep (e.g., what used to be step 06 is now step 05, what used to be step 07 is nowstep 06, etc.). The display says STEP ERASED for as long as the ERASE and PLAYbuttons are pressed.

5. Release the ERASE and PLAY buttons.

5.3F Replace a Step

1. The Performance Pad should be in Song and Compose modes.

2. Use the INC/DEC buttons to select the step number to be replaced.

3. Enter the new Pattern number (with appropriate A or B, Fill, or User/Preset options).Since the step is replaced, no renumbering of subsequent steps occurs.

5.3G Erase an Entire Song

1. The Performance Pad should be in Song and Perform modes.

2. Use the number buttons to select the Song to be erased.

3. Press and hold the ERASE button. The display says SONG ERASE?

4. While holding down the ERASE button, press PLAY. The display says SONGERASED and erasure is complete.

5. Release the ERASE and PLAY buttons.

5.3H Copy a Song to Itself (Double Song Length)

Copying a Song to itself doubles the Song's length.

1. The Performance Pad should be in Song and Perform modes.

2. Select the Song to be copied to itself with the number or INC/DEC buttons.

3. Press and hold the COPY button. The display says COPY TO SONG .

4. While continuing to hold the COPY button, enter the same Song number as the oneselected in step (2) and press PLAY. The copy is complete, and the display saysCOPY DONE.

5. Release the COPY and PLAY buttons.


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CHAPTER 6: MIDI SETUP

This menu accesses important MIDI functions. General instructions are:

1. Press the MIDI SETUP button.



4. After making all needed changes, press MIDI SETUP again to exit, or chooseanother page.

All the parameters on the following pages remain as set, even if you turn off power,until changed.

6.1 PAGE 1: TRANSMIT PATTERN DATA VIA MIDI

The display shows PAT. OUT. To have thePerformance Pad output MIDI pattern data whenplaying a Pattern/Song, use the INC/DECbuttons to select ON. Select OFF if you don'twant the Performance Pad to transmit patterndata.

Background Select ON to send Pattern datainto a sequencer for recording, or drive other drum sound expander modules. If thePerformance Pad is acting as a drum machine and provides the master clock to aMIDI system, select OFF so that other devices don't respond to the MIDI note data.

6.2 PAGE 2: SEND CLOCK DATA TO OTHER DEVICES (CLOCKOUT)

The display shows CLOCKOUT. To have thePerformance Pad generate timing data at itsMIDI out, use the INC/DEC buttons to selectON. Select OFF to inhibit MIDI timing signalsfrom appearing at the MIDI out jack.

Background The Performance Pad cangenerate timing signals to which other devicescan synchronize if:

• The external device (sequencer, drum machine, etc.) can respond to MIDI timingsignals.

• These signals go from the Performance Pad's MIDI out to the external device's MIDIin.

• CLOCKOUT is ON .

6.3 PAGE 3: TRANSMIT PAD HIT DATA VIA MIDI

The display shows PADS OUT. To have thePerformance Pad transmit MIDI note data whenyou strike the pads, use the INC/DEC buttons toselect ON. Select OFF to disable thetransmission of MIDI data when pads are hit.


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CHAPTER 7: UTILITY

7.1 ABOUT UTILITY

The Utility Menu allows you to save the Performance Pad Pattern, Song, and Drum Kitdata to MIDI system exclusive storage devices and check how much memory is left onthe Performance Pad. General instructions are:

1. Press the UTILITY button.



4. After performing the desired utility operation, press UTILITY again to exit, or chooseanother page.

7.2

PAGE 1: SEND DATA AS MIDI TO A MIDI SYS EX STORAGE DEVICE (SEND

OUT MIDI?)

The display shows SEND OUT MIDI? To convert the Performance Pad's Pattern andSong information into MIDI system exclusive data and send this data through the MIDIout, press the PLAY button. The display will say SENDING MIDI… to confirm that datais being sent. Typically, the MIDI out would connect to another device’s MIDI in or asystem exclusive data storage device. The Performance Pad data can take up to 35K,

allowing it to be captured by most system exclusive storage devices.

After the transfer is complete, the Performance Pad display reverts to either Song orPattern mode (whichever had been selected prior to saving).

Note that the Performance Pad does not have a MIDI IN port, but the data can beread by an Alesis SR16 drum machine.

7.3 PAGE 2: CHECK AVAILABLE MEMORY (FREE MEM)

When you select Page 2, the display

will show the approximate amount offree memory available (expressed asa percentage of the total amount).

