Building Up A Beat In Step Mode; Using Step Mode - Native Instruments MASCHINE MK3 Getting Started

8.1

Building Up a Beat in Step Mode

Until now, you recorded all Patterns "live": You hit the various pads at the desired moments
while the sequencer was playing and the sequencer directly recorded your hits. This is the re-
cording workflow when the controller is in Control mode. On the contrary, in Step mode you pro-
gressively build up the Pattern by programming a sequence for each individual Sound of the
selected Group. Notably, the sequencer does not need to be playing.
8.1.1

Using Step Mode

On your controller, do the following:
1. Press button A to select Group A (with the drum kit).
2. Press PATTERN + pad
3. Hit the pad with the Sound you want to sequence.
4. Press the STEP button above the pads to enter Step mode.
Each pad now represents one step of a 16-step sequence: you can activate each step by
pressing its pad once, lighting it up. If you press the pad again, the step is removed. This
way it's quick and easy to create a drum pattern.
5. Press PLAY to start the sequencer.
Now you will hear the sequence and see a light chasing through the pads, starting from
pad 1, going up all four rows from left to right and ending at pad 16. You may continue to
activate or deactivate pads to build your sequence during playback.
6. Once you have activated a pad, the created event is automatically selected in the displays
and you can quickly adjust its position, pitch (key), velocity, and length via Knobs 1–4
under the left display.
7. Move the 4-D encoder to the left/right to select the next/previous event in your Pattern.
You can then use Knobs 1–4 to adjust this event via Knobs 1–4 as described above.
8. Move the 4-D encoder upwards/downwards to switch to the next/previous Sound in your
Group and work on its sequence. You can also select another Sound by pressing
and the pad with the Sound you want to sequence.
3 to select the Pattern slot 3 (still empty).
Creating Beats with the Step Sequencer
Building Up a Beat in Step Mode
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MASCHINE - Getting Started - 122