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

Hi people,

I've been researching a good Live PA setup, and concluded that the XL-
7 should be a part of it. I now have a 2nd hand one on its way to me 
now. ($280 on e-bay - not bad eh?)

I am planning my setup to be basically just the XL-7 and my laptop, 
which will be running a VST host such as Muzys (which I have yet to 
look into properly) and possibly Ableton Live for sequencing pre-
recorded loops. I will have Reaktor and Kontakt as my main sound 
sources. I am not planning on using the XL-7 onboard sounds that 
much, not at this stage anyway. Maybe for kik+hats or something, and 
for backup in case of a crash.

I will probably expand this with a mixer + synth + outboard fx, but 
only after success with the above setup.

Does anyone use this kind of setup?

Thanks
A.

> I am planning my setup to be basically just the XL-7 and my laptop, <BR>
> which will be running a VST host such as Muzys (which I have yet to <BR>
> look into properly) and possibly Ableton Live for sequencing pre-<BR>
> recorded loops. I will have Reaktor and Kontakt as my main sound <BR>
> sources. I am not planning on using the XL-7 onboard sounds that <BR>
> much, not at this stage anyway. Maybe for kik+hats or something, and <BR>
> for backup in case of a crash.<BR>

That's a whole load of cpu power you are going to need... You might want to 
back off a little, unless you have a really heavy duty laptop in mind.

I run my xl-7 with a laptop, and my live looping rig. When I can't bring the live  
instrument and gear, I just use the laptop and xl-7, and an oxygen controller.

Has anyone else noticed that midiman is naming it's keyboard range after 
software piracy groups?

bIz

> That's a whole load of cpu power you are going to need... You 
might want to 
> back off a little, unless you have a really heavy duty laptop in 
mind.
> 
> I run my xl-7 with a laptop, and my live looping rig. When I can't 
bring the live  
> instrument and gear, I just use the laptop and xl-7, and an oxygen 
controller.
> 
> Has anyone else noticed that midiman is naming it's keyboard range 
after 
> software piracy groups?
> 
> bIz

I've got a 2.4 Ghz Sony, should be enough for most situations. I 
wonder how I'll be able to push it within safe limits...

You should have enough power. The only real issue is things like windows,
and the physical build quality of your laptop.

The problem with windows is if your laptop does crash, it takes bloody ages
to reboot, compared to a piece of hardware. Windows 2000/XP is a lot more
stable than win9x used to be, but never underestimate Murphy and his Law...

Secondly, laptops aren't designed to take much abuse, unlike most musical
gear, so you're gonna have to be gentle with it.

Thirdly, in the unlikely event your laptop gets nicked, that's over a $1000
down the drain, compared to $100's of dollars if someone nicks your
electribe or SP505 etc, but if your gear is racked up, they gonna have a
hard time nicking it in the 1st place.

Sorry to be so negative, but you gotta be aware of these possibilities, coz
they can and do happen.

Regards,

Stu

  -----Original Message-----
  From: adz32 [mailto:adz32@...]
  Sent: 17 August 2003 11:34
  To: xl7@yahoogroups.com
  Subject: [xl7] Re: XL-7 + Laptop = Live PA ??


  > That's a whole load of cpu power you are going to need... You
  might want to
  > back off a little, unless you have a really heavy duty laptop in
  mind.
  >
  > I run my xl-7 with a laptop, and my live looping rig. When I can't
  bring the live
  > instrument and gear, I just use the laptop and xl-7, and an oxygen
  controller.
  >
  > Has anyone else noticed that midiman is naming it's keyboard range
  after
  > software piracy groups?
  >
  > bIz

  I've got a 2.4 Ghz Sony, should be enough for most situations. I
  wonder how I'll be able to push it within safe limits...


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[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

> Does anyone use this kind of setup?

For a year or two I've been using a setup based round laptops, Magma
expansion chasses, and Korg OasysPCI cards, plus Nord MicroModulars,
all controlled by a CM Motor Mix surface. The setup works well with
the XL-7 as a clock source and an occasional sound source, and the XL
is a really good scratchpad for working developing ideas, although
I'll often manually port XL sequences into Max/MSP so I can transform
them while they're playing. I tend not to like composing with
sample-based sound sources (in fact, I work a lot with effects
processing) so the XL-7 sound engine is, by and large, a library which
I visit from time to time; more heavily for commercial commissions.

For native laptop audio (i.e. not outboard DSP like the Oasys cards)
you might have to watch your latency, especially if you start bringing
in low-latency audio from the XL, but otherwise it should work; I know
a lot of people working this way.

-- 

  nick rothwell -- composition, systems, performance -- http://www.cassiel.com

Yeah, I thought that was pretty funny myself.

rEalm




Has anyone else noticed that midiman is naming it's keyboard range after 
software piracy groups?

bIz



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[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

It's clever if you ask me...

