Navigation Buttons; Mode Buttons - Akai XR 20 Reference Manual

6. A & B – Each Pattern consists of two Main sub-patterns – A & B. You can select each of the two
sub-patterns by pressing its corresponding button. These sub-patterns allow you to program
variation in your Patterns (i.e. sub-pattern A is the verse, sub-pattern B is the chorus).
7. FILL – Each Pattern also includes two Fills associated with each of the two sub-patterns. The Fills
are used to transition from one sub-pattern to another (i.e. transition from verse to chorus).
8. ERASE – This button allows you to erase Patterns or Songs. Hold this button down and the
screen will prompt you to verify that you want to erase the selected element. To erase the part,
press the REC button while the ERASE button is being held down. In addition, ERASE allows you
to erase specific events in real-time as you record your patterns. Simply hold down the ERASE
button as the Pattern plays and press the pad corresponding to the sound you wish to erase. Any
events assigned to the pad will be erased from the moment the pad is pressed until either the pad
or the ERASE button is released.
9. SAVE / COPY – This button accesses various save / copy / append functions.
10. MUTE – This button allows you to mute a selected instrument layer. Hold down the button and
press the DRUM, 1-SHOT or SYNTH to mute the corresponding instrument layer. To un-mute the
layer, press the corresponding button again while MUTE is being held down.

NAVIGATION BUTTONS

11. INC / DEC – These buttons are used to increment and decrement through values and settings on
the XR20.
12. VALUE DIAL – This dial can also be used to increment and decrement values and settings.
13. NUMBER BUTTONS – Alternatively, you may use the number buttons to input values directly.
14. PAGE RIGHT / LEFT – These two buttons are used to go between pages of options when
browsing menus and settings.

MODE BUTTONS

15. PATTERN / SONG – This button toggles between the two different modes on the XR20. In
Pattern Mode, you can play, record and edit individual patterns. Patterns are short (i.e. 8-beat, 16-
beat, etc) rhythm sequences which are assembled together to create Songs.
sequence of Patterns. In Song Mode, you can perform or program your Patterns to create a Song.
The currently-selected mode will be indicated on the display.
16. PRESET / USER – This button toggles between Preset and User Patterns. The selected mode
will be indicated in the upper right corner of the display.
Preset Patterns provide a variety of rock, jazz, pop and other rhythms programmed by professional
drummers and cannot be overwritten or edited (the only way a Preset Pattern can be edited is to
copy it to a User Pattern).
User Patterns are Patterns you can program, edit and save as you wish.
17. STEP EDIT – Pressing this button enters Step Edit Mode for Pattern or Song editing, depending
on which of the two modes is selected. This mode allows you to "step" through your Pattern or
Song sequence to correct any mistakes. The display will indicate STEP EDIT while in Step Edit
Mode, and the current step will be displayed on the top line. To move through the steps of the
sequence, use the PAGE RIGHT / LEFT buttons.
18. PATTERN PLAY – This button enables Pattern Play Mode. In this mode, you can play pre-
selected Patterns in a sequence, using the pads to trigger the Patterns in real-time. See "Playing
Patterns With the Pads" section.
10
A Song is a