Recorder functions
36
The EM-55 comes with a 16-track Recorder that can be used in several ways. On p. 20 we showed you the
most straightforward way of using the Recorder. Here, you will get to know nuts and bolts.

About the recording modes

Modes

The EM-55 provides two modes for record-
ing new music, and two for adding parts or
correcting passages of existing music:
Note: Every time you select the ALL or KEYBOARD
mode, anything you may have recorded previously
will be erased.

What are tracks?

The term “track” is used only for your con-
venience. We borrowed it from tape record-
ers that allow for recording several musical
parts by the same person (one part after the
other).
In the case of the EM-55, the term is only
used to indicate that we are dealing with
separate musical parts. Here indeed (like
with computer-based sequencers) what
really counts are the MIDI channels.
Why are we telling you this? Just to suggest
that you could also use external MIDI con-
trollers (drum pads, etc.) for recording cer-
tain parts – you do not need to use the
EM-55’s keyboard all the time (and you
could also transmit certain parts from a
computer). The MIDI channels correspond
to the track numbers.

Recorder memory

The EM-55 provides one Song memory,
which means that it can contain one Song.
After completing a Song, you must save it
to floppy disk (see p. 52).
To keep you from accidentally erasing the
Song in the EM-55’s internal memory, the
EM-55 automatically selects SINGLE mode
after your first recording. Bear in mind that
selecting ALL or KEYBOARD will erase
the Song currently in the EM-55’s memory.
Do not select ALL or KEYBOARD for adding
parts to an existing Song – use SINGLE or
PUNCH I/O instead.
Conversely, it is impossible to select SINGLE
or PUNCH I/O if the Song memory doesn’t
yet contain data.
And finally: playing back a Standard MIDI
File erases the Song in the EM-55’s memory.
In return, the SMF data will be available
(and can be supplemented with your own
renditions in SINGLE or PUNCH I/O mode).
12. Recorder functions
Recording a new song:
ALL In this mode, you can record every-
thing you and the EM-55 can play
simultaneously:
• Arranger (accompaniment),
• Keyboard parts (Upper 1/2, Lower,
M.Bass – or M.Drums)
• Style Pad performance (DJ PAD
performance is also possible, but
then the Arranger will not be
available)
• D Beam performance.
Keyboard In this mode, you can record using
the Keyboard parts
• Upper 1/2, Lower, M.Bass – or
M.Drums.
Adding parts to an existing song
Single In this mode you can record onto
one track at a time. The track can be
freely selected (unlike for the pre-
ceding modes).
Punch I/O This mode allows you to re-record a
short section of an otherwise per-
fect part.
EM-55_UK Page 36 Sunday, October 7, 2001 10:16 PM