Alesis SR-18 User Manual
TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION ........................................................5
WELCOME TO THE SR18 DRUM MACHINE!.....5
GROUND RULES .................................................5
CONNECTION DIAGRAM.........................................8
TOP PANEL PHYSICAL LAYOUT ...........................9
GENERAL CONTROLS .......................................9
NAVIGATION BUTTONS .....................................10
MODE BUTTONS .................................................10
SETUP BUTTONS................................................11
TRANSPORT CONTROL BUTTONS................... 11
REAR PANEL PHYSICAL LAYOUT.........................12
DISPLAY LAYOUT.....................................................13
BASICS .......................................................................14
HOW TO COMMUNICATE WITH THE SR18....... 14
10 STEPS TO INSTANT GRATIFICATION
(SETUP AND CHECKOUT).............................15
THE INSTRUMENT LAYERS............................... 16
PLAYBACK / RECORD BASICS .........................16
RECORDING PATTERNS .........................................21
STEPS TO RECORDING A PATTERN ................21
PRACTICE MODE ................................................21
RECORDING OTHER PARTS (PERCUSSION
AND BASS) .....................................................21
PATTERN PLAY MODE............................................ 22
PLAYING PATTERN SEQUENCES WITH THE
PADS ...............................................................22
RECORDING PATTERN SEQUENCES INTO A
SONG ..............................................................22
ASSIGNING PATTERNS TO THE PADS.............22
SELECTING, EDITING AND
CREATING DRUM SETS .....................................23
SELECTING A DRUM SET ..................................23
CREATING AND EDITING DRUM SETS .............23
EFFECTS..............................................................29
SAVING YOUR DRUM SETS............................... 29
RECORD SETUP ....................................................... 30
PAGE 1: SELECT THE QUANTIZATION
VALUE (QUANTIZE SELECT) .............................30
PAGE 2: GATE.....................................................31
PAGE 3: SELECT THE SWING VALUE (SWING
SELECT)..........................................................31
PAGE 4: ENABLE CLICK AND SET RHYTHM
(CLICK SELECT)............................................31
PAGE 5: SET CLICK VOLUME (CLICK VOL)..... 31
PAGE 6: VELOCITY SENSITIVITY...................... 32
PAGE 7: BEAT VALUE........................................32
PAGE 8: NOTE VALUE........................................32
PAGE 9: PATTERN LENGTH ..............................33
PAGE 10: OFFSET A PATTERN OR DRUM
PART ...............................................................33
PAGE 11: NAME THE PATTERN (NAME) ..........33
EDITING PATTERNS – ERASE
FUNCTIONS ..........................................................34
ERASING DRUM EVENTS WHILE
RECORDING ...................................................34
ERASING AN ENTIRE PATTERN........................34
ERASE ALL EVENTS PLAYED BY A
PARTICULAR DRUM PAD..............................34
ERASE ALL INSTRUMENT EVENTS IN SUB-
PATTERN ........................................................34
EDITING PATTERNS – COPY/SAVE
FUNCTIONS ..........................................................35
SAVING A PATTERN...........................................35
COPYING A PATTERN ........................................35
APPENDING A PATTERN ...................................35
EDITING PATTERNS –
TRANSPOSITION..................................................36
PATTERN STEP EDITING (STEP
EDIT MODE) .........................................................36
ADDING A NEW DRUM TO A STEP ...................37
ERASE A DRUM SOUND FROM A STEP...........37
CHANGE A DRUM SOUND'S VOLUME IN A
GIVEN STEP ...................................................37
EXIT STEP EDIT MODE.......................................37
SONG MODE..............................................................38
PLAYING SONGS ................................................38
RECORDING A SONG IN REAL-TIME................ 39
MANUAL SONG CREATION (SONG STEP
EDIT MODE).................................................... 40
SETTING SONG TEMPO .....................................42
INSERTING A TEMPO CHANGE IN A SONG..... 42
