Pearl Red Box RBM 20 User manual

R B M 2 0
OWNERS MANUAL

INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................................
CONNECTION DIAGRAM .................................................................................................................
GETTING STARTED .......................................................................................................................
RESETTING THE MODULE TO FACTORY DEFAULTS ............................................................................
CHECK FOR UPDATES ...................................................................................................................
RIDE CYMBAL SETUP ....................................................................................................................
DEACTIVATE WRITE PROTECTION ...................................................................................................
THE BASICS ................................................................................................................................
NAVIGATING MENUS & ADJUSTING SETTINGS ..................................................................................
KITS ...........................................................................................................................................
VOICES: LAYERS & INSTRUMENTS ..................................................................................................
VOLUME ......................................................................................................................................
SEQUENCES ................................................................................................................................
STORING DATA ............................................................................................................................
UTILITIES ....................................................................................................................................
REAR PANEL FEATURES ................................................................................................................
TOP PANEL FEATURES ..................................................................................................................
KITS, VOICES, ACCOMPANIMENT & INSTRUMENTS ...........................................................................
SELECTING A KIT .........................................................................................................................
EDITING INSTRUMENTS IN A KIT ....................................................................................................
EDITING ACCOMPANIMENT IN A KIT ................................................................................................
EDITING VOICE & ACCOMPANIMENT PARAMETERS ...........................................................................
EDITING MIDI PARAMETERS ..........................................................................................................
EDITING EFFECTS PARAMETERS ....................................................................................................
KIT SELECT SETUP .......................................................................................................................
SEQUENCES ................................................................................................................................
PLAYING SEQUENCES ...................................................................................................................
RECORDING SEQUENCES ..............................................................................................................
EDITING SEQUENCES (DRUMS) ......................................................................................................
EDITING SEQUENCES (ACCOMPANIMENT) ........................................................................................
SETTING UP THE CLICK TRACK ......................................................................................................
EDITING QUANTIZATION SETTINGS .................................................................................................
STORING & COPYING DATA ............................................................................................................
NAMING ......................................................................................................................................
STORING & COPYING KITS .............................................................................................................
COPYING INSTRUMENTS ...............................................................................................................
STORING SEQUENCES ..................................................................................................................
STORING TRIGGER SETTINGS ........................................................................................................
TRIG. EDIT MENU .........................................................................................................................
TRIGGER INPUT PARAMETERS .......................................................................................................
TRIGGERING PARAMETERS ............................................................................................................
VELOCITY CURVE .........................................................................................................................
MODE (RIDE BOW & BELL) ............................................................................................................
HI-HAT CALIBRATION ....................................................................................................................
STORING TRIG. EDIT SETTINGS ......................................................................................................
EXPLORING OPTIMAL SENSITIVITY AND THRESHOLD SETTINGS .........................................................
UTILITIES MENU ...........................................................................................................................
GENERAL ....................................................................................................................................
CLICK (F1) ..................................................................................................................................
MIDI (F2) ...................................................................................................................................
TRIG (F3) ...................................................................................................................................
SYS (F4) .....................................................................................................................................
UPDATING THE MODULE ................................................................................................................
MIDI SETUP .................................................................................................................................
USING THE RBM-20 TO TRIGGER SOUNDS FROM A SOFTWARE DRUM MODULE ...................................
USING AN EXTERNAL MIDI DEVICE WITH THE RBM-20’S SOUND LIBRARY ...........................................
MIDI IMPLEMENTATION CHART ......................................................................................................
RBM-20 SEQUENCES ....................................................................................................................
RBM-20 KITS ...............................................................................................................................
RBM-20 INSTRUMENTS ................................................................................................................
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INTRODUCTION
Welcome to the Pearl Redbox drum module! The RBM-20 includes lots of high-fidelity drum, percussion, and
accompaniment sounds giving you the sonic realism of acoustic drums but with the convenience and flexibility of
electronic drums.
This manual details all the RBM-20 module’s features. If you want to learn fast so you can dive right into playing,
refer to the included Quickstart Guide. Or, for a brief overview of the module’s features, see the BASICS chapter.
Of course, we also recommend reading through this manual so you can take full advantage of all the amazing
functions of the RBM-20.
Pearl Corporation
CONNECTION DIAGRAM
• Connect your electronic drum set’s triggers to the corresponding inputs on the module with the appropriate 1/4”
cables. Dual-zone pads or cymbals (e.g., a drum with head and rim triggers or a cymbal that can produce bow and
bell sounds) will require TRS cables to trigger both zones.
• Plug 1/4” TS cables from the MAIN OUT or AUX OUT to an amplier, mixer, or speaker system. (For mono sound,
you can connect only one output.)
• You can connect a set of 1/4” TRS headphones to the PHONES OUTPUT.
• You can connect another audio device to the AUX IN using standard RCA cables.
See the included assembly poster for further instructions on setting up the E-PRO LIVE Kit and connecting it to the
RBM-20 module.
IMPORTANT:
• Always turn down your volume level(s) to zero before plugging or unplugging your cables from
your triggers or the module.
• The RBM-20 module may be affected by static electricity. If this occurs, simply turn the module off
and wait at least a few seconds before turning it on again.
volume
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1

GETTING STARTED
Please read the following instructions to set up your RBM-20 module for
its first use!
RESETTING THE MODULE TO FACTORY DEFAULTS
If you ever need to return the module to its original default factory settings,
press and hold the EXIT and SAVE buttons simultaneously while turning it on.
CHECK FOR UPDATES
Since the initial release of this module, we may have released new
firmware or sound ROM files.
To ensure your RBM-20 module has the latest sounds and
software features, we recommend checking the Customer Support tab of www.
redboxsoundshop.com for available updates.
See the UPDATING THE MODULE chapter for more information.
The Ride Cymbal Trigger Settings are pre-set at the factory for
E-Classic Metal RIDE cymbals. If you’re using an
E-Classic Metal RIDE cymbal you don’t have to do anything.
However, if you’re using an EPC-14T Plastic RIDE cymbal,
please follow the steps below to optimize playability.
1. Press TRIG EDIT to enter the main Trig. Edit Menu page.
The first page shown should be INP (F1).
2. Highlight the instrument at the top of the screen using the
CURSOR UP / DOWN buttons then use the DEC- / INC+ buttons
or VALUE / TEMPO DIAL to change it to RideBell.
