From: Mauricio Balma <balmaproducer@...>
Subject: Re: [xl7] Ideas for Live sessions with XL-7
To: xl7@yahoogroups.com
Date: Tuesday, July 8, 2008, 5:04 PM
Those are excellent tips for playing live.
BTW, I produce music exclusively for the dance scene, I'm a stage performer.
I use two command stations on stage. The main one, a XL7 with three ROMS, is controlling an Access Virus TI and a Roland V synth.
The second one is controlling a Waldorf Micro Q and a Prophet 8.
I couldn't perform as I do without my priceless command stations.
Obviously, I use PATTERN mode.
You know, the concept of the pattern organization on the command station, is 8 banks of 128 patterns each one.
What I do, is:
Record a 4 bars length pattern for very rythmical or percussive patterns.
Record a 8 or 16 bars lenth pattern for more harmonic patterns, because is better to have more time to more complex constructions with long notes like pad development.
Generaly, I start on Bank 0. But I have two directions to follow when advancing from one pattern to pattern. If I'm playing the pattern 056-0, the next pattern will be obvioulsly on the 057-0 location. Follow a sequential mode.
But sometimes, I need to have a second version of that pattern, but with small differences, and a bridge at the last 1 or two measures. Add some knob movements, a little bit of swing effect, to make it not so repetitive.
That second version of the pattern 056-0, won't be stored on the position 057-0, but on the position 056-1. So, if I want a direct and drastic transition from the patttern 56 to the 57, I just go there, but If I want to make the transition with a bridge at the end of the pattern, I go to the second version of the pattern "UP", going to the 056-1 position, and then, returning to the 0 Bank to the pattern 057-0 to continue the sequence.
Another tip is to record on a SINGLE track (I use the first one 1 or the last one 16) a MULTIa track, with only knob movement or controller information. So, I play the pattern, and when it loops, I activate the multi track, and it will transform the pattern into something else. useful to avoid repetitive music, or to also create bridge transitions.
My command stations handle a lot of EXT information, since they sequence other synths with A and B outputs.
sometimes, when its too much, I COMPRESS several tracks into a single Multi A or Multi B tracks, taking care of the polyphony. When I have poly problems, I reduce:
-Delay time
-Chorus on patches
-Start time and gatetime of the patches.
-Thin control change data
I'm absolutely a NEWBIE with compression effect. Modern dance music uses a lot of complession. I'm stuck there.
Also, sometimes when I use too much sounds, some of them goes into the same range frequency and the overall mix becomes muddy.
I need to solve that problem with the sub out puts of my synths. And trying to avoid to have several sounds of the same frequency range, playing at the same time.
but I need help on that. Does basses have to go on the same SUB OUTPUT?? or sending the kick on one sub, and the bass on the other one?
Thanks
Balma
--- On Sun, 7/6/08, Aaron Eppolito <synthesis77@ yahoo.com> wrote:
From: Aaron Eppolito <synthesis77@ yahoo.com>
Subject: Re: [xl7] Ideas for Live sessions with XL-7
To: xl7@yahoogroups. com
Date: Sunday, July 6, 2008, 9:58 PM
A compressor is good, but with electronic drums, they're not as necessary. With an acoustic kit, timbral change is synonymous with hitting it harder, something that also results in more volume. With a synth, you can reduce the amount that velocity controls amplitude, leaving the effect on filters and multisampling intact. This lets you get dynamic variation without the corresponding volume variation. This is, in effect, the same thing a compressor does on real drums.
The second question - are you trying to play different songs or different patterns? Pattern mode is more suited to playing live. Song mode is more where you'd arrange the track to record in your studio. Playing the patterns live is what makes a sequenced performance more than just playback (my opinion showing through here!) I'd get familiar with the following functions: Mute Hold and XMix. If you set up your patterns in such a way that you have similar things on similar tracks, using mute hold will let you change from one pattern to another while retaining the current level of "orchestration" . Conversely, if you are jamming on a particular tune, using the mutes as realtime arranging tools are their main purpose. You could even copy the pattern to different locations and name them "Rockin' - bridge", "Rockin' - chorus", etc. Set up different mutes on each section (or even change the patterns slightly) and then you can switch to those sections
automatically on the pattern boundary.
XMix you could use in a more advanced fashion to morph one sequence into another. If you've got tunes that can intermingle, you can swap individual tracks out on the fly. Doing this, you can effectively change songs one track at a time. Good for trance, house, and probably lots of other electronica genres. Once you've switched "enough" of the tracks, you can always swap the whole song in by changing patterns (again, still nicely synced to the pattern boundary). Note that tempo will stay constant around the pattern switch, so if you're not at the right tempo, you can use the tap tempo button to get yourself slowly into the correct groove (without making your crowd trip from an abrupt tempo change).
Good luck!
-Aaron
----- Original Message ----
From: Dacian Victor <dacian_victor@ yahoo.com>
To: xl7@yahoogroups. com
Sent: Saturday, July 5, 2008 11:45:44 PM
Subject: [xl7] Ideas for Live sessions with XL-7
Hi, i use XL-7 my main instrument on stage... but i can say i am new in the electronic field.
I have 2 questions??? ? \
A short one, some guys told me i need a compresor on drums, what do you think?
And the second,. i need ways to use my xl-7 live...
for example how i can play one song after onther without stoping the music ...?
or ... can use trigers for live lines??? ..i know about xmix, but i never use it on live,..!!
Thank's
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