About The Sequencer - Roland Fantom-Xa Owner's Manual

How Effects Units Work in
Different Modes
In Patch Mode
Multi-effects can be used individually by each patch and rhythm set.
Chorus and reverb are each shared by patches and rhythm sets; the
same effect applies to each tone. Adjusting the signal level to be sent
to each effects unit (Send Level) provides control over the effect
intensity that's applied to each tone.
fig.FXinPatch
Keyboard part
Patch
TONE
Pad part
Rhythm Set
A0
RHYTHM
C8
TONE
* To each part you can assign either a Patch or a Rhythm Set.
In the Performance Mode
The multi-effects, chorus and reverb can be set individually for each
performance. The intensity of each effect will be set for each part.
When you apply effects in Performance mode, the effect settings of
the patch or rhythm set assigned to each part will be ignored, and
the effect settings of the performance will be used. Thus, the effects
for the same patch or rhythm set may differ when played in Patch
mode and in Performance mode. However, depending on the
settings, you can have effect settings for a patch or rhythm set
assigned to a part applied to the entire performance. In addition,
when using the multi-effects settings of a performance, you can use
three different multi-effects simultaneously, depending on the effect
type.
fig.FXinPfm.e
Performance/Multitimbre
Part 1
Patch
Part16
TONE
Multi-Effects
Multi-Effects
+
Chorus
+ Reverb
Multi-Effects
Chorus
Reverb
Overview of the Fantom-Xa

About the Sequencer

A sequencer records keyboard performance and controller
movements as MIDI messages (sequencer data). As the data plays
back, the recorded MIDI messages are sent to a sound generator
which will produce the required sounds. The sequencer actually
plays instruments instead of the musician, and since it can record a
musical performance, it is a tape recorder as well.
But in reality a sequencer doesn't record sound, but actually the
steps that cause the sound generator to produce sound, so it offers
several advantages. Sound quality is always excellent, the equivalent
of first-generation tape, no matter how many times the data plays
back; tempo changes have no effect on pitch; detailed editing is
possible, etc.
What Is a Song?
For the Fantom-Xa, musical performance data for one song or
composition is referred to as a song. A song combines sequencer
data recorded on Phrase tracks 1–16, a Tempo track, a Beat track and
a Pattern, as discussed below.
fig.Song.e
Song
Phrase track 16
Phrase track 2
Phrase track 1
Tempo track
Beat track
What Is a Track?
Each section of a song which stores musical performance data is
called a track.
Phrase Tracks 1–16
Phrase tracks record the musical performance. Each Phrase track
records musical performance data for 16 MIDI channels. Totally, up
to 16 tracks x 16 MIDI channels of data can be recorded. 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.
Pattern
Pattern
1
Pattern
2
Pattern
100
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