3. Use CURSOR UP / DOWN to move through the menu items and
select InputType.
4. Use the DEC- / INC+ buttons or the VALUE / TEMPO DIAL
and change PIEZO to SWITCH.
5. Press the SAVE button to save this setting.
6. Press KIT SELECT to continue playing.
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IMPORTANT NOTICE FOR EPC-14T PLASTIC RIDE CYMBAL USERS

DEACTIVATE WRITE PROTECTION
Out of the box, the RBM-20 module is write-protected,
so you will be unable to save any changes you make to
the Kits, Instruments, Sequences, etc.
To turn write protection off:
1. Press UTILITIES.
2. Press SYS (F4).
3. Press O/S (F3).
4. Press MEM (F4).
5. Press DEC- / INV+ or move the VALUE / TEMPO DIAL
counterclockwise until the “WriteProt” eld says “OFF.”
6. Press KIT SELECT to return to the main page.
THE BASICS
This section of the manual outlines the basic features and concepts of the RBM-20.
Each section below refers to another part of this manual that will explain the features in greater
depth.
NAVIGATING MENUS & ADJUSTING SETTINGS
We designed the RBM-20’s user interface to be as simple and as easy to use as possible.
• KIT SELECT – Press this button to select the Main Screen, where you can select the current Kit.
(From this page, you can press CURSER DOWN/KIT CONFIG to enter the KIT CONFIG Screen,
where you
can adjust the overall Kit volume level, MIDI Program Change settings, or restore the current Kit’s
factory settings.)
• UTILITIES – Press this button to enter the UTILITIES Menu, where you can adjust click and MIDI
settings, update or reset the module, and more.You can navigate the menus and adjust settings and
parameters shown on the module’s LCD with the following controls:
• TRIG EDIT – Press this button to adjust sensitivity, crosstalk, thresholds, velocity curves, and
other settings for the triggers.
• DRUM/LAYER or EDIT ACCOMP – Press one of these buttons to reassign the sound for a trigger
or to edit the sound of the Accompaniment track.You can also adjust other settings such as effects,
velocity-related parameters, MIDI settings, and more.
• F-BUTTONS – Pressing the F1, F2, F3, and F4 buttons will select whatever “tab” is displayed
above it on the LCD.
• DEC- / INC+ – Press the DEC- / INC+ buttons to adjust the selected
menu item (usually highlighted) one increment at a time. These buttons are better for more
precise adjustment of settings than the VALUE / TEMPO DIAL.
• CURSOR UP / DOWN – Press either of these buttons to move up or down through the menu on
the screen. (Pressing the CURSOR DOWN/KIT CONFIG button while on the Main Screen will call up
the KIT CONFIG screen where you can adjust the volume and MIDI settings of the current Kit.)
• VALUE / TEMPO DIAL – Turn the wheel clockwise or counterclockwise to adjust the selected
menu item (usually highlighted).This allows for quick adjustment of settings and parameters – the
faster you turn the wheel, the faster it will scroll through the options.
• SEQ/SONG – Press this button to enter the sequencer, where you can select a Sequence to play
and adjust overall settings for the module’s sequencer.
• EXIT – Press this to return to the previous menu.
See the TOP PANEL FEATURES chapter for more information about these and other controls.
3

KITS
The RBM-20 module includes 100 Preset Kits and 100 empty User
Kits. A Kit is a set of sounds that you can select in the module that
will be triggered by your drums when you play them. The Preset Kits
come preprogrammed so you can start playing with premium sounds
right away.The empty User Kits are for you to create your own by
assigning individual sounds to each trigger in the Kit. Furthermore, you
can save over the Preset Kits in user memory, allowing for even more
creative space. (The defaults can be easily restored by reinitializing
the module).
To select a Kit, simply press KIT SELECT to enter the Main Screen,
then use the DEC- / INC+ buttons or VALUE / TEMPO DIAL to select a new Kit number.
For more information on selecting and editing Kits, see the KITS,VOICES,ACCOMPANIMENT &
INSTRUMENTS chapter.
Important:At any given time, the RBM-20 module has a Kit selected and a Sequence selected. If you change the
Sequence, this will change your current Kit to the one that is associated with that Sequence. If you change the
Kit, this will NOT change the current Sequence. However, if you then play the current Sequence, the chords or “hit
groups” may sound unusual. In this case, we recommend muting Layer B of that Kit’s Accompaniment
(see EDITING VOICE & ACCOMPANIMENT PARAMETERS for more information) or muting the
Accompaniment altogether by pressing MUTE ACCOMP.
VOICES: LAYERS & INSTRUMENTS
Whenever you strike a trigger on your electronic drum set (e.g., a
cymbal, a drum pad, etc.), it will trigger a Voice in the module.A
Voice is the sound assigned to that trigger. Each Voice consists of
two Layers, and each Layer has its own Instrument (a drum sound
such as a tom, snare, hi-hat, etc.) which can be selected or edited.
We created the dual-layer feature in the RBM-20 so you can play
With more powerful composite and layered sounds and timbres using
your electronic drum kit.You can make subtle or dramatic changes to the sound of your
Kits by changing the Instruments in each Layer. Furthermore, you can adjust certain
parameters of the drum Voices (e.g., tuning, velocity, reverb, panning, etc.) in the module.
For more information on selecting and editing Voices, see the
KITS, VOICES, ACCOMPANIMENT & INSTRUMENTS chapter.
VOLUME
You may have noticed that there are several ways to adjust the volume
of your performance when using the RBM-20.You can:
• Adjust the levels of the Voices in the Kit: Press
KIT SELECT to enter the main screen then DRUM / LAYER.
Press INST (F1) and select the Voice to edit (top of the LCD) with the
DEC- / INC+ buttons or VALUE / TEMPO DIAL (or by
striking the trigger with PAD ID on). Press LVL
(F2) to enter the Level page. (Remember that each
Voice has two Layers, A and B, which you can toggle
between by pressing the DRUM/LAYER button.)
• Adjust the level of the entire Kit: Press KIT SELECT
to enter the main screen then CURSER DOWN/KIT CONFIG
to enter the KIT CONFIG Screen, where you can set the overall Kit level.
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• Adjust the levels of drum sounds with the MIXER:
Slide the faders on the module’s MIXER.
