Before You Start To Record; Recording Process; How Phrase Tracks, Parts And Midi Channels Interact; Recording Methods - Roland XP-60 Owner's Manual

Before you start to record

This section goes over what you should understand before
recording. It covers recording methods and preparations for
recording.

Recording process

Before you actually begin recording, become familiar with a
song's creative process.
1. Select an instrument sound (p.105).
2. Erase the song from the internal memory (p.105).
3. Set the time signature (p.105).
4. Perform realtime recording (p.106) or step recording
(p.113).
5. Edit the song using Track Edit (p.121), Quantize
(p.136) or Microscope Edit (p.144).
6. Save the song to disk (p.115).
How Phrase tracks, Parts and MIDI chan-
nels interact
Each Phrase track of the XP-80 sequencer can record
sequencer data of up to 16 MIDI channels, or 16 different
instruments. The performance of all instruments can be laid
down on one Phrase track to create a song. But recording in
this way raises problems later on, if you want to re-record or
modify just part of the song. Generally, it's easiest to record
each Part (MIDI channel) on its own Phrase track, so that
Part (MIDI channel) numbers will correspond to Phrase
track numbers.
On the XP-80, selecting another Phrase track by pressing
TRACK/PART [1]–[16] will also choose the correspondingly
numbered Part. If you select another Part by pressing
TRACK/PART [1]–[16], the correspondingly numbered
Phrase track will also be selected.
By using Extract function (p.131), it also allows you to reor-
ganize the sequencer data for MIDI channels so each chan-
nel's data is placed in its own Phrase track– handy when the
sequencer data for multiple MIDI channels has been stored
together in one Phrase track (such as with Format 0 Standard
MIDI files).
Sequencer
Ch 1
Phrase track 1
Ch 2
Phrase track 2
Ch 3
Phrase track 3
Ch 4
Phrase track 4
Ch 5
Phrase track 5
Ch 6
Phrase track 6
Ch 7
Phrase track 7
Ch 8
Phrase track 8
Ch 9
Phrase track 9
Ch 10
Phrase track 10
Ch 11
Phrase track 11
Ch 12
Phrase track 12
Ch 13
Phrase track 13
Ch 14
Phrase track 14
Ch 15
Phrase track 15
Ch 16
Phrase track 16
104
Sound Source
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
Part 5
Part 6
Part 7
Part 8
Part 9
Part 10
Part 11
Part 12
Part 13
Part 14
Part 15
Part 16
Chapter 4. Playing back and recording a song

Recording methods

You can select realtime recording or step recording.
Realtime recording
With Realtime Recording, you record your keyboard perfor-
mance and controller movements as they occur. Four types
of realtime recording are provided to suit the situation.
Replace
If the recording destination already contains data, it will be
replaced (erased and rewritten) by the most recent recorded
data. Use this method for re-recording.
Mix
This is used most of the time. If the recording destination
already contains data, the most recent recorded data will be
added to (mixed with) the original data. The original data is
not erased. This method is useful for first recording your
right-hand performance, then the left-hand.
And by using this method together with loop recording, you
can keep recording over a specific area without erasing the
previous data, just layering instruments, handy for building
up rhythm instrument group phrases.
Auto punch-in
This allows you to replace-record over only an area you've
specified by Punch points. It's convenient for redoing mis-
takes you made when inputting data. When you start
recording, the song plays back, and when the sequencer
reaches the Punch point, it starts recording.
Manual punch-in
This performs replace recording only over the area you spec-
ify by pressing a pedal switch or a button. It's convenient for
re-recording several areas that have data input mistakes.
When you start recording, the song plays back. When you
press a pedal switch or button, recording starts. Press it
again to stop recording and return to playback. Each pedal
press allows you to toggle between recording and playback.
Step recording
This method is for inputting notes and rests one step at a
time. It's optimized for note input with precise timing, such
as when you enter percussion or bass parts. If you like, you
can create a song by combining Patterns besides notes.

Recording destinations of sequencer data

Sequencer data is recorded either on Phrase tracks 1–16 or in
Patterns 1–100. Select the recording destination depending
on the application.
Phrase tracks 1–16
You'll normally record sequencer data on Phrase tracks. It's
helpful if you've made decision prior to recording such as
recording melody on Phrase track 1, bass on Phrase track 2,
drums on Phrase track 10, and accompaniment on the
remaining Phrase tracks.