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

Excellent explanation, Aaron. 

Let me add a few things, Scott. Aaron can correct me if I miss something important; I usually test solutions out before posting them, but haven't done that yet with the one I was working on.

First, I assume you have OS2.0 for the XL-7. If not, I highly recommend it. Also, I assume you have the latest XL-7 manual.

Second, get the basic setup hooked up; Aaron's solution should let you do everything you want (and possibly more). 

You probably know this, but I have to mention it just in case: each midi cable connection (5 pin din cable) is only one way. (Some newcomers to midi think that because it has 5 pins, it is two-way.)

Third, if you haven't read about the XL-7's multisetups yet, you may want to. Multisetups let you store and recall various settings--including the MIDI settings. I specifically have in mind the MERGE MIDI IN TO OUT settings.

As you are mastering your new setup, it might be helpful to have setups which let you target your focus, such as:
IN->A only [set up so the EPS is only going thru the XL-7 to the EPS--with local off]
IN->B only [set up so the EPS is only going thru the XL-7 to the MicroQ]
IN NOT MERGED [set up so EPS will only be going to the XL-7]
IN-->A & B [set up so that the EPS will control the XL-7 and be sent to both the EPS IN and the MicroQ IN.
[Note: I am using the same ports as in Aaron's example.]

Once you master each device and develop fluncy with your set up, I assume you would primarily be using both A & B outs.

Having said that, you might not want to do it this way, since multiseups also save channel preset assignments [which preset is on which channel] and if you have presets set up in a certain way, when you switch multis, you will lose those channel preset assignments!!!!

So, you could just have the MIDI button set up the the MERGE MIDI IN TO OUT PAGE and switch manually as needed. (Hopefully, the explanation give you some insights about the XL-7's ability to switch merged outs on and off as well as multis.)

I hope I mentioned in a previous reply about setting up pattern templates with dummy data to preserve channel assignments in all 16 tracks.

As for grid recording, I never use that, but I believe there are discussions about grid recording in the archives (search for "grid"). Also, I believe there are some users around here that could give you some tips.

Hope this helps.

--Steve


--- In xl7@yahoogroups.com, Aaron Eppolito <synthesis77@...> wrote:
>
> So here's the deal.  Think of the MIDI routing like you'd envision audio cables.  The main difference, however, is that instead of routing sound, you're routing note/event instructions (i.e. "Play C# now" instead of "Here is the sound of a C# playing").
> 
> The XL-7 has a few sources and a few destinations.  The sequencer, the keypads, the MIDI In jack, and the knobs all generate MIDI events.  The sequencer, internal synth, and the MIDI output jacks are the destinations.
> 
> You'll want this:
> 
> EPS MIDI Out  -->  XL-7 MIDI In
> XL-7 MIDI Out A  -->  EPS MIDI In
> XL-7 MIDI Out B  -->  MicroQ MIDI In
> 
> Then, you'll need to do a few things in software.
> 
> On the EPS, turn "Local Control" OFF.  Since you're routing MIDI notes back to itself, you should break its internal connection between its keyboard and synth.  This is akin to making sure not to record a tape deck's outputs back into its inputs.
> 
> On the XL-7, turn "Rechannelize MIDI In to Out" ON.  This will make it such that the notes you play will go to where the current track is going.
> For each pattern (or song) there's a setting for each track which determines where the data on that track will go.  It's one page back from the end of the pattern menu entitled "CHANNEL ASSIGN".  For each track, you'll have two things to choose, channel and destination.  Destination is the interesting thing here - you can choose from none, int(ernal), ext(ernal), or both.  Internal plays the XL-7's internal synth, external plays only the MIDI jacks, and both, well, plays both.  If you've routed things as described above, here's what you'd set to assign a track to a particular device:
> 
> EPS:  Channel: 01A-16A   Dest: ext
> MicroQ:  Channel: 01B-16B   Dest: ext
> XL-7:   Channel: 01A-16A,01B-16B   Dest: int
> 
> I'd stay away from both (for now) as there's program change implications (when set to both, program changes are stripped from the MIDI ports).
> 
> 
> In this configuration, whatever you play on the pads or the EPS will play whatever sound the current track would play, internal or external.  The reason you're hearing the XL-7 patterns playing the MicroQ is because the built-in patterns' tracks are all set to "Both".  Why we did that, I don't know.  Seems pretty dumb in retrospect.  Even worse, is there's no way to mass-modify them.  If you're not hearing XL-7 sounds *as well* it's likely because you have the volume down or audio cables not plugged into the XL-7.
> 
> My solution to the MicroQ playing along is to turn down the volume on the MicroQ when playing the factory patterns, or, simply make your own patterns!
> 
> -Aaron
> 
> PS. as a tip, if you have OS 2.00, hold Tap and press a track mute button to select that track!
> 
> 
> 
> ----- Original Message ----
> From: sdorange <scott.orange@...>
> To: xl7@yahoogroups.com
> Sent: Tuesday, August 4, 2009 7:04:08 PM
> Subject: [xl7] Re: XL-7 newbie question - connecting to keyboard + rack synth
> 
> Hi Steve,
> 
> Thanks for your reply.  I still haven't got this figured out.  Here's where we left off - I'm able to play the patterns on the XL-7 through the MicroQ using MicroQ soundsets; unable to play XL-7 patterns using XL-7 sounds.
> 
> I have a small set-up - MicroQ (with In / Thru / Out), XL-7 (In / Out / Out) and Ensoniq EPS (In / Thru / Out).  I want to be able to play MicroQ sounds using the keyboard, create & play beats using the XL-7 and its soundset, and sequence 4-6 tracks on the XL-7 which could either be beats from the XL-7 or sounds created using the MicroQ.
> 
> Appreciate your suggestions around merging MIDI in & out; unfortunately I don't have enough of knowledge to make use of it. 
> 
> I've been through the XL-7, MicroQ and EPS manuals, and there is not enough info for me to figure out this stuff.  I am inexperienced using MIDI, and the books I have on MIDI routing, the diagrams on vintagesynth.com, etc. just don't seem to cover my specifics.  FWIW, I am still trying to learn the XL-7 and don't even have the hang of beat-making via grid recording.  So that's where I'm at - I can use the XL-7 by itself (sort of), I can use the MicroQ by itself, but I am not in Command of anything as of this writing.
> 
> Suggestions are most welcome!
> 
> Best,
> --Scott
>