CONTROLLING PLAYBACK POSITION............. 43
LOOP A PATTERN INDEFINITELY..................... 43
START FROM THE MIDDLE OF A SONG...........43
ERASING AN ENTIRE SONG.............................. 44
SAVING YOUR SONG .........................................44
APPEND A SONG................................................ 44
NAME A SONG (NAME) ......................................44
SYSTEM SETUP........................................................ 45
Page 1 / MIDI CHANNEL (MIDI CH) ....................45
Page 2 / RECEIVE MIDI NOTES (DRUM IN,
PERC IN, BASS IN).........................................45
Page 3 / TRANSMIT MIDI NOTES (DRUM OUT,
PERC OUT, BASS OUT)................................. 46
Page 4 / ASSIGN MIDI NOTE NUMBERS TO
DRUM PADS (NOTE)...................................... 46
Page 5 / ACCEPT EXTERNAL CLOCK VALUE
(CLOCK IN) ....................................................47
Page 6 / SEND CLOCK VALUE TO OTHER
DEVICES (CLOCKOUT)..................................47
Page 7 / MERGE MIDI IN WITH MIDI OUT
(MIDITHRU) ....................................................48
Page 8 / SELECT DRUM SETS VIA MIDI
PROGRAM CHANGES (PRG CHNG)............. 48
Page 9 / TEMPO SELECTION (TEMPO) ............49
Page 10 / MAP DRUM NOTES (NOTE MAP) .....49
PAGE 11 / MANUAL DRUMSET OVERRIDE
(SET MODE)................................................... 51
Page 12 / LEDs (LEDS OFF) ..............................51
Page 13 / BACKLIGHT BRIGHTNESS
(BACKLITE) ...................................................51
Page 14 / BATTERY LEVEL (BATT LVL) ..........51
Page 15 / LOW BATTERY WARNING (LO
BATT) ..............................................................52
Page 16 / CHECK AVAILABLE MEMORY (MEM
FREE) ..............................................................52
Page 17 / SEND SONG AND PATTERN DATA
TO MIDI SYS EX STORAGE DEVICE (SEND
OUT MIDI?) .....................................................52
SENDING MIDI SYSEX SONG AND PATTERN
DATA TO THE SR18....................................... 53
APPLICATIONS ......................................................... 54
MIDI SYNC APPLICATIONS................................ 54
STRATEGIES FOR ASSEMBLING PATTERNS
AND SONGS ...................................................55
UNDERSTANDING RHYTHMIC NOTATION .......56
MIDI IMPLEMENTATION CHART ..........................57
FACTORY RESET......................................................58
KEY FEATURES ........................................................58
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS ..............................58
f
INTRODUCTION
WELCOME TO THE SR18 DRUM MACHINE!
The SR18 includes high-fidelity drum, percussion and bass sounds, and is easy to operate. You
can easily switch among the different instrument layers in real-time. As you strike the 12 pads
(each of which can be assigned to any of the available sounds), the SR18's on-board sequencer
records exactly when you triggered the sounds and the dynamics of your playing. You can play
back your sequences and edit them in various ways.
Data can be saved so that it is retained in memory even if the power is turned off. If the memory
fills up with drum Patterns and Songs, this data can be saved permanently to MIDI System
Exclusive storage devices.
The SR18 also includes a library of Preset Patterns prepared by professional drummers and
musicians for those who want to start creating Songs in the fastest and easiest way possible.
GROUND RULES
The SR18 consists of two main elements:
The drum sounds themselves, recorded in high-resolution multi-sample stereo format. For
An internal sequencer to control and trigger the sounds.
additional realism, many sounds use advanced "dynamic articulation" techniques so that
these sounds, when hit loudly, have a different timbre than when they're hit softly.
The Pattern/Song Recording Method
When recording with a drum machine, it's often easier to divide a song into shorter
individual Patterns and work on these rather than record an entire song. A typical
Pattern might be 8,16, or 32 beats long, and correspond to a verse, chorus, bridge,
instrumental, intro, etc. While recording these Patterns, the SR18 will be in Pattern
Mode. The SR18 holds 100 Preset (i.e., can't be edited) Patterns and 100 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 SR18 will remember your performance.
