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

Yeah mostly I start with a smaller number of bars to get the basics going, 
just to save time while in Grid mode initially.  Then use the Extend 
feature to get my pattern to it's final number of bars.  From there I 
spend a lot of time in Grid and List modes moving around notes, adding 
fills and changing velocities to liven the tracks up some.  This works 
fine for drums, since I'm Grid programming most of the notes.

When I start adding instrument tracks though, things get a little more 
inexcessible while working.  I mainly play the pads live when adding these 
type of tracks, so I need to do a lot of cutting and pasting of my best 
measures after the fact.  The XL-7 can be a little bit odd to understand 
at first when you're trying to work this way, particularly if you're used 
to computer based sequencers.  I grew up on a mc505, so it's not hard, 
although Roland does have the upper hand when it comes to ease of pattern 
editing.  Mostly because you can select whether your Pastes will overwrite 
the previous data (which I prefer), or merge with it.  Also, you can 
select how many times to paste data, which speeds things up considerable 
and eliminates a lot of the steps you need to do to achieve the same thing 
on the XL-7.

On the XL/MP, you should look into the Pattern Length and Extend Sequence 
Data options in Pattern edit, as they are really needed to get the most 
out of your cut and paste operations.  I posted a quick how to last week, 
so check the archives for specifics on that topic.

rEalm




How are some of you creating your patterns?  i.e., are you working
with a small number of bars and then use the extend sequencer and 
extend bar feature to build your pattern lengh that way or do you 
find it easier to work with a lengthy bar and then fill in the 
middle?