Basic Operation

1. Selecting Modes & Submodes

The RM1x has three main playback and recording modes -- PATTERN, PATTERN CHAIN, and
SONG -- and a UTILITY mode. Each of these includes a range of "submodes" which
provide access to more in-depth parameters.
Note that a number of dots appears to the left of the MODE and SUBMODE buttons. The
number of dots beside each button indicates the number of display pages which can
be accessed by that button. A button which has only one dot will access only a
single page. A button which has 3 dots, for example, will access three different
display pages in sequence. You can go back up through a sequence of pages from any
page in the list by pressing the [EXIT] button the requisite number of times. The
titles of the pages accessed by all multi-page MODE and SUBMODE buttons are listed
on the top panel to the right of the buttons themselves. For example, looking at
this list we can see that the SUBMODE [EFFECT] button, which has four dots,
accesses the "Type" "Variation Edit" "Chorus Edit" and "Reverb Edit" pages.

The Main Modes

The main modes are directly accessed by pressing the corresponding MODE button:
[PATTERN], [PATT CHAIN], [SONG], or [UTILITY]. The corresponding indicator will
light, and the name of the selected mode will appear in the upper left-hand corner
of the LCD Display. Here's a brief summary of what the modes do, and page
references to the related sections in this manual.

(Table)
Mode Description Page
PATTERN This is the RM1x mode you'll probably use for most recording and
playback operations, and is the default mode which will appear when the power is
initially turned on. The [PATTERN] button alternately selects the main PATTERN mode
and the PATCH mode in which phrases can be "patched" together to create patterns.
In the RM1x the term "pattern" refers to a relatively short pattern - say, 4 to 16
measures - which is used for looped playback. 45
PATTERN CHAIN The PATTERN CHAIN mode allows patterns to be "chained" together
for automatic sequential playback. 109
SONG Although you'll probably use the PATTERN mode for most recording and playback
operations, the RM1x SONG can be used to record and play complete songs when, for
example, you want to create a continuous sequence of more than 256 measures, or use
an odd time signature. 115
UTILITY As its name implies, the UTILITY mode provides access to a range of
utility functions which affect overall system and MIDI operation. 131
(Table End)

The Submodes
The submodes are accessed via the SUBMODE buttons below the MODE buttons. When a
SUBMODE button is pressed, the submode corresponding to the currently selected main
MODE is selected. For example, the PATTERN mode JOB submode will be slightly
different from the SONG mode JOB submode. The chart below includes brief summaries
of what the submodes do, and page references to the related sections in this
manual.

(Table)
Mode Description Page
GROOVE This submode makes it possible to adjust the pitch, timing, length, and
velocity of notes via a 16th-note grid to create "grooves" that would not be
possible with precise sequencer-like programming. 55, 119
PLAY FX A range of play effects which affect the sound only during playback,
without actually changing the sequence data. Play effects include harmonize, beat
stretch, clock shift, gate time, and velocity offset. 57, 119
MIDI DELAY MIDI Delay creates delay effects that can sound much the same as those
created by conventional delay effect units, but the delays are created by
manipulating the MIDI note data rather than the audio signal. 60, 119
ARPEGGIO This feature can be used to create simple automatic arpeggios based on
notes played on the RM1x keyboard. 62, 119
VOICE The VOICE submode allows any of the RM1x's voices to be assigned to
individual tracks, and includes volume, pan, and effect send controls for each
track. 63, 120
VOICE EDIT This submode provides access to in-depth voice editing parameters that
you can use to customize voices for your own sound. 65, 120
EFFECT Detailed effect editing to add the finishing touches to your sound.
69, 120
SETUP The SETUP submode includes a LOW BOOST function, knob assignment for the
RM1x's realtime control knobs, and individual output channel assignments for the
internal tone generator and MIDI transmission. 73, 121
DISK All disk operations can be accessed via this submode: save, load, file name,
delete, rename, format, etc. 76, 111, 122
JOB Accesses the RM1x's extensive range of PATTERN, PATTERN CHAIN, and SONG jobs.
80, 123
EDIT The EDIT submode allows detailed editing of sequence data, so you have
complete control over the pitch, timing, velocity, duration, and other parameters
for each note. 99, 128
SPLIT The PATTERN SPLIT submode lets you copy specified measures from one section
to another section. The SONG SPLIT submode is similar, but it lets you copy
specified measures from a song to a specified section. 108, 129
(Table End)