The SR18 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 twice
when assembling a Song. This also saves memory (thus leaving room for more
Patterns and Songs) since listing a Song step takes up much less memory than
recording a Pattern.
Tip: To hear a demo song, hold
[PATTERN / SONG] and press
[PLAY].
5
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.
Preset Patterns provide a variety of rock, jazz, pop, and other rhythms
programmed by professional drummers.
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":
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 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.
6
What's a Voice?
Each of the 12 large pads triggers a voice. A voice is a sound-generating element with
several variable parameters: sound assignment, tuning, volume, output assignment
(the voice's audio output can go to either one of two sets of stereo outputs, and
furthermore, to anywhere within the stereo field of the chosen set of outputs), MIDI
note number, etc.
Each pad is velocity-sensitive: the harder you hit the pad, the louder the sound
assigned to the pad will play. Thanks to the dynamic articulation techniques mentioned
earlier, the timbre will often change as well, just like the way that "real" drum,
percussion and bass instruments produce sound when played with different amounts
of force.
There are eight levels of pad volume resolution, from soft to loud. However, when
using the SR18 as a drum sound expander and triggering sounds via MIDI, they
respond to all 127 MIDI volume levels.
7
CONNECTION DIAGRAM
As you hook up
the SR18, the
volume control on
your power amp
and the SR18
should be all the
way down, and
power to both
units should be
off.
1. Plug ¼” TS cables from the MAIN OUTPUTS to an amplifier, mixer, or speaker system. For mono
sound, you can connect only one output.
2. Alternatively, you can connect a pair of ¼” TRS headphones to the PHONES OUTPUT to practice
quietly.
3. Connect your instrument to the INSTRUMENT INPUT.
4. Connect a MIDI device, such as a sampler or sound module, to the MIDI OUT of the SR18.
5. Connect a MIDI device, such as a percussion controller, to the MIDI IN of the SR18.
6. If you have ¼” TS footswitches, connect them to the START / STOP and COUNT / A / B / FILL
jacks.
7. Plug the included power adapter (12V DC 500mA) into the adapter jack and the adapter into a
power source. Alternatively, you may choose to power the unit by inserting 6 AA batteries into the
bottom compartment.
8. Press the POWER switch to turn on the unit.
9. Tap the pads to hear sounds. You can switch among the three different sound categories for the
pads by pressing the corresponding button (DRUMS, PERC, BASS).
10. Adjust the volume control on the rear panel to a suitable listening level.
Note that you may also connect the stereo Aux output to a speaker system or amplifier, using a ¼” TRS cable. The
SR-18 can be setup to output sounds through the Main or Aux connections (Main by default). See “Creating and
Editing Drum Sets / Page 12: Output” for more information.
8
TOP PANEL PHYSICAL LAYOUT
GENERAL CONTROLS
1. LCD – The display helps you keep track of system parameters and settings as you use the SR18.
2. PADS – The 12 pads are used to trigger sounds on the SR18. The pads can address 3 different
types of sounds: drums, percussion and bass. To select which sounds are controlled by the pads,
press one of the three Pad Play buttons (DRUM, PERC, BASS). In addition, the pads can be used
to trigger entire Patterns while in Pattern Play Mode.
3. PAD PLAY BUTTONS – These 3 buttons select which sounds are triggered when you hit the
pads. Press the corresponding button to control the following sounds with the pads:
BASS – Selects the Bass sounds associated with the current Drum Set. In addition, you can hold
down this button and use the INC / DEC buttons or the VALUE dial to transpose the bass sounds
up or down an octave.
DRUMS – Selects the Drum sounds associated with the current Drum Set.
PERC – Selects the Percussion sounds associated with the current Drum Set.
