Micro BR - About Patterns And Arrangements

Patterns are not meant to be used on their own in a recording. They are just the building blocks for creating an arrangement. So, it's not too surprising that pattern tempos are not saved independently, as the tempo will be saved in each step of the arrangement. The mistake that beginners often make is to record a song with the drum machine in Pattern Mode rather than Arrangement Mode. You should always create an arrangement for your songs and specify the tempo there. Arrangements needn't be complicated. They can be as simple as a single pattern if that's all you want.

Arrangements are not difficult to understand. They are merely a series of steps in which you tell the drum machine what to play. For each step, you specify the pattern to be played, the measure of the song in which the pattern should start playing, and the tempo. Each step repeats until the starting measure of the next step. For example, here's a simple 3-step arrangement:

	Starting
Step	Measure	Pattern	Tempo
1	1	P314:Metro	120.0
2	3	P158:BLUS1-V1	120.0
3	51	P327:BREAK	120.0

This arrangement will play the metronome pattern for the first two measures of the song (as a count-in). Then it will play a blues pattern for 48 measures (from measure 3 to measure 50). Finally, it will play the BREAK pattern starting at measure 51. The BREAK pattern doesn't make any sound. The last step of an arrangement repeats indefinitely (until you press the [STOP] button), so we normally set the last step to pattern P327:BREAK to provide a clean ending to the song. The tempo for each step is 120 bpm. In a simple arrangement like this, the tempo will usually be the same for each step. But, in more complicated arrangements, you might want to specify a different tempo for certain steps where the song speeds up or slows down.

You should start each song with a simple arrangement like this. Even a 1-step arrangement will do. This allows you to specify the tempo of the song. The arrangement is saved with the song so, the next time you load that song, the tempo will be exactly where you set it in the arrangement. Later, as your song develops, you can add more steps to the arrangement to make it more interesting.

Read section 4 of the manual ("Using rhythm"), then dive in and create a simple arrangement. You'll soon see that it's not very difficult.

You might also find these tutorials helpful:

http://www.geocities.com/sixtyfourguitars/BossBr/Tutorials/Rhythm_Guide_Intro.html

http://www.geocities.com/sixtyfourguitars/BossBr/Tutorials/Arrangement_Example.html

http://microrecorders.org/articles/create_a_simple_drum_sequence.html


From "64Guitars"/microredorders.org/forum

MBR - Fading out

How to fade out without sliders?

One way is to fade out the master level during the mastering or bouncing.
From "guitarron"/microredorders.org/forum

For one track, use track level setting.
For stereo tracks, link tracks together first, then fade.
See page 41 of manual " Controling the parameters of two tracks simultaneously".
Basically press [TR1] & [TR2] or [TR3] & [TR4] at the same time. An "=" sign is shown for parameters that are stereo-linked.

According to manual, you can adjust the parameters (including volume level) during "record or play".

Boss Micro BR and Cakewalk

Boss Micro BR (MBR) and Cakewalk

I've been using Calkwalk music software to create the initial accompanyment on my Boss Micro BR 4 track recorder. First I create basic drum beat, bass and pad/keyboard in Cakewalk. Export that from Cakewalk as a wav file. Transfer the wav file to the MBR and import it to a new song. If you match the tempo of the wav file to the MBR tempo, there is a very good match up with measure read out on the MBR. Later if I want to change the accompanyment in Cakewalk, I can re-export/import and it's still in sync with whatever I've recorded on the MBR.

Here's my process:

In Cakewalk, create the initial wav rhythm sequence.
I include one or two count in measures. These can be eliminated later. The wave file should be 16bit, 44.1kHz Pg.94

(Page numbers refer to MBR owner's manual.)
"[xxx]" refers to button on MBR.

Boss Micro BR:

Create new song. Pg.38
-If necessary press [MP3] to return to recording mode
-[utility/sng/new]

New song name
-[utility/sng/nam] new_name [Exit]

The MBR saves the tempo in an "arrangement"
Create arrangement Pg.83
-[rhythm]
-Change arrangement, for example S01
-[AR:TR2]
-[ON:TR1] turn arrangement on
-[EDT:TR3] edit
-[STP:TR1] step
-step 1, measure 1
-set tempo as necessary
-select pattern #327 'BREAK' (ie. no pattern)
-optional-change pattern name.
-[EXIT] back to main screen
---------------------------------

Import the wav file from Cakewalk into the MBR.
Use BR wav convert program, usb cable, or SD card reader to transfer the wav file into the 'MP3' directory of the MBR.

Convert audio data to track data Pg.108
-[utility] [TRK:TR2] [►:cursor] [IMP:TR1]
-select the audio file to import
-[NEXT]
Follow manuals directions Pg.108 to set up which track/v-track to import to.
[Measure:TR2] [Next:TR4]
Import? [Yes:TR4]

----------------------------------
There are 4 places for reverb to be dealt with.
-Effects Pg.72
-Track Pg.72
-Input Pg.73
-Rhythm Pg.73

Effects reverb selects reverb Type: Hall or Room, Time:duration, Tone:?, Level:volume
Track reverb sets how much audio signal is sent to the reverb effect.
Input reverb depth is set in the [INPUT] section.
Rhythm reverb depth is set in the [Rhythm] section.

When mastering or bouncing, the Effects reverb sets the reverb for the whole song. Pg 72 (memo)
----------------------------------

To save the current state of a song.
-This includes song settings such as Track Reverb, master reverb settings, tempo, etc. Pg.60

- Hold down [■] stop button and press [●]record button.

-This should save everything. Recording data, Mixer settings, Insert effects, Mastering toolkit settings, Song arrangement, and Reverb.

Boss Micro BR Mounting Board

Position of screw holes in MBR. ( not to scale. see below for full scale pdf file. )

This is a mounting board I made for my Boss Micro BR 4 Track recorder. The back of the MBR has screws that hold the case together. The screws are recessed in the holes, leaving enough room to add some small dowel pins to position the MBR on a mounting board.

Drill 4 holes at the dimensions indicated above.
Insert four short pieces of 1/8" (3mm) diameter wooden dowel.
Let the dowels stick up above the board about 3/16" (5mm) .
This will allow them to fit into the screw holes in the back of the MBR.

When sitting on a desk or table, the pvc pipe sets the keys/buttons/readouts at a comfortable viewing angle. The extra weight adds some stability when pressing buttons on the MBR.

I used a hacksaw to cut the slot the length of the pvc pipe; which is roughly the length of the Micro BR.

The slot allows the MBR to be positioned on a music stand.

A piece of 5/8" (15mm) wide elastic and a couple of tacks holds the Micro BR in place. The elastic also allows the MBR to be unmounted quickly when you need to change batteries.

All of the controls and plug-ins are still accesable.

It's a simple project and hopefully the pictures will explain it adequately.

If your printer prints to scale, here is a full size drawing of the mounting holes.

http://www.mediafire.com/?tufddpmn5tg