2. Navigating Around the Display

In all of the RM1x displays, the currently selected parameter or function is

indicated by a "cursor" which can be either an inverse block (i.e. the selected
value will appear as white characters in a black block, or the opposite if the
"NEGA" mode is selected via the UTILITY mode LCD MODE function -- page 133), or an
underline. The underline type cursor is often used for parameters which are
accessible via the display knobs (see below). The cursor can be moved around the
display via the CURSOR buttons. Each of these four buttons moves the cursor in the
direction indicated by the corresponding arrow (if the cursor can be moved in that
direction). If you're lost in a display and can't locate cursor, try pressing the
CURSOR buttons: you'll spot the cursor as soon as it moves.
If a selected mode has more parameters than can fit in a single display screen, an
arrow will appear on one or both sides of the display, indicating that more
parameters are available by scrolling in the corresponding direction(s). This can
be accomplished either by moving the cursor past the end of the display by using
the CURSOR buttons, or the display can scrolled directly by using the DISPLAY
buttons.

Menu Selection
In JOB submodes (pages 80, 112, 123) you will be presented with a "menu" from which
you can select a job. There are several ways to do this, as listed below:

CURSOR buttons
Use the CURSOR buttons to scroll to the desired job, then press the Select function
button (F4, below "Select " on the display.

Display Knobs
Use the knob below "JOB" on the display to scroll through the job list, then press
the Select function button (F4, below "Select " on the display. You can also use
the CATEGORY knob to switch between job categories (listed to the left of the
jobs).
[NO -1]/[YES +1] buttons
Press the [NO -1] or [YES +1] once briefly to single-step through the menu in the
corresponding direction, or hold the button for continuous scrolling. When the
desired job has been highlighted, press the Select function button (F4, below
"Select " on the display.

Numeric Selection
Use the numeric entry method described below to enter the number of the desired
job. The job number will flash in the upper right corner of the display. Then press
the [ENTER] button.

3. Changing (Editing) Values

The RM1x lets you adjust and edit values in three ways:

The Display Knobs

The display knobs provide a fast, easy way to adjust and edit corresponding
parameters. If any parameters in the selected display can be accessed via the
display knobs, they will appear directly above the knobs as shown in the example
below.
To adjust a knob-related parameter, simply rotate the knob either clockwise to
increase the value or counter-clockwise to decrease the value. For more rapid
adjustment -- when, for example, you need to quickly cover a large value range --
rotate the appropriate display knob while holding the [SHIFT] button.
The function of the display knobs does not depend on cursor location, so you adjust
the related values with the cursor located at another position on the display.

The [NO -1] and [YES +1] Buttons

The [NO -1] and [YES +1] buttons offer a convenient, precise way to increment or
decrement the selected value in singlestep increments. After making sure that the
cursor is located at the value to be edited, press either the [NO -1] or [YES +1]
once briefly for a single step in the corresponding direction, or hold the button
for continuous scrolling.
Note that the [NO -1] and [YES +1] buttons are also used to confirm or abort
certain operations -- thus the "NO" and "YES" labels.
note For even faster decrementing or incrementing, press the opposite
increment/decrement button while holding the button corresponding to the direction
you want to increment/decrement in.

Numeric Entry
Numeric entry can be useful when you know precisely the value you want to enter,
making it unnecessary to scroll through long lists of values or parameters to get
the desired effect.
For numeric entry the cursor must be located at the value to be edited. Press and
hold the [NUM] keyboard mode button -- the LEDs above the keys marked "1" through
"9" and "0" will light, indicating that those keys can be used to enter a numeric
value. While still holding the [NUM] button, press the number keys to enter the
value, starting from the leftmost digit. To enter the value "104," for example,
press "1," "0," and then "4." When the desired value has been specified, release
the [NUM] button. The value should be flashing on the display as entered. Finally,
press the [ENTER] button to actually enter the specified value.

