The Yamaha AN1x Synthesizer mailing list

Just got interested in the subject matter here...

So, I'm getting ready to embark on a live music 
adventure with my trusty 486 laptop.

I figured that with running Cakewalk DOS 5.0 and a Midi-
man Serial midi port a 486 should be plenty of power to 
run the midi files, including some rather elaborate 
sysex setups. Besides, this way I can have a cheap 
backup computer. I have an MU-128 loaded with plg cards 
(VH, VL and PF). So far, it has been a matter of just 
making sure the sysex messages are placed a few ticks 
away from each other and getting rid of unneeded sysex 
messages.

My question is this: Does anyone use midi that 
extensively live? If so, how reliable is your setup? I 
have a friend that thinks I'm crazy and that midi is way 
too unreliable for what I'm trying to do. I have the MU 
controlling vcoder harmonies, guitar effects etc. My 
feeling is that at least DOS really doesn't crash like 
windows. Cakewalk 5.0 can be a little bit overwhelmed by 
a lot of sysex concentrated in one area, but really 
seems to be solid once everything is thinned out a bit.

Saw some Canadian software on the web yesterday for 
laptop musicians: "Showplay". It uses Win 95 minimum, 
but also has a serial midi setup and displays lyrics 
while the music is playing. Cool, but would worry about 
windows crashing during the gig.

Pablo

> Hey that's cool. I've thought about it but... ya know... a cpu... kinda
> bulky..however... I'd have to say what does it matter....heh.... the
> music and the technology of the genre go hand in hand...
> 
> that's kicks *** bringing the cpu...
> 
> 
> 
> On Fri, 18 May 2001 05:30:54 EDT angelphkt@... writes:
> > ::don't have a laptop and that's out of the::
> > 
> > I use my laptop live now-but before that i was using my desktop live 
> > since 
> > 97.....as long you have a car or other form of decent transportation 
> > then 
> > there's no prollem with giggin' with a CPU if you ask me.....it's 
> > great when 
> > you walk into a place like *BAM!* and everyone is like "uhhhh, what 
> > the hell 
> > is that?" haha
> > 
> > ash
> > 
> > 
> > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> > 
> > 
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> >  
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> > 
> > 
> > 
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>

Pablo,

I've been in three MIDI-based live bands -- a) a 3-piece with guitar, keys, 
and a vocalist; b) a 2-piece with myself and a guitarist; c) a 4-piece with 
two (6-string) guitars, keys, and drums -- and I'm a big proponent of live 
MIDI.  [A MIDI band with a DRUMMER???  Sure!  His timing was terrific, he 
didn't mind playing with a click track in his monitors, and it allowed us 
to add horns, extra percussion, extra keys ,,,]

Things to remember:
    * Reliability is important.  Your DOS idea is a good one, although many 
of the more powerful MIDI interfaces don't have DOS drivers.  If you run 
DOS, try not to use TSRs for audio or virus checking, they make the OS no 
more stable than Windows, IMHO.
    * If you use a Mac or Windows, I'd recommend a dedicated PC with 
minimal OS and application support selected.  Windows 9x is pretty stable, 
if only asked to do a couple of tasks at a time.  I have a Win98SE machine 
in my lab that mostly just runs my satellite link (for web access), Norton 
Anti-Virus, and a 100base-TX link to the rest of my house, and if it 
crashes once a month, I'd be VERY surprised.  (My ISP, now that's another 
story ...)
    * Don't try to do everything through a single daisy-chained MIDI 
link.  MIDI can send about 1000-1200 messages per second; that sounds like 
a lot, but it's not, especially on the down-beat.  Aftertouch, pitch bends, 
and heavy use of percussion can fill that pipe up very quickly.  Invest 
some money into a good 6x6 or 8x8 patchbay with PC support.  In the Windows 
world, I'm partial to the MIDISport 8x8USB; most of my Mac friends use MOTU 
products.  Give each "area" of the sound its own output in the bay -- one 
per (live) keyboard player, one each for drums, percussion, horns, bass, 
EFX, etc.
    * Make sure that you can still make useful noise if one of your sound 
sources fails.  I keep alternate drum, bass, synth, horn, and other sounds 
on my PC for every module, which I can download during a break.  Yeah, that 
killer AN1x solo won't sound as good on your QS6 or Planet Phatt, but only 
you and the band will probably know it; if you lose the bass for the rest 
of the night, EVERYONE will figure it out.