4. ROLL – While programming Patterns, hold down this button and press a pad to create a roll. The
roll will last for as long as the pad is being held down. This lets you play a series of drum hits
without having to repeatedly press the pads, and is typically used to create steady 16th note hi-hat
parts, quarter note kick drum parts, snare rolls, etc. The timing of the roll is specified by the
Quantization and Swing settings in the Record Setup menu.
5. TAP TEMPO – You can use this button to tap in a tempo. The SR18 will average the time
between successive taps and will derive a tempo. You can also change the tempo by holding
down the TAP TEMPO button and using the VALUE dial or the INC / DEC buttons.
6. TEMPO LED – This LED will blink at a rate equal to the tempo displayed on the screen’s bottom
right corner.
9
7. REC LED – This LED will light when the SR18 is recording. It will blink when you are required to
confirm or cancel an action.
8. A & B – Each Pattern consists of two Main sub-patterns – A & B. You can select each of the two
sub-patterns by pressing its corresponding button. These sub-patterns allow you to program
variation in your Patterns (i.e. sub-pattern A is the verse, sub-pattern B is the chorus).
9. FILL – Each Pattern also includes two Fills associated with each of the two sub-patterns. The Fills
are used to transition from one sub-pattern to another (i.e. transition from verse to chorus).
10. ERASE – This button allows you to erase Patterns or Songs. Hold this button down and the
screen will prompt you to verify that you want to erase the selected element. To erase the part,
press the REC button while the ERASE button is being held down. In addition, ERASE allows you
to erase specific events in real-time as you record your patterns. Simply hold down the ERASE
button as the Pattern plays and press the pad corresponding to the sound you wish to erase. Any
events assigned to the pad will be erased from the moment the pad is pressed until either the pad
or the ERASE button is released.
11. SAVE / COPY – This button accesses various save / copy / append functions.
12. MUTE – This button allows you to mute a selected instrument layer. Hold down the button and
press the DRUM, PERC or BASS to mute the corresponding instrument layer. To un-mute the
layer, press the corresponding button again while MUTE is being held down.
NAVIGATION BUTTONS
13. INC / DEC – These buttons are used to increment and decrement through values and settings on
the SR18.
14. VALUE DIAL – This dial can also be used to increment and decrement values and settings.
15. NUMBER BUTTONS – Alternatively, you may use the number buttons to input values directly.
16. PAGE UP / DOWN – These two buttons are used to go between pages of options when browsing
menus and settings.
MODE BUTTONS
17. PATTERN / SONG – This button toggles between the two different modes on the SR18. In
Pattern Mode, you can play, record and edit individual patterns. Patterns are short (i.e. 8-beat, 16beat, etc) rhythm sequences which are assembled together to create Songs. A Song is a
sequence of Patterns. In Song Mode, you can perform or program your Patterns to create a Song.
The currently-selected mode will be indicated on the display.
18. PRESET / USER – This button toggles between Preset and User Patterns. The selected mode
will be indicated in the upper right corner of the display.
Preset Patterns provide a variety of rock, jazz, pop and other rhythms programmed by professional
drummers and cannot be overwritten or edited (the only way a Preset Pattern can be edited is to
copy it to a User Pattern).
User Patterns are Patterns you can program, edit and save as you wish.
19. STEP EDIT – Pressing this button enters Step Edit Mode for Pattern or Song editing, depending
on which of the two modes is selected. This mode allows you to “step” through your Pattern or
Song sequence to correct any mistakes. The display will indicate STEP EDIT while in Step Edit
Mode, and the current step will be displayed on the top line. To move through the steps of the
sequence, use the PAGE UP / DOWN buttons.
20. PTN PLAY – This button enables Pattern Play Mode. In this mode, you can play pre-selected
Patterns in a sequence, using the pads to trigger the Patterns in real-time. See “Playing Patterns
With the Pads” section.
10
SETUP BUTTONS
21. SYSTEM SETUP – Pressing this button calls up various system settings and preferences, such as
MIDI options, note assignments, clocking, as well as display brightness and others. The display
will indicate SYSTEM and SETUP when you are in System Setup. You can move between the
different pages of settings with the PAGE UP / DOWN buttons and change the settings on the
selected page with the VALUE dial or the INC / DEC buttons. To save your settings so they are
recalled the next time you boot up the SR18, press the SAVE button while in this menu and then
press REC to confirm the save. To exit System Setup, press the SYSTEM SETUP button again.