4. The Function Buttons

The four function buttons below the LCD Display -- F1 through F4 -- only become
active when necessary. When a function button is active, its indicator (the LED
immediately to the left of the button) will light. The function buttons become
active when a "go do it" type control is required. Disk "SAVE," for example. Or the
"DO!" function provided for most of the jobs.

5. Keyboard Modes
The RM1x keyboard does a lot more than simply enter notes. In conjunction with the
KEYBOARD mode buttons it allows fast, efficient entry of a range of parameters. One
of its alternative functions -- numeric value entry -- has already been discussed
in the "Changing (Editing) Values" section, (page 26). The keyboard is also used
for grid-type data entry in the Grid Groove (page 55) and Grid Step Record (page
54) modes.
The remaining keyboard modes are summarized below:

TRACK
Allows direct track selection for recording and other trackdependent operations. To
select one of the RM1x's 16 tracks, press and hold the [TRACK] button. The
indicator above the keyboard key corresponding to the currently selected track will
flash. While still holding the [TRACK] button, simply press the key corresponding
to the track you want to select (the corresponding indicator will flash and the
selected track will be highlighted on the LCD Display), then release the [TRACK]
button.

TRANSPOSE
This mode provides a fast, easy way to transpose playback pitch in semitone
increments from -12 semitones to +13 semitones (used in conjunction with the OCTAVE
buttons -- page 13 -- transposition is actually possible over a +/- 36 semitone
range). When the [TRANSPOSE] button is held, the keyboard indicator(s)
corresponding to the current transpose value will flash. A single flashing LED
indicates the corresponding white key, and a pair of flashing LEDs indicates the
black key between them.
The central E key on the keyboard (labeled "H" and "8") corresponds to no
transposition. Higher or lower keys indicate transposition by the corresponding
number of semitones in the corresponding direction. The amount of transposition is
also indicated by the TRANS parameter in the PATTERN and SONG displays.
To change the transpose value, simply press the appropriate key while holding the
[TRANSPOSE] button.

NUM
Described under "Numeric Entry" in the "Changing (Editing) Values" section (page
26).

MUTE (SOLO)
This button can be used in conjunction with the keyboard to mute or solo specific
tracks. Tracks which are muted produce no sound during playback. If a track is
soloed, only that track will be heard during playback.
To mute any number of tracks in the PATTERN or SONG mode, press the KEYBOARD [MUTE]
button. The [MUTE] button indicator will flash. Next, press the keys corresponding
to the tracks you want to mute -- an "M" will appear above the track numbers of
muted tracks on the LCD Display.
Each time a key is pressed while the MUTE mode is engaged the corresponding track
will be alternately muted and unmuted.
You can then disengage the MUTE mode by pressing the [MUTE] button a second time
(the [MUTE] button indicator will go out), and the current mute settings will
remain in effect. Five separate mute setups can be memorized for instant recall as
described in the "Mute Memory" section, below.
While the [MUTE] button indicator is flashing it is also possible to mute all
tracks simultaneously by pressing the black key labeled [ALL]. In the same way
tracks 1 through 8 can be muted at once by pressing the [1-8] key. In this case the
remaining tracks (9 through 16) will all be un-muted. The [9-16] key mutes tracks 9
through 16 while un-muting tracks 1 through 8. Pressing the next black key (C#) or
the one next to that (BPM) will un-mute all muted tracks.
Only a single un-muted track can be soloed at a time, and unlike the mute settings,
the solo function will be disengaged when the MUTE mode is disengaged. To solo a
track, press the [MUTE] button while holding the [SHIFT] button. The [MUTE] button
indicator will flash at a faster rate than when the MUTE mode is engaged, and the
indicator above the currently soloed track will flash. Simply press a different key
to solo a different track, then press the [MUTE] button a second time (the [MUTE]
button indicator will go out) to disengage the SOLO mode.

