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2003-06-13 by Matt Picone
Hi folks Please read this post about the PX-7 from the Elektron MachineDrum forum and share your reactions. > i would prever an MPC2000XL > it uses the samples you want and akai > [has] much more sequencer-expierience than emu. -M@
2003-06-13 by erik_magrini@Baxter.com
You're comparing apples to oranges IMO. Yeah, the MPC let's you use your
own samples, but it's a sampler, the XX-7 is a synth. In terms of sounds,
there's plenty of ROMs you can add to the XX-7's should you need more. As
far as sequencers go, I won't lie. The MPC is way ahead of the XX-7's in
terms of sheer features and flexible editing, but the XX-7's are far more
intuitive and faster to work with IMO. I was debating both when I got my
XL-7, and ended up with the XL-7 because it was very fast to get my ideas
down, and you get a top of the line Emu synth to boot.
What are you looking to get the PX-7 for?
rEalm
"Matt Picone" <matman@...>
06/13/2003 08:31 AM
Please respond to xl7
To: xl7@yahoogroups.com
cc: Subject: [xl7] Comparison to Akai Hi folks Please read this post about the PX-7 from the Elektron MachineDrum forum and share your reactions. > i would prever an MPC2000XL > it uses the samples you want and akai > [has] much more sequencer-expierience than emu. -M@ To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: xl7-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
2003-06-13 by Matt Picone
> What are you looking to get the PX-7 for? > > rEalm OK, to answer the question, I'll freeform for awhile. Please keep in mind I DID read the FAQ but it's a lot to absorb. I'm looking for a good sequencer to facilitate live jamming using my many synths. I'd like to be able to lay down a loop (say 4 measures), play multiple layers on different outboard synths, then assign this pattern to a key or button. Repeat the process several times and then change sections on the fly, adjusting layers as needed to create variations. Have 3 or 4 live musicians jamming with this in realtime. Send midi clock to the guitar rig and other arp-synths and drum machines. The foot pedal to tap-tempo feature is very important to me. The arp capabilities sound like a great plus. Even though they aren't polyphonic per se, it sounds like they can be stacked, right? Will they trigger external gear (arp out)? Another interesting use will be to develop a control track to send CC messages to a few older units which sync to tap but not clock. Layers of CC messages on multiple channels. Being able to save groups of patterns to be triggered by single notes on a keyboard would be nice too. -M@
2003-06-13 by biz
> >The arp capabilities sound like a great plus. Even though they aren't >polyphonic per se, it sounds like they can be stacked, right? Will they >trigger external gear (arp out)? > YMMV, but I found the arps sectin on the emu series to be thoroughly useless, unless you are interested in living through other people's musical ideas. They are more on the lines of melodies and solos in loop format than usable arpegiations. Programming your own is too time consuming to make it worth it. >Another interesting use will be to develop a control track to send CC >messages to a few older units which sync to tap but not clock. Layers of >CC messages on multiple channels. I have a 'synch track' on my xl-7. I use to keep pitch shifters and time shifters in key, and send out PCs to other gear. >Being able to save groups of patterns to be triggered by single notes on >a keyboard would be nice too. Can't do that I'm afraid... bIz ------------ http://www.groovetronica.com - "The beats are ok, I suppose, but the vocals sound like the vintage jazz singers from my dad's record collection. It's not for me." ------------
----- Original Message -----
From: Matt Picone
To: xl7@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Friday, June 13, 2003 7:41 AM
Subject: [xl7] Why Command?
> What are you looking to get the PX-7 for?
>
> rEalm
OK, to answer the question, I'll freeform for awhile. Please keep in
mind I DID read the FAQ but it's a lot to absorb.
I'm looking for a good sequencer to facilitate live jamming using my
many synths.
I'd like to be able to lay down a loop (say 4 measures), play multiple
layers on different outboard synths, then assign this pattern to a key
or button. Repeat the process several times and then change sections on
the fly, adjusting layers as needed to create variations. Have 3 or 4
live musicians jamming with this in realtime. Send midi clock to the
guitar rig and other arp-synths and drum machines.
