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

On 11/15/02 5:36 PM, "Greg" <golerage@...> wrote:

> Has anybody used their XX7 to trigger a soundbyte from their PC
> within an sound application? I am trying to let the XL7 play and at a
> certain point in the XL7 song, I would like it to trigger a sample
> while the music on the XL7 is still playing.
> 
> Can I do a song file on the PC that is mixing midi and wav tracks to
> control XX7? If I can do this, how do I turn off the annoying midi
> circus music from the mix on my pc in Cubase?
> 
> Should I be looking a hardware solution instead trying to combine my
> PC?
> 
> Signed,
> Stumped in San Diego (aka Greg)

Greg a lot of this has to do with what software you want to trigger.  What
it boils down to is does the software let you control features (like trigger
samples) from MIDI notes and also does it allow MIDI control changes (CCs)
to control parameters.

One program that works very well with external triggers and controls is
Ableton Live.  I suspect that it paired with the XX7 is a killer
combination.  It is on my list of things to investigate but having used lIve
already a bit I know it is very good at letting you set up controls using
MIDI notes and control changes.

Some of the heavier weight sequencer packages like Cubase (SX) and Logic let
you create control setups where almost any external control can affect the
programs operation.  Something like triggering a sample though is
program-specific.  I know, for example, that Logic has its so-called WAV
device for this purpose.  Of course in this day and age of VSTi's you just a
plug-in sampler away from sample triggering in almost any sequencer package.

Another good candidate for working along side the XX7 is Reason.  This too
has a good deal of MIDI control that you can customize.  There are other
programs as well.

One area worth exploring is using the PC only as a sampler and a sound
module, of sorts, for the XX7.  Kind of like adding some external synths.
Reason is a good option here, as are some of the NI software instruments
(which can work stand alone).  Orion is another program that comes to mind
which has good software instrument hosting capabilities.  Cubase (SX) or
Logic can also be used for this purpose though the setup is a tad more
involved, but still very doable.  Steinberg has also announced a "virtual
rack" program that lets you turn your PC into a rack of software instruments
(VSTi's).

You can also use the PC sequencer and XX7 in tandem in a number of ways.
One way is to simply synchronize the two so that the XX7 plays its
song/pattern and the PC sequencer does the same.  You can even set things up
so that the XX7 controls the PLAY-STOP aspects of both.  This might be a
good  approach to combining audio tracks with the XX7.

Or you can of course just use the XX7 as a sound module for the PC
sequencer.

if all your trying to do is add a bit or recorded audio/samples to an XX7
song and still retain the XX7's instructiveness and "playability" I would
suggest using something like a software sampler on the PC.  Reason works
very well for this.  You should also investigate Live as it is really very
much designed for interactive manipulations of sampled audio and as I said
it should work very well with the XX7.

These programs are all available for download trials/demos so give them a
look!

If I didn't get to the heart of your question hit me back!

drk

www.delora.com/music
www.mp3.com/zdrk
drk.iuma.com