Mute Memory
While the MUTE mode is engaged, the MUTE MEMORY buttons (the highest 5 black keys)
can be used in conjunction with the [SHIFT] button to memorize the current mute
setup: press a MUTE MEMORY button while holding the [SHIFT] button. Up to 5
different mute setups can be memorized in this way.
Memorized mute setups can be instantly recalled while the MUTE mode is engaged
simply by pressing the appropriate MUTE MEMORY button.

SECTION
Styles in the RM1x PATTERN mode can have up to 16 "sections," -- "A" through "P."
Each section is effectively a separate pattern, and different sections can be used
for introductions, variations, breaks, endings, etc. The SECTION mode allows the
keyboard to be used for direct section selection, allowing you to quickly change
sections during playback. When the KEYBOARD [SECTION] button is pressed the
[SECTION] button indicator will flash, keyboard indicators corresponding to
sections which contain data will light, and the keyboard indicator corresponding to
the currently selected section will flash. The current section is also shown by the
"SEC" parameter on the LCD Display. To select a different section, simply press the
appropriate key. Press the [SECTION] button a second time to disengage the SECTION
mode (the [SECTION] button indicator will go out).

6. The Realtime Controller Knobs

One of the features that makes the RM1x a great performance tool is its realtime
controller knobs. The knobs allow the corresponding parameters to be controlled in
real time during pattern or song playback, so, for example, you can sweep filter
cutoff frequency, bend pitch, add or modify effects, or control just about any
available parameter during playback simply by turning the appropriate knob. A
complement of 8 controller knobs means you have instant access to multiple
parameters, and you can control more than one parameter at the same time.
The parameters listed on the panel below the knobs are the default pre-assigned
parameters, but other parameters can be assigned as required via the SETUP submode
Knob Assign function (page 74). The knobs can be switched to control one of two
different parameter groups - "A" and "B" - via the [KNOB] button. The "A" parameter
group (the upper default parameters listed on the panel) are selected when the
[KNOB] indicator is lit, and the "B" group (the lower parameters) is selected when
the [KNOB] indicator is out. Different parameters can be assigned to both the "A"
and "B" groups via the KNOB ASSIGN function mentioned above. The default "A" and
"B" group parameters are listed below.

(Table)
1 BEAT STRETCH MIDI DELAY
2 CLOCK SHIFT OCTAVER
3 GATE TIME HARMONIZE 1
4 VELOCITY HARMONIZE 2
5 CUTOFF VARIATION
6 RESONANCE CHORUS
7 EG DECAY REVERB
8 PITCH BEND TRACK VOLUME
(Table End)

7. Undo/Redo
Undo is a function that cancels the last-executed recording, edit, or job
operation, and restores the data to its previous condition. Redo is a function that
cancels the Undo operation, and re-executes the operation.
These jobs are very convenient when important data has been damaged because of
recording, editing, or a job. These jobs can be used for recording, editing, and
job (except Name) operations in the Pattern mode, Pattern chain mode, and the Song
mode, and for Patch operations in the Pattern mode.
To execute the Undo operation, press the [JOB] button while holding the [SHIFT]
button. To execute the Redo operation, press the [JOB] button while holding the
[SHIFT] button again.
After a recording, editing, or job operation has been performed, it will always be
possible to execute Undo. Likewise, it will always be possible to execute Redo
after Undo has been executed, and Undo and Redo will alternate.
note This procedure does the same thing as the Undo/Redo job in the Pattern job
(page 82), Pattern chain job (page 113), and Song job (page 124).

8. Used Memory display

Here's how to check the amount of currently used memory, so that you can see about
how much more recording can be done. Press the F1 button while holding the [SHIFT]
button. The "Used Memory" will appear as long as you continue holding these
buttons.

