First, select the pattern number you wish to program (numbers 00 through 55 only: patterns 56 through 99 are permanent preset patterns and cannot be re-programmed, although you can edit the preset patterns to produce new patterns, as we’ll explain in the PATTERN COPY SECTION later in this chapter).

Also, ensure (by playing back if necessary) that the selected pattern number does not contain a pattern, if you want to avoid losing an existing pattern. Enter the real time write mode by pressing the REAL TIME WRITE button. The LCD will give the following indication: “REAL L=//,Q=1/qq” (// being the pattern length, and

qqbeing the quantize rate-we’ll explain these terms later). If you have selected a pattern number that already contains data, a square black cursor will flash at the left side of the LCD. If you have selected a preset pattern number, the cursor will flash in the center of the LCD. In the latter case you should press PLAY again and select another pattern number.

For this initial explanation, we’ll assume that you’ve selected a pattern number that is empty of data. You can now set the length and quantize rate of your pattern. Press the BEAT button. If, by mistake, you have selected a pre- programmed pattern, the LCD will show the error message “PRESET PTN AREA!” then revert to the “SELECT PTN” display. You should now select another pattern number. Normally, the LCD will switch to “LENGTH=// /16” (// is the pattern length) with the cursor flashing to the right of the length number. The RX21 measures patterns in sixteenth notes, so for example a bar of 4/4 time (four quarter notes per bar) would be indicated by the setting “16/16” (sixteen sixteenth notes per bar); a bar of 3/4 time (three quarter notes per bar) would be “12/16” (twelve sixteenth notes per bar), and so on. The following chart indicates the relationship between Length settings and time signatures.

LENGTH SETTlNG (II/16)TIME SIGNATURE

16

4/4

15

15/16

14

7/8

13

13/16

12

3/4 or 6/8

11

11/16

10

5 / 8

9

9/16

8

2/4

7

7/16

6

3/8

5

5/16

4

1/4

3

3/16

2

1/8

1

1/16

Use the -1/NO and +1/YES buttons to input the length setting. Press BEAT again to enter the Quantize rate. The LCD will switch to “QUANTIZE=1/qq” (where qq

=the quantize rate) with the cursor flashing to the right of the quantize number. You can now use the -1/NO or +1/YES buttons to “scroll through” the available quantize numbers (12, 24,16, 32) until you reach the desired setting. Press BEAT again to return the LCD to the previous real time write mode display.

To review, the real time write setting procedure is as follows:

1.Press REAL TIME WRITE to enter the real time write mode.

2.Press BEAT, then enter pattern length setting with -1/NO or +1/YES buttons.

3.Press BEAT again, then enter quantize rate with -1/NO or +1/YES buttons.

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