The foot pedal to tap-tempo feature is very important to me.
The arp capabilities sound like a great plus. Even though they aren't
polyphonic per se, it sounds like they can be stacked, right? Will they
trigger external gear (arp out)?
Another interesting use will be to develop a control track to send CC
messages to a few older units which sync to tap but not clock. Layers of
CC messages on multiple channels.
Being able to save groups of patterns to be triggered by single notes on
a keyboard would be nice too.
-M@
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[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]2003-06-13 by aeon
On 6/13/03 10:55 AM, "biz" <biz@...> wrote: >> The arp capabilities sound like a great plus. Even though they aren't >> polyphonic per se, it sounds like they can be stacked, right? Will they >> trigger external gear (arp out)? > YMMV, but I found the arps sectin on the emu series to be thoroughly useless, > unless you are interested in living through other people's musical ideas. They > are more on the lines of melodies and solos in loop format than usable > arpegiations. > > Programming your own is too time consuming to make it worth it. On the first point, it is true that if you want "regular" arps, then you need to use something other than pattern mode. As to the second, I agree if you are programming from the front panel. Editing the arps on my XL-1 with SoundDiver works OK, but it is still work. According to the SD developers, E-mu has not given them the information needed to create a proper Command Station editor, which is a damn shame. sigh, aeon
2003-06-13 by biz
bIz >On the first point, it is true that if you want "regular" arps, then you >need to use something other than pattern mode. Could you explain? I think I'm missing your suggestion. bIz ------------ http://www.groovetronica.com - "The beats are ok, I suppose, but the vocals sound like the vintage jazz singers from my dad's record collection. It's not for me." ------------
----- Original Message -----
From: aeon
To: xl7@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Friday, June 13, 2003 1:58 PM
Subject: Re: [xl7] Why Command?
On 6/13/03 10:55 AM, "biz" <biz@...> wrote:
>> The arp capabilities sound like a great plus. Even though they aren't
>> polyphonic per se, it sounds like they can be stacked, right? Will they
>> trigger external gear (arp out)?
> YMMV, but I found the arps sectin on the emu series to be thoroughly useless,
> unless you are interested in living through other people's musical ideas. They
> are more on the lines of melodies and solos in loop format than usable
> arpegiations.
>
> Programming your own is too time consuming to make it worth it.
On the first point, it is true that if you want "regular" arps, then you
need to use something other than pattern mode.
As to the second, I agree if you are programming from the front panel.
Editing the arps on my XL-1 with SoundDiver works OK, but it is still work.
According to the SD developers, E-mu has not given them the information
needed to create a proper Command Station editor, which is a damn shame.
