THE SEQUENCER
8
Recording automation on multiple tracks
Although only one track can have MIDI input, it is possible to record enable any num-
ber of tracks for automation recording.
D Simply click in the Rec column to record enable the tracks you wish to
record automation events for.
D When recording is activated, all record enabled tracks will record param-
eter changes from their respective devices in the rack.
This is especially useful if you have multiple control surfaces, controlling different
devices in the rack while you’re recording. See the Remote control chapter for de-
tails.
Background: How recorded controllers are handled
Even though the recording procedures are practically the same, the sequencer han-
dles controllers differently from notes. While each recorded note is a separate event,
there are no “controller events” as such in the sequencer. Instead, it works like this:
Each sequencer track has a number of controller “subtracks” (one for each automat-
able parameter in the corresponding device). A controller subtrack can be viewed as
a length of magnetic tape, which you can fill with controller data.
When you haven’t yet recorded any automation for a parameter, its subtrack is empty.
The parameter is not automated.
As soon as you record anything for the controller, anywhere in the song, the whole
subtrack is filled with controller data:
This makes it possible to set up a static mix first, and then add some automated pa-
rameter changes anywhere in the song while maintaining the static values elsewhere
in the song.
Recording Pattern Changes
If your song contains pattern devices, you probably want to use more than a single
pattern throughout the song. To facilitate this you can record pattern changes in the
sequencer (or draw them in manually, as described on page 26).
1. If you want to use the same pattern for the main part of the song (and only
want to add some variation patterns here and there), make sure this “main
pattern” is selected before you start recording.
When you first record a pattern change somewhere in the song, the originally se-
lected pattern will be inserted throughout the rest of the song. This is similar to the
way controller automation works - see page 6.
2. Locate the sequencer track for the device, and make sure MIDI is routed to
the track.
That is, the MIDI connector symbol should be shown in the In column for the track
in the track list.
3. Start recording from the desired position.
When playback starts, the pattern device will automatically start (provided the pat-
tern section is enabled on the device).
4. During recording, change patterns with the Bank and Pattern buttons on the
device panel.
Make sure to change the patterns slightly in advance - the actual pattern change
will be recorded (and happen) on the next downbeat according to the main se-
quencer time signature.
5. When you are done, stop recording.
There will be a green frame around the pattern selection buttons to indicate that
pattern changes are automated for the device.
In the Arrange view, recorded pattern changes are indicated as dark yellow bars (the pale yellow
“strip” indicates that the track contains any pattern change data at all).
D Each pattern change will be recorded on a downbeat (at the start of a
new bar in the sequencer).
You can move pattern changes to other positions in the Edit View (see page 27).
D You can punch in on recorded pattern changes, to replace a section of
the track.
This works the same as punching in on controllers (see page 7).
D After recording the pattern changes, you can use the function Convert
Pattern Track to Notes, to transfer the notes in the patterns to the main
sequencer.
This allows you to create unlimited variations by later editing the notes in the Edit
View.
This is the section you recorded.
This is the original, static value for the parameter.