Entering Patterns Using Step Input; What Is Step Recording - Zoom RhythmTrak RT-223 Operation Manual

Entering Patterns Using Step Input

This section describes step recording, which is another recording type that is possible with the RT-223.

What is step recording?

Step recording allows you to enter and record each
sound separately, step by step, while the RT-223 is
in the stop condition. Even without mastering how
to play the pads in real time, you can easily create
complex drum and bass patterns.
For step recording of a drum track, you first select
the shortest note that is to be used as a unit (length
o f o n e s t e p ) . T h e n y o u s p e c i f y t h e d r u m
instrument by pressing a pad and the [REPEAT/
STEP] key. The note is entered, and input
proceeds to the next step. If you press the
[REPEAT/STEP] key without pressing a pad, a
rest is entered.
For example, to enter the following bass drum
pattern by step input, select an eighth note as
smallest unit, and then make the input in the
following order, as shown in Figure 1.
[KICK] → [STEP] → [STEP] → [STEP] →
[KICK] → [STEP] → [STEP] → [STEP] →
[STEP] → [KICK]→ [STEP]
Figure 1
Bass drum
Figure 2
ZOOM RT-223
[STEP] [STEP]
[KICK] [STEP]
1 step
Duration
Eighth note
[STEP] [STEP]
[A2] [STEP]
When the end of a pattern is reached, it loops
automatically back to the beginning, allowing you
to add for example snare and hi-hat separately, to
complete the pattern. By pushing two pads at the
same time, you can enter two sounds in the same
position.
For step recording of a bass track, the procedure is
slightly different, because unlike for the drum
track, the pitch and duration of the sound must be
specified. For the drum track, every pad produces
the sound of a different instrument, but for the
bass track, the pitch is determined by which pad
you push.
The fact that tapping a pad gives the shortest-unit
note and pushing the [REPEAT/STEP] key gives
the shortest-unit rest is the same, but the fact that
a parameter called "duration" is added when
entering a note is different. Even when the step
length is the same, the actual duration of each
note can be varied individually. To enter the bass
phrase shown in Figure 2, select an eighth note as
smallest unit and make the entry as shown, while
varying the duration.
[STEP] [STEP]
[KICK] [STEP]
Sixteenth note Quarter note
[STEP]
[E2] [STEP] [E2] [STEP]
[STEP]
[KICK] [STEP]
[STEP] [STEP]
27