Song Mode; Playing Songs - Alesis SR-18 Reference Manual

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SONG MODE

After creating the Patterns that make up a Song, it's time to string those Patterns together to create a
complete Song. You can use Preset Patterns, User Patterns, or a combination of both to create your
Song.
There are three ways to create Songs:
In real time. As the SR18 plays in Song Mode (when the REC button is pushed), you can select
the sequences of Patterns and Fills in real time; the SR18 will remember the sequence of Patterns
and Fills you select.
Manually. Select Song mode and program a list of Patterns and Fills in the order in which the
Patterns are to be played. You can specify the beat and sub-beat on which the Fill takes over from
the associated main Pattern.
A combination of real time and manual recording. Create a Song in real time, then edit it manually
to insert extra Song steps, delete Song steps, change tempo, etc.
The SR18 holds up to 100 Songs (numbered 00-99), and each Song can contain up to 254 steps. Each
step holds either a Pattern number or Fill. Each Song remembers the tempo at which it was last played.

PLAYING SONGS

1.
To play a Song, press the PATTERN / SONG button. When in Song Mode, the display will
indicate SONG in the upper right corner of the screen.
2.
Select the Song you wish to play with the number keypad, INC / DEC buttons or the VALUE dial.
3.
After you select the Song, press the PLAY button. Note that the SR18 will not attempt to play
blank songs (i.e. if the display shows EMPTY SONG). The screen will change as shown to the
right:
The step number will be displayed on the top line
of the display, on the left.
The current beat will be displayed on the right.
The pattern assigned to the current step will be
displayed on the bottom line.
A, B or FILL and PRESET / USER will be
displayed as well, depending on which sub-
pattern is selected for the step.
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