Alesis Performance Pad Pro Reference Manual page 3

The Two Types of Patterns
The PerformancePad Pro introduces exciting new Song construction techniques. The
PerformancePad Pro excels at live performance—something usually not associated with
drum machines. The key to using these advanced features is to understand the different
types of available Patterns.
Preset Patterns provide a variety of rock, jazz, pop, and other rhythms programmed by
professional drummers.
User Patterns are Patterns you can program, edit, and save. The PRESET/USER
button selects between these two master banks of Presets. It is important to note that
the only way to modify a Preset Pattern is to copy it to a User Pattern, where it can be
edited.
The Four Types of Sub-Patterns
There are 100 of each type of Pattern, numbered 00-99. However, each numbered Pattern
actually contains four different "Sub-Patterns":
A pair of independent Main Patterns (A and B, selected by their respective buttons).
A pair of associated Fill Patterns (A Fill and B Fill, selected by pressing the FILL button
when either A or B is selected). The Fills primarily provide transitional Patterns
between Main Patterns, which makes for more realistic drum parts. The associated Fill
Patterns share the same length, Drum Set, and name as their Main Patterns (e.g., if A
is 16 beats, A Fill is 16 beats). Otherwise, they are independent.
The reason for pairing the two different A and B Patterns together is simply so that you can
switch back and forth between them rapidly in live performance or while improvising. Note
that a Pattern's A, B and FILL Sub-Patterns have equal lengths and use the same Drum Set
(collection of drum, percussion and bass sounds, as well as effects parameters).
Note that even though there are "only" 100 Patterns, the A and B variations double that to
200 Patterns, and the Fills double that again to 400 Patterns. Added to the Preset Patterns,
800 total Patterns are available.
How "Looping" Simplifies Recording
To simplify recording, a Pattern will "loop" over and over again.
Example: Suppose you want to record an 8-beat pattern. While recording, the pattern will
record through all 8 beats, then immediately jump back to the beginning and continue
recording through all 8 beats again. The PerformancePad Pro will remain in record mode,
and continue to loop, until you press STOP or switch over to Pattern Play mode. You will
hear any previously-played parts as you record new parts. You can also erase drum hits
while the pattern is looping to correct for errors.
What's a Voice?
Each of the 8 large pads triggers a voice. A voice is a sound-generating element with several
variable parameters: sound assignment, tuning, volume, output assignment (the voice's
audio output can go to either one of two sets of stereo outputs, and furthermore, to anywhere
within the stereo field of the chosen set of outputs), MIDI note number, etc.
Each pad is velocity-sensitive: the harder you hit the pad, the louder the sound assigned to
the pad will play. Thanks to the dynamic articulation techniques mentioned earlier, the timbre
will often change as well, just like the way that "real" drum, percussion and bass instruments
produce sound when played with different amounts of force.
There are eight levels of pad volume resolution, from soft to loud.
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