Emu XL-7 & MP-7 User's Group

--- In xl7@yahoogroups.com, "Matt Picone" <matman@m...> wrote:
> Is it possible to simultaneously play back one loop of 4/4 and another
> of 5/8 simultaneously using one command station?
>
> My method will otherwise be to use the least common multiple for pattern
> length.
>
> -m@

Yes: use the arpeggiators. You can use any combination of loop lengths, no LCM needed. From my submission to the Tips and Tricks file:

Using Arps to create polyrhythms

The obvious method, of running tracks of different lengths or time signatures in parallel, is not possible on the XL7. You can cheat by using longer sequences - for instance, a 12-bar pattern with tracks in 3/4 and 4/4 - but this is clumsy and won't work in many instances. You're in luck, though: what will work is to use the arpeggiators. They'll loop at whatever length you determine, so you can easily play different time signatures against each other. If the note or notes triggering the arp are recorded into the pattern (instead of played live), the arp will be retriggered each time the pattern loops, which will throw this off. To avoid this, add a "sustain pedal=on" event (CC #64 of >63) to your pattern so the note is held across the pattern loop rather than retriggered. Now the polyrhythm will last until you change patterns.