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

Vortex is a multitimbral, MIDI VSTi, originally conceived
for live performance. It consists of a collection of up to 30 ‘instrument’
presets, each a collection of 12 independent sequencers of up to two bars each.
There are default ‘instruments,’ but you can create your own presets and banks.
It includes it’s own multichannel rompler-type synths, but can additionally
generate midi output on a channel by channel basis. The internal synths can
also be bypassed if you simply want to output the midi data to your own
hardware or software.
 
Within each ‘instrument’ or preset, each of the 12
sequencers can be triggered separately by a dedicated note from C2 to B2, as
well as the same note from additional higher octaves. The higher octaves will
transpose the sequencers midi note output by as many octaves as that octave is
above the C2 to B2 octave. For example, C4 plays the midi data from the
sequencer triggered by C2 at two octaves higher. Additionally to the overall
keyboard/ midi controller input for transposing there is global transpose for
all sequences and individual sequencer transpose of +/ - 3 octaves. 
 
The sequencer grids are in 16th intervals. The
length of the grid can be from any size  from 1/16t to 2 bars. The 2 bar grid can be extended by lowering the time
base of the individual sequencer to make it play up to 8 bars.
 
The range of the grid is two octaves from C1 to C3, but as
the grid can be transposed from the individual sequencer, any two octave range
of midi notes can be set up. There are currently additional controls to move
all note data up and down or forwards and backwards by one or more grid steps
for creating variation or flipping all data from left to right. The entire grid
and its contents can be copy pasted to any other sequencer. Currently there is
no ability to copy/ paste individual notes from within a sequence, as
contrasted with copy/ pasting the entire contents, but the developer indicated
this is on the ‘road map’ for v1.1.
 
Each sequencer can be set individually to output on any midi
channel combination from all on the same channel, each on it’s own channel (there
are only 12 sequencers, but all 16 midi channels can be chosen), or any desired
combination. There are varying triggering options on each sequence so they can
be locked in sync with each other or run freely.
 
There are various options for the notes in the sequence so
they can be tied in various fashions, made legato, or various combinations of
the two. Additionally each sequencer has separate velocity sequencer to set up
velocity patterns and two assignable CC sequencers to make adjustments to your
favorite CC's ... 71 and 74 for me!
 
Actual note length will depend on whether or not the note is
tied. The shortest note length is 1/64th. The standard tied full
note is 1/16th. The length of tied notes can be extended both by
extending the tie grid following an individual note entry, i.e., a 1/16th with two following ties will play 3/16ths or a dotted 1/8th, and by
changing the time base of the individual sequencer. The sequencers are
monotimbral, but chords are easily created by setting up 3 or more sequencers
with the note data on each at intervals of a third from one another.
 
Each sequencer has it's own individual scale control where
you can force it to play only notes of various chords, modes, exotic scales,
etc. 
 
There are too many more controls for the individual
sequencer to describe here … including an 8 channel Midi CC Matrix Mixer in
which you can select up to 8 CC messages and variably send them in real time to
all the different sequencers.
 
Two octaves are reserved ... though partially selectable.
One is used to trigger variations in how the sequence plays, i.e., half time,
double time, retrigger, stutter, etc. The other is used to transpose both pitch
and scale of all any or all of the 12 sequencers, depending on whether they
individually have 'pitch' enabled. With the repitch scale you can map out harmonic
changes on each of the 12 available keys. 
 
I have mine set up on a preset to play the scales C Major, D
Dorian, E Phrygian, etc. on the white keys and C7, F Major, G Major, G7, A
Melodic Minor and B7 dim on the black keys. While you can of course play in
real time with or without the 'latch' or hold enabled for the repitch octave, I
prefer to use a midi track to generate the midi on/ off notes to the
instrument.
 
Now with a little bit of channel input filtering in my DAW
midi tracks, I can use the Vortex midi output to trigger hardware or software
and at the same time record the single sequence midi data to an individual
track for fine tuning or layering other sounds later.
 
If you are still with me so far, you probably get the picture.
There's too much more to even begin to describe, but this is the
overview.  The program is scheduled for its initial release this week ...
so last chance to get it at the ridiculous price of $70.00. I did get mine for
$30.00, but only because I was one of the first 20 to sign up and agree to be a
beta tester.
 
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