Regards,

-BW

--
Bruce Wahler
Design Consultant
Ashby Solutions"
www.ashbysolutions.com
CloneWheel Support Group moderator
978.386.7389  voice
978.776.0096  fax
bruce@...


At 03:14 p 5/18/2001 +0000, you wrote:

>Just got interested in the subject matter here...
>
>So, I'm getting ready to embark on a live music
>adventure with my trusty 486 laptop.
>
>I figured that with running Cakewalk DOS 5.0 and a Midi-
>man Serial midi port a 486 should be plenty of power to
>run the midi files, including some rather elaborate
>sysex setups. Besides, this way I can have a cheap
>backup computer. I have an MU-128 loaded with plg cards
>(VH, VL and PF). So far, it has been a matter of just
>making sure the sysex messages are placed a few ticks
>away from each other and getting rid of unneeded sysex
>messages.
>
>My question is this: Does anyone use midi that
>extensively live? If so, how reliable is your setup? I
>have a friend that thinks I'm crazy and that midi is way
>too unreliable for what I'm trying to do. I have the MU
>controlling vcoder harmonies, guitar effects etc. My
>feeling is that at least DOS really doesn't crash like
>windows. Cakewalk 5.0 can be a little bit overwhelmed by
>a lot of sysex concentrated in one area, but really
>seems to be solid once everything is thinned out a bit.
>
>Saw some Canadian software on the web yesterday for
>laptop musicians: "Showplay". It uses Win 95 minimum,
>but also has a serial midi setup and displays lyrics
>while the music is playing. Cool, but would worry about
>windows crashing during the gig.
>
>Pablo

Hello,

I've used a MC-505 as a master sequencer live several times. In future, as
I'm becoming more and more by bound by computer sequenced arrangements, I
expect I'll invest in a laptop *and* a minidisc player. That way I've still
got some freedom with MIDI sequencing and live tweaking *plus* a backup
(minidisc) should anything go wrong.

And from my experience, crashes are often conflictions between applications,
so no Solitaire during intermission!!!

Good luck,

Phil

From: PolHarris@...
Reply-To: AN1x-list@yahoogroups.com
Date: Fri, 18 May 2001 15:14:45 +0000
To: AN1x-list@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [AN1x-list] OT: Midi Live???


Just got interested in the subject matter here...

So, I'm getting ready to embark on a live music
adventure with my trusty 486 laptop.

I figured that with running Cakewalk DOS 5.0 and a Midi-
man Serial midi port a 486 should be plenty of power to
run the midi files, including some rather elaborate
sysex setups. Besides, this way I can have a cheap
backup computer. I have an MU-128 loaded with plg cards
(VH, VL and PF). So far, it has been a matter of just
making sure the sysex messages are placed a few ticks
away from each other and getting rid of unneeded sysex
messages.

My question is this: Does anyone use midi that
extensively live? If so, how reliable is your setup? I
have a friend that thinks I'm crazy and that midi is way
too unreliable for what I'm trying to do. I have the MU
controlling vcoder harmonies, guitar effects etc. My
feeling is that at least DOS really doesn't crash like
windows. Cakewalk 5.0 can be a little bit overwhelmed by
a lot of sysex concentrated in one area, but really
seems to be solid once everything is thinned out a bit.

Saw some Canadian software on the web yesterday for
laptop musicians: "Showplay". It uses Win 95 minimum,
but also has a serial midi setup and displays lyrics
while the music is playing. Cool, but would worry about
windows crashing during the gig.

LOL "so no Solitaire during transmissions"... good one...



