Specifying the length and time signature of a pattern

Here’s how the Length, Beat (time signature), and Last Step are related.

On the ESX-1, the total number of measures (or bars) in a pattern is called the “length.” The number of steps (or beats) in one of these measures is designated by the “last step.” The type of note that is counted as a step is called the “beat.”

If you select “8Tri” or “16Tri” as the beat, the last step will automatically be set to 12, meaning that step keys 13–16 will have no function. If you select “16” or “32” as the beat, the last step will be automatically set to 16. You can set any step in a pattern to be the last step.

To check the length and beat

With the pattern stopped, hold down the SHIFT key. The upper line of select LEDs (green) will indicate the current pattern length in measures, and the lower line of select LEDs (red) will indicate the beat setting.

The following diagram shows how the step keys, notes and maximum number of steps are related.

BEAT

Correspondence of step keys to notes

 

 

16

( x16)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

32

( x16)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

8Tri

(3 x12)

3

 

3

3

 

3

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

16Tri

(3 x12)

3

 

3

3

 

3

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

beat display

Note value of

 

Pattern length (number of steps)

 

 

 

each step key

 

=1

=2

=3

=4

=5

=6

=7

=8

 

 

16

16th note

 

16

32

48

64

80

96

112

128

32

32nd note

 

16

32

48

64

80

96

112

128

8Tri

8th note triplet

12

24

36

48

60

72

84

96

16Tri

16th note triplet

12

24

36

48

60

72

84

96

Setting the length

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LENGTH ..........................................................................

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1...8

1.If the ESX-1 is playing, press the STOP/CANCEL key to stop play- back.

2.Press the PATTERN key (it will light).

3.Use the []/[] cursor keys to select “length” in the parameter display.

4.Turn the dial to specify the length of the pattern in measures.

5.If you want to keep the pattern you edited, press the WRITE/RE- NAME key. (p.74 “Saving a pattern”)

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