User Guide

26
Transition Mode
This parameter sets how transitions between Grooves are handled. So far,
we have been using the ‘Immediate’ mode, which stops a Groove which is
playing already and starts the second Groove straight away when it is triggered,
according to the currently-selected Sync mode. If you change the Transition
Mode to ‘Next Beat’, the transition takes place on the next beat of the Sync Mode
source. To try it, trigger a new Groove on an offbeat - for example, between the
2nd and 3rd beats of a bar. You will notice that the Groove starts playing on the
3rd beat, which is the next one after the trigger is made.
There are a further two types of Transition Mode, ‘Next Bar’ and ‘End of Phrase’.
As its name implies, the former works in a similar way to ‘Next Beat’ except that,
after the next Groove is triggered, it starts playing from the start of the next bar.
Meanwhile, the ‘End of Phrase’ mode works by triggering the next Groove after
the current one has played until the end. This mode is useful when working with
Grooves longer than 1 bar in duration. When using 1-bar Grooves, it will work
exactly like the ‘Next Bar’ mode.
While you are in the Play Options panel, it’s a good idea to acquaint yourself with
the rest of the option toggles. When Latching Mode is enabled, Grooves are not
turned off by a note-off message, but by another note-on message of the same
note number. Therefore, you hit a key once to start the Groove, and hit it again to
stop it. Polyphonic Mode allows you to overlay multiple Grooves over each other,
by not stopping a Groove which might already be playing. Checking the Respond
to Song Start option results in a definable Groove (specified with the Default Groove
parameter) being played when the sequencer is started, something which is
extremely useful when using BFD as an auto-accompaniment module. If this
option is enabled along with Auto Groove Repeat, you will not have to enter any
MIDI notes in order to make BFD start playing continuously! Respond to Song Stop
option stops all Grooves which may be playing when the sequencer is stopped.
We have already examined the Auto Groove Repeat option earlier: this option loops
the Groove until it is stopped by a note-off (or by another note-on if in Latching
Mode).
It’s useful to have a play around with these parameters to see which ones might
be useful for the way in which you work: we tried to make it accessible to people