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Learn · Chapter 7 of 9

Lead and takes.

A four-bar lead on VIBES, played freely and kept afterwards with SHIFT + SAVE, an overdub undone, and a recorded TONE move that opens and closes the lead every pass.

About 10 minutes · 8 steps

Start from here

The FM-1 below starts where chapter 6 ended, so you can begin here.

  1. Step 1, now: On TRACKS, turn ALGORITHM to track 4, VIBES.

    VIBES is a vibraphone-like FM sound, soft at the start of each note: made for a lead.

    ALGORITHMManual: The cursor

  2. Step 2: Hold HOME and press key 3: a four-bar loop.

    A lead needs room to say something and answer it: four bars, against the two of the bass.

    SHIFT3A3

    Tip: The toast says T4 4 BARS. HOME and the key can go down together.

    Manual: The SHIFT keys

  3. Step 3: Press PLAY and play a short tune over four bars, REC off.

    Nothing is being recorded, so there is nothing to get wrong. The FM-1 listens anyway.

    PLAY7E49G410A412C5

    Tip: Try E, G, A and C around the middle of the keys. Every white key fits A minor.

    Manual: Capture

  4. Step 4: Right after a pass you liked, hold HOME and press SAVE.

    SHIFT + SAVE keeps the last loop you played: the toast says T4 CAPTURED 4 BARS.

    SHIFTSAVE

    Tip: Pressed within a beat after the loop comes round, it still keeps the whole pass before it.

    Manual: Capture

  5. Step 5: Press REC, play two extra notes, press REC again.

    REC records on the next bar line and adds to what is there: an overdub, one take.

    REC11B413D5REC

    Tip: With LAUNCH on BAR, recording starts and stops on the bar line; the item blinks until it does.

    Manual: Recording a loop

  6. Step 6: Not keeping those? Hold HOME and tap REC.

    UNDO T4 TAKE: the overdub goes, the captured lead stays. Undo works take by take.

    SHIFTRECManual: Undo across tracks

  7. Step 7: Press REC, turn K1 TONE slowly up and back down, press REC.

    With REC on, a knob move is recorded too and plays back every loop: the lead opens and closes.

    RECK1REC

    Tip: Hold SEL on TRACKS to see the move drawn over the lane, in the knob's colour.

    Manual: Knob moves

  8. Step 8: Listen to a pass, then press PLAY to stop.

    Four tracks: drums, bass, chords, and your own lead. The song is written.

    PLAYManual: Recording a loop

Chapter 7 · the end

What you learned.

  • SHIFT + key 3 sets a track's loop to 4 bars (keys 1 to 4: 1, 2, 4, 8 bars).
  • With REC off the FM-1 still listens: SHIFT + SAVE keeps the last loop you played.
  • REC records an overdub, on the bar line: one take, undone in one piece with SHIFT + REC.
  • With REC on, knob moves are recorded too and replay every loop.

Checkpoint

The project as this chapter leaves it, saved by the FM-1 itself. Compare it with yours, or carry on from it.

lead-end.groove

Next chapter

8 · Perform

Mutes on the bar, punch-ins, throws, scenes and the drop.

Chapter 8: Perform