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

What kind of problems are you having though?  Just not getting the timing 
right?  Without knowing your exact problems, here's somethings I do 
occasionally to help me with this:

- Slow the tempo down and record your parts, then speed it up to what you 
want the tempo to be.
- Set your Pattern length to 32 measures, even if you only need a 8 
measure pattern.  That way you have more time to get your groove on :) 
ONce you get a measure (or however many you want) just right, then you can 
cut and paste that voer the rest of the pattern.
- I don't like to quantize much either, but the swing settings in the XL-7 
are VERY nice IMO.  Try setting a swing of 53-56% with an Amount of 65%, 
use that on just the HH's or back beats.
- The pads work best after they've been hit for some time.  So if you box 
is fairly new, or you haven't spent much time using the pads for note 
entry, spend some time breaking them in.

rEalm




I need some help programming my beats real time, I don't like to 
quant.... I'm not that good step recording either.... I usually 
either play the part  live and the work with a wave file or play live 
and edit midi in logic. I'm really bad working with metronome 
(usually get it right after a couple of bars and copy/pasting is 
quite time consuming on the XL7) and I'm having problems banging my 
drum parts on my xl7. I usually work with midi/wave loops so this has 
never been much of a problem, but I'm trying to use more of the XL-7 
to see if I could faze logic out... Do any of you have any tips or 
advice that could help me out? 









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

Slowing things down is probably the best advice you can get. Timing 
issues usually require dedication and practice to work out. SInce you 
are dealing with a machine, timing is going to be a lot more strict 
than if you had a real drummer playing beats. I would recommend 
picking up a basic drumming video or dvd to give you some exercises 
in counting and feeling the beat. I actually started playing drums 
just for that reason.

There is big difference in how things feel in more recent recordings 
compared to my earlier ones where I was dropping things on the step 
recorder. 

Also using a midi controller keyboard such as the oxygen 8 has helped 
as well.

Main thing is to count and practice. It will all come together in 
time.

-Greg



--- In xl7@yahoogroups.com, erik_magrini@B... wrote:
> What kind of problems are you having though?  Just not getting the 
timing 
> right?  Without knowing your exact problems, here's somethings I do 
> occasionally to help me with this:
> 
> - Slow the tempo down and record your parts, then speed it up to 
what you 
> want the tempo to be.
> - Set your Pattern length to 32 measures, even if you only need a 8 
> measure pattern.  That way you have more time to get your groove 
on :) 
> ONce you get a measure (or however many you want) just right, then 
you can 
> cut and paste that voer the rest of the pattern.
> - I don't like to quantize much either, but the swing settings in 
the XL-7 
> are VERY nice IMO.  Try setting a swing of 53-56% with an Amount of 
65%, 
> use that on just the HH's or back beats.
> - The pads work best after they've been hit for some time.  So if 
you box 
> is fairly new, or you haven't spent much time using the pads for 
note 
> entry, spend some time breaking them in.
> 
> rEalm
> 
> 
> 
> 
> I need some help programming my beats real time, I don't like to 
> quant.... I'm not that good step recording either.... I usually 
> either play the part  live and the work with a wave file or play 
live 
> and edit midi in logic. I'm really bad working with metronome 
> (usually get it right after a couple of bars and copy/pasting is 
> quite time consuming on the XL7) and I'm having problems banging my 
> drum parts on my xl7. I usually work with midi/wave loops so this 
has 
> never been much of a problem, but I'm trying to use more of the XL-
7 

> to see if I could faze logic out... Do any of you have any tips or 
> advice that could help me out? 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Actually, I disagree. I'll slow things down a few bpm, but any more and
my 'feel' of the groove will start to go. Of course, this is as far
recording goes, not practicing.
 
You're better off getting very friendly with your 'erase track button'. 
 
bIz

-----Original Message-----
From: Greg [mailto:golerage@...] 
Sent: Thursday, September 25, 2003 9:23 AM
To: xl7@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [xl7] Re: Need real time recording tips.....


Slowing things down is probably the best advice you can get. Timing 
issues usually require dedication and practice to work out. SInce you 
are dealing with a machine, timing is going to be a lot more strict 
than if you had a real drummer playing beats. I would recommend 
picking up a basic drumming video or dvd to give you some exercises 
in counting and feeling the beat. I actually started playing drums 
just for that reason.

There is big difference in how things feel in more recent recordings 
compared to my earlier ones where I was dropping things on the step 
recorder. 

Also using a midi controller keyboard such as the oxygen 8 has helped 
as well.

Main thing is to count and practice. It will all come together in 
time.

