Roland Musical Instrument manual MaxWerk Copyright 2000-2007 Amanda Pehlke

maxWerk - Copyright 2000-2007 Amanda Pehlke

Published by RedMoon Music - www.RedMoon-Music.com

The fourth item is random retrig, and at this setting note values of zero produce note-offs as always, but repeating values 1 through 8, which would tie notes in play-changes mode, instead trigger new notes randomly, so that each repetition of the pitch pattern is given a degree of unpredictable rhythmic interest.

The final six modes of play are sets of alt1 and alt2 notefilters. Each set includes all-steps, changes, random, and retrig play mode variations, which differ only in their switched state on starting. These settings remove passing tones on alternate passes of the loop. This effect, therefore, can be heard only when the entered note pattern contains even-numbered scale steps, not just triadic tones. Note filtering is an effective and entertaining function when you apply it to busier loops that have many passing tones.

In the upper right margin of the Note Editor, the split button opens the step-split window, where you can make note pattern entries differentiated between several target loops all at once. Below the window button is a split-status LED that is also a disabling shortcut. The step-split function is described in detail under "Step- Split Tricks" in Part II, as are features lying behind the window- opening button labeled <-expand-pattern->in the top left section.

Below the four graphic displays are various additional controls to generate patterns, to add offset note lines with a variety of parameters, and to direct these lines to other tracks. Perhaps maxWerk's most useful features, these are also covered in detail in Part II, but the basics can be fun to discover through your own experiments. Take note of the handy checkboxes in the lower panel of the Note Editor for the metronome click and for track soloing, to keep you oriented and clear about what's going on in the loop.

It doesn't take much doing to make a set of interesting loops that form the basis for a Werk. You might feel like creating a swarm of crazed pianos at first, but remember that you can achieve the most useful results by applying one or two functions to a pattern of just a few notes. Try making loops that pair complex controller patterns (more on these follows) with simple, sustained pads. Simpler note

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