Some script kiddie does a search for Oxygen Cubase SX, and in the middle of
their list is Midiman Oxygen Controller... just what they need to control
the VSTi's in their ill-gotten copy of SX! ;)

Regards,

Stu

  -----Original Message-----
  From: erik_magrini@... [mailto:erik_magrini@...]
  Sent: 18 August 2003 13:33
  To: xl7@yahoogroups.com
  Subject: Re: [xl7] XL-7 + Laptop = Live PA ??


  Yeah, I thought that was pretty funny myself.

  rEalm




  Has anyone else noticed that midiman is naming it's keyboard range after
  software piracy groups?

  bIz



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  [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]


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[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

I've been researching a good Live PA setup, and concluded that the XL-7 
should be a part of it. I now have a 2nd hand one on its way to me now. 
($280 on e-bay - not bad eh?)

>>>Great deal! <<<

I will have Reaktor and Kontakt as my main sound sources. 

>>>You're a braver man than me! :)  As much as I love Reaktor, it crashes 
far too often for me to ever think of it as a live tool.  You're idea of 
using Ableton's Live is spot on though, great program for live sets. <<<

rEalm


 






[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Yeah, I'm not sure how Reaktor will stand in a live situation, 
although I hear the Windows standalone version is very stable now. 
I'll be wanting to use the VST version ideally, but at the moment its 
not yet stable enough. Maybe in the next release....(hopeful).
Brownboy on LivePA.org was raving about it saying it was now his main 
synth, but that was a week after he got it, and whether he uses it 
live I dont know.... 

> 
> I will have Reaktor and Kontakt as my main sound sources. 
> 
> >>>You're a braver man than me! :)  As much as I love Reaktor, it 
crashes 
> far too often for me to ever think of it as a live tool.  You're 
idea of 
> using Ableton's Live is spot on though, great program for live 
sets. <<<

> 
> rEalm
> 
> 
>  
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

If you were just playing back simple ensembles then it would probably 
work.  I wouldn't want to do much heavy tweaking/editing in it live 
though, as that's when it seems to crash on me the most frequently. 

rEalm





adz32 <adz32@...>
08/18/2003 08:57 AM
Please respond to xl7

 
        To:     xl7@yahoogroups.com
        cc: 

        Subject:        [xl7] Re: XL-7 + Laptop = Live PA ??


Yeah, I'm not sure how Reaktor will stand in a live situation, 
although I hear the Windows standalone version is very stable now. 
I'll be wanting to use the VST version ideally, but at the moment its 
not yet stable enough. Maybe in the next release....(hopeful).
Brownboy on LivePA.org was raving about it saying it was now his main 
synth, but that was a week after he got it, and whether he uses it 
live I dont know.... 

> 
> I will have Reaktor and Kontakt as my main sound sources. 
> 
> >>>You're a braver man than me! :)  As much as I love Reaktor, it 
crashes 
> far too often for me to ever think of it as a live tool.  You're 
idea of 
> using Ableton's Live is spot on though, great program for live 
sets. <<<
> 
> rEalm
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]



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[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Yeah tell me about it.... but usually, if I just set up a few good 
tweakable params to MIDI CC's it works ok. I wouldnt dare start 
fiddling with an ensemble through Reaktor's interface in a live 
situation though... that'd be asking for it.

I guess the real answers will be revealed when I actually start 
putting together + practicing a live set (i.e. when my XL-7 
arrives!!) Should be interesting... I've never ventured into live 
electronic performance before, nearest i've got is jamming with 
filter and envelope tweaks in the studio.

-A.

--- In xl7@yahoogroups.com, erik_magrini@B... wrote:
> If you were just playing back simple ensembles then it would 
probably 
> work.  I wouldn't want to do much heavy tweaking/editing in it live 
> though, as that's when it seems to crash on me the most frequently. 
> 
> rEalm
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> adz32 <adz32@y...>
> 08/18/2003 08:57 AM
> Please respond to xl7
> 
>  
>         To:     xl7@yahoogroups.com
>         cc: 
>         Subject:        [xl7] Re: XL-7 + Laptop = Live PA ??
> 
> 
> Yeah, I'm not sure how Reaktor will stand in a live situation, 
> although I hear the Windows standalone version is very stable now. 
> I'll be wanting to use the VST version ideally, but at the moment 
its 
> not yet stable enough. Maybe in the next release....(hopeful).
> Brownboy on LivePA.org was raving about it saying it was now his 
main 
> synth, but that was a week after he got it, and whether he uses it 
> live I dont know.... 
> 
> > 
> > I will have Reaktor and Kontakt as my main sound sources. 
> > 
> > >>>You're a braver man than me! :)  As much as I love Reaktor, it 
> crashes 
> > far too often for me to ever think of it as a live tool.  You're 
> idea of 
> > using Ableton's Live is spot on though, great program for live 
> sets. <<<
> > 
> > rEalm
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> 
> 
> 
> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
> xl7-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
> 
>  
> 
> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to 
http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ 

> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

--- In xl7@yahoogroups.com, "Stu" <routerman@z...> wrote:

[clip]

> Sorry to be so negative, but you gotta be aware of these 
possibilities, coz
> they can and do happen.
> 
> Regards,
> 
> Stu

Yeah just ask BT.