-Greg



--- In xl7@yahoogroups.com, erik_magrini@B... wrote:
> What kind of problems are you having though?  Just not getting the 
timing 
> right?  Without knowing your exact problems, here's somethings I do 
> occasionally to help me with this:
> 
> - Slow the tempo down and record your parts, then speed it up to 
what you 
> want the tempo to be.
> - Set your Pattern length to 32 measures, even if you only need a 8 
> measure pattern.  That way you have more time to get your groove 
on :) 
> ONce you get a measure (or however many you want) just right, then 
you can 
> cut and paste that voer the rest of the pattern.
> - I don't like to quantize much either, but the swing settings in 
the XL-7 
> are VERY nice IMO.  Try setting a swing of 53-56% with an Amount of 
65%, 
> use that on just the HH's or back beats.
> - The pads work best after they've been hit for some time.  So if 
you box 
> is fairly new, or you haven't spent much time using the pads for 
note 
> entry, spend some time breaking them in.
> 
> rEalm
> 
> 
> 
> 
> I need some help programming my beats real time, I don't like to 
> quant.... I'm not that good step recording either.... I usually 
> either play the part  live and the work with a wave file or play 
live 
> and edit midi in logic. I'm really bad working with metronome 
> (usually get it right after a couple of bars and copy/pasting is 
> quite time consuming on the XL7) and I'm having problems banging my 
> drum parts on my xl7. I usually work with midi/wave loops so this 
has 
> never been much of a problem, but I'm trying to use more of the XL-
7 
> to see if I could faze logic out... Do any of you have any tips or 
> advice that could help me out? 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]



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

It is awkward at first for recording. You have to know what your 
ultimate sound is going to be when recording it. It is a lot easier 
to spin the bpm up and down than starting a riff from scratch every 
time. But it is a matter of preference and if your results are good 
in the end, then stick with the method that makes you the most 
comfortable. I played guitar before using the XL7, so slowing down a 
portion of a song to nail the part isn't so awkward anymore. In fact 
in most I will start programming at less than 90 bpm, than do plus or 
minus 10 bpm incerements to see the results. That is the beauty of 
the box. No rules and freedom to experiment.

Anyway, these are merely suggestions. Everybody has there own way 
doing things. It isn't like breathing where if you do it wrong you 
are going to die ;)
-Greg

--- In xl7@yahoogroups.com, "Jonathan El-Bizri" <biz@g...> wrote:
>  
> Actually, I disagree. I'll slow things down a few bpm, but any more 
and
> my 'feel' of the groove will start to go. Of course, this is as far
> recording goes, not practicing.
>  
> You're better off getting very friendly with your 'erase track 
button'. 
>  
> bIz
>  
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Greg [mailto:golerage@y...] 
> Sent: Thursday, September 25, 2003 9:23 AM
> To: xl7@yahoogroups.com
> Subject: [xl7] Re: Need real time recording tips.....
> 
> 
> Slowing things down is probably the best advice you can get. Timing 
> issues usually require dedication and practice to work out. SInce 
you 
> are dealing with a machine, timing is going to be a lot more strict 
> than if you had a real drummer playing beats. I would recommend 
> picking up a basic drumming video or dvd to give you some exercises 
> in counting and feeling the beat. I actually started playing drums 
> just for that reason.
> 
> There is big difference in how things feel in more recent 
recordings 
> compared to my earlier ones where I was dropping things on the step 
> recorder. 
> 
> Also using a midi controller keyboard such as the oxygen 8 has 
helped 
> as well.
> 
> Main thing is to count and practice. It will all come together in 
> time.
> 
> -Greg
> 
> 
> 
> --- In xl7@yahoogroups.com, erik_magrini@B... wrote:
> > What kind of problems are you having though?  Just not getting 
the 
> timing 
> > right?  Without knowing your exact problems, here's somethings I 
do 
> > occasionally to help me with this:
> > 
> > - Slow the tempo down and record your parts, then speed it up to 
> what you 
> > want the tempo to be.
> > - Set your Pattern length to 32 measures, even if you only need a 
8 
> > measure pattern.  That way you have more time to get your groove 
> on :) 
> > ONce you get a measure (or however many you want) just right, 
then 
> you can 
> > cut and paste that voer the rest of the pattern.
> > - I don't like to quantize much either, but the swing settings in 
> the XL-7 
> > are VERY nice IMO.  Try setting a swing of 53-56% with an Amount 
of 
> 65%, 
> > use that on just the HH's or back beats.
> > - The pads work best after they've been hit for some time.  So if 
> you box 
> > is fairly new, or you haven't spent much time using the pads for 
> note 
> > entry, spend some time breaking them in.
> > 
> > rEalm
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > I need some help programming my beats real time, I don't like to 
> > quant.... I'm not that good step recording either.... I usually 
> > either play the part  live and the work with a wave file or play 
> live 
> > and edit midi in logic. I'm really bad working with metronome 
> > (usually get it right after a couple of bars and copy/pasting is 
> > quite time consuming on the XL7) and I'm having problems banging 
my 
> > drum parts on my xl7. I usually work with midi/wave loops so this 
> has 
> > never been much of a problem, but I'm trying to use more of the 
XL-
> 7 
> > to see if I could faze logic out... Do any of you have any tips 
or 
> > advice that could help me out? 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> 
> 
> 
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I would first of all recommend that you use some of the quantizing. 
depending on what tempo you are using I would either go with the 16 beat at 
120 to 160 or 32 beat quantizing for the 100 to 50 bpm. Then I would 
recommend you just record some weak conventional bass or chords to start 
your song off with then add a snare and kick drum maybe just to start the 
tempo quantized of course. Then once you got a weak little song going on add 
some high hats on a third track tweaked to your hearts content of course. 
Then get rid of the first bass or chords that you started off with because 
you dont want that in your song. then with your make shift drum patten as 
the only two existing tracks I want you to find that song youve always 
wanted to write and then write it. I find this method to be great It really 
challenges the unconcious to make something out of nothing and youll be 
surprised by the results youve come up with. Then once you got something 
started take the quantizing off and use another similar but completly 
different drum kit to add some accents to your drum track or maybe now that 
you got something going you want to completly get rid of the existing drums 
and play something else. and maybe you can layer drum tracks by copying an 
entire track and placing it in a new track afew times and use a different 
kit. The emu is very flexible this way.. oh and by the way in the begining 
you want to work with at first a 2 bar sequence at first then you should 
extend that beat to 4 bars then you can come up with the high hats and 
extend all tracks to 8 bars then you can begin adding accents with another 
kit in the 8 bar sequence