sigh,
aeon
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[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]2003-06-13 by aeon
On 6/13/03 5:01 PM, "biz" <biz@...> wrote: >> On the first point, it is true that if you want "regular" arps, then you >> need to use something other than pattern mode. > > Could you explain? I think I'm missing your suggestion. one of the arp modes is "pattern," and this is what gives you all the "loop-based" arps... the arp also has other modes that are like vintage synths in that you have up, random, etc. that said, even with the "preset loop" arps, you can get a lot of mileage out of them with the use of the extension modes and speed settings, not to mention some massaging in your sequencer of choice. ;) cheers, aeon
2003-06-13 by Matt Picone
> cheers, > aeon Geez Aeon. You're EVERYWHERE. :)) -M@
2003-06-14 by Bruddah Max
aeon wrote: >> YMMV, but I found the arps sectin on the emu series to be thoroughly useless, >> unless you are interested in living through other people's musical ideas. >> They >> are more on the lines of melodies and solos in loop format than usable >> arpegiations. >> >> Programming your own is too time consuming to make it worth it. > > On the first point, it is true that if you want "regular" arps, then you > need to use something other than pattern mode. > > As to the second, I agree if you are programming from the front panel. > Editing the arps on my XL-1 with SoundDiver works OK, but it is still work. > > According to the SD developers, E-mu has not given them the information > needed to create a proper Command Station editor, which is a damn shame. aw, poot, that's what Michael Hadyn and folks have always said about modules that are long in coming. they still haven't done a Motif editor either - if they can make an EX5 editor, they can make one for the Motif. anyhoo back on subject my SoundDiver shows a rack module for the XL-7 and will download the patches and arps, but nothing else. hmmm. what i'm wondering is if MOTU Unisyn 2.0's XL-7 editor is up to snuff. i use Digital Performer 3.x these days, and Unisyn now supports all of my synths, at least on paper. the integration between DP and Unisyn is sublime, Logic/SoundDiver can only dream of approaching it. so - anyone have any experience using the XL-7 or similar editor in Unisyn? -- Bruddah Max Lord of the Dance
2003-06-15 by robotchas
--- In xl7@yahoogroups.com, "Matt Picone" <matman@m...> wrote: > I'm looking for a good sequencer to facilitate live jamming using my > many synths. I think live performance is where the XL, er, excels (sorry). > I'd like to be able to lay down a loop (say 4 measures), play multiple > layers on different outboard synths, then assign this pattern to a key > or button. The XL-7 can drop in and out of record (grid or realtime) at any point without interrupting playback. This is one of its best features. As for the second part you could then assign the pattern to one of the triggers using the Direct Pattern Access feature (see 2.0 manual addendum), which would enable you to queue the pattern from the front panel (using an external keyboard is something I've suggested but is currently not possible). You can erase tracks and save patterns on the fly too. > Repeat the process several times and then change sections on > the fly, adjusting layers as needed to create variations. Direct Pattern Access and muting. You can also force-switch to the queued pattern. > Send midi clock to the > guitar rig and other arp-synths and drum machines. Two MIDI outs should improve timing on the external synths. > The arp capabilities sound like a great plus. Even though they aren't > polyphonic per se, it sounds like they can be stacked, right? Will they > trigger external gear (arp out)? They can be triggered by an external keyboard and/or play external gear. You only get one arp per channel though, so to stack them you'd have to play a note on multiple channels at the same time. There may be a workaround but I can't think of one at the moment. And don't forget XMIX. > Another interesting use will be to develop a control track to send CC > messages to a few older units which sync to tap but not clock. Layers of > CC messages on multiple channels. Do-able, though you may find it easier to set this up on a software sequencer and then transfer it to the XL. > Being able to save groups of patterns to be triggered by single notes on > a keyboard would be nice too. Each Multisetup saves a set of 16 pattern->trigger assignments, and these can be switched on the fly too (watch out for preset and effects changes though). External keyboard not possible as I've already mentioned. You ask about the MPC in another post. The sampling is certainly nice, at least for drums, and the sequencer is solid (Roger Linn designed it), but there are still some areas where the XL is better, particularly for live performance: the MPC has no TR-909-style grid edit/record mode, no dedicated mute buttons, no arpeggiator, no RPS, and no equivalent to XMIX. In my opinion it makes more sense as a studio tool for people who don't like using software, and judging by the MPC-4000, which is basically a proprietary computer, Akai agrees with me. But then, I'm an MPC heretic, I think it's overrated and overpriced.
2003-06-16 by biz
> > > > According to the SD developers, E-mu has not given them the > > information > needed to create a proper Command Station editor, which > > is a damn shame. > > > > aw, poot, that's what Michael Hadyn and folks have always said about > > modules that are long in coming. they still haven't done a Motif editor > > either - if they can make an EX5 editor, they can make one for the > > Motif. > > > > anyhoo back on subject my SoundDiver shows a rack module for the XL-7 > > and will download the patches and arps, but nothing else. hmmm. > > > What does midiquest do? Anyone tried it?
> > >