Patches and discussion for Ensoniq VFX family

> help you can provide.
> 
> Thanks in advance,
> Ken

----- Original Message -----
From: "Alan" <alangino@...>
To: <Ensoniq-VFX-SD@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Thursday, January 20, 2005 11:10 AM
Subject: [Ensoniq-VFX-SD] Is It Live - Or Is It Memorex?





Enjoying the "What A Sequencing Mess" discussion and couldn't stand
just sitting there so I thought I would throw in my two-cent theory
in the mix with hopefully an interesting side-line topic so as not
to clutter Michael's discussion....

I think there are times as musicians when we tend to psychologically
fool ourselves and give ourselves some sort of "live" playing
credibility because we have a synthesizer unit and programmed
sequencer accompanying our "live" performances. I would think we
could all agree, however, that is one of the primary purposes for
the existence of synthesizers with on-board sequencers. It certainly
took our talent to create, arrange, play, and program the sequences,
but...once that is accomplished, we have nothing more than pre-
recorded keystrokes within designated patches initiating sounds or
music. There is no difference, bottom line, between that and a CD
player playing a pre-recorded piece of music during a "live"
performance. And getting to that word "psychologically" again, I do
definitely think that audience members would react very differently
if they knew you were using a CD player verses an on-board
sequencer. From their perspective, I think they would throw much,
much more scorn toward the CD player. But I also think that is
because they don't, for the most part, have a clue as to what a
sequencer is or what it is really doing anyway. So then...if and
when you come to terms with that, you can move on to what may or may
not be more reliable.

Let me first say with regard to my performing, I have been a "single
act" for most of my "live" performance career. There is considerable
difference between that and a band when it comes to equipment
failures such as those we are speaking about. I don't think that
anything can be more reliable, as Jay has previously mentioned in
the previous topic, than a CD player with pre-recorded material with
selection and playback as easy as hitting a button. I have owned my
VFX and SD1 for almost 15 years and dearly love them both but I
would never get on stage with the dependability of my performance
riding on either one of the units, especially the VFX. I have
experienced that failure a couple of times. That's my choice of
course. I use computer software to accomplish my sequencing these
days anyway so all my VFX and SD1 sequencers do is collect dust.
Although I no longer play live very often anymore, if I did I would
have to have a laptop accompanying me and all that goes with that
set-up or.....a CD player.

Someone might say..."Well why don't you just record the whole
performance and lip-sync it or whatever. "Well, unfortunately to the
demise of a "live" performance, you could do exactly that and some
folks out there do. And when you use sequencers or drum machines to
accompany your performance you are doing just that, just in a
limited way perhaps. You are going to hit a button on the sequencer
or drum machine and play the same sounds you would play if you hit a
button on a CD player containing your pre-recorded material. In both
cases "you" are not playing any of it at the time of your "live"
performance.

So therein lays the choice you have to make in my opinion. If you
think programmed sequencers playing during "live" performances is
different in the end than pre-recorded music playing on a CD player
during "live" performances, then you will have to put your trust in
the sequencer and all that goes with it. All things considered and
with a choice, it seems to me the CD player would be the more
reliable and the easiest to back-up.

Smiley Face - Smiley Face - Smiley Face,
Alan








Yahoo! Groups Links

-----Original Message-----
From: