As usual, thanks so much guys. I could never navigate this keyboard without all your help.

thanks again!

Here are some pointers:-

- In MODX, Bass is just another "Normal" AWM2 Part. That is, a pitched instrument.

- Drums use a different "Drum AWM2 Part". This behaves differently than Normal Parts.

- Per Drum Part. Drums are "played" using either Arpeggios, Pattern Sequences or Both. Focus reading of the Manuals on these three things 1) Drum Part, 2) Arpeggios, 3) Pattern Sequencer (found only in Supplementary Manual).

- To get started, learn and practice, I recommend working only with a Drum INIT Patch and using "Rhythm Pattern" top panel "Hard Button".

- Trying to "borrow" a Drum Part from a Factory Performance is full of complexities and pitfalls (trust me). This is why I recommend understanding Drum Parts in isolation, before attempting use in a full Performance.

- Tip:- to get Drum Parts flowing for a whole song, you will also need to learn/understand "Scenes - Arpeggiator selection" and/or "Pattern Sequencer - Chain".

- I get "Drum'n'Bass". But, they are not treated "as one" on the MODX. Choose a "Bass Instrument" (same as you would a Piano, Violin, Cello etc) and either create your own User Arpeggio (Supplementary Manual) or choose an existing one to "Play/Loop" the Bass.

TIP:- Also "Rhythm Pattern" button is your best buddy for trawling through the 1000's of Drum Arpeggios, and 100's of Drum Kits.

[quotePost id=117256]

- To get started, learn and practice, I recommend working only with a Drum INIT Patch and using "Rhythm Pattern" top panel "Hard Button".

Please explain what "Hard Button" you are talking about.
[/quotePost]

The Button, that is hard, on the Top Panel, that says "Rhythm Pattern".

A "soft" button is one that is on the Touchscreen Display e.g. Insert Effect "ON/OFF" button.

[PERFORMANCE] (HOME) screen ...

From any Performance you're starting with, there should be Parts within the range of 2-8 that are empty. Empty slots will show a "[+]". Press the [+], which automatically launches Category Search - then select Drum/Perc as the main category and select a sub-category if you want. Scroll through and find a kit you want to use. With a selected Drum kit, pressing [ENTER] will recall this kit and now this Part has that selected Drum Part. Now back at the [PERFORMANCE] (HOME) screen, press the next [+] and do the same process but choose the "Bass" main category this time.

In the lower left is a button "Mute Org". You can make this button grey (not green) which will mute all of the other Parts. Then you can press keys and listen to the new Part you have selected before committing to it (before pressing [ENTER] to load up the selected Part into your Performance).

Pressing the [+] is officially called "Performance Merge". You can read up on the topic here:

https://yamahasynth.com/learn/modx/mastering-modx-category-search

[quotePost id=117260]

The Button, that is hard, on the Top Panel, that says "Rhythm Pattern".

I'm sure I would have gotten it if you had just said 'Rhythm Pattern' button - sometimes I'm not so good with semantics so appreciate you clearing it up for me even though John and others probably knew what you meant.

I know it might seem like a minor thing but with this MODX I've found if I miss even one little thing I can get lost in the bunny hole looking for it and not realize I am looking in the wrong place.[/quotePost]

That's why, I distinguish between "soft" on-screen buttons and "hard" top-panel buttons. If I remember, I will even state the physical location and menu path. There are so many places to look, very often buttons "hide" in plain view.

Regards... Drums.

@Jason has provided @John with precise and useful information, all of which is correct.

I would still err on the side of caution with Drums, and be careful not to bite off more than you can chew. Like most things MODX, you can very quickly swim out of your depth.

Drums can be very enticing, but if my experience is anything to go by, integrating Drums, plus other instruments, into a flowing Performance, is complex. There's a lot of do's and don'ts, which are rarely apparent by just "following the Manuals".

I view "Drums" on the MODX, almost like an external Hardware "Drum Machine". If that were actually the case, you would expect to "learn the Drum Machine" before trying to hook it up to your Synth.

Don't get me wrong, I love the MODX Drums, but I don't think you can fully appreciate just how deep and broad its capability goes, if viewing from the perspective of a Performance.

Some more stuff to watch out for...

- a Drum Beat can be any "sample" in the MODX, not just the ones listed in "Drum/Perc"... Have a look at the "Sound FX" Samples, for example.

- You can "mutate" a standard "instrument" sample by gating the Arpeggiator, or Sidechaining Filter Cutoff, or setting a "pluck" Envelope on the Level/Pan tab.

- Changing the Pitch of a drum sample, can dramatically change its "sound"... less like tuning skins, more like giving you a stack more "sounds". Take a hand-clap as an example. Maybe not exactly what you want... just try raising or lowering its pitch and try again (instead of looking for a different sample).

- Watch out for "Arp Play Only = ON" once you've got your ARPs chosen. Also be aware, there are different types of ARPs, you need the kind that "plays drums", although a "normal" can provide some whacky results.

- Beware.... there are 1000's of Arps, all of which use cryptic codes (naming conventions). Some of those codes are deciphered in this forum.

- I recommend using the "Sub Categories" in the Category Search Arpeggio screen. These can save you some time, instead of trawling through every single Arp (did I mention there are 1000's?).

- "Drum Key" is your friend.

- Rhythm Pattern button is your friend.

- Don't forget to look in the Supplementary Manuals (download .pdf) for Pattern Sequencing and User Arps... none of it is in the Reference Manual!

Get your flippers and snorkel.... go for a dive.

BILL....... no insult what so ever. That article was wicked helpful. You didn't slight me or anything of the like. I appreciate more than you know the help. The learning curve on the Modx is big for me. I have a feeling I haven't even scratched the surface of this keyboard. I'm in 3 bands, previously had a Hamond X-5, Yamaha s90xs, and a Roland VR-09. I bought the Modx because of the incredible sounds and the morphing capabilities. By working with it I've discovered it is so much more than just a fantastic gigging keyboard. Every night I work with it I get blown away. So, no you didn't Miff me or anything of the like.
You'll hear from me again I guarantee it!
Thanks for all you do