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

Anyone alive out there in XX-7 land?  :)  Got any tips or tricks to share?

rEalm

Okay, bare with me now, cause i'm pretty much still a beginner, but I 
just started sequencing all my drum tracks multi channel.  My friend 
who has an MP-7 turned me onto a cool technique using multi channel 
tracks.  It's like having a whole drum kit all in one track, even 
though I just use the basic single-type presets such as snare-1 and 
kick-1.  I can start track one, which sequences to channels 1a - 6a 
(snare, kick, hat, etc...) and drop out stuff I don't want via the 
volume knobs.  This works for any tracks I do as long as I sequence 
them with the same channels.  It seems that I get alot more free 
tracks that way.  Instead of having only one main drume sequence 
using 6 to 8 tracks, I use only 1 track and just use the volume knobs 
to mix the different stuff in.  Most of you guys probably do this 
anyways, but I thought since it's pretty slow I'd post anyways.  
BTW... rEalm, I love your stuff.  Keep up the good work and keep this 
forum alive!  

Sapo

--- In xl7@y..., erik_magrini@B... wrote:
> Anyone alive out there in XX-7 land?  :)  Got any tips or tricks to 
share?
> 
> rEalm

Sounds like a cool idea, care to go into more detail about what your 
channel settings are and what not?

rEalm





joesapo <joesapo@...>
08/23/02 04:35 AM
Please respond to xl7

 
        To:     xl7@yahoogroups.com
        cc: 

        Subject:        [xl7] Re: So quiet in here...


Okay, bare with me now, cause i'm pretty much still a beginner, but I 
just started sequencing all my drum tracks multi channel.  My friend 
who has an MP-7 turned me onto a cool technique using multi channel 
tracks.  It's like having a whole drum kit all in one track, even 
though I just use the basic single-type presets such as snare-1 and 
kick-1.  I can start track one, which sequences to channels 1a - 6a 
(snare, kick, hat, etc...) and drop out stuff I don't want via the 
volume knobs.  This works for any tracks I do as long as I sequence 
them with the same channels.  It seems that I get alot more free 
tracks that way.  Instead of having only one main drume sequence 
using 6 to 8 tracks, I use only 1 track and just use the volume knobs 
to mix the different stuff in.  Most of you guys probably do this 
anyways, but I thought since it's pretty slow I'd post anyways. 
BTW... rEalm, I love your stuff.  Keep up the good work and keep this 
forum alive! 

Sapo

--- In xl7@y..., erik_magrini@B... wrote:
> Anyone alive out there in XX-7 land?  :)  Got any tips or tricks to 
share?
> 
> rEalm



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Well it works like this:  First off I have my tracks 1 - 8 all setup 
MultiA.  For every pattern I make I use the same (or pretty close) 
preset setup for those first 8 channels.  This usually is laid out 
something like snare-1 on 1A, kick-1 on 2A, hats-1 on 3A, pretty much 
just categorize stuff into different sounds.  Now when I make a drum 
track I'll pick a snare from 1A, a kick or two from 2A and so forth.  
It works out well because I can just use the main volume knobs to mix 
the different instruments in and out, because the volume knobs are 
hard coded to control the MIDI channel volume, not the track volume.  
This way, I can control any drum track i'm playing on any pattern and 
know that knob 1 is the snare and knob 2 is the kick and so forth.  
The other obvious benefit is that my drum tracks only take up 1 track 
instead of 1 per instrument that i want to mix. 

So this is what i've figured up for pattern switching.  If can fit a 
drum pattern and a couple breaks into 3 tracks, I can fix TWO drum 
patterns into 6... leaving open that mixing opportunity that we've 
all been lacking with the current OS limitations.  And since ALL my 
patterns use the same first 8 presets, I can copy and paste that 
second drum track to whatever pattern i wanna mix to and best of all 
it only takes 1 - 3 tracks.  

I have to give props to beat_rebel who roams this forum too.  He's 
the one who sold me his Xl-7 and got me started with this addictive 
hobby of mine.  He's got a Mp-7 now and we've been trying to 
collaborate on some stuff.  Alot of these techniques are stuff that 
we both came up with.  

