note edit would be far, far quicker than step edit because entirely graphical and intuitive. You can zip through a track erasing notes in no time.

just copy R1 out to track 9 or somewhere empty, and erase the notes there. Leave this track switched off when you save and the sound will be unaffected, yet the melody information available anytime you want for printing, and no duplicate files are needed.

if you are printing from a pc sequencer already, why not erase the notes there with the mouse? - even quicker than note edit.