Use the A/B SELECT button to toggle between the
two banks of sounds.
Please note the module’s trigger sensitivity, threshold, velocity curve settings
can also affect the dynamics of your performance. See the TRIG. EDIT MENU
chapter for more information on adjusting these other settings.
SEQUENCES
The RBM-20’s built-in sequencer lets you record, overdub, edit, play
back, and loop Sequences (drum patterns).You can adjust
settings like the tempo, time signature, and quantization for a
Sequence.
To access the sequencer, press the module’s SEQ / SONG button
And navigate the menus or adjust the settings accordingly.
For more information on using the sequencer, see the SEQUENCES chapter.
Important: At any given time, the RBM-20 module has a Kit selected
and a Sequence selected. If you change the Sequence, this will change
your current Kit to the one that is associated with that Sequence.
If you change the Kit, this will NOT change the current Sequence.
However, if you then play the current Sequence, the chords or “hit
groups” may sound unusual. In this case, we recommend muting Layer
B of that Kit’s Accompaniment (see EDITING VOICE & ACCOMPANIMENT
PARAMETERS for more information) or muting the Accompaniment
altogether by pressing MUTE ACCOMP.
STORING DATA
The RBM-20 module can store the information you enter for use in
future sessions.This includes Kits you edit or record, Sequences
you edit or record, Instrument or Kit parameters, and more.
Furthermore, while there are several slots for User Kits and
Sequences, you can also save over the Presets (the first 100 Kits
or the first 75 Sequences).
To store a Kit, Instrument, or Sequence, press the KIT SELECT
or SEQ/SONG button (respectively) to select the item you want
to store, then press the SAVE button. (If you are storing a Kit or
Instrument, you will be asked to specify which.)
Use the CURSOR UP / DOWN buttons and DEC- / INC+
buttons or VALUE / TEMPO DIAL to select the “From” Kit
or /sequence (the one you want to save) and the “To” Kit
or /sequence (where you want to save it to).
For more information on using storing data, see the STORING & COPYING DATA chapter.
5

UTILITIES
The UTILITIES Menu lets you control global settings such as the output
routing and trigger sensitivity as well as click, MIDI, and
tempo settings.You can also transmit SysEx data in this menu as
well as re-initialize the RBM-20 (i.e., return it to its factory settings).
To access the UTILITIES Menu, press the module’s UTILITIES
Button and navigate the menus or adjust the settings
accordingly. For more information, see the UTILITIES MENU chapter.
REAR PANEL FEATURES
1. POWER SWITCH – Turns the module on and off.
2. POWER IN – Connect the included AC adapter to this input,
then connect the adapter to a power source.
3. MAIN OUT – Use 1/4” TS cables to connect these outputs to an
amplifier or speaker system.The volume of these outputs is
controlled by the VOLUME knob on the top panel.
4. AUX OUT – Use a 1/4” TS cables to connect these outputs to a
monitor system or recording device.The AUX OUT signal can be set to be
identical to or independent of the MAIN OUT signal.
5. AUX IN – Connect an external sound source, such as a CD player,
to these inputs using a stereo pair of RCA cables.
6. USB – Use a standard USB cable to connect the module to your
computer via this USB port.
This connection allows the module to send MIDI messages via USB to an
external drum software module.You can also transmit SysEx files over
this connection.
7. MIDI IN – Use a standard five-pin MIDI cable to connect this
input to the MIDI OUT of an external MIDI device.
8. MIDI OUT – Use a standard five-pin MIDI cable to connect this
output to the MIDI IN of an external MIDI device.
9. TRIGGER INPUTS – Connect the triggers of your drum kit to the
appropriate inputs here. Please note that dual-zone pads or cymbals
(e.g., a drum with head and rim triggers or a cymbal with bow and
bell sounds) will require TRS cables to trigger both zones.
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WARNING:
Use only the included Pearl
Redbox power supply with the
RBM-20 module.
IMPORTANT:
Always turn down your
volume level(s) to zero before
plugging orunplugging your
cables from your triggers or
the module.
Note:
The module’s HI-HAT
CONTROL TRIGGER INPUT
does not support keyboard-
style expression pedals.
6

1. VOLUME – Adjusts the volume level of the MAIN OUT.
2. PHONES – Adjusts the volume level of the PHONES OUTPUT on the module’s
front panel.The PHONES volume is independent of the module’s VOLUME.
3. PHONES OUTPUT – Connect your 1/4” headphones to this output. You can adjust the volume of this output with
the PHONES volume knob on the module’s top panel.
4. MIXER – Slide these faders to adjust the levels for the different groups of drum sounds. Each fader controls a
drum sound in each bank. The current bank (A or B) is determined by the A/B SELECT button.
5. A/B SELECT – Toggles between Banks A and B, determining which bank of triggers the MIXER’s faders are
affecting.An LED indicates the current bank.When neither LED is lit, these faders are disabled.
6. CLICK ON / OFF – Turns the CLICK on or off. You can adjust the click volume with the fader directly underneath
this button (when A/B SELECT is set to Bank B).
7. LCD – Displays system menus, parameters, and other settings as you use the RBM-20.
8. F-BUTTONS (1-4) – These buttons allow you to navigate the menus shown in the LCD. Press an
F-BUTTON to select the “virtual” button or tab shown above it in the LCD
9. CURSOR UP / DOWN – Use these buttons to move (vertically) through the available parameters shown in menus
in the LCD.
Note: Pressing CURSER DOWN/KIT CONFIG from the Main Screen allows you to adjust overall parameters for the
current Kit.
10. VALUE / TEMPO DIAL – Turn this wheel to increase and decrease values and settings shown in the LCD.
11. DEC- / INC+ – Use these buttons to decrease and increase values and settings shown in the LCD.These may
be easier to use than the VALUE / TEMPO DIAL when making incremental adjustments to your parameters.
12. EXIT – Press this button to return to the previous menu shown in the LCD.
13. KIT SELECT – Returns the LCD to the Main Screen. From here, you can select the current Kit with the VALUE /
TEMPO DIAL or DEC- / INC+ buttons.
14. UTILITIES – Enters the UTILITIES Menu, which allows you to set certain “global” parameters that affect the
RBM-20’s overall operation (e.g., tempo, MIDI, output routing, trigger sensitivity, etc.). (See the Reference Manual for
more information.)