Also, I'm from right around the Chicago area.  I remember reading 
about some of you guys wanting to get together and trade some tips 
and whatnot.  Just lemme know.  

sapo

--- In xl7@y..., erik_magrini@B... wrote:
> Sounds like a cool idea, care to go into more detail about what 
your 
> channel settings are and what not?
> 
> rEalm
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> joesapo <joesapo@y...>
> 08/23/02 04:35 AM
> Please respond to xl7
> 
>  
>         To:     xl7@y...
>         cc: 
>         Subject:        [xl7] Re: So quiet in here...
> 
> 
> Okay, bare with me now, cause i'm pretty much still a beginner, but 
I 
> just started sequencing all my drum tracks multi channel.  My 
friend 
> who has an MP-7 turned me onto a cool technique using multi channel 
> tracks.  It's like having a whole drum kit all in one track, even 
> though I just use the basic single-type presets such as snare-1 and 
> kick-1.  I can start track one, which sequences to channels 1a - 6a 
> (snare, kick, hat, etc...) and drop out stuff I don't want via the 
> volume knobs.  This works for any tracks I do as long as I sequence 
> them with the same channels.  It seems that I get alot more free 
> tracks that way.  Instead of having only one main drume sequence 
> using 6 to 8 tracks, I use only 1 track and just use the volume 
knobs 
> to mix the different stuff in.  Most of you guys probably do this 
> anyways, but I thought since it's pretty slow I'd post anyways. 
> BTW... rEalm, I love your stuff.  Keep up the good work and keep 
this 
> forum alive! 
> 
> Sapo
> 
> --- In xl7@y..., erik_magrini@B... wrote:
> > Anyone alive out there in XX-7 land?  :)  Got any tips or tricks 
to 
> share?
> > 
> > rEalm
> 
> 
> 
> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
> xl7-unsubscribe@y...
> 
>  
> 
> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to 
http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/

--- In xl7@y..., "joesapo" <joesapo@y...> wrote:
> I have to give props to beat_rebel who roams this forum too.  He's 
> the one who sold me his Xl-7 and got me started with this addictive 
> hobby of mine.  He's got a Mp-7 now and we've been trying to 
> collaborate on some stuff.  Alot of these techniques are stuff that 
> we both came up with.  
> sapo


Thanks for the recognition, SAPO.

I might as well fill the forum goers in on my latest scheme. I've set 
up custom percussion presets to change instruments by real time 
controllers. For example, I program D&B and 90% of the time in D&B the 
snare only changes by changing the sample not the sequencing. My 
custum presets are ideal for this senario and I've set up all 8 of my 
percussion channels in this manner. Not too profound but thought I'd 
share.

So here's a question for Sean or Arron:

With all the reliance I'm putting into knobs, I'm looking into buying 
an external MIDI controller. I've got my eye on the Doepfer Pocket 
Dial. It has endless dials that can operate with out jumps in value. 
To avoid confusing you with my personal explanation, here's what the 
website says:



Jump-free Parameter Changes

Thanks to the endless rotary encoders used in pocket Dial jump-free 
changes of parameters become true provided that some requirements
are met. To realize jump-free changes there are 2 fundamental 
solutions:

1. Pocket Dial transmits  Increment / Decrement Data

In this case Pocket Dial does not "know" the absolute value of the 
parameter but transmits only the information data increment
(abbreviation: inc) or data decrement (abbreviation: dec). 
Unfortunately there is no MIDI message available "increase data of 
MIDI Controller
XX" or "decrease data of MIDI Controller XX". There is only a general 
Data increment (Controller #96 decimal, resp. #60 hexadecimal) and
Data decrement message (Controller #97 decimal, resp. #61 hexadecimal) 
available. The third byte of these messages is - as  far as we
know - not used so far. In the MIDI spec we found no statement 
concerning this byte. Remember: each MIDI control change message
consists of 3 bytes. We want to solve this problem by "hiding" the 
controller number, to which the inc/dec is related to, in the third 
byte of
these messages. This modified inc/dec messages would enable to 
increase or decrease the value of a specific MIDI controller. We hope
that other companies will agree to this proposal and adjust their 
software/hardware to this amendment of the MIDI Data
increment/decrement message (controller #96/97).

