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

--- In xl7@y..., "joesapo" <joesapo@y...> wrote:
> I have to give props to beat_rebel who roams this forum too.  He's 
> the one who sold me his Xl-7 and got me started with this addictive 
> hobby of mine.  He's got a Mp-7 now and we've been trying to 
> collaborate on some stuff.  Alot of these techniques are stuff that 
> we both came up with.  
> sapo


Thanks for the recognition, SAPO.

I might as well fill the forum goers in on my latest scheme. I've set 
up custom percussion presets to change instruments by real time 
controllers. For example, I program D&B and 90% of the time in D&B the 
snare only changes by changing the sample not the sequencing. My 
custum presets are ideal for this senario and I've set up all 8 of my 
percussion channels in this manner. Not too profound but thought I'd 
share.

So here's a question for Sean or Arron:

With all the reliance I'm putting into knobs, I'm looking into buying 
an external MIDI controller. I've got my eye on the Doepfer Pocket 
Dial. It has endless dials that can operate with out jumps in value. 
To avoid confusing you with my personal explanation, here's what the 
website says:



Jump-free Parameter Changes

Thanks to the endless rotary encoders used in pocket Dial jump-free 
changes of parameters become true provided that some requirements
are met. To realize jump-free changes there are 2 fundamental 
solutions:

1. Pocket Dial transmits  Increment / Decrement Data

In this case Pocket Dial does not "know" the absolute value of the 
parameter but transmits only the information data increment
(abbreviation: inc) or data decrement (abbreviation: dec). 
Unfortunately there is no MIDI message available "increase data of 
MIDI Controller
XX" or "decrease data of MIDI Controller XX". There is only a general 
Data increment (Controller #96 decimal, resp. #60 hexadecimal) and
Data decrement message (Controller #97 decimal, resp. #61 hexadecimal) 
available. The third byte of these messages is - as  far as we
know - not used so far. In the MIDI spec we found no statement 
concerning this byte. Remember: each MIDI control change message
consists of 3 bytes. We want to solve this problem by "hiding" the 
controller number, to which the inc/dec is related to, in the third 
byte of
these messages. This modified inc/dec messages would enable to 
increase or decrease the value of a specific MIDI controller. We hope
that other companies will agree to this proposal and adjust their 
software/hardware to this amendment of the MIDI Data
increment/decrement message (controller #96/97).

The "new" MIDI messages are:

     Controller Increment: BnH 60H xxH
     Controller Decrement: BnH 61H xxH

with n = MIDI channel (0...F) and xx = MIDI Controller No (00...77H, 
78H...7FH is reserved for Channel Mode Messages). H means
hexadezimal values.

2. Pocket Dial transmits absolute data

In this case Pocket Dial transmits absolute MIDI Control change data. 
After a program change of the device controlled by Pocket Dial
parameter jumps will occur.

Example: The value for filter frequency was 95 for the "old" 
program/sound and is 23 for the "new" program/sound. If one operates 
the
control for this parameter there will be a jump to 94 or 96 depending 
if the control was operated up or down.

This problem can be solved if the device controlled by Pocket Dial 
outputs the new values (i.e. MIDI control changes) for all parameters
after a program/sound change. Pocket Dial receives these values and 
uses them as new starting values.

Example: The value for filter frequency was 95 for the "old" 
program/sound and is 23 for the "new" program/sound. After the
program/sound change the device controlled by Pocket Dial outputs the 
new value 23 for this parameter. Pocket Dial receives this new
value and uses it as the new start value. If one operates the control 
for this parameter Pocket Dial will transmit 24 or 22 depending if the
control was operated up or down. This means that there is no parameter 
jump as the data transition is 23 -> 24 or 23 -> 22.

But it is essential for this type of control that the device 
controlled by Pocket Dial transmits the new MIDI controller data after 
a program/sound change. Pocket Dial will receive these data and check 
out if one of the controller numbers assigned to the 16 encoders 
matches with one of these controller numbers. If this applies the 
controller data value will be used as the new starting data for this
controller (of course the MIDI channel has to be the same too). Pocket 
Dial and the device controlled by Pocket Dial have to be connected
via MIDI in both directions:

     MIDI Out of Pocket Dial -> MIDI In of the device controlled by 
Pocket Dial
     MIDIOut of the device controlled by Pocket Dial -> MIDI In of 
Pocket Dial



I know, thats a lot to read. Will this device be compatible with the 
Command Stations?

Thank in advance for your reply,

Beat Rebel