15. TRIG EDIT – Allows you to adjust parameters related to triggering. Customizing these parameters changes the
feel and responsiveness of the Kit.
Note: Changes to these parameters will affect ALL Kits.
16. PAD ID – Turns PAD ID on or off. When PAD ID is on, striking a trigger automatically selects it for editing.
Alternatively, you can select a trigger by highlighting the trigger field in the LCD with the CURSOR UP / DOWN
buttons then using the DEC- / INC+ buttons or VALUE / TEMPO DIAL.
17. DRUM/LAYER – Press this button then INST (F1) to edit the Instrument assigned to a trigger input.While
editing, pressing it toggles between the two Layers of the trigger.The current Layer (A or B) will be highlighted
on the top-right corner of the LCD.
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TOP PANEL FEATURES
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18. EDIT ACCOMP – Press this button to adjust the settings for your Accompaniment.
The adjustable parameters will be shown in the LCD.
19. PREVIEW – Press this velocity-sensitive button to preview the sound of the current trigger.This can be useful
when programming the RBM-20 if it is not connected to your drum kit, if it is not convenient to strike the pads, etc.
20. SAVE – Press this button to save changes made to the current Kit, Sequence, trigger settings, or global
settings. Use the VALUE / TEMPO DIAL or DEC- / INC+ buttons to select a destination where the current Kit or
Sequence will be stored. When saving a Kit, its Instruments and all its parameters will also be stored.When saving
a Sequence, it will remember its corresponding Kit and Accompaniment.
21. SEQ/SONG – Press this button to access the module’s Sequencer where you can create and edit drum and
accompaniment patterns.
22. MUTE DRUMS – Press this button to mute the drum track of a Sequence.
23. MUTE ACCOMP – Press this button to mute the Accompaniment track of a Sequence.
24. STOP – Stops playback of the current Sequence. Hold down STOP and turn the VALUE / TEMPO DIAL to
“scrub” forwards and backwards through the Sequence. Hold down STOP and press DEC- / INC+ to “step”
forwards or backwards through each “event” in the Sequence. While navigating the Sequence in these ways, you
will hear the Sequence play as you move through it.
25. PLAY – Plays the current Sequence. You can also hold down STOP and press this button to move
back to the previous bar in the Sequence.
26. RECORD – Records a new Sequence. You can also hold down STOP and press this button to move to the
next bar in the Sequence.
27. TAP TEMPO – Tap this button at the desired rate to enter a new tempo for the Sequence. You can
also change the tempo by holding down the TAP TEMPO button and using the VALUE / TEMPO or DEC- / INC+
buttons.
KITS, VOICES, ACCOMPANIMENT & INSTRUMENTS
The RBM-20 Module has 100 Preset Kits and 100 User Kits, which you can select from the Main Screen. Each Kit is
a collection of Voices – or drum sounds – that are assigned to each TRIGGER INPUT on the RBM-20 module’s rear
panel.When a trigger connected to that input is struck, that Voice will sound.
Each Voice consists of two Layers, each with its own Instrument. Both Layers sound together, helping to create
powerful composite and layered sounds and timbres for a more dynamic performance.
You can change the sound of your performance by selecting different Kits or by editing the Kits by changing the
Instruments that make up each Voice.You can also edit various parameters of each Instrument themselves (e.g.,
level, panning, decay, reverb, etc.) in each Kit.
IMPORTANT: At any given time, the RBM-20 module has a Kit selected and a Sequence selected. If you change
the Sequence, this will change your current Kit to the one that is associated with that Sequence. If you change
the Kit, this will NOT change the current Sequence. However, if you then play the current Sequence, the chords
or “hit groups” may sound unusual. In this case, we recommend muting Layer B of that Kit’s Accompaniment
(see EDITING VOICE & ACCOMPANIMENT PARAMETERS for more information) or muting the Accompaniment
altogether by pressing MUTE ACCOMP.
SELECTING A KIT
1. Press the KIT SELECT button to bring up the Main Screen.
2. Use the DEC- / INC+ buttons or the VALUE / TEMPO DIAL to
select a Kit. The Kit number, name, and graphic will change as
you move through the different Kits.
3. Hit the triggers to try out the sounds of the Kit.To make quick
adjustments to the volume of different parts of the Kit, slide the faders
of the MIXER. (Use A/B SELECT to toggle between Banks A and B to access
all available triggers.) Note that the levels you set with the MIXER will be lost when you switch the module off.
To set levels that can be recalled with the Kit, set the “Level” parameters for the individual triggers (see EDITING
VOICE & ACCOMPANIMENT PARAMETERS in this chapter) and/or the entire Kit
(see KIT SELECT SETUP in this chapter).
8

EDITING INSTRUMENTS IN A KIT
1. Press KIT SELECT to go to the Main Screen.
2. Press DRUM/LAYER. The top of the screen will show the number
and name of the Kit whose Instruments (drum voices) you will
be editing.
3. Select INST (F1).The new screen will show:
a. the trigger Voice you are editing (the Kit number and name of the
Voice will be shown)
b. the Layer (each Voice consists of two layers, each with its own Instrument)
c. the Category (the type or “class” of drum sound currently assigned to that Layer)
d. the Instrument (the drum sound for that Layer)
4. Select the Voice whose Instrument you want to change by
pressing PAD ID then striking the desired trigger.
Alternatively, you can highlight the Voice (next to the Kit number)
using the CURSOR UP / DOWN buttons to highlight it and use
the DEC- / INC+ buttons or VALUE / TEMPO DIAL to change it.
5. Select which Layer of that Voice you will edit by pressing DRUM/LAYER. It will toggle between Layer A and B.
6. Select the Category you want to assign to that Voice by pressing CURSOR UP / DOWN to highlight the
Category field, then use the DEC- / INC+ buttons or VALUE / TEMPO DIAL to change it.
7. Select the Instrument for that Layer by pressing CURSOR UP / DOWN to highlight the Instrument field, then
use the DEC- / INC+ buttons or VALUE / TEMPO DIAL to change it.To hear the currently selected sound, strike
the corresponding trigger or press PREVIEW on the module.