>From: "sincultura13" <sincultura13@...>
>Reply-To: xl7@yahoogroups.com
>To: xl7@yahoogroups.com
>Subject: [xl7] Need real time recording tips.....
>Date: Wed, 24 Sep 2003 22:12:16 -0000
>
>I need some help programming my beats real time, I don't like to
>quant.... I'm not that good step recording either.... I usually
>either play the part  live and the work with a wave file or play live
>and edit midi in logic. I'm really bad working with metronome
>(usually get it right after a couple of bars and copy/pasting is
>quite time consuming on the XL7) and I'm having problems banging my
>drum parts on my xl7. I usually work with midi/wave loops so this has
>never been much of a problem, but I'm trying to use more of the XL-7
>to see if I could faze logic out... Do any of you have any tips or
>advice that could help me out?
>
>Thanks in advance...
>

_________________________________________________________________
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Hi,

I think its very useful to set a footswitch for Punch in and out, that gives
me a lot of freedom, besides the 
erase button + track is a fast way to erase a track.

Christoph

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

Thanks to all for the tips. It looks like it's just a matter of 
getting used to cut and pasting on the XL-7.... I have a couple of 
footswtiches around that I'm going to give a try and I already slow 
down the BPM a bit to bang beats down. The swing setting I'm also 
going to look into. I take from Realm comment that it can be set for 
each part... I always thought it was far all the tracks...

 Also I was reading the other day on recording magazine that you 
could use the two effect boards for each preset, is that true? 

thanks again...


--- In xl7@yahoogroups.com, "Christoph Kluxen" <pocketd@g...> wrote:
> Hi,
> 
> I think its very useful to set a footswitch for Punch in and out, 
that gives

> me a lot of freedom, besides the 
> erase button + track is a fast way to erase a track.
> 
> Christoph
> 
> -- 
> NEU FÜR ALLE - GMX MediaCenter - für Fotos, Musik, Dateien...
> Fotoalbum, File Sharing, MMS, Multimedia-Gruß, GMX FotoService
> 
> Jetzt kostenlos anmelden unter http://www.gmx.net
> 
> +++ GMX - die erste Adresse für Mail, Message, More! +++
> 
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

No this is not possible. You can send all the presets to the same 2 effects
but you can't have different effects on each preset.

Regards,

Stu

-----Original Message-----
From: sincultura13 [mailto:sincultura13@...]

 Also I was reading the other day on recording magazine that you
could use the two effect boards for each preset, is that true?

The swing setting I'm also going to look into. I take from Realm comment 
that it can be set for each part... I always thought it was far all the 
tracks...

>>>Yeah, you can apply the quantize seperately to each part, but it's not 
a real-time effect.  IE, you can't just change the parameters and have the 
new settings be instantly applied to the selected part. After you change 
the settings, you need to manually apply them only to the parts you want. 
The manual should sort you out on the specifics of the proceedure, but 
feel free to ask any questions if you're having problems. <<<

Also I was reading the other day on recording magazine that you could use 
the two effect boards for each preset, is that true? 

