SP Studio Systems SP-12 manual Appendix C Understanding Time Signatures

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APPENDIX

APPENDIX C: UNDERSTANDING TIME SIGNATURES

A time signature (also called metric signature) describes the meter of a piece of music. It consists of two numbers arranged like a fraction, such as 3/4, 4/4, etc. The top number (numerator) indicates the number of’ beats in each measure, while the bottom number (denominator) indicates the rhythmic value of each beat. For example, with a 3/4 time signature the numerator indicates that there are three notes per measure, while the denominator indicates that each of these notes is a quarter note. 4/4 indicates that each measure includes four-quarter notes. Usually the downbeat (first beat) of each measure is emphasized by a metronome to help you get a feel for the meter.

3/4 and 4/4 are the most common time signatures, but they are by no means the only ones. In jazz, both 5/4 (where each measure has five 1/4 notes) and 7/4 (where each measure has seven 1/4 notes) are often used. In practice, complex time signatures are played like a combination of simpler time signatures; for example, some 7/14 compositions would have you count each measure not as “1, 2, 3, 4,5, 6, 7” but as “1, 2, 3, 4, 1, 2, 3”. It’s often easier for musicians to think of 7/I4 as one bar of 4/4 and one bar of 3/4, since as we mentioned, 4/4 and 3/4 are extremely common time signatures.

© E-mu Systems, Inc. 1985	Page 89
Enhanced by The Emulator Archive 2002	www.emulatorarchive.com

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Contents SP-12 Contents Part 2 Recording Segments Part 3 Creating a SongPart 6 MIDI, SYNC, & Smpte Part 5 Saving Your DataAppendix Part 7 Mixing and ProcessingIntroduction What is ITIntroduction What is IT? What’s a Default? Accessing Functions Within the ModuleSP-12 Ground Rules Activating and De-activating ModulesEntering Settings and ValuesLeading Zeroes Segment and Song ModesBeep Messages Transitory Nature of Segment ModeRight Arrow/Left Arrow Buttons stepping and fast forwarding Current Song DisplayPart 1 Getting Ready 1A SetupGetting Ready 1A Setup 1B Instant Gratification 1D Selecting Drum Sounds 1C Background the Performance Module1E Adjusting the MIX 1G Background Setting UP Additional Sounds 1F Tuning the DRUMS/CHANGING Decay SET-UP1H ACCESSING/EXITING Multilevel SET-UP 12 Enter 1I ACCESSING/EXITING Multipitch SET-UP 111K Storing Defining a MIX SET-UP 1J Accessing Dynamics SET-UP1M Assigning Drum Sounds to Output Channels 1L Auditioning Selecting a MIX SET-UP1N Playing Back Segments 1O Setting Tempo 1P Programming the Metronome Part 2 Recording Segments Recording Segments2A Recording a Segment Overview 2B Erasing a Segment Part 1 Standard Dimensioning Part 2 Real-Time Dimensioning 2D Understanding Auto Correct Recording Segments 2F Recording a Segment in Real Time 2E Setting Auto CorrectRecording Segments 2G Recording a Segment in Step Time 2I Erasing a Specific Note of a Drum Track 2H Erasing a Specific Drum Sound2J Copying and Appending Segments 2K Adding Swing 2M Copying Sounds 2L Swapping Drum Sounds2M Check Remaining Memory 2N Clearing the MemoryPart 3 Creating a Song Creating a Song3A Creating a Song Overview 3B Selecting a Song Segment # 3C Chaining Segments Together3D Ending a Song 3E Editing Songs STEPPING, INSERTING, Deleting 3F Using Repeats Song Step # 3G Changing the Song Drum Sound MIX 3H Setting Song Tempo Example 3I Programming Tempo Changes Within a Song3K Programming Trigger Outputs 3J Jumping to a SUB-SONG3L Starting AT a Specified Point in the Song 3M Efficient USE of Memory Part 4 Sampling Your OWN Sounds Sampling Your OWN Sounds4A Sampling AN Overview 4B Setting Levels Prior to Sampling 4C Assigning the Sample 4D Setting the Sampling Threshold4F Initiating and Stopping Sampling 4E Setting the Sample Length4G Deleting a User Sound 4H Modifying a Sample VIA Truncation and Loop Sampling Your OWN Sounds Mu Systems, Inc Enhanced by The Emulator Archive Part 5 Saving Your Data Saving Your Data5B General Care & Handling of Disks & Cassettes 5A Background Saving DataWrite-protecting disks and cassettes LabelingSaving Your Data 5C Hooking UP the 1541 Disk Drive or Cassette 5D Formatting Disks CASSETTE/DISK Load Sounds Disk Key in 2 then Cassette Key 1 then 5E Disk and Cassette OperationsVerify Sequences Disk Key in 2 then 7 Cassette Key 1 then Part 6 MIDI, SYNC, & Smpte MIDI, Sync & SmpteOverview 6A Midi Channel and Mode SelectAfter selecting the desired mode, press Enter 6D Midi Sync Sync 6B Background Synchronization6C Internal Sync Sync 6E Smpte Sync Sync 6F Click Sync Sync 6G Writing Smpte Time Code on Tape 6H Writing a 24 Ppqn Click Sync Track on Tape Part 7 Mixing and Processing Mixing and Processing7C Creating Ambience 7A Mixing and Processing Overview7B Pseudo Automated Mixdown 7D Using Special Effects in the Studio Appendix AppendixGeneral Tips Appendix a the ART of SamplingPart 1 Taking the Best Possible Sample Dynamics Appendix Sampling from Tapes Part 2 Manipulating the Sample Mu Systems, Inc Enhanced by The Emulator Archive Appendix B Understanding Rhythmic Notation Appendix C Understanding Time Signatures What does the Midi cable do? Appendix D Understanding MIDI/SMPTEWhat does Midi stand for? How can information control a synthesizer or drum machine?What kind of words does the Midi language include? How does Midi differentiate between different instruments?Channels, huh? Sounds like a lot of patch cords to me Smpte Dealing With MlDlosyncraciesAppendix E Tips on Creating Realistic Drum Parts Appendix F Tips on Using Cassette Interfaces Appendix Appendix G HOW the SP-12 Works Appendix H Special Functions SET-UP #23 Procedure Display Reads Press Appendix