I believe the question was about muting/unmuting tracks by footswitch, so if it was possible, it would affect the track itself, while track can send to internal enging or external MIDI (or both). However, it's impossible, as far as I know. Moreover, while SysEx specification for XL-7 is awesome, unfortunately it lacks any control of tracks, so even a clever footswitch (like Behringer FCB-1010) won't help.
Patchcords work on the layer level and in this case specify how a layer would react to the MIDI message, namely generated by footswitch. If you are controlling external drums, they would only receive the forementioned MIDI message. Patches and their layers are the internal part of the sound engine.
However, why don't you just use a volume pedal on the output of your drum device?
Cheers,
Bruno
2014-05-29 by bonzai2050@...
thanks for the quick replies. that is quite disappointing that tracks can't be muted/unmuted using footswitch. was just about to buy one (assumed it could do this) and thankfully I asked before purchase.
in my case I'm sequencing two external drum machines, sometimes with the kick on a separate track. I was planning on having maybe two foot switches, one to mute only kick, and one to mute all drums. no brainer for live techno act.
I will look at the volume pedal. thanks for the advice. didn't realize something like that existed, but makes sense. will probably buy one.
still.... too bad about the footswitches :(
but still, about midi velocity... my external devices respond to velocity data from XL7, (unless I'm mistaken), are we sure my suggestion about using footswitches to zero midi velocity wouldn't work to "mute" tracks?
2014-05-30 by smw-mail@...
I think you just answered yes to my question.
I do believe you can use sysex remote control to mute/unmute tracks. However I don't believe you can do this with the foot pedal input.
If you had foot switches that could be programmed to send sysex commands sysex remote control might do what you want IF the mute/unmute controls outgoing midi data. If this functionality works with the E-Mu, you could probably build a bank of programed switches with a microcontroller.
It should be easy to test whether or not muting a track routed to external gear turns the midi data off. If that works, it would be possible to send sysex remote commands to simulate button presses. If that works, all you would need are some foot switches to send midi sysex remote control commands.
Even if you have decided not to get an E-Mu, I might test this out and post the results.
Out of curiosity, are you committed to using foot switches?
Steve
2014-05-30 by Ted Stahl
I am not familiar with using footswitches myself, but if you're utilizing a device that can be programmed to send MIDI commands, you could send MIDI continous controller #7 data on the respective MIDI channel 0=off and 127=full volume. Granted, this means that you need to use some sort of programmable device for such input, but I just thought I'd put that in the discussion.
I recently acquired an MP-7 and I had to repair it and then dropped in and Xtreme Lead 2 ROM. I'm tickled to death with this thing. I upgraded to the 2.0 operating system and I honestly belive that this is the best hardware sequencer ever made. Add those enormous (full of luscious low end) 808 and 909 kits from the Xtreme Lead ROM and it's the bargain of the decade. I don't know why more people aren't using these.
- Grid-based sequencing (x0x like the Electribes)
- Step sequencing
- Realtime sequencing
You can't go wrong with this puppy!
Sorry...I got carried away.
Peace.
On Thursday, May 29, 2014,
smw-mail@... [xl7] <;
xl7@yahoogroups.com> wrote:
I think you just answered yes to my question.
I do believe you can use sysex remote control to mute/unmute tracks. However I don't believe you can do this with the foot pedal input.
If you had foot switches that could be programmed to send sysex commands sysex remote control might do what you want IF the mute/unmute controls outgoing midi data. If this functionality works with the E-Mu, you could probably build a bank of programed switches with a microcontroller.
It should be easy to test whether or not muting a track routed to external gear turns the midi data off. If that works, it would be possible to send sysex remote commands to simulate button presses. If that works, all you would need are some foot switches to send midi sysex remote control commands.
Even if you have decided not to get an E-Mu, I might test this out and post the results.
Out of curiosity, are you committed to using foot switches?
Steve
--
Ted Stahl <
stahler@...>
Technology Manager for the School of Medicine
Information Technology Services
Saint Louis University
(314) 977-3507
2014-05-30 by smw-mail@...
>> are we sure my suggestion about using footswitches to zero midi velocity wouldn't work to "mute" tracks?
Here's another thought--switches operated via a microcontroller that selectively filter midi data.
So let's say F# on midi channel 1 has a bass drum you want to turn on and off. You could have a button that turns on and off the filtering of all F#s on channel 1.
Out of curiosity, are there other hardware sequencers that allow you to filter midi data on the fly? If so, those would probably do what you want.
Hope this helps.
Steve
2014-05-30 by smw-mail@...
If each instrument to be muted/unmuted were on a separate midi channel, this method should work. In fact, perhaps the 4x4 bank of built in CC knobs could be used.
2014-05-30 by smw-mail@...
I ran a test and what I suspected would work, does indeed word. I had a P2500 playing a sequence to an old sound module. Using midi-ox, I sent short sysex remote control commands to mute and unmute tracks. When muted, no midi data in that track went to the external module.
So, all you need is a foot controller that can send user programmed sysex commands. If you want, you can build one with something like an arduino or an arduino clone.
Hope this helps.
2014-05-30 by Bruno
Wow, Steve, you made my day. What exactly is that SysEx, I was trying few times to find the way to mute/unmute tracks (think of BtsBusy & BtsVari for user created patterns!) and I was completely sure it's impossible.
Bruno