>>>Yes and no.  Here's a cut and paste from the FAQ on this:

There are two Effects processors available in the Command Stations at any 
time, regardless of whether you're only playing a single Preset, or a 
Pattern with 16 Tracks. You can use the Effects in one of two ways, each 
selected from the Global menu. The first is where the Preset on the active 
MIDI channel controls the Effects, and therefore all the Effects settings 
are used as stored with that Preset. This way works best if you're only 
playing a single Preset at a time.
The second method for using the Effects is in Master Effects mode. In this 
case, all Presets share the same two Effects, and the Effects and their 
settings are saved as a part of each Pattern. However being able to only 
turn the Effects on or off for each part is not very flexible, so E-Mu 
uses Effect Sends to increase your options. Just like there are only two 
Effects for the entire Command Station, there are only four Sends for the 
entire unit as well. The send amounts for each effect are freely 
assignable in the Global menu. For instance, say your first effect is a 
reverb, and your second is a delay. You can specify how much reverb you 
want to be applied to Send 1, as well as how much Delay you want to be 
applied to Send 1. Say you set your reverb amount to 5% on Send 1, and 
your delay amount to 27% on Send 1. In this configuration, any Track you 
route to Send 1, will have about 5% reverb on it, and then it has 27% of 
the delay effect added to it. If you only wanted reverb for instance, you 
would just set the delay amount for that Send to 0%, and now all Tracks 
routed to Send 1 will only have reverb applied. You can assign more than 
one Track to a Send, and you have 4 Sends to use for each whole Pattern, 
giving you lots of ways to use only those two Effects processors.  <<<
rEalm








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

Thanks! The swing on each track is really cool... BTW, I'm not much a 
of a manual reader, but I might just have to start to read some...

Re: Effects... that was kinda what I though.... but didn't know how 
flexible the Sends are. It's not quite as interesting as it could be 
but being that the XX-7 has two additional pair of outs you can hook 
some external effect units to its no biggie.


--- In xl7@yahoogroups.com, erik_magrini@B... wrote:
> The swing setting I'm also going to look into. I take from Realm 
comment 
> that it can be set for each part... I always thought it was far all 
the 
> tracks...
> 
> >>>Yeah, you can apply the quantize seperately to each part, but 
it's not 
> a real-time effect.  IE, you can't just change the parameters and 
have the 
> new settings be instantly applied to the selected part. After you 
change 
> the settings, you need to manually apply them only to the parts you 
want. 
> The manual should sort you out on the specifics of the proceedure, 
but 
> feel free to ask any questions if you're having problems. <<<
> 
> Also I was reading the other day on recording magazine that you 
could use 
> the two effect boards for each preset, is that true? 
> 
> >>>Yes and no.  Here's a cut and paste from the FAQ on this:
> 
> There are two Effects processors available in the Command Stations 
at any 
> time, regardless of whether you're only playing a single Preset, or 
a 
> Pattern with 16 Tracks. You can use the Effects in one of two ways, 
each 
> selected from the Global menu. The first is where the Preset on the 
active 
> MIDI channel controls the Effects, and therefore all the Effects 
settings 
> are used as stored with that Preset. This way works best if you're 
only 
> playing a single Preset at a time.
> The second method for using the Effects is in Master Effects mode. 
In this 
> case, all Presets share the same two Effects, and the Effects and 
their 
> settings are saved as a part of each Pattern. However being able to 
only 
> turn the Effects on or off for each part is not very flexible, so E-
Mu 
> uses Effect Sends to increase your options. Just like there are 
only two 
> Effects for the entire Command Station, there are only four Sends 
for the 
> entire unit as well. The send amounts for each effect are freely 
> assignable in the Global menu. For instance, say your first effect 
is a 
> reverb, and your second is a delay. You can specify how much reverb 
you 
> want to be applied to Send 1, as well as how much Delay you want to 
be 
> applied to Send 1. Say you set your reverb amount to 5% on Send 1, 
and 
> your delay amount to 27% on Send 1. In this configuration, any 
Track you 
> route to Send 1, will have about 5% reverb on it, and then it has 
27% of 
> the delay effect added to it. If you only wanted reverb for 
instance, you 
> would just set the delay amount for that Send to 0%, and now all 
Tracks 
> routed to Send 1 will only have reverb applied. You can assign more 
than 
> one Track to a Send, and you have 4 Sends to use for each whole 
Pattern, 
> giving you lots of ways to use only those two Effects processors.  
<<<

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