Record setup – ALESIS SR-18 Portable Drum Machine User Manual
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RECORD SETUP
Several parameters, such as quantization, swing, metronome options, Pattern length, are often
adjusted prior to recording a Pattern, General instructions are:
1.
Press the RECORD SETUP button.
2.
Use the PAGE buttons to select different "pages" of functions; the display's lower right
window shows the page number. These pages are described below.
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 choose another
page.
PAGE 1: SELECT THE QUANTIZATION VALUE (QUANTIZE SELECT)
Background
As you record a Pattern, quantization shifts all drum events to the nearest selected
rhythmic value to eliminate small timing errors. For example, with a quantization value of 1/16, all
drum events you play will be shifted to the nearest 16th note.
Quantization shifts your playing to the specified beat
while you play, so choose the desired value before
playing out your rhythms. Remember that you can also
change quantization while recording if, for example, you
want to record snare with eighth note quantization but
high-hats with 16th note quantization.
The note icon displays the quantization value in
standard rhythmic notation. See the chart below.
Enter the desired quantization value with the INC/DEC buttons, VALUE dial, or number buttons (1
= quarter note, 2 = quarter note triplet, 3 = 8th note, 4 = 8th note triplet, 5 = 16th note, 6 = 16th
note triplet, 7 = 32nd note, 8 = 32nd note triplet, 9 and 0 = Off, equivalent to 1/384th note
resolution).
Tip:
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 and non-quantized
parts. Example: hand claps often
sound too mechanical when
quantized—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 turn off quantization and try to
double the part. Sometimes what
you overdub will be right on the beat,
but sometimes it will be off by just
enough to add that human touch.
Note:
The quantize value also sets
the step length in Step Edit mode.
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