22. RECORD SETUP – Pressing this button calls up various recording settings, such as Quantization,
Swing, Pattern Length, Time Signature, etc. The display will indicate RECORD and SETUP while
you are in Record Setup Mode. You can move between the different pages of settings with the
PAGE UP / DOWN buttons and change the settings on the selected page with the VALUE dial or
the INC / DEC buttons. To exit Record Setup, press the Record Setup button again.
23. DRUM SET – This button calls up the Drum Set Mode options, where you can select different
drum/percussion sounds, bass sounds, change individual pad sounds and modify parameters such
as Volume, Tuning, Panning, etc. The display will indicate DRUM SET while you are in Drum Set
Mode. You can use the PAGE UP / DOWN buttons to move between the different pages of
settings and you can use the VALUE dial or INC / DEC buttons to change the settings on the
selected page. When you modify or customize a Drum Set, you will need to make sure that you
save it (press the SAVE button, then press REC to confirm) in order to be able to access it later.
To exit Drum Set Mode, press the Drum Set button again.
24. EFFECTS – This button calls up the Effects menu, where you can select the effects which are
stored and recalled with every Drum Set. These effects include Reverb, EQ / Compression and
feature ready-to-use presets. To move between the different pages in the Effects Menu, use the
PAGE UP / DOWN buttons. You can use the VALUE dial or INC / DEC buttons to enable and
disable the selected effect or to change the displayed settings.
TRANSPORT CONTROL BUTTONS
25. PLAY – If the SR18 is stopped, pressing PLAY will play the sequence from the current position. If
the SR18 is playing, pressing PLAY will pause the sequence. You can continue playing the
sequence from the position where it was paused by pressing PLAY again. In addition, you may
use the PAGE UP and PAGE DOWN buttons while the unit is playing to advance to the next
Pattern (if one is pending), or start playing from the beginning of the current Pattern (and cancel
any pending Pattern), respectively.
26. STOP – Press this button to stop the current sequence and go back to the start of the Pattern or
Song. Quickly pressing STOP twice sends a MIDI Panic message to the internal voices of the
SR18 and to external devices connected via MIDI. A Panic message effectively stops all sounds
which may be playing. This is useful in situations where a certain sound may be stuck and will not
turn off.
27. REC – Press and hold this button before pressing PLAY to initiate recording. The REC button also
functions as an ENTER command, when prompted for action by the display (for example, when
erasing songs).
11
REAR PANEL PHYSICAL LAYOUT
MAIN RIGHT
MAIN LEFTAUX L/R PHONES INSTRUMENT
3
12
6
1. DC IN – The supplied power adapter should be connected to a live outlet to power the unit.
Alternatively, the unit may be powered with 6 AA batteries inserted in the bottom
compartment. (Please refer to illustration in compartment for proper battery insertion).
2. ON/OFF SWITCH – This switch turns the unit on and off.
3. VOLUME – This knob controls the overall volume of the SR18.
4. ¼” TS RIGHT / LEFT OUTPUTS – These ¼” connections will output the audio from the
SR18. Connect these outputs to an amplifier or a speaker system. For mono sound, you
can connect only one output.
5. PHONES – Connect headphones to this output for quiet practicing.
6. AUX L / R – The SR18 can also output instrument layers through this auxiliary connection.
For example, this allows you to output your drum and percussion tracks on separate
channels, which can be useful in a recording / tracking situation.
7. INSTRUMENT – Connect your instruments (guitar, bass, etc.) to this ¼” input. The input
signal will be mixed with the audio from the unit.
8. MIDI OUT / THRU – Use a five-pin MIDI cable to connect the MIDI OUT of the SR18 to the
MIDI IN of an external MIDI device.
