Shape the sounds.

Step 2: Press SEQ.

The step grid. A kit's grid is the track itself, so SEQ only opens it.

Step 3: Press black key 4, C♯4, to pick C.HAT.

The closed hat: short and tight, for the in-between notes.

Step 4: Press keys 4, 8, 12 and 16.

A closed hat right before each beat: it leans the groove forward.

Step 5: Hold SEL and turn K3 LEVEL down to 60.

Ghost notes are felt more than heard. K1 to K4 here are the picked pad's own.

Tip: Held, SEL moves a value ten at a time: four clicks. On its own, one click is one step.

Step 6: Press SEL: the PAD menu for step 16.

The cursor is on the last hat you pressed. SEL opens that hit's settings.

If it doesn't work: Opened the wrong step? HOME, turn ALGORITHM to step 16, SEL again.

Step 7: Turn ALGORITHM to RATCHET, then K1 to 2X.

The hit plays twice in its step: a little roll into the next bar.

Step 8: Tap HOME.

Back to the grid. The rolled hit is drawn split in two.

Step 9: Press black key 6, F♯4, to pick RIM.

A rimshot: a dry click that answers the clap.

Step 10: Press key 11: a rim on step 11.

Right after the third beat, on the hat. The key puts the cursor there too.

Step 11: Press SEL: the rim's PAD menu.

Every hit has its own settings: how likely it is, how often it repeats.

Step 12: Turn ALGORITHM to CONDITION, then K1 left to 50%.

Half the time it plays, half the time it does not. The loop never quite repeats.

Tip: Turn K1 slowly to the left: ALWAYS, 95%, 90% and on down in fives.

Step 13: Tap HOME.

The struck-through square on the grid is a hit with a chance.

Step 14: Press black key 3, A♯3, to pick CLAP.

The clap again: its second hit gets a lock.

Step 15: Hold key 13 and turn K1 TUNE down two clicks.

A p-lock: only that one clap plays lower. The pad keeps its own tune everywhere else.

Tip: While the key is down the legend shows that hit's own values. Let go when it reads -2.

Step 16: Press PLAY and listen to the drums.

Ghost hats, a roll, a rim that comes and goes, one clap a little lower.

Step 17: Press PLAY to stop.

Stopped, the grids stay on the bar you put them on. Playing, they follow the music.

Step 18: Tap HOME and turn ALGORITHM to track 2, ACID.

On TRACKS, K1 to K4 are the selected sound's four macros.

Step 19: Hold SEL and turn K2 SQUEAL up to 20.

ACID BASS's macros are CUTOFF, SQUEAL, ENV and DECAY. SQUEAL is the resonance: the acid bite.

Tip: Two clicks with SEL held, ten at a time. Without SEL a macro moves one per click.

Step 20: Press SEQ.

The bass's pattern plays on while its grid opens. (SEQ on the grid itself switches it off.)

Step 21: Hold SEL and press OCT+: the header says BAR 2 OF 2.

The grid shows one bar at a time; SEL + OCT picks which. The changes go into bar 2, the answer.

Step 22: Hold SEL and press key 4: step 20.

Step 20 is the jump up an octave in bar 2.

If it doesn't work: The grid has to show bar 2 (BAR 2 OF 2): hold SEL and press OCT+.

Step 23: Press SEL: the STEP menu.

A step's own settings: how it plays, beyond its note.

Step 24: Turn ALGORITHM to ACCENT, then K1 to ON.

An accent hits harder: on a 303-style line it opens the filter a little too.

Step 25: Turn ALGORITHM down to SLIDE, then K1 to ON.

SLIDE glides from this note into the next one: the high A melts back down.

Step 26: Tap HOME.

Back on the grid. The step keeps its note; it plays differently now.

Step 27: Hold SEL and press key 11: step 27.

Step 27 is the E near the end of the line.

If it doesn't work: The grid has to show bar 2 (BAR 2 OF 2): hold SEL and press OCT+.

Step 28: Hold SEQ and turn K1 CUTOFF up to 30.

Holding SEQ, the knobs are the macros of the step under the cursor: a lock for step 27 alone.

Tip: A dot over the step's column marks the lock. Let go of SEQ when K1 reads 30.

Step 29: Press PLAY and listen to bar 2 of the bass.

A punch, a glide and a brighter note: bar 2 now talks back to bar 1.

Step 30: Tap HOME.

TRACKS draws the dot of every lock and the split of the roll into the lanes.

Step 31: Press PLAY to stop.

The sounds have their shape. Next, the mix.