Yamaha PortaSound PSS-780 Operating Manual page 19

Note:
If you hit a pad at the beginning of a measure while the
rhythm is playing, Synchro Break will become effective.
However, in order to enable a more natural fill in, it will
not work when a pad is hit at the beginning of the measure
following such a Synchro Break measure.
To turn off SYNCHRO BREAK, press its button, making
sure the indicator goes out. With SYNCHRO BREAK off,
you can play your own percussion "over" the regular rhythm,
adding variety to the usual patterns.
e@ The maximum number of percussion sounds the Porta-
Sound PSS-780 can produce at the same time is 8, including
both regular rhythm and hand percussion. If more than
8 percussion instruments are played simultaneously, the
PortaSound automatically gives priority to certain in-
struments while ignoring others.
CUSTOM DRUMMER
@ Overview
With the CUSTOM DRUMMER (17) function, you can alter
any basic rhythm pattern (but not fill ins or endings) to suit
your music and memorize it for instant recall. Or else, you
can create your own unique pattern from scratch and save
it.
The four white keys furthest on the left (18) are labeled
CLEAR, ACCENT, ROLL and ALL CLEAR. The first three
are used together with the HAND PERCUSSION pads to
erase (clear) certain instrument sounds from a pattern, add
an accent to a sound (increasing its volume) or create rapid
drum rolls. ALL CLEAR instantly erases the entire pattern
so you can program an entirely new one.
To program your custom pattern, first select the style that
will form its basis. Even if you want to create a totally new
pattern, select the corresponding type of style — i.e., a one-
or two- measure pattern, one in common time or three-four
time, and so on. It is important to choose the right type. If
you select a pattern consisting of a single measure as basis,
you cannot create a two-measure pattern. If you choose a
three-four time style, you will not be able to create a four-four
time custom pattern.
16
@ Operation
Recording a Custom Pattern
1. Press PROGRAM/END.
This blue button's indicator lights and the selected rhythm
starts. (It is not possible to use PROGRAM/END while
a rhythm is already playing or in synchro standby mode.)
As soon as you start programming, a muted closed hi-hat
will automatically sound on every beat, in addition to a
rim shot at the beginning of each measure. This indicates
the tempo and helps you keep time. (These muted hi-hat
and rim shot sounds are NOT recorded.)
2. Alter the rhythm as desired.
You can now make any changes you want (explained
below) while the selected rhythm is repeated again and
again. It is not necessary to play your entire pattern at
once — take your time adding single notes and accents
or deleting certain instruments as the pattern repeats, until
you finally arrive at the complete pattern you intended.
e@ If you want to create a custom pattern from scratch, it
may be easier to first erase all percussion sounds by
pressing ALL CLEAR.
The following procedures let you program your own
rhythm pattern:
a) Erasing Percussion Sounds
This is done by holding down the CLEAR key (C1)
while hitting the pad of the instrument to be erased.
This deletes that instrument from the pattern com-
pletely. (It is not possible to erase single notes while
retaining others.)
@ You may have to switch between PERCUSSION
SETS (22c) to be able to erase certain instruments.
b) Erasing Entire Patterns
Simply press ALL CLEAR.
c) Adding Percussion Sounds
Every note you play by hitting a pad is recorded.
When the pattern is repeated, you will hear the notes
you added during the previous cycle.
All 32 percussion instruments can be used if you switch
between PERCUSSION SETS while recording.
d) Adding Accents
To enter an accented note, hold down the ACCENT
key (D1) and hit the desired drum pad. Accents can
also be added later to existing notes by holding the
ACCENT key down and hitting the respective drum
pad at the precise timing of the note you want to sound
louder. (You can delete accents in the same way
without holding the ACCENT key down.)
e) Playing Drum Rolls
On actual percussion instruments, rolls are played
by hitting the drum very fast with both sticks or letting
one stick rebound. Since this is practically impossible
with the HAND PERCUSSION pads, the ROLL