9. MIDI IN – Use a five-pin MIDI cable to connect the MIDI OUT of an external device to the
MIDI IN of the SR18.
10. START / STOP FOOTSWITCH – Connect a ¼” TS footswitch to this input to remotely start
and stop playback on the SR18.
11. COUNT / A / B / FILL – Connect a ¼” TS footswitch to this input to remotely control pattern
playback on the SR18.
12. KENSINGTON LOCK – The SR18 may be secured to a table or surface, using this
Kensington Lock slot.
4
OUTPUTS
5
OUT / THRU IN COUNT/A/B/FILL
9
8
7
MIDI FOOTSWITCHES
START
STOP
10
11
ON
OFF
1
2
POWERVOLUME INPUT
12
DISPLAY LAYOUT
10
1
9
8
7
13
2
3
4
5
6
Throughout the text, button
names are shown in
UPPER CASE and words
that appear on the display
are shown in BOLD. When
referring to a numbered
step in a set of steps, the
step number will be in
parenthesis—for example,
step (4)—to prevent
confusion with Song steps
or step edit mode.
The LCD is divided into several "windows." Each window contains information that helps you
monitor the SR18's status, and/or indicates what type of data should be entered.
1. Name, "dialog" box, real time Song/Pattern readout, beat counter. - This is the most
commonly-used area of the display. It shows Pattern and Song names, the beat counter if a
Pattern or Song is playing, and the Pattern (including A/B/Fill/Preset or User designators) that is
currently playing in Song mode. When acting as a "dialog box," it lists parameters and the value
to be edited (e.g., MIDI channel and the channel number).
2. Pattern/Song readout (also Drum Set edit and drum pad readout) - This shows the
selected Song or Pattern number; with Patterns, the A/B/Fill/Preset or User designators are also
shown. In operations that require selecting a drum pad, this window displays the drum pad
number.
3. Drumset Edited indicator - If you have edited a Drum Set to which a particular Pattern was
assigned, the display also shows DRUMSET EDITED. This is a reminder that you need to save
your changes if you would like to be able to recall them at a later time.
4. Page number and tempo display - When stopped or running, this shows the current tempo.
For functions that have multiple "pages" of parameters (Record Setup, System Setup, etc), this
portion of the display shows the currently selected page number.
5. Pattern Play indicator - This segment is lit when in Pattern Play Mode.
6. Bass and Octave Transposition indicators – BASS indicates that the pads are controlling
bass sounds, while the OCTAVE indicators (+1/-1) let you know whether the sounds are
transposed up or down an octave (no indicator will be present when there is no transposition).
7. Swing - Shows the current swing rhythm, expressed as a
percentage (or OFF if swing is off).
8. Drums / Percussion indicator – These indicators let you know
which Pad Play Mode is currently selected (i.e. which sounds the
pads are controlling, or which instrument layer you are currently
editing).
9. Quantize - Shows the current quantization setting in standard
music notation (or OFF if quantization is off).
10. Selected function - Shows which function is currently
selected: Drum Set, System Setup, Record Setup, etc.
BASICS
HOW TO COMMUNICATE WITH THE SR18
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.
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.
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.
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.
Automatic Revert
Buttons that Toggle
Example: The beat length is a three-digit number. To enter a beat length of 16, enter 016.
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.
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.
14
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 musical instrument amplifier, PA, or plug headphones into the headphone
output on the back of the SR18. The amp and SR18 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 SR18's AC adapter into the wall. The smaller plug inserts in the 12V DC Power
jack on the back.
4. Turn on the rear panel ON/OFF switch, and then turn on the amplifier.
5. The LCD will illuminate. The upper right of the
display should say PATTERN and not SONG;
if it shows SONG, press the
PATTERN/SONG button so the display
shows PATTERN.
6. Start hitting the pads. Adjust the volume
control for a comfortable listening level, and
check out the sounds.
7. Try pressing one of the Pad Play Mode buttons (DRUMS, PERC, BASS) to access the
different instrument layers and play the pads.
8. 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 to bash away on
the pads.
