LDB-1 User Manual
7
Controls (continued)
Mode Button
The Mode button changes the basic mode of operation of the drum machine. You can press the Mode
button at any time to see what the current mode is. When you press the Mode button only one of the
Selector LEDs will be illuminated, indicating the current mode. Release the Mode button to stay in the
current mode, or hold down the Mode button while pressing one of the eight Selector buttons to switch
to a different mode. The Mode LED indicates the current mode by its blink patterns, which are de-
scribed in the Modes section of this manual.
The top row of the quick reference grid shows the mode that is associated with each of the Selector
buttons. The details of each mode are described in the Modes section of this manual.
Ctrl and Alt Buttons
The Ctrl and Alt buttons function differently depending on the current mode. In general, when the quick
reference grid shows two options separated by a line, the Ctrl or Alt button toggles between two func-
tions. That is, pressing the button switches from one function to the other. When the Alt button is used
to toggle a function, the Alt LED is illuminated to indicate the lower, alternate, function. The mode-
specific purpose of the Ctrl and Alt buttons is described in detail in the description of each of the modes.
Measure Indicator
The measure indicator is an important concept in the operation of the LDB-1. In order to keep the
machine compact, there are only eight step buttons and LEDs, even though a pattern can have up to 16
steps. The measure indicator shows which half of the measure is currently playing. The LED is off when
steps 1 through 8 are playing, and it is illuminated when steps 9 through 16 are playing.
Selector (Drum or Step) Buttons
The eight buttons and LEDs across the bottom represent either the eight drum sounds or the 16 steps in
a pattern, depending on the current mode. For simplicity, they are always referred to in this manual as
the Selector buttons and Selector LEDs.