EDITING ACCOMPANIMENT IN A KIT
1.When you are in the Kit whose Accompaniment you want
to edit, press EDIT ACCOMP.The screen will show:
a. the number of the Kit whose Accompaniment you will be editing
b. the Layer (the Accompaniment consists of two
layers, each with its own Instrument)
c. the Category (the type or “class” of sound currently assigned to that Layer)
d. the Instrument (the sound for that Layer)
2. Select which Layer of the Accompaniment you will edit by pressing DRUM/LAYER
It will toggle between Layer A and B.
3. Select the Category you want to assign to that Voice by pressing CURSOR UP / DOWN to highlight the
Category field, then use the DEC- / INC+ buttons or VALUE / TEMPO DIAL to change it.
4. Select the Instrument for that Layer by pressing CURSOR UP / DOWN to highlight the Instrument field, then
use the DEC- / INC+ buttons or VALUE / TEMPO DIAL to change it.To hear the currently selected sound, strike
the corresponding trigger or press PREVIEW on the module.
Useful information about Accompaniment:
The Accompaniment track includes the bass line and other synthesizer sounds that you hear when the module is
playing a Sequence.The drum track and Accompaniment track play simultaneously, and you can mute either of
the tracks as they play with the MUTE DRUMS or MUTE ACCOMP buttons.
Just as each drum Instrument of a Kit belongs to a Category (e.g., KICKS, SNARES, LATIN PERC, etc.)
Accompaniment Instruments are also grouped into several Categories: BASS, SYN BASS, FX, and HIT GROUPS.
Also, just like drum Voices, the Accompaniment has two Layers of Instruments. Layer A is usually the bass line.
Layer B is often something different – another melodic line, chords, or “hits.”
9
NOTE: The available instruments for the hi-hat
and Ride cymbal categories are pro-defined setsof
sounds designed to work together (e.g. the hi-hat can
produceopen, closed, “chick”, or splash sounds) You can
assign any category or instrument you like for the hi-hat
and Ride cymbal triggers, but because other instruments
are designed to work differently, the results will vary.

Instrument changes within or between the BASS and SYN BASS
Categories may sometimes be desirable – the bass will have a different
tone or quality while the bass line itself (the notes you hear) remains
the same. However, if you edit the Instruments in the FX or HIT GROUPS
Categories, it may dramatically change the way a Sequence sounds if
it uses that Kit.
In this case, we recommend muting that Layer of that Kit’s
Accompaniment (see EDITING VOICE & ACCOMPANIMENT
PARAMETERS for more information) or muting the Accompaniment
altogether by pressing MUTE ACCOMP.
EDITING VOICE & ACCOMPANIMENT PARAMETERS
While editing your Kits by changing the Instruments in a
drum Voice or the Accompaniment, you can also edit
various parameters that affect each Layer and, therefore,
the Instrument on that Layer.You can do this for the drum
Voices or the Accompaniment, though some parameters
below may only be editable for one of these.
1. Press KIT SELECT to go to the Main Screen.
2. Press DRUM/LAYER to edit drum Voice parameters or EDIT
ACCOMP to edit Accompaniment parameters.The top of
the screen will show the number and name of the Kit
whose Instruments (drum Voices or Accompaniment) you
will be editing.
3. Select INST (F1). The new screen will show:
a. the trigger Voice you are editing (the Kit number
and name of the Voice will be shown). If you are
editing the Accompaniment, this will read “Accomp.”
b. the Layer (each trigger sound or Accompaniment
track consists of two Layers, each with its own
Instrument)
c. the Category (the type or “class” of drum sound or
Accompaniment currently assigned to that Layer)
d. the Instrument (the drum or Accompaniment sound
for that Layer)
4. If you are editing a Voice, select the Voice whose Instrument you want to change by pressing
PAD ID then striking the desired trigger. Alternatively, you can highlight the Voice (next to the Kit
number) using the CURSOR UP / DOWN buttons to highlight it and use the DEC- / INC+ buttons
or VALUE / TEMPO DIAL to change it. (This step is not necessary when editing Accompaniment.)
Note: You can also change the current Voice in this fashion in any of the subsequent menus.You
can also toggle between Layers by pressing DRUM/LAYER whenever the “Layer: A B” selector is
shown on the upper right corner of the LCD.
5. Select any of the options at the bottom of the LCD using the F-BUTTONS.
Use CURSOR UP / DOWN to move through the menu items and DEC- / INC+ or the VALUE /
TEMPO DIAL to adjust the settings.
Note:
The RBM-20 will retain
any changes you make to
Instruments or parameters
as you move between the
various kits.
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• LVL (F2, 1st page):
• Level: The volume level for the selected Layer
(01-99 or “OFF”).
• Pan: The panning for the selected Layer (“L50” to “MID” to “R50”).
• Attack: The volume level of the initial attack of the note (00-99).
This parameter is only available when editing Accompaniment.
• Decay: How long the sound can be heard before decaying to
silence (00-99 or “OFF”).
Note: Setting this parameter to “OFF” disables the Decay parameter
and the sound will be heard for its entire duration with no “shaping.”
• FX (F3, 1st page):
• Reverb: The amount of reverb on the Voice (00-99).
• Effects: The Voice volume level sent to the RBM-20’s
effects processor (00-99).
• EQ/Comp: This sends the Voice to the RBM-20’s
equalizer and compressor (“ON” or “OFF”).
• TONE (F1, 2nd page):
• Semitone: Tunes the Instrument ±12 semitones.
• Fine Tune: Tunes the Instrument ±50 cents.
• Filter: The cutoff frequency for the type of filter
(see below) (00-99).
• Type: The type of lter (“LOPASS” or “HIPASS”).
• DYN (F2, 2nd page):
• Vel>Decay: The velocity of a note will control
the decay time of its sound (±00-99).With a
positive value, higher-velocity notes will have a
longer decay time.With a negative value,
higher-velocity notes will have a shorter decay
time.
• Vel>Filtr: The velocity of a note will control the
filter cutoff (±00-99).
• Vel>Level: This lets you set how velocity-sensitive the Instrument
is (00-99). The higher the setting, the greater the dynamic range you’ll have while playing.At
“00,” there will be no dynamic variation at all.
• Vel>Pitch: The velocity with which you strike the trigger will control the sound’s pitch (±00-
99).