The "new" MIDI messages are:

     Controller Increment: BnH 60H xxH
     Controller Decrement: BnH 61H xxH

with n = MIDI channel (0...F) and xx = MIDI Controller No (00...77H, 
78H...7FH is reserved for Channel Mode Messages). H means
hexadezimal values.

2. Pocket Dial transmits absolute data

In this case Pocket Dial transmits absolute MIDI Control change data. 
After a program change of the device controlled by Pocket Dial
parameter jumps will occur.

Example: The value for filter frequency was 95 for the "old" 
program/sound and is 23 for the "new" program/sound. If one operates 
the
control for this parameter there will be a jump to 94 or 96 depending 
if the control was operated up or down.

This problem can be solved if the device controlled by Pocket Dial 
outputs the new values (i.e. MIDI control changes) for all parameters
after a program/sound change. Pocket Dial receives these values and 
uses them as new starting values.

Example: The value for filter frequency was 95 for the "old" 
program/sound and is 23 for the "new" program/sound. After the
program/sound change the device controlled by Pocket Dial outputs the 
new value 23 for this parameter. Pocket Dial receives this new
value and uses it as the new start value. If one operates the control 
for this parameter Pocket Dial will transmit 24 or 22 depending if the
control was operated up or down. This means that there is no parameter 
jump as the data transition is 23 -> 24 or 23 -> 22.

But it is essential for this type of control that the device 
controlled by Pocket Dial transmits the new MIDI controller data after 
a program/sound change. Pocket Dial will receive these data and check 
out if one of the controller numbers assigned to the 16 encoders 
matches with one of these controller numbers. If this applies the 
controller data value will be used as the new starting data for this
controller (of course the MIDI channel has to be the same too). Pocket 
Dial and the device controlled by Pocket Dial have to be connected
via MIDI in both directions:

     MIDI Out of Pocket Dial -> MIDI In of the device controlled by 
Pocket Dial
     MIDIOut of the device controlled by Pocket Dial -> MIDI In of 
Pocket Dial



I know, thats a lot to read. Will this device be compatible with the 
Command Stations?

Thank in advance for your reply,

Beat Rebel

I wish the XX-7's had this functionality to begin with.  Guessing what 
your values and volumes are is a pain.

rEalm



Thanks to the endless rotary encoders used in pocket Dial jump-free 
changes of parameters become true provided that some requirements
are met. To realize jump-free changes there are 2 fundamental 
solutions:

--- beat_rebel <beat_rebel@...> wrote:
> So here's a question for Sean or Arron:
> I've got my eye on the Doepfer Pocket Dial.
>
> 1. Pocket Dial transmits  Increment / Decrement Data

This method won't work unless you're trying to control some other gear
that responds to data inc/dec.  The sequencer will record it and play
it back, but it won't have any effect on the XL-7's internal synth.


> 2. Pocket Dial transmits absolute data

This will work, but to avoid jumps, you'll have to connect one of the
XL-7's MIDI outs to the Doepfer.  Your XL-7 MIDI setup will be as
follows:

1 - Rechannelize off (unless you're only trying to control one
    channel at a time, in which case you want it set to "always").
2 - Merge MIDI In to Out A (or B; whichever output goes to the
Doepfer).
3 - Knobs transmit MIDI on.

When you change presets, however, the Doepfer won't pick up the
presets' initial controller values, and therefore won't be "in sync"
with the new values and will jump.

What parameters were you planning on controlling?

-Aaron

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--- In xl7@y..., Aaron <synthesis77@y...> wrote:

> What parameters were you planning on controlling?
> -Aaron

For starters, volume on the B channels. They seem to be worthless to 
me un till I can control their levels in real time. That could be 
easliy fixed in an OS update ;)

After that, I'd set up others controls such as the scheme I mentioned 
earilier with the drum presets that change samples by RTXfade. I've 
already started doing that and while I still need to make some more 
tweeks, it's working out to be pretty cool. I know, I already have 16 
programable control knobs, but I'm greedy and if I had that Doepfer, 
with its 64 virtual knobs, I could easily afford to set up 16 
percussion channels and have a bank of 16 knobs to xfade the samples 
for each. And so on and so on. It sounds like it will work out. If 
there will only be a jump for preset changes(which I may not do all 
that often), then I may be able to set the Doepfer up to work around 
that.

Damn I sure babble....

Beat Rebel