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

Was going through the archives and ran into an old post by Realm
concerning his live set methodolgy which I fan pretty interesting.
Didn't find other post with thoughts on such regards, but thought I'd
go ahead and despite the long passage of time since his post, finally
add on throw on another perspective/addition to it.

I'll note, that my live methodolgy has always been somewhat along the
lines of keeping things as similar to the studio enviroment as
possible, and despite changes to such enviroment, my live philosophy
has remained the same.

First off, the components of the current live setup are as follows:
1.Edirol PCR-50
2.X-Keys macro stick
3.Electric guitar
4.1 PC running Live, Reason, Reaktor, and Rebirth (I'll note that
Rebirth is rarely brought to life)
5.1 PC running Live and Reaktor (Reason is housed on this box is well,
but is rarely brought up)
6.MC-505
7.XL-7 (surprise surprise)
*8.Gutair sustain pedal

THE MIDI STREAM
There is a 2 in 8 out MIDI patch bay used live with the 505 and
Command Station running into the ins.  Outs connect to the 505,
Command Station, the 1st PC (which is the instrumental PC), and the
2nd PC (which serves more as effects unit).  The PCR also connects to
the same mentioned PC, but via USB as opposed to MIDI.  Similarly, the
X-Keys is connected to the PC via USB and serves soley as a live
controller. The 505 sends MIDI clock out to the Command Station as
well as the PCs. The Command Station typically sends nonclock related
MIDI out to the 505 and the instrumental PC, BUT, on rare occassion,
takes over as serving as the master clock for the PCs.


SEQUENCING and CONTROLL
1.The Command Station serves as "sort" of a master of all that is
going on.  Serving to sequence itself, the 505, and Reason.  I'll note
that I say "sort" of here as there is NO single sequencer used, as in
all reality, there is a total of 4 sequencers used.  It also shares
duties with the PCR as the main controlling device of Reason, and at
times sequences/controlls the 505.

2.The 505 sequences merely itself, and as forementioned, tends to
serve as the Master Clock.

3.The PCR serves as one of the controlling surfaces for LIVE and,
again, as formentioned, serves as a controller for Reason.

4.The X-Keys, also serves as a controller for Live, HOWEVER, where the
PCR is used soley to control things such as volume levels, effects
levels, and other such things traditionally controlled by a slider or
knob, the X-Keys serves to trigger samples/scenes in Live.

5.Though rare, there are a couple cases where Reason's sequencer is
used in conjuction with the Command Station.


EFFECTS ROUTING
I tend to use a hell of a lot of effects in regards to vocal and
guitar, and Live (coupled with Reaktor and a host of VST effects)
tends to take care of things in this regard.  A guitar is routed into
one of the Live boxes (typically the "instrument PC") where effects
chains for it are called up on a song by song type basis.  The second
PC takes care of vocals, and is generally controlled by (currently) my
mate John whom performs vocal material in the live setting for me (as
I'm to bogged down to carry out such duties).  Outside of this, there
is a hardware sustain pedal that I tend to run the guitar into prior
to it hitting the PC.

On a final, the nice thing about this setup is that arguably compact 
(everything is able to be housed on just one table and an X stand) and
pretty flexible in regards to what it allows one to do.  Setup is
fairly simple with MIDI routing being perhaps the biggest point of
concern..... as only one thing need be misrouted and/or merged
incorrectly and all sorts of weird surprises can come up (spent a good
deal of time in rather sudden and unplanned points of improv my last
outing due to one MIDI mistake).

Regards,

      Al