With a positive value, stronger hits will increase the pitch.With a negative value, stronger hits
will decrease the pitch. (This parameter is not available for anything in the BASS or SYN
BASS Categories when editing the Accompaniment.)
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• OTHR (F3, 2nd page):
• Output: The output through which the Voice or
Accompaniment will be sent. When “MAIN” is selected, the Voice or
Accompaniment will be sent out of the MAIN OUT. When “AUX” is
selected, the Voice or Accompaniment will be sent out of the AUX OUT.
Note: If your UTILITIES Menu setting for the “Output” is set to
“Main>Aux,” the “AUX” option here will show up as “AUX (N/A).” This
is because the AUX OUT signal is “mirroring” the MAIN OUT signal.
See the GENERAL menu part of the UTILITIES MENU section for more
information.
• Priority: How high the Voice’s or Accompaniment’s “polyphony
priority” is – “LOW,” “MEDIUM,” or “HIGH.” “Polyphony” is the
simultaneous sounding of Instruments (e.g., if you strike multiple
triggers at the same time, like the hi-hat, snare, and kick drum).The
RBM-20 has 64-voice polyphony, meaning up to 64 voices can sound
at the same time.After exceeding that limit,Voices or Accompaniment
with lower polyphony priority may be silenced so the ones with higher
priority can sound.
• MuteGroup: The MuteGroup the Voice is assigned to, if any (01-09
or “OFF”). When two or more triggers are assigned to a MuteGroup,
a Voice that is currently sounding will be silenced when another Voice
from that MuteGroup begins.There are nine available MuteGroups.
Example: If your “Kick1” (kick drum) and “SnrHd” (snare drum head)
are assigned to the same MuteGroup, the decay of your snare drum will
be cut off when you hit the kick drum andvice versa.
• Playback: Indicates whether repeated strikes of the same trigger will
be considered polyphonic (POLY) or monophonic (MONO).When set
to “POLY” (the default), successive strikes of the same trigger will be
allowed to sound simultaneously as polyphony (see “Priority” above).
When set to “MONO,” successive strikes of the same trigger will
silence previous ones.
EDITING MIDI PARAMETERS
This page allows you to edit various MIDI-related settings for
each trigger.To edit them,
1. Press KIT SELECT to go to the Main Screen.
2. Press DRUM/LAYER. The top of the screen will show the
number and name of the Kit whose Instruments (drum
voices) you will be editing.
3. Select MIDI (F2). The top of the new screen will show the
trigger Voice you are editing.You can select another
trigger by pressing PAD ID then striking the desired
trigger. Alternatively, you can highlight the Voice (next to
the Kit number) using the CURSOR UP / DOWN buttons
to highlight it and use the DEC- / INC+ buttons or
VALUE / TEMPO DIAL to change it.
Note: You can also change the current Voice in this
fashion in any of the subsequent menus.
4.When you have selected the Voice you want to edit, select either of the options at the
bottom of the LCD using the F-BUTTONS. Use CURSOR UP / DOWN to move through
the menu items and DEC- / INC+ or the VALUE / TEMPO DIAL to adjust the settings:
Note: The MuteGroup function is
especially useful for setting up
multiple sounds shared by the
same instruments, like “open”
vs. “closed” triangle sounds or
struck vs. stroked güiros.
Note: The default Playback set-
ting is POLY, which is more natu-
ral for acoustic drums. MONO is
a useful setting for synth drums
or for emulating older drum
machines.
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MIDI
• MIDI Chan: The MIDI channel over which the trigger will transmit MIDI messages.
• MIDI Note: The MIDI note that will be transmitted.The number is the MIDI Note number; the corresponding
musical note is shown next to it. (Note:The MIDI note for the hi-hat and ride cymbals is fixed and can not be
reassigned.)
• Gate Time: The duration of the note sent from the trigger when struck.The available range is from 00-99 ms,
then note values (1/32, 1/16, 1/8, 1/4, and 1/2 – with regular and triplet divisions for each value), or “OFF.”
• Note Off: How the MIDI Note Off message is sent. When “NOT SENT” is selected, a MIDI Note Off will not be
transmitted. When “SENT” is selected, a MIDI Note Off will be sent after the length of time specied by the Gate
Time (above). When “ALTERNATE” is selected, striking a trigger once will cause it to send its MIDI Note; striking it a
second time will cause it to send a MIDI Note Off.
b. CHORD / ARP: Select “OFF,” “CHORD,” or “ARPEGGIO.” (Note: The CHORD / ARP function is not available for the
hi-hat and ride cymbals.)
• OFF: The trigger will transmit only the MIDI note assigned to it.
• CHORD: The trigger will transmit up to four MIDI notes simultaneously whenever it is struck.You can select the
additional three notes here. The number is the MIDI Note number; the corresponding musical note is shown next to
it in parentheses.
• ARPEGGIO: The trigger will transmit up to four MIDI notes but will “rotate” through them with each strike (e.g.,
the first time the trigger is struck, it will send its first MIDI note; the next time, it will send Note #2; the next time,
it will send Note #3).You can select the three additional notes here. The number is the MIDI Note number; the
corresponding musical note is shown next to it in parentheses.
EDITING EFFECTS PARAMETERS
On this page, you can apply a variety of effects such as reverb, chorus, or delay to the entire Kit:
1. Press KIT SELECT to go to the Main Screen.
2. Press DRUM/LAYER. The top of the screen will show the number
and name of the Kit whose effects you will be editing.
3. Select FX (F4).
4. Select any of the options at the bottom of the LCD using the F-BUTTONS.
Use CURSOR UP / DOWN to move through the menu items and
DEC- / INC+ or the VALUE / TEMPO DIAL to adjust the settings:
a. RVB (reverb)
• Type: The kind of reverb applied (most often, types of reverb are named
after the kind of room whose reverb is being emulated).To disable effects
on the Kit, select “OFF.”
• Size: The size of the virtual “room” as designated by the reverb Type.
• Color: The amount of high-frequency dampening of the
reverb, which affects its tone.
• Level: The level of the reverb.
b. FX (other effects)
• Type: The kind of effect applied.To disable effects on the Kit, select “OFF.”
The effects –and their editable parameters – are as follows:
• FLANGER: Flanging is a kind of phasing or phase-shifting.
The RBM-20’s flangers have the same editable parameters.
•Mono Flanger: Traditional flanging effect.
