Alesis K2661 specifications Using the Modes, Nested Editors, Finding Square One

The Operating Modes

Using the Modes

Nested Editors

Starting at the Program-mode level, there are three “nested” editors, each related to the parameters that make up different components of a program. The first is the Program Editor, which you enter when you press Edit while in Program mode. Programs consist, among other things, of keymaps; they determine which samples play on which keys. Keymaps can be edited as well. The Keymap Editor is entered from within the Program Editor, by selecting the KEYMAP page with the soft buttons, then pressing Edit.

Similarly, keymaps consist of samples, which also can be edited. The Sample Editor is entered from the Keymap Editor, by selecting the Sample parameter and pressing Edit. When you enter the Sample Editor, you’ve worked through three nested levels of editors, all related to the components that make up a program. And in fact, you’re still in Program mode (if that’s where you started from). Pressing Exit while in the Sample Editor will return you to the Keymap Editor. Pressing Exit again will return you to the KEYMAP page of the Program Editor. Once more, and you’re back to Program mode’s entry level.

Note: You can also get to the Sample Editor directly from Sample mode (by pressing Edit). If you’re editing a single sample, this might make more sense, since it’s more direct. If you’re planning on editing a number of samples within a given keymap, however, you’ll find it more convenient to enter the Sample Editor through the Program and Keymap Editors, because once you’ve finished with one sample, you can easily return to the KEYMAP page and select another sample within the keymap.

Finding Square One

If, at any time, you don’t know where you are, and the mode LEDs are all unlit, press Exit one or more times. This will return you to the entry level of whatever mode you were in, and if you press Exit enough times, you will always return to Program mode, the startup mode. If you’ve made any changes, you’ll be asked whether you want to save before leaving any editor. Press the No soft button or the Exit button if you don’t want to save. If you want to save, press the Rename or Yes soft button, and you’ll see the Save dialog, which is described in Saving and Naming on page 5-3.

Using the Modes

You can play your K2661 regardless of the mode you’re in. In fact, the only times you can’t play it are when you’re in the middle of a disk operation (loading, saving, formatting) or a SMDI sample transfer. With these two exceptions, the K2661’s MIDI response is almost always active. Even so there are three modes that are more performance-oriented than the others. These are Program, Setup, and Quick Access modes. We’ll describe each of the eight modes briefly in this section.

Program Mode

The K2661 starts up in Program mode, where you can select, play, and edit programs. The Program-mode entry-level page shows the currently selected program, as well as a small segment of the program list. Program mode gives you access to Sample mode via the Sample soft button.

The Program, Keymap, and Sample Editors are nested within Program mode. They take you to the core of the K2661’s sound editing parameters. See the K2661 Musician’s Guide (on the CD- ROM) for details.

Setup Mode

Setup mode lets you select, play, and edit setups. Setups consist of up to eight separate zones, split or overlapping, each having its own program, MIDI channel, and control parameters. Setups are great for performance situations, whether you’re playing multiple K2661 programs

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