Background It is important to checkmemory from time to time becausethe Performance Pad always requiressome free memory for properoperation. If the available memoryfalls below 15% or so, immediatelysave the Performance Pad's data as

previously described in this chapter.

Some operations may not be possible even if a small amount of memory is left. This isbecause the Performance Pad duplicates a Pattern before it is modified (lengthchange, offset change, etc.). If you try to alter a Pattern that takes up more memorythan is available, the display will tell you that there is no more memory left.

Immediately save the Performance Pad's data, and determine whether you can eraseany unwanted Patterns or Songs to free up some memory.


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CHAPTER 8: APPLICATIONS

8.1 MIDI SYNC APPLICATIONS

8.1A Performance Pad As MIDI Timing Master

The Performance Pad can control several other slave MIDI drum machines orsequencers by turning on MIDI Clock Out, which sends Performance Pad timinginformation down the MIDI line.

1. Turn on MIDI Clock Out (section 6.6).

2. Program the slave units to not follow their internal clocks, but to accept externalMIDI Clock and Start/Stop data. Refer to each device's manual to find out how to dothis. Enable the slave's Song Position Pointer if it is available.

3. Press PLAY on the Performance Pad. The slave units should start at the same time,and progress at the same tempo. If the slaves respond to Song Position Pointer, youcan start a Performance Pad Song at any point, and after a few seconds the slaveswill catch up and synchronize from that point on.

The following diagram shows a Performance Pad serving as the MIDI system masterclock, with a sampler device set as a slave. To slave the sampler (or any externaldevice accepting MIDI in) use a 5-pin MIDI cable to connect the MIDI OUT of thePerformance Pad to the MIDI IN of the device.

48 45 49 51

36 38 42 46


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8.2 STRATEGIES FOR ASSEMBLING PATTERNS AND SONGS

Ideally, you should be able to translate your inspirations into tangible form with a

minimum amount of effort. The following tips and techniques help speed up theprocess of creating Patterns and Songs.

8.2A Create Fills Quickly with the Copy Function

Many times a Fill will simply be a variation on another Pattern, but with a few minordifferences to add variety or serve different musical purposes. To save time, use theCopy function to copy the main Pattern to the Fill, then add variations to the Fill in realtime or with Step Edit mode.

8.2B Assemble Short Patterns into Longer Patterns with the Copy Function

It's less time-consuming to work with short Patterns, since you don't have to wait forthe entire Pattern to cycle through before overdubbing or "spot erasing" events. Afterassembling several short Patterns, use the copy function to append Patterns into alonger Pattern. (Example: Create four eight-beat Patterns, then use the copy functionto combine these into a single 32-beat Pattern.)

8.2C Save Memory Through Song Steps

Whenever possible, repeat Patterns using Song steps rather than program longPatterns. (Example: Suppose you have a 16-measure figure where the first threegroups of four measures are identical, and the final group of four measures providessome sort of variation. Recording this as one 16-measure Pattern will take up morememory than recording two Patterns (one of the first group of four measures and oneof the last group of four measures), and while in Song mode repeating the first groupthree times followed by the last group once.)

8.2D Odd Time Signatures

For time signatures based on quarter notes, changing the number of beats in a Patterncan also change the time signature. (Example: Programming a Pattern length sevenbeats long will yield a measure of 7/4. Programming a Pattern length 14 beats long willyield two measures of 7/4. Time signatures such as 2/4, 3/4, 5/4, 9/4, and so on areeasy to implement.)

For time signatures based on eighth notes, it's easiest to double the tempo so thateach beat lasts an eighth note instead of a quarter note. However, you will have totake this into account when quantizing and setting the metronome—if the display saysa quarter note, read it as an eighth note.

Plan carefully when mixing odd time signatures within the same piece. If somePatterns use a time signature based on quarter notes and others on eighth notes, youwill need to double the tempo for the quarter note-based Patterns to match up with theeighth-note based Patterns.