9. To hear a Preset Pattern, stop the SR18 and
press the PRESET / USER button to select
Preset Patterns (the display should show
PRESET). Then, press PLAY to hear the
Preset Pattern.
10. Try the following:
While in Preset Patterns, enter a two-
digit number between 00-99 using the
number keys, then press PLAY.
Press the INC button to select the next higher-numbered Preset Pattern. It will play at
the end of the current Pattern.
Press the DEC button to select the next lower-numbered Preset Pattern.
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 Pattern
switches 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 held
down past the next downbeat, the Fill's associated Main Pattern (A or B) continues to
play rather than switch from A to B or B to A.
Hold down TAP TEMPO and use the VALUE dial (or INC / DEC buttons) to change the
tempo.
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THE INSTRUMENT LAYERS
The SR18 allows you to play three different kinds of sounds with the pads. These sounds are
available in three different Play Modes or Banks. These are DRUM, PERC and BASS and are
accessible by pressing the corresponding button on the top panel.
PLAYBACK / RECORD BASICS
Using the Transport Controls
Preset and User Patterns
Playing Patterns
DRUM – This Pad Play mode allows you to play up to twelve Drum sounds with the
pads
PERC – This Pad Play mode allows you to play up to twelve Percussion sounds with
the pads.
BASS – This Pad Play mode allows you to play up to 3 Octaves of a key-mapped
bass sample(s) on the pads. To transpose the bass sounds, press and hold the
BASS button and then use the INC / DEC buttons or VALUE dial to transpose up or
down an octave.
To stop playback and go back to the beginning of the current Pattern or Song, press
the STOP button.
Press PLAY to play the Pattern or Song from the current location. Press PLAY again
while a Pattern or Song is playing to pause it. Press PLAY to continue playing the
Pattern or Song from the location where it was paused.
There are two types of Patterns in the SR18.
Preset Patterns provide a variety of styles, and other rhythms that feature drums,
percussion and an accompanying bassline. Note that the only way to modify a
Preset Pattern is to copy it to a User Pattern, where it can be edited.
User Patterns are Patterns you can program, edit, and save.
The PRESET / USER button selects between these two banks of Patterns.
1. To play Patterns, the SR18 needs to be in Pattern Mode. To do this press the
PATTERN / SONG button, which toggles between the two modes. The display
will show PATTERN in the upper right corner when the SR18 is in Pattern Mode.
2. Select a Pattern you wish to play with the INC / DEC buttons or the VALUE dial.
3. To play the selected Pattern, press the PLAY button.
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Selecting the Next Pattern to be Played
Selecting Individual Patterns
While a Pattern is playing, you can select to go to another pattern in several ways:
1. Use the INC / DEC buttons or VALUE dial to select the next Pattern. The newlyselected Pattern will play back as soon as the current Pattern plays through its
entire length. The display shows the Pattern to be played next.
2. Enter the two-digit Pattern number with the number buttons. If an A Pattern is
currently playing, the new Pattern number will play the A variation. If a B Pattern
is currently playing, the new Pattern number will play the B variation. You can
also enter a two-digit Pattern number followed by A or B or PRESET / USER to
call up an A or B or Preset or User Pattern, regardless of the Pattern that is
currently playing.
1. Make sure the SR18 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 Fill Button.
4. Press PRESET/USER to select either a Preset or User Pattern.
5. When a Main Pattern reaches its end, it will loop back to the beginning and
continue playing from that point unless you select a new Pattern, selected a Fill
Pattern initially, or stop the Pattern.
If you select a User Pattern that contains no data, the display says EMPTY PATTERN.
If you select a User Pattern that contains data but has not yet been named, the display
says NO NAME.
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 SR18 will stop and
remain on the currently selected Pattern.
To immediately jump to the next Pattern in the sequence, press the PAGE UP
button.
To immediately return and begin playing from the start of the current Pattern,
press PAGE DOWN.
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Changing Pattern Tempo
Selecting Fill Patterns
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.
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.
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