Here’s a simple example of a rhythm pattern programmed in the Step Write Mode, using a quantize rate of 1/16 (this pattern is the same as the one you entered in the real time mode). It’s shown here in regular music notation, and underneath the part of each instrument is shown in the form of a Dot Display. You can call up a Dot Display on the RX21’s LCD, as described in the STEP WRITE DOT DISPLAY section later in this chapter. Each dot represents a note (entered by pressing an instrument key) and each dash represents a rest (entered by pressing the +1/YES key).

You’ll notice that the snare drum part has a lot of rests. These can be rapidly entered by holding down the +1/YES key until you reach the next snare beat.

STEP WRITE mistakes can be corrected in the same way as REAL TIME mistakes: when you reach the beat at which the erroneous entry was made, simply hold down the CLEAR button and press the instrument button corresponding to the instrument to be cleared. Patterns (including, of course, those you created in the REAL TIME mode) can be edited by adding new parts and deleting unwanted parts simply by re-entering the step write mode and stepping through the pattern using the +1/YES button (or the -1/NO button, if the error is near the end of the pattern) until the edit point is located. The addition of new parts and deletion of unwanted parts is carried out as described above.

The length of a programmed pattern CANNOT be changed. The quantize rate can only be changed by using the Beat Exchange function (this is described later in this chapter).

Step Write (Example: 4/4 Time, Quantize Rate 16, on pattern 00)

16