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MIDI IMPLEMENTATION CHART

Function Transmitted Recognized Remarks

Basic

Channel

Default

Changed

1-16

1-16

X

X

Note Number:True Voice

0-127

0-127

X

X

VelocityNote On

Note Off

1-127

0

X

X

After Touch Ch’sX

X

X

X

Pitch Bend X X

Program

Change True #

0-127 X

System Exclusive O X

System

Common

Song Pos

Song Sel

Tune

0

0

X

X

X

X

MIDI out only

System

Realtime

Clock

Commands

O

X

X

X

Aux

Messages

Local On/Off

Active Sense

Reset

GM On

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

Notes:

O:YES

X:NO


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SOUND LIST

1 Honst Kik2 Honst A

3 Stab Kik

4 Stab A

5 Lo Honst

6 Lo Honst

7 Lo Stab

8 Lo Stab A

9 Dynam Kik

10 Old Wood

11 Low Wood

12 Ambi Kik

13 Room Kiki

14 Lo Room K15 Room Kik 2

16 Lo Room 2

17 Hi Fixd KK

18 Fixd Kiki 1

19 Fixd Kiki 2

20 Lo Fixd 1

21 Lo Fixd 2

22 Garage Kk

23 House Kik

24 Wrap Kik

25 Hi Wrap KK

26 Dbl Head

27 Titer Dbl

28 Head Puch

29 Brite Rm

30 Loose Kik

31 Foot Stuk

32 Hi Elect

33 Electruc

34 Amb Elect

35 Lo Elect

36 Punch Rm

37 Flab Rm

38 Mush Kik

39 Brt Hall

40 Stuk Hall

41 Lo Fxd H142 Lo Fxd H12

43 Head Hall

44 Dbl Hd Rm

45 Lo Dbl H Rm

46 Solid H1

47 Wet Flng

48 Brt Pnch

49 Dry Plug

50 Hi Honest

51 Honst Sur

52 Lo Honst

53 Hi Honst 2

54 Hnst Sur 2

55 Lo Hust 2

56 Room Sur

57 Room Sul A

58 Hall Sur

59 Room Sur 2

60 Lo Room 2

61 Super Pic

62 Spr pic Rm

63 Hi Picolo64 Hi Pic Rm

65 Lo Picolo

66 Lo Pic Rm

67 Med Pic Rm

68 Nasty Sur

69 Nsty Sn Rm

70 Trshy Snr

71 Frnge Snr

72 Flange Su

73 Dry Flnge

74 Alloy Sur

75 Plate Snr

76 Plate Sn 277 Plate Sn 3

78 Hammr Snr

79 Rim 2 Cntr

80 Cntr 2 Rim

81 Hi Rad Snr

82 R ap Snaare

83 Lo Rap Snr

84 Hi Tite Sn

85 Tight Snr

86 Lo Tite Sn

87 Dyno Rim 1

88 Dyno Rim 2

89 Lo Dyno 2

90 Hi Pop Sht91 Pop Shot

92 Lo Pop Sht

93 Tech Gate

94 Pop Room

95 Battr Rm

96 Brush Hit

97 Med Ballad

98 Big Ballad

99 Chrome Rm

100 Lo Chrome

101 Dyno Hi Sn

102 Shot Room

103 Brt pic Rm

104 Very Nsty

105Side Stik

106 Wet Side

107 lo Wet Sid

108 Pop Side

109 Closd Hat

110 Hard Hat

111 Edge Hat

112 Thiu Hat

113 Tight Hat114 Small Hat

115 Dynmc Hat

116 Wet Hat 1

117 Wet Hat 2

118 Randm Hat

119 Wet Randm

120 Sweet Hat

121 Open Hat 1

122 Half Hat

123 Open Hat 2

124 Bakwz Hat

125 L 2 R Bk Hat

126 Lo Bkwz Ht127 Back N 4th

128 Soft Ride

129 Hard Ride

130 Dynm Ride

131 Dyn Ride 2

132 Ride Bell

133 Flnge Ride

134 Crash 1

135 Crash 2

136 Crash 3

137 Cmbo Crsh

138 Chin Trsh

139 Flng Crsh

140 Hi Tom Dry141 Md Tom Dry

142 Lo Tom Dry

143 Flr Tom Dry

144 Lo Flr Dry

145 hi Amb Tom

146 Md Amb Tom

147 Lo Amb Tom

148 Flr Amb Tm

149 Lo Flr Amb

150 Hi Room Tm

151 Md Room Tm

152 Lo Room Tm

153 Flr Rm Tom

154 Lo Flr Rm

155 Hi Hall Tm

156 Md Hall Tm

157 Lo Hall Tm

158 Flr Hl Tom

159 Lo Flr Hl

160 Hi Big Hl

161 Md Big Hl

162 Lo Big Hl

163 Flr Big Hl164 Lo Fl Bg Hl

165 Hi Cannon

166 Md Cannon

167 Lo Cannon

168 Xtr Lo Can

169 Hi Cn Hall

170 Md Cn Hall

171Lo Cn Hall

172 X Lo Can Hl

173 Hi Elec Tm

174 Md Elec Tm

175 Lo Elec Tm

176 Hi El Rm Tm177 Md El Rm Tm

178 Lo El Rm Tm

179 XL El Rm Tm

180 Hi Flat Tm

181 Md Flat Tm

182 Lo Flat Tm

183 Hi Fl Rm Tm