On Sat, 19 May 2001 10:11:26 +1000 Phil <accession@...>
writes:
> Hello,
> 
> I've used a MC-505 as a master sequencer live several times. In 
> future, as
> I'm becoming more and more by bound by computer sequenced 
> arrangements, I
> expect I'll invest in a laptop *and* a minidisc player. That way 
> I've still
> got some freedom with MIDI sequencing and live tweaking *plus* a 
> backup
> (minidisc) should anything go wrong.
> 
> And from my experience, crashes are often conflictions between 
> applications,
> so no Solitaire\ufffd during intermission!!!
> 
> Good luck,
> 
> Phil
> 
> 
> 
> From: PolHarris@...
> Reply-To: AN1x-list@yahoogroups.com
> Date: Fri, 18 May 2001 15:14:45 +0000
> To: AN1x-list@yahoogroups.com
> Subject: Re: [AN1x-list] OT: Midi Live???
> 
> 
> Just got interested in the subject matter here...
> 
> So, I'm getting ready to embark on a live music
> adventure with my trusty 486 laptop.
> 
> I figured that with running Cakewalk DOS 5.0 and a Midi-
> man Serial midi port a 486 should be plenty of power to
> run the midi files, including some rather elaborate
> sysex setups. Besides, this way I can have a cheap
> backup computer. I have an MU-128 loaded with plg cards
> (VH, VL and PF). So far, it has been a matter of just
> making sure the sysex messages are placed a few ticks
> away from each other and getting rid of unneeded sysex
> messages.
> 
> My question is this: Does anyone use midi that
> extensively live? If so, how reliable is your setup? I
> have a friend that thinks I'm crazy and that midi is way
> too unreliable for what I'm trying to do. I have the MU
> controlling vcoder harmonies, guitar effects etc. My
> feeling is that at least DOS really doesn't crash like
> windows. Cakewalk 5.0 can be a little bit overwhelmed by
> a lot of sysex concentrated in one area, but really
> seems to be solid once everything is thinned out a bit.
> 
> Saw some Canadian software on the web yesterday for
> laptop musicians: "Showplay". It uses Win 95 minimum,
> but also has a serial midi setup and displays lyrics
> while the music is playing. Cool, but would worry about
> windows crashing during the gig.
> 
> 
> Community email addresses:
>   Post message: AN1x-list@yahoogroups.com
>   Subscribe:    AN1x-list-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
>   Unsubscribe:  AN1x-list-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
>   List owner:   AN1x-list-owner@yahoogroups.com
> 
> Shortcut URL to this page:
>    http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AN1x-list
>  
> 
> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to 
> http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ 
> 
> 
> 
________________________________________________________________
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--- In AN1x-list@y..., PolHarris@a... wrote:
> Just got interested in the subject matter here...
> 
> So, I'm getting ready to embark on a live music 
> adventure with my trusty 486 laptop.

  My condolences  ;)   Just kidding...



> My question is this: Does anyone use midi that 
> extensively live? If so, how reliable is your setup? 

  I stopped using MIDI live a few years back, mainly because it just 
got to be too much of a hassle setting all the hardware up and then 
tearing it back down later.  My home studio is still all MIDI, and 
that's how we record everything (MIDI sequences in CakeWalk ProAudio 
9), but when we play out I use a Dell Inspiron 4000 laptop (Win2000 
Professional, 750mhz CPU, 256 RAM, 10G harddrive) running WinAmp-  
all our backing tracks have been mixed down and converted to 256/44 
mp3 files.  

  I use the AN1x as my main synth on stage, with either a Roland 
SH101 or Roland D10 on the side for filling in.  Sometimes I'll bring 
along the Roland R70 drum machine for fills,  and we use an Evolution 
DanceStation for triggering samples live (audio clips, not loops).  I 
can build\tear my setup in less than 5 minutes, which is bonus when 
having to crunch for time.  We almost never have to cut a set short 
because once the soundman sees how quickly we can setup it gives us 
an extra 15 minutes of stage time.

  We never really had any technical issues playing with MIDI onstage, 
I just switched for convenience and speed. 





Aaron
http://www.mp3.com/martyrcomplex/
http://www.mp3.com/etherclinic/

--- In AN1x-list@y..., Darren M Boudreau <RIXdeGAUL@j...> wrote:
> LOL "so no Solitaire during transmissions"... good one...


