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

--- In xl7@yahoogroups.com, "steve_the_composer" <smw-mail@p...> wrote:
> So, you can (for example) set up one section
> of a performance with 16 patterns assigned to the 16 trigger buttons
> and another section with 16 different patterns.  You can also have
> another multisetup that uses the trigger buttons for beats
> performance.  NOTE:  I have not done this in a live performance, so I
> cannot tell you about the logistics of switching multisetups live.

The thing you have to watch out for is that changing multisetups to switch to a new set of pattern trigger assignments (Direct Pattern Access) will also change patches and effects. If you're playing one song at a time this is no big deal (use a different multisetup for each song), but if you're playing a continuous set, DJ-style, this can cause glitches in your sound. To avoid this you can plan ahead and switch to a pattern with the same patches before switching multisetups (so the patches don't change); if the effects configuration changes too this should probably done at a point where the mix is thinned enough that the change is not noticeable, or at a point where the change is covered by other instruments.

I'm still working up material to do an eventual live set, so I haven't put this to the test yet.


> Either on this board or another E-Mu board, I outlined how it might
> be possible to use remote control sysex commands to manuever around
> the menus (virtul button pushing and knob turning) to switch patterns.

Thanks Steve, that's what I was thinking of. I don't know how useful turning the data entry knob remotely would be since you can get the same result more easily by using footswitches to change patterns. A short sysex string that "pressed" a trigger button might be useful though, for those whose hands were busy elsewhere.


> As for changing trigger pattern assignments directly by sysex
> parameter editing, I don't see anything in Sysex Manual 2.2.  There
> are locations for note trigger parameters and programable knob
> parameters, though.

I'd be surprised if the functionality weren't in there somewhere but was left out of the documentation because DPA wasn't added until OS 2.0.

Being able to change trigger pattern assignments via sysex might avoid the problems with switching multisetups I describe above, or it might not, depending on how well the Command Station handles getting hit with that much sysex and how dense the mix is at that point.

It's a shame you can't just send a program change (and bank select) message to queue up the next pattern, but the XL7 gets enough other, more important things right that I'm willing to live with the footswitch method.

You're right, by the way, to emphasize that changing patterns live is indeed possible from the trigger buttons - this was precisely the feature that convinced me to finally buy my XL7.