184 Md Fl Rm Tm

185 Lo Fl Rm Tm

186 Hi Fl Hl Tm

187 Md Fl Hl Tm

188 Lo Fl Hl Tm

189 Hi Flng Tm

190 Md Flng Tm191 Lo Flng Tm

192 Tamborin

193 Shaker

194, Cnga + Slp

195 Lo Cng + Slp

196 Hi Conga

197 Lo Conga

198 Hi Cga Slp

199 Lo Cga Slp

200 Hi Timbli

201 Md Timbli

202, Lo Timbli

203 Hi Agogo

204 Lo Agogo

205 Hi Clave

206 Lo Clave

207 Wet Clave

208 Hi Cow Bl

209 Md Cow Bl

210 Lo Cow Bl

211 Hi Rap Cow

212 Md Rap Cow

213 Lo Rap Cow214 Hi Block

215 Md Block

216 Lo Block

217 Fngr Snap

218 Wide Fngr

219 Fish Stk

220 Lo Fsh Stk

221 Wide Fish

222 Hi Claps

223 Lo Claps

224 Triangle

225 Cabasa

226 Hi Sticks227 Lo Sticks

228 Bamboo

229 Bmbo Cmbo

230 Cold Blok

231 Rand Ryth

232 Fire Crkr

233 Impact


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PRESET PATTERN TEMPOS

00 120 (110-130)

01 95 (80-90)02 130 (125-135)

03 105 (100-110)

04 140 (135-145)

05 95 (90-95)

06 130 (125-135)

07 140 (135-150)

08 120 (115-125)

09 115 (110-120)

10 105 (100-115)

11 125 (120-130)

12 110 (100-120)13 110 (105-115)

14 110 (100-120)

15 60 (55-70)

16 100 (95-115)

17 110 (100-115)

18 140 (130-145)

19 95 (90-100)

20 120 (110-130)

21 140 (135-150)

22 120 (120-130)

23 125 (120-130)

24 135 (130-140)25 130 (120-140)

26 100 (95-110)

27 130 (120-140)

28 125 (115-135)

29 75 (70-90)

30 80 (70-90)

31 115 (105-130)

32 130 (115-140)

33 120 (115-135)

34 130 (120-140)

35 100 (95-110)

36 125 (115-130)

37 110 (110-120)

38 100 (90-110)

39 135 (130-140)

40 100 (90-110)

41 105 (95-120)

42 130 (120-140)

43 120 (115-130)

44 130 (120-135)

45 95 (80-110)

46 90 (85-100)

47 85 (80-100)48 120 (100-130)

49 100 (90-110)


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KEY FEATURES

8 natural feeling, velocity-sensitive drum pads

Built-in professional drum machine so you can record and play back

your own beats

50 Preset / 50 User drum kits with 233 sounds assignable to any pad

Built-in rhythm patterns to complement your playing

Large LCD display with easy-to-navigate interface

Dynamic Articulation stereo samples with reverb and ambience forrealistic playing

2 inputs for external kick and hi-hat pedals (sold separately)

Stereo input to play along with your CD or MP3 player MIDI output to play external MIDI devices

High-quality 24-bit stereo and headphone outputs

Lightweight, durable enclosure

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

Audio Outputs: 2 (stereo)

Pads: 8 velocity sensitive (w/Dynamic Articulation™)

Sample/DAC Bit Resolution 16/18

Sounds: 233

Sounds Accessible via Pads 8

Sounds Accessible via MIDI 120

Polyphony 16 voice

Panning 7-position user programmable

Velocity Response 8 loudness levels via pads, 127 via MIDI

Timing Resolution 96 ppq

Time Signature Range 1-128 beats per patternTempo Range 20-255 bpm

Notes/Patterns/Songs 12,000/400 (200 user, 200 preset)/100

Kits 50 user, 50 preset

MIDI Prog Change Response Kit

Sync MIDI Clock/Song Position Pointer

Footswitch Jacks/Functions Hi-Hat

Bass Drum

Aux Input TRS 1/8”

Other Features Step editing, stereo samples with reverb and ambienceDynamic Articulation Modulates tone

Power 9 VAC External Transformer, UL and CSA Approved

7-51-0243-B


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Documents

Alesis PerformancePad Pro Reference Manual