Yamaha Portatone, PSR-270 manual Song Recording, 1OTS User

SONG RECORDING

The PortaTone features powerful and easy-to-use song recording features that let you record your keyboard performances — using up to six separate tracks — and create your own complete, fully orchestrated compositions. Up to three User songs can be recorded and saved. There are two record modes: Realtime and Step.

	STYLE	004RealTime
		RECORD
	MEASURE 001 116TEMPO
	1			004Step
STYLE	EZ		STYLE
	RECORD			RECORD
001 116TEMPO		RECORD	MEASURE 001 116TEMPO
	STYLE	1OTS User
		RECORD

001 116TEMPO

Each press of the RECORD button cycles through the four Record modes — Realtime, Step, OTS, and EZ Chord — before exiting back to normal operation. (The OTS and EZ Chord modes are unrelated to Song record- ing; they are described on pages 72 and 68, respectively.)

Realtime recording is similar to using a tape recorder; whatever you play on the keyboard is recorded in real time as you play it. Also, when you record subsequent parts to other tracks, you can hear the previously recorded parts as you record new ones.

Step recording allows you to enter notes indi- vidually. As such, it is very similar to writing down the notes on a sheet of music paper; each note is entered one at a time.

Each method has its own advantages and uses. Step recording is excellent for precision and for entering notes whose placement, rhythmic value, and velocity are fixed or consistent — such as individual drum parts in a rhythm pat- tern, or single notes in a syncopated bass part. It also gives you precise control in recording fast or complex passages that would be difficult or impossible to record in real time. Realtime

recording on the other hand, is best for captur- ing the natural “feel” of a performance, since it allows you to record as you are playing and simultaneously hear what you are recording.

Which method you use depends partly on the type of music you wish to create and partly on your own personal preference. You can even use both methods in tandem. For example, you could record a basic song guide to track 1 with Realtime, then use Step to record your “preci- sion” parts to other tracks (and perhaps even re- record track 1, once all the other parts are in place). Or you could program basic riffs and patterns with Step first, then use Realtime to add melodies and embellishments.

Keep in mind that all recording operations “replace” the data. In other words, if you record to a track that already has recorded data, all previous data in the track will be erased and replaced by the newly recorded data.

79

77