ALESIS SR-18 Portable Drum Machine - Manual (Page 14)

14
BASICS
HOW TO COMMUNICATE WITH THE SR18
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The Cursor
When the SR18 wants you to enter a number in the "Dialog" box, the display will show the
previously-entered number (or the default number), and the first digit will have a small underline
called the cursor. If the cursor is not present, the number is there for reference only. You are
expected to enter something only if the cursor is present.
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The INC / DEC Buttons
The two small buttons with the up arrow and down arrow symbols (next to the number keys) are
called the INC / DEC buttons respectively.
Pressing the INC button once increases the value of the
entire number indicated by the cursor (not
just a single digit) by one. Pressing the DEC button once decreases the value of the entire number
indicated by the cursor (not just a single digit) by one.
Example: If the display shows 00 and you want to enter 01, tap the INC button once.
These buttons, as well as the PAGE buttons, also have a "scroll" feature. If you press and hold a
button, after a short pause the display will either increment or decrement at a rapid rate.
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The VALUE dial
In addition to the INC / DEC buttons, you may also use the large VALUE dial to quickly increment
and decrement through values and settings. Turn the dial clockwise to increment through the
available values, or turn the dial counter-clockwise to decrement.
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The NUMBER buttons
The number buttons (0-9) can also be used to directly input values into the SR18. Please note
that when using the number buttons it is important to enter leading zeros, if necessary. If a value
to be edited is a two-digit number, you must enter a two-digit number. If the number is a three-digit
number, you must enter a three-digit number. If necessary, enter a leading 0 (i.e., a zero at the
beginning of the number) to fill out the required number of digits.
Example: The beat length is a three-digit number. To enter a beat length of 16, enter 016 .
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Automatic Revert
This feature may confuse you at first, but save you from potential problems as you become more
familiar with the machine. If all the required digits of a number aren't entered within two seconds,
the display will revert back to the previous number, with the cursor under the first digit of the
previous number. This is handy because if you start to enter a new number, but then change your
mind halfway through, you don't have to key in (or remember) the original number again—just wait
two seconds, and the display will revert to the original setting.
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Buttons that Toggle
Some buttons (SYSTEM SETUP, RECORD SETUP, PATTERN/SONG, PRESET/USER,
EFFECTS) "toggle" between two states. Each button press sets the switch to its alternate state.
Example: Press the PATTERN/SONG button once to change from Pattern to Song; press
again to change from Song to Pattern.
Example: Press RECORD SETUP to call up the Record Setup menu; press RECORD
SETUP again to exit the Record Setup menu.