• Stereo Flanger: Flanger with a simulated stereo effect, creating a “wider” sound.
• XOver Flanger: The flanging effect
“moves” around the stereo eld.
• Rate: The speed at which the sound will “ange.”
• Depth: How much of the delayed (or phase-shifted)
signal is added to the original.
• Feedback: How much of the flanging signal will be routed back into the flanger
again, which intensifies the effect.
• Level: The volume level of the flanging signal.
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CHORUS: A chorus effect is produced by adding a slightly delayed
and slightly pitchshifted “wet” signal to the original (“dry”) signal,
producing a sound with a depth similar to that of a string section or choir.
The RBM-20’s chorus effects have the same editable parameters.
Mono Chorus 1: Traditional chorus effect.
Mono Chorus 2: A variation of the
traditional chorus effect.
Stereo Chorus: Chorus with a simulated stereo effect, creating a “wider” sound.
XOver Chorus: The chorus effect “moves” around the stereo eld.
Rate: The speed of the modulation of the chorus (or how much the signal is
delayed).
Depth: How much the chorus’s delay varies.
Feedback: How much of the delayed signal will be routed back into the
processor again, which creates a thicker chorus effect.
Level: The volume level of the chorus signal.
VIBRATO: Vibrato is produced by causing the pitch of a
note to “waver” slightly back and forth, creating a subtle
pulsing effect.This effect is often created by players of
string instruments and horns.The RBM-20’s vibrato
effects have the same editable parameters.
Mono Vibrato: Traditional vibrato effect.
Vibrato: Vibrato with a simulated stereo
effect, creating a “wider” sound.
Rate: The speed of the vibrato (how quickly the pitch wavers).
Depth: How much the pitch wavers from the center/original pitch.
Level: The volume level of the vibrato.
DELAYS: A delay effect is a kind of echo, which varies depending on the size
of the room it emulates and the rate, volume, and decay of the echo.
The RBM-20’s delay effects have some common parameters with
some notable differences.
Mono Doubler: A very quick delay that
creates a “double-hit” effect.
Doubler: A very quick delay that creates a
“double-hit” effect in a stereo eld.
Delay: The speed of the delay/echo.
Level: The volume level of the
delayed signal.
Mono Slapback: A quick – almost immediate – delay.
Slapback: Quick delay with a simulated stereo effect,
creating a “wider” sound.
Delay: The speed of the delay/echo.
Level: The volume level of the delayed signal.
Mono Delay: A traditional delay effect.
Delay: The speed of the delay/echo.
Feedback: How much of the echo will be routed back
into the processor again, which creates a longer-lasting,
intensified echo effect.
14

Damp (dampening): The amount of low- and high-frequency dampening
of the echo.At negative values, the soundof the echo gets progressively
duller, which is the most “natural” echo effect. This is also useful for
simulating tape echo.At positive values, the sound of the echo gets
progressively thinner.
Level: The volume level of the delayed signal.
Delay: A traditional delay with two independent delay lines.
LDly / RDly (left/right delay): The speed of the delay/echo.
This can be set independently for the left and right channels
to create an even wider, more varied sound.
LFBk / RFBk (left/right feedback): How much of the echo will be routed
back into the processor again, which creates a longer-lasting, intensified
echo effect.This can be set independently for the left and right channels to
create an even wider, more varied sound.
Damp (damping): The amount of low- and high-frequency dampening of
the
echo. At negative values, the sound of the echo gets progressively duller.
At positive values, the sound of the echo gets progressively thinner.
Level: The volume level of the delayed signal.
XOver Delay: This delay has a stereo effect. The
echo pans around the stereo field.
LDly / RDly (left/right delay): The speed of the delay/echo. This can be
set differently for the left and right channels to create an even wider,
more varied sound.
Feedback: How much of the echo will be routed back into the
processor again, which creates a longer-lasting, intensified echo effect.
Damp (damping): The amount of low- and high-frequency dampening of
the echo. At negative values, the sound of the echo gets progressively duller.
At positive values, the sound of the echo gets progressively thinner.
Level: The volume level of the delayed signal.
PingPong: This delay has a stereo effect, but instead of echoing in both lft
and right channels simultaneously, the echo alternates between them.
Delay: The speed of the delay/echo.
Feedback: How much of the echo will be routed back into the processor
again, which creates a longer-lasting, intensified echo effect.
Damp (damping): The amount of low- and high-frequency dampening of
the echo. At negative values, the sound of the echo gets progressively duller.
At positive values, the sound of the echo gets progressively thinner.
Level: The volume level of the delayed signal.
15

c. COMP (compression)
• Type: The kind of compression applied.To disable
the dynamic processor on the Kit, select “OFF.”
• Compress (compression): The compression ratio
applied to the signal from the Kit.
• Out Level (output level): The output level of the
compressor.This is parameter is useful for boosting
the Kit’s signal if its volume has decreased due to the
compression.
d. EQ (equalization)
• LF Gain (low-frequency gain): The amount of boost
or cut of the low frequency band (as determined by
the LF Freq setting).
• LF Freq (low frequency): The frequency the LF Gain
will boost or cut.
• HF Gain (high-frequency gain): The amount of boost
or cut of the high frequency band (as determined by
the HF Freq setting).
• HF Freq (high frequency): The frequency the HF Gain will boost or cut.
KIT SELECT SETUP
While selecting Kits, you can enter the KIT CONFIG Screen
to access a few useful parameters pertaining to the current Kit.
1. Press KIT SELECT to go to the Main Screen.
2. Use the DEC- / INC+ buttons or VALUE / TEMPO DIAL to select a Kit.
3. Press CURSOR DOWN/KIT CONFIG to enter the KIT CONFIG Screen for that Kit.
4. Select any of the options at the bottom of the LCD using the F-BUTTONS. Use CURSOR UP / DOWN
to move through the menu items and DEC- / INC+ or the VALUE / TEMPO DIAL to adjust the settings.
• MAIN (F1):
• Kit Level: The overall volume level for the Kit (00-99)
• Graphic: The image used to identify the Kit on the main screen.
• MIDI (F2):
• MIDI Chan: The MIDI channel over which the module will send out
Program Change messages (01-16 or “OFF”). (When set to “OFF,”
the other parameters below will not be displayed.) You will need to
set this properlywhen using the RBM-20 module to
play sounds on another module.
