Alesis Performance Pad Reference Manual page 6

1.2B The Four Different Types of Patterns
The Performance Pad introduces exciting new Song construction techniques. The
Performance Pad 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. The only way to modify a Preset
Pattern is to copy it to a User Pattern, where it can be edited.
There are 50 of each type of Pattern, numbered 00-49. 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. However, A and B Patterns can be treated as completely independent
Patterns if desired and can have different lengths, Drum Sets, etc.
Always think of the Main Pattern and its associated Fill as a unit. For example, if you
copy a Main Pattern to another Main Pattern, its Fill will travel along with it.
Note that even though there are "only" 50 Patterns, the A and B variations double that
to 100 Patterns, and the Fills double that again to 200 Patterns. Added to the Preset
Patterns, 400 total Patterns are available.
1.2C How "Looping" Simplifies Recording
To simplify recording in Compose mode, 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 Performance Pad will remain in
record mode, and continue to loop, until you press STOP or switch over to Perform
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.
2