SR-16 question

[Level43]

I've read the manual and understand most of what's going on but have a couple of questions.

What's the easiest way to add a drum intro (1 1/2 or 2 1/2 beat) to a song? I've come up with a couple of patterns, but need an intro.

Also, when composing patterns, I understand there's an "A" and a "B" pattern that can be programed. Is there a way to throw in a couple of self created fills without taking up another pattern space?

I've almost got this thing figured out (SR-16) but my head is swimming trying to figure everything out.

Thanks!

[radiorickm]

ok heres the thing.....

when you write your own programs for the sr-16, one of the things you define is the length of the pattern ( number of beats) If you do this for pattern A, it applies to pattern A FILL. same thing for B and B FILL.

what you would actually have to do is program the intro you want into the b-fill pattern. when you start the pattern in runtime, it will play b-fill, and change to A. Then you can use A-FILL to go to Pattern B.

hope this helps. if you need something else just ask!

[Jack Russell]

One cool thing about the SR-16, is that you can take a pattern and lengthen (or shorten) the pattern either at the beginning or end of the pattern. So, you could add a few beats at the start of the first pattern for your drum fill. I just got an SR-16 myself. It works really well, IF IF IF, you can get past all the complicated learning steps. Have fun.

[radiorickm]

jack

ok. i have been using a sr-16 for a couple of years now, and i have absolutely no idea what you are talking about.

can you explain this to me?

[Jack Russell]

Sure, I'll try.

When I say you can lengthen or shorten a pattern, I mean the number of beats. The default number of beats in a pattern is 8, which is 2 measures of good old 4/4 time, which is used in 95% of all rock and roll and everything else. Now suppose you have a part in 5/4 time: to get two measures of 5/4, you can add 2 beats making it 10 total (8 + 2). Another example: if you have a pause in the music that is 6 counts instead of the usual 4, then you can take a pattern that is the usual 8, and decrease it by 2 to 6.

Now, lets say you've written a pattern that is basically a crash on beat 1, with a crashing symbol as well as a kick drum, both on beat 1. The rest of the 8-beat pattern is just the fade of the crash. But, in the song, you need a 6-count crash, not 8. You can choose to shorten the pattern from either the end or the beginning of the pattern. If you shave off 2 beats from the end, then you can retain your kick drum and cymbol crash on beat 1. (If you shaved off the first 2 beats, then you'd lose the crash you had programmed.)

In the example above, from Level43, he/she wanted to add a fill before the start of the song. A solution would be to take the first pattern of the song (which is probably 8 beats), add a few beats before the begging of the first beat, and use those for the added snare hit or whatever that would then preceed the beginning of the original part already programmed in the song.

Good luck,
J.R.

[radiorickm]

i can only assume you are talking about programming in a MIDI sequence and then useig the 16 as the sound source.....is this right?

[MadAudio]

No, I think he means the internal sequencer in the SR-16.

[Jack Russell]

Yes, I'm talking about the programming of the SR-16 itself. I tried at one point to grasp MIDI, and I came to hate the experience like the Black Plague. Really. I spent a month of weekends trying to make MIDI work with a Korg keyboard and a drum machine, and I just plain gave up. Making music wasn't supposed to involve so much insane complexity. Gimme my guitar, and bass and stomp boxes and let me wail in a drunken stupor!!! M.I.D.I. = Massively Idiotic Dammmed Isanity.

No, seriously, the SR-16 by itself has the programming capability within it. But, now that you mention it, I think you can use the SR-16 just as a MIDI sound source and use some other device to control it. Don't ask me how.

While on the subject, I found the most difficult thing to handle was the Quantize feature in the SR-16. But once solved, it really can make the difference between lousy mechanical drum parts and parts that sound exactly like that of a pro drummer.

-J.R.

[MadAudio]

Originally Posted by Jack Russell

I think you can use the SR-16 just as a MIDI sound source and use some other device to control it. Don't ask me how.

I've done it with a drumKAT.

[bat63]

Back in the day,I had an SR-16 MIDI'd to an MMT-8 as well as my keyboard.
I could SPP either from the MMT-8 or the SR-16.

I really miss hardware sequencers...and I'm not talking about the ones today that cost 8 billion damn dollars either.....