I really try to watch my stuff like a hawk.  but it can get 
complicated when you have 2 racks full of gear and a number of desk 
top units plus a mixer.  and you have to get off stage and let 
someone else on.  luckily I haven't lost anyhting yet (well someone 
yoinked my 45 adapters from my turn tables when I was spinning but I 
wasn't at the tables the whole time.  It was probablly one of the 
other DJ's.  

my computer for live PA is a 4U rack mounted monstorsity the case 
itself weighs 30 lbs. I haven't wieghed it since I installed 
everything but it is heavy.  I guess that if someone were gonna try 
to take somethingg it would be my EA-1 The XL7 is pretty big and it's 
frickn' yellow.  try to hide that.  ;)

My advice in live use would be this .
Render any Reaktor voices and other softsynths to audio on the HD itself.
Transfer all of them over for use in Abelton live.
Use the Laptop running Albelton Live + the Command Station (never underestimate the power of an Electribe or two in alive set with a laptop either) .
Keep it as simple and as CPU underloaded as possible and you should not have any problems.
PS: I get my Command Station next week :P .
Any OZ residents interested in an RS7000 (mint never gigged) w/full ram SM card read/writer ,64meg SM card ,all utilities ,manuals and SCSI type 1 cable) - hit me up OK .

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[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

I was originally thinking of doing it this way, but the idea of 
having everything as a pre-recorded loop seems really un-live... I 
want to be able to tweak as much as possible in realtime. That way 
you have as much control over the music (and the crowd) as possible.
BUT - I do agree it would be safest just to render everything. 

> My advice in live use would be this .
> Render any Reaktor voices and other softsynths to audio on the HD 
itself.
> Transfer all of them over for use in Abelton live.
> Use the Laptop running Albelton Live + the Command Station (never 
underestimate the power of an Electribe or two in alive set with a 
laptop either) .
> Keep it as simple and as CPU underloaded as possible and you should 
not have any problems.

Because Live lets you assign and use plug ins for the audio tracks, you'll 
still be able to tweak your parts if you want.  The included plug ins 
alone are very CPU light, and stable too.  If you really want to get the 
most out of that kind of set up, you could infact assign almost everything 
on the XL-7 to control Live.  I set it up so that the key pads were muting 
and unmuting tracks, Triggers would select new parts etc.  You could do an 
entire laptop based set without ever touching the laptop itself with that 
program. 

A lot of people seem to forget that aside from being a really great synth 
and sequencer, the XX-7's are also very nice control surfaces too.  :)

rEalm





adz32 <adz32@...>
08/19/2003 04:07 AM
Please respond to xl7

 
        To:     xl7@yahoogroups.com
        cc: 

        Subject:        [xl7] Re: XL-7 + Laptop = Live PA ??


I was originally thinking of doing it this way, but the idea of 
having everything as a pre-recorded loop seems really un-live... I 
want to be able to tweak as much as possible in realtime. That way 
you have as much control over the music (and the crowd) as possible.
BUT - I do agree it would be safest just to render everything. 

> My advice in live use would be this .
> Render any Reaktor voices and other softsynths to audio on the HD 
itself.
> Transfer all of them over for use in Abelton live.
> Use the Laptop running Albelton Live + the Command Station (never 
underestimate the power of an Electribe or two in alive set with a 
laptop either) .
> Keep it as simple and as CPU underloaded as possible and you should 
not have any problems.




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[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Hmmm .... looks like i'll have to look into Live then.... but you 
still can't tweak sounds from the inside like that, e.g. envelopes 
etc. I will just have to try and find a compromise. 

BTW I found out that RT Player (VST host for PC) is going to be 
released with ReWire support soon... its also now available without 
the controller/dongle thing. Looks like it might be a contender for 
holding a soft synth/sampler or two for a live situation, ReWired 
into Live :- www.dsound1.com

A.

--- In xl7@yahoogroups.com, erik_magrini@B... wrote:
> Because Live lets you assign and use plug ins for the audio tracks, 
you'll 
> still be able to tweak your parts if you want.  The included plug 
ins 
> alone are very CPU light, and stable too.  If you really want to 
get the 
> most out of that kind of set up, you could infact assign almost 
everything 
> on the XL-7 to control Live.  I set it up so that the key pads were 
muting 
> and unmuting tracks, Triggers would select new parts etc.  You 
could do an 
> entire laptop based set without ever touching the laptop itself 
with that 
> program. 
> 
> A lot of people seem to forget that aside from being a really great 
synth 
> and sequencer, the XX-7's are also very nice control surfaces 
too.  :)
> 
> rEalm

Playing live is 100% about compromises actually.

Stabilty vs. Tweakability
Repeatabiltiy vs. Spontanaity
Beerility vs. Yagerbombability

:)

Ealm





Hmmm .... looks like i'll have to look into Live then.... but you still 
can't tweak sounds from the inside like that, e.g. envelopes etc. I will 
just have to try and find a compromise. 









[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]