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

I know this is probably not possible...

but, is there any way of achieving polyrhythms in the XX-7?

That is one reason I am thinking of getting an RM1x or something just 
for the polyrhythmic stuff. 
Its not something I would use in every track, but live sequencing 
would really lend itself to the use of different time signatures. 

?

The obvious method, of running tracks of different lengths or time 
signatures in parallel, is not possible on the XL7. You can cheat by 
using longer sequences - for instance, a 12-bar pattern with tracks 
in 3/4 and 4/4 - but this is clumsy and won't work in many instances.

You're in luck, though: what will work is to use the arpeggiators. 
They'll loop at whatever length you determine, so you can easily play 
different time signatures against each other. If the note or notes 
triggering the arp are recorded into the pattern (instead of played 
live), the arp will be retriggered each time the pattern loops, which 
will throw this off. To avoid this, add a "sustain pedal=on" event 
(CC #64 of >63) to your pattern so the note is held across the 
pattern loop rather than retriggered. Now the polyrhythm will last 
until you change patterns. Just watch out for stuck notes.

This should probably be added to the Tips and Tricks file, btw.


--- In xl7@yahoogroups.com, "elemental" <adz32@y...> wrote:
> I know this is probably not possible...
> 
> but, is there any way of achieving polyrhythms in the XX-7?
> 
> That is one reason I am thinking of getting an RM1x or something 
just 
> for the polyrhythmic stuff. 
> Its not something I would use in every track, but live sequencing 
> would really lend itself to the use of different time signatures. 
> 
> ?

Thanks for the info - I had a feeling the arpeggiators might come 
into it.

What would make it really good would be if I could put shuffle 
quantize on the arpeggiated patterns....

--- In xl7@yahoogroups.com, "robotchas" <robotchas@y...> wrote:
> The obvious method, of running tracks of different lengths or time 
> signatures in parallel, is not possible on the XL7. You can cheat 
by 
> using longer sequences - for instance, a 12-bar pattern with tracks 
> in 3/4 and 4/4 - but this is clumsy and won't work in many 
instances.
> 
> You're in luck, though: what will work is to use the arpeggiators. 
> They'll loop at whatever length you determine, so you can easily 
play 
> different time signatures against each other. If the note or notes 
> triggering the arp are recorded into the pattern (instead of played 
> live), the arp will be retriggered each time the pattern loops, 
which 
> will throw this off. To avoid this, add a "sustain pedal=on" event 
> (CC #64 of >63) to your pattern so the note is held across the 
> pattern loop rather than retriggered. Now the polyrhythm will last 
> until you change patterns. Just watch out for stuck notes.
> 
> This should probably be added to the Tips and Tricks file, btw.
> 
> 
> --- In xl7@yahoogroups.com, "elemental" <adz32@y...> wrote:
> > I know this is probably not possible...
> > 
> > but, is there any way of achieving polyrhythms in the XX-7?
> > 
> > That is one reason I am thinking of getting an RM1x or something 
> just 
> > for the polyrhythmic stuff. 
> > Its not something I would use in every track, but live sequencing 
> > would really lend itself to the use of different time signatures. 
> > 
> > ?

Agreed, I'll add it asap.

rEalm

--- In xl7@yahoogroups.com, "robotchas" <robotchas@y...> wrote:

> This should probably be added to the Tips and Tricks file, btw.

Excellent suggestion!!!!  Can't wait to get back into gear-based 
composing/arranging to try this out. Thanks for sharing this 
compositional TnT and for such a clear explanation.
--Dr. Steve

--- In xl7@yahoogroups.com, "robotchas" <robotchas@y...> wrote:
> The obvious method, of running tracks of different lengths or time 
> signatures in parallel, is not possible on the XL7. You can cheat
> by using longer sequences - for instance, a 12-bar pattern with
> tracks in 3/4 and 4/4 - but this is clumsy and won't work in many
> instances.
> 
> You're in luck, though: what will work is to use the arpeggiators. 
> They'll loop at whatever length you determine, so you can easily
> play different time signatures against each other. If the note or
> notes triggering the arp are recorded into the pattern (instead of
> played live), the arp will be retriggered each time the pattern
> loops, which will throw this off. To avoid this, add a "sustain
> pedal=on" event CC #64 of >63) to your pattern so the note is held
> across the pattern loop rather than retriggered. Now the polyrhythm
> will last until you change patterns. Just watch out for stuck notes.
> 
> This should probably be added to the Tips and Tricks file, btw.