ALESIS SR-18 Portable Drum Machine - Manual (Page 6)

6
The Two Types of Patterns
The SR18 introduces exciting new Song construction techniques. The SR18 excels at
live performance—something usually not associated with drum machines. The key to
using these advanced features is to understand the different types of available
Patterns.
ƒ Preset Patterns provide a variety of rock, jazz, pop, and other rhythms
programmed by professional drummers.
ƒ
User Patterns are Patterns you can program, edit, and save. The
PRESET/USER button selects between these two master banks of Presets. It is
important to note that the only way to modify a Preset Pattern is to copy it to a
User Pattern, where it can be edited.
The Four Types of Sub-Patterns
There are 100 of each type of Pattern, numbered 00-99. However, each numbered
Pattern actually contains four different "Sub-Patterns":
ƒ
A pair of independent Main Patterns (A and B, selected by their respective
buttons).
ƒ A pair of associated Fill Patterns (A Fill and B Fill, selected by pressing the FILL
button when either A or B is selected). The Fills primarily provide transitional
Patterns between Main Patterns, which makes for more realistic drum parts. The
associated Fill Patterns share the same length, Drum Set, and name as their
Main Patterns
(e.g., if A is 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 while
improvising. Note that a Pattern’s A, B and FILL Sub-Patterns have equal lengths and
use the same Drum Set (collection of drum, percussion and bass sounds, as well as
effects parameters).
Note that even though there are "only" 100 Patterns, the A and B variations double
that to 200 Patterns, and the Fills double that again to 400 Patterns. Added to the
Preset Patterns, 800 total Patterns are available.
How "Looping" Simplifies Recording
To simplify recording, a Pattern will "loop" over and over again.
Example: Suppose you want to record an 8-beat pattern. While recording, the pattern
will record through all 8 beats, then immediately jump back to the beginning and
continue recording through all 8 beats again. The SR18 will remain in record mode,
and continue to loop, until you press STOP or switch over to Pattern Play mode. You
will hear any previously-played parts as you record new parts. You can also erase
drum hits while the pattern is looping to correct for errors.