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Re: [xl7] XX-7 live tips?

2002-08-01 by Neila Eliphas Spare

Can't say that the lack of a mega-mix feature has stumbled me all that much. Granted, however that I do find such an idea nice and ever so desirable. Essientially, the most simplistic, though to a degree limiting, work around that I have found was simply to use other sequenced gear.
I will note however that I've found the capabilities of the apprigio system in the XL-7 to be most usefull for (thus far) essientially serving as sort of a replacement to Roland's RPS system (of course it works well for apprigios as well). I'll also chime in that something I'm really digging into with the XL-7 is it's ability to jump in and out of record mode while playing (just wish it could do this with grid mode as well); this definately to a degree can be used as somewhat as a replacement to Megamix (in my case, it in many ways is more desirable than megamix). Simply erase parts you no longer want and record you new lines in IN REAL TIME. Espically when in the live enviroment, I tend to like to work a lot in a improv manner, of all the gear that's graced my live p.a. setup, I have to say that the 505 by far has limited me the most in this area (megamix is a GREAT feature, but it falls way short in regards to letting you come up with something totally new on the spot). ; I've been waiting for a capable sequencer for awhile that could take a lesson from the old Roland gear and it's ability to be modify sequences to hell and back while in record mode (the 777, and Korg Etribes seemed to take in this lesson), and it's ever so nice to see that the XL-7 can carry this function out. It may not be bringing in sequences you already had made, but it's definately one way to go about brining in new sequences to the patterns your running on the fly.
However, one big issue I'm having in regard to the XL-7 (I sent a previous email to the list in regard to this, but appearently it didn't make it) comes in regard to switching the track you are working on in more of a instintaneous manner. Can't say that I like having to surf through channel buttons in order to reach a desired channel. Is there any way to go about reaching a desired channel utlilizing no more than one or two button clicks?
On another issue, I also was wondering where on earth is the USB port on the XL-7, I can't locate it at all and granted I am yet to read the manual cover to cover, I can't find any mention of it in the manual (contents or index).
And yes, yet another question, I've been searching through the manual and have yet been able to find how exactly I go about setting what exactly Mod1 and Mod2 effect. Can someone tell me how to go about doing this.
To wrap up my own personal questions in regard to this beast, I'm having some trouble with one of my mute/trigger buttons, specifically mute/trigger button 3. I often find that I have to hit it a couple times in order to have it work. I was thinking that I can probably just dig underneath the hood of this thing and do some simple realigning in order to solve the problem. rEalm, as you've been underneath the hood of this thing already, mind telling me your thoughts on where this problem may be steming from and if my idea on how to fix it might work or not.
Respects,
Aaron Nesby
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Wednesday, July 31, 2002 11:46 AM
Subject: [xl7] XX-7 live tips?


Hey guys, I've been waiting and hoping that there was going to be a new OS release that would address the lack of Megamixing or RPS/RPPR facilities in the XX-7 before I began using the XL-7 in a 100% live situation (and not combined with turntables like I currently do). However, with Summer NAMM come and gone (the most obvious place to announce a new OS), it seems I'm going to have to just figure out my own way around these limitations so that I can start preparing a live set once again (one of the main reasons I got the XL-7). The biggest issue I have, is how to switch patterns live, so that I can keep some continuity between them, and still retain the flexibility to use which ever pattern fits the mood. I could certainly program some 'filler' patterns, but that would require a hard and fast set list, something I want to avoid if possible.

I had originally hoped that the Beats functions on the trigger buttons would help me out here, but in use it's less than ideal and is generally more headaches than it's worth. The riffs don't start on time with whatever is playing, so even after a few months of practice, I still can't trigger them accurately more than 50% of the time (and there's no second chances live!). Plus, they're just not flexible enough to use most of the time, and they end up sounding like what they really are, someone else's music, not mine.

So then I attempted to create my own Presets with custom arps to address the problem, which by and large seemed to be the best solution, as long as I stuck to simple arps. Downsides are that it still has the issue with trigger timing, and in order to get a full 16 triggers, you pretty much need to limit yourself to the 16A channels for writing, the 16B channels being reserved for your Trigger Presets. Oh, and there's no easy way to switch trigger Presets mid-set, as I need to save and load the set ups via Multi's.

Next idea was to just use my Korg Er-1, and sync it to the XL-7 to add some fills and consistent drum sounds while switching patterns. This so far is the easiest solution, as the two stay nicely in sync and I can select which ever pattern in the ER-1 I want with the volume down and then fade it in when I need it. Downsides are that I can only use drum sound for the most part, and by the 5th or 6th pattern change, it does sound a bit "samey" and dry compared to the XL-7 sound. Oh yeah, and that adds one more bit of kit (not a huge issue) and another wallwart to accomidate.

So, I'm looking to you guys to chime in and let me know how you address these issues, or what you think Emu can do to improve the situation. Obviously, with in the current hardware limitations too, so it's got to be feasible. I think Emu has done a great job at sorting out the bugs and getting our boxes studio ready, now lets see (and help) them focus on the live use aspect!

rEalm


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