9. System Initialization
If you wish to reset the RM1x's settings to the factory condition, you can perform
the Initialization operation.
1 While holding down the [OCT DOWN] and [OCT UP] buttons and the F#/Gb key
[ALL] located at their right, turn on the STANDBY/ON switch.
2 When "RM1x" appears in the display, release the keys.
3 When initialization has been performed, "Factory Set" appears briefly in the
display.
CAUTION!
When initialization is performed, all internal memory will be erased. If you wish
to keep any of your data, you must save it to floppy disk before initializing.

This chart lists a number of RM1x functions which are accessed either by
simultaneously pressing two buttons, or by operating a knob while holding a button.

(Table)
Buttons/knobs simultaneously operated Simultaneous Button & Knob Functions
Description See page
SHIFT + STOP Specifies the current measure as the measure the RM1x will "jump"
to when the [STOP] button is pressed. 46
SHIFT + PLAY Starts loop playback of the currently selected song in the SONG
mode. 116
SHIFT + MUTE Engages the SOLO mode. 28
SHIFT + PATTERN Resets parameter changes applied by the Knobs in the PATTERN
mode. 29
SHIFT + PATT CHAIN Resets parameter changes applied by the Knobs in the PATT
CHAIN mode. 29
SHIFT + SONG Resets parameter changes applied by the Knobs in the SONG mode.
29
SHIFT + GROOVE Resets the GROOVE parameters of the selected track. 55, 119
SHIFT + PLAY FX Resets the PLAY FX parameters of the selected track. 57,119
SHIFT + MIDI DELAT Resets the MIDI DELAY parameters of the selected track.
60, 119
SHIFT + F1 Displays the amount of memory currently in use. 29
SHIFT + MUTE MEMORY Stores the MUTE MEMORY setting. 28
SHIFT + SECTION [A]-[P] Simultaneously hold the [SHIFT] button and the desired
section button to auto-retrigger section change according to the Pattern Quantize
value (page 132). 28, 132
SHIFT + Keyboard Adds the specified note during arpeggio playback. 21, 62, 119
SHIFT + Keyboard Deletes the specified note during PATTERN Realtime Recording.
51
SHIFT + Keyboard Deletes the specified note during Step Recording. 52, 118
SHIFT + Keyboard Selects the specified note during Grid Step Recording. 53,
118
SHIFT + Keyboard Selects a single note position and deselect all others in the
GRID GROOVE submode. 55, 119
SHIFT + Display Knob 1-4 Rotate the appropriate Display Knob while holding the
[SHIFT] button for coarser, more rapid adjustment. 26
SHIFT + Knob 1-8 Allows the knob position to be changed without changing the
effect parameter. 29
SHIFT + Knob 1-8 Deletes all corresponding parameter data during PATTERN realtime
recording. 51
SHIFT + JOB Executes the Undo/Redo operation. 29
TRACK + TRACK [1]-[16] Selects the specified track. 27
TRACK + BPM Selects the BPM track in the SONG mode. 116
TRACK + OCT DOWN Moves the cursor to successively lower track numbers.25
TRACK + OCT UP Moves the cursor to successively higher track numbers. 25
TRACK + CURSOR buttons Moves the cursor to tracks in the corresponding directions.
25
TRACK + ALL While holding the [TRACK] and [ALL] buttons simultaneously, the effect
of the Knobs will be applied to all tracks. 29
TRACK + [1]-[[8] While holding the [TRACK] and [1-8] buttons simultaneously, the
effect of the Knobs will be applied to tracks 1-8. 29
TRACK + [9]-[16] While holding the [TRACK] and [9-16] buttons simultaneously, the
effect of the Knobs will be applied to tracks 9-16. 29
TRANSPOSE + Keyboard Changes the transpose value. 27
NUM + NUM [1]-[9], [0] Enters the specified number. 26
OCT UP + OCT DOWN Resets the keyboard octave. 13
OCT UP + Keyboard Applies a maximum vibrato effect to the note. 13
OCT DOWN + Keyboard Bends the note up to the maximum pitch allowed by the
currently specified pitch bend range. 13
(Table End)

This is the end of the file.