  Win2000 has a groovy pinball game included.  We had setup one night 
before a gig awaiting soundcheck, about 40 people already in the 
house, and the soundman was nowhere to be found, so I kicked back and 
started playing pinball on the laptop.  Didn't realize the sound was 
already patched in, so the whole club gets to hear me playing pinball 
at a very loud volume.  I'm wearing headphones running off my mixer 
so I don't hear anything out of place.  People start looking around, 
the soundman comes running out of the john pulling his pants up, 
jumps up on the stage and yells "What the hell do you think you're 
doing?!?"

  I pause the game, drop the headphones, and now there's no pinball 
sounds.  "What the hell are you talking about?  I'm just playing 
pinball, man.  Can we soundcheck now?"

  He turns, storms off, and says "It sounds fine." hehe...

  It wasn't until after the gig that I found out people could hear it 
(and loudly at that)...



Aaron
http://www.mp3.com/martyrcomplex/
http://www.mp3.com/etherclinic/

At 08:08 PM 5/21/01 +0000, Martyr Complex wrote:
>
>   It wasn't until after the gig that I found out people could hear it
>(and loudly at that)...
>

"...And that was a new composition, entitled, 'Tilt.'" :)



- 30 -
: . elson trinidad, los angeles, california, usa
: . elson@...  :  www.westworld.com/~elson
: . groove to the futurethnic beats of e:trinity at www.e-trinity.org and 
www.mp3.com/etrinity

It certainly took "balls" to do that in any case...

> At 08:08 PM 5/21/01 +0000, Martyr Complex wrote:
> >
> >   It wasn't until after the gig that I found out people could hear it
> >(and loudly at that)...
> >
> 
> "...And that was a new composition, entitled, 'Tilt.'" :)
> 
> 
> 
> - 30 -
> : . elson trinidad, los angeles, california, usa
> : . elson@...  :  www.westworld.com/~elson
> : . groove to the futurethnic beats of e:trinity at www.e-trinity.org and 
> www.mp3.com/etrinity
> 
> 
> Community email addresses:
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>  
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> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ 
> 
>

--- In AN1x-list@y..., "Martyr Complex" <martyrcomplex1@y...> wrote:
> Sometimes I'll bring 
> along the Roland R70 drum machine for fills,  

Hm, might be a stupid question, but how do you sychronize the tempo 
of the R70 with your MP3s?

--- In AN1x-list@y..., "Martyr Complex" <martyrcomplex1@y...> wrote:
>   I pause the game, drop the headphones, and now there's no pinball 
> sounds.  "What the hell are you talking about?  I'm just playing 
> pinball, man.  Can we soundcheck now?"
> 
>   He turns, storms off, and says "It sounds fine." hehe...

ROFL...you da man, Aaron...hehe...LOL

LOL... even better ...do a feed out on a screen of you playing pinball
during sound check...that would rock... 


On Tue, 22 May 2001 06:34:54 -0000 "Thomas" <tomfinegan@...>
writes:
> --- In AN1x-list@y..., "Martyr Complex" <martyrcomplex1@y...> wrote:
> >   I pause the game, drop the headphones, and now there's no 
> pinball 
> > sounds.  "What the hell are you talking about?  I'm just playing 
> > pinball, man.  Can we soundcheck now?"
> > 
> >   He turns, storms off, and says "It sounds fine." hehe...
> 
> ROFL...you da man, Aaron...hehe...LOL
> 
> 
> Community email addresses:
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>  
> 
> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to 
> http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ 
> 
> 
> 
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--- In AN1x-list@y..., "Thomas" <tomfinegan@y...> wrote:
> --- In AN1x-list@y..., "Martyr Complex" <martyrcomplex1@y...> wrote:
> > Sometimes I'll bring 
> > along the Roland R70 drum machine for fills,  
> 
> Hm, might be a stupid question, but how do you sychronize the tempo 
> of the R70 with your MP3s?

  I don't sync-  I just play the pads live.  Granted, an Octopad 
would be much easier (larger pads) but until I find one for sale 
locally I'll have to fingerpunch it.  We've been kicking around the 
idea of using more live percussion on stage, so maybe I should skip 
getting the DX200 and go for an Octopad right away...



Aaron
http://www.mp3.com/martyrcomplex/
http://www.mp3.com/etherclinic/