• Ext Prog#: The Program Change number the module will send out (00-99).
• MSB: Sets the Most Significant Byte when using sounds on an external
module that requires bank changes (00-127 or “OFF”).
• LSB: Sets the Least Significant Byte when using sounds on an external
module that requires bank changes (00-127 or “OFF”).
Note:
The RBM-20 will retain any
changes you make to the
Instruments or parameters
as you move between the
various Kits.
16

• RESTORE (F3 or F4):
• Restore: Returns the Kit to its original factory settings.
Any edits you made to its Instruments,Accompaniment, etc.
will be discarded.To restore the original settings,
press (F1 or F2). To cancel, press EXIT.
SEQUENCES
A Sequence is a recorded pattern stored in the RBM-20 module that
includes drums and Accompaniment.The drum part of the Sequence
includes the Kit sounds (Instruments) as well the recorded pattern itself.
The Accompaniment is the music that plays along with the drum part.
Sequences can be recorded, edited, looped, and stored.You can also mute
the drum part and/or Accompaniment while playing a Sequence.
To hear a demo Sequence, simply hold down SEQ/SONG and press PLAY.
Important:At any given time, the RBM-20 module
has a Kit selected and a Sequence selected.
• If you change the Sequence, this will change your current Kit
to the one that is associated with that Sequence.
• If you change the Kit, this will NOT change the current Sequence.
However, if you then play the current Sequence, the chords or “hit groups”
may sound unusual. In this case, we recommend muting Layer B of that
Kit’s Accompaniment (see EDITING VOICE & ACCOMPANIMENT PARAMETERS
for more information) or muting the Accompaniment
altogether by pressing MUTE ACCOMP.
Note: Whenever you edit a Sequence or make changes to any parameters,
an “E” will appear in the upper-right corner of the main screen of the Sequencer
to indicate this. In order to retain these settings for future sessions, you must
store the Sequence (see STORING SEQUENCES under the STORING &
COPYING DATA chapter).
PLAYING SEQUENCES
1. Press SEQ/SONG to enter the main screen of the Sequencer.
2. Use the CURSOR UP / DOWN buttons to highlight the
“Seq” eld at the top of the LCD.
3. Use the DEC- / INC+ buttons or VALUE / TEMPO DIAL to
select a Sequence.
4.You can press PLAY to play the Sequence, or you can use
the CURSOR UP / DOWN buttons to select settings to edit
for that Sequence. Use the DEC- / INC+ buttons
or the VALUE / TEMPO DIAL to change the settings:
• Tempo: The speed (in BPM or beats per minute) of the sequence.
You can set the tempo here, or you can press the TAP TEMPO
button several times at the desired tempo to enter a new one.
The range is 30 to 300 BPM.
17

Note: If the Tempo field of the UTILITIES Menu’s main page
is set to “GLOBAL,” the letter “G” will be shown.
If the Clock In field of the UTILITIES Menu’s MIDI page is set to “RECEIVE,”
the letter “E” will be shown.
• Time Sig (Time Signature): The time signature of the sequence.The first number indicates how
many beats there are in a measure; the second number indicates the note value of those beats.
(Example: “3/4” means one measure is three quarter notes long. “12/8”
means one measure is twelve eighth notes long.)
• #Bars: The number of bars in the Sequence, which you can set from 1 to 99.
• Loop: You can set the Sequence to loop or to play only once.
5. Press PLAY to play the Sequence.A “PLAY BUTTON” will appear on the
upper right-hand corner of the LCD.To mute the drums or Accompaniment in
the Sequence, press the MUTE DRUMS or MUTE ACCOMP button,
respectively.The upper right-hand corner of the LCD indicates whether
the drums (“D”) and Accompaniment (“A”) are muted. When unmuted,
the letter is highlighted.(This is a useful tool when you want to play your
own drum patterns to the Accompaniment or vice versa.)
RECORDING SEQUENCES
1. Press SEQ/SONG to enter the main screen of the Sequencer.
2. Press the REC tab (F1).
3. Use the CURSOR UP / DOWN buttons to select
settings to edit for that Sequence. Use the DEC- / INC+
buttons or the VALUE / TEMPO DIAL to change the settings:
• Track: The track of the Sequence over which you
will be recording – “DRUMS” or “ACCOMP.”
• Rec Type: How the performance will be recorded.When “RECORD” is selected, the
performance you record will replace the recording on that Track of the Sequence. When
“OVERDUB” is selected, the performance you record will be added to the existing recording on
that Track of the Sequence.
• Quantize: The quantization level of the recording. When on, this function will “snap” all recorded
notes to the nearest interval of that measure, which you select. (For instance, if you select “1/8,”
any notes you record that do not fall on an eighth-note pulse will be shifted automatically to the
nearest one.) The range is 1/4 – 1/64 (regular or triplet) and “OFF.”
• Swing: The amount of swing applied to the recording – 54%, 58%, 62%, or “OFF.”
6. Press the module’s REC button and record your performance.
7.When you are finished recording, press STOP.
EDITING SEQUENCES (DRUMS)
The editing screen for a Sequence’s drum part allows you to see a
visual representation of the drum pattern.
1. Press SEQ/SONG to enter the main screen of the Sequencer.
2. Use the CURSOR UP / DOWN buttons to select the
“Seq” eld at the top of the LCD, then use the VALUE
UP / DOWN buttons or the VALUE / TEMPO DIAL to select the
Sequence you want to edit.
3. Press REC (F1). Use the CURSOR UP / DOWN
buttons to select the “Track” eld, then use the VALUE
UP / DOWN buttons or the VALUE / TEMPO DIAL to select “DRUMS.”
4. Press EDIT (F2). You will see a grid on the screen. The diamonds indicate triggered notes or “events”; the black
diamond is the currently selected event. Each column represents an interval/subdivision of the bar. Each row of the
grid represents a drum Voice:
• K = kick drum
• S = snare drum
• HH = hi-hat
• T1 = 1st tom
• T2 = 2nd tom
• T3 = oor tom
• C = crash cymbal
• R = ride cymbal
• A1 = Ride2 / Acc1 trigger
• A2 = Acc2 trigger
• A3 = Acc3 trigger
• A4 = Acc4 trigger
• The numbered rows correspond to available MIDI note numbers.
18