Grid Sequence Function - Korg microSTATION Operation Manual

Creating songs (Sequencer mode)

Grid Sequence function

What is the Grid Sequence function?
The grid sequence function lets you create phrases
such as drum patterns by entering notes on a grid.
Even if you're not comfortable recording the drums
from a keyboard, this method allows you to easily
create drum patterns.
What is the grid?
Let's think of an 8‐beat measure as an empty grid. First
we'll use vertical lines to indicate each of the 8th notes.
Since our example has one measure, we'll draw eight
vertical lines.
Next we'll use horizontal lines to indicate the note
numbers (different instrumental sounds). Since we're
going to use four drum instruments, we'll draw four
horizontal lines.
We'll use a "+" symbol to indicate each intersection
between a vertical and horizontal line. Each "+"
symbol indicates a grid location. The following
illustration shows an empty grid for one 8‐beat
measure.
In our example, we'll use this grid to enter the 8‐beat
one‐measure drum pattern shown below.
: close
Hi-hat
Snare
Kick
The illustration below shows how we can use the grid
to depict this 8‐beat drum pattern. The "" symbol
indicates a grid location at which the corresponding
drum instrument is heard.
Open hi-hat
Close hi-hat
Snare
Kick
38
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
Open hi-hat
Close hi-hat
Snare
Kick
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
Open hi-hat
Close hi-hat
Snare
Kick
: open
1 2 3 4 5 6
+ + + + + + +
      

+ + + + +
  
+ + +
You can use the microSTATION's grid sequence
function to create this pattern by turning the "+"
locations off and the "" locations on.
You'll use the function 01–16 buttons and function 01–
16 LEDs to make grid settings. You can use the
function 01–16 buttons to specify a sequence of up to
64 grid steps. For example with a 4/4 time signature
and an 8‐beat rhythm, this lets you create a pattern up
to eight measures long. With a 4/4 time signature and a
16‐beat rhythm, the pattern can be up to four measures
long.
Recording with the Grid Sequence
function
Let's use the Grid Sequence function to create a simple
drum pattern.
Note: When you record using the Grid Sequence
function, each note's velocity value and duration (note
length) are recorded at a fixed value specified by "Init
Vel" and "Init Dur" respectively. If you want to create
changes in these values, you'll need to edit them after
recording.
You can't use the Grid Sequence function to turn a
grid note on/off while a song is playing or being
recorded. You must first stop playback or
recording.
1. Create a new song.
(p. 35 "Recording with the Loop function" steps
1–3)
2. Assign a drum program to track 1.
(p. 35 "Recording with the Loop function" steps 3–5)
3. Press the GRID SEQ function.
The Grid Sequence function will turn on. The LED
located at the upper left of the GRID SEQ button
and the GRID SEQ LED located at the left of the
function LEDs will light‐up.
When the Grid Sequence function is turned on, the
Loop function will turn on.
Note: The LOOP button will not light‐up when the
Grid Sequence function turns on. When you exit the
Grid Sequence function, Loop will remain on, and
the LOOP button will light‐up.
When the Grid Sequence function turns on, the
display will show a screen that lets you specify the
measures over which the loop will repeat, and the
quantization setting ("LpEnd" and "Q").
For this example, set "LpEnd" to 002.
By default, the loop setting will be the loop setting
("Loop M***‐***") that was specified when you
turned the Loop function on. If you want to change
the loop start measure, turn off the Grid Sequence
function and use "Loop M***‐***" to change the
7 8
setting. The measures that will be looped can be

changed in the Grid Sequence function setting screen.
+
By default, the time signature setting ("TS") will be

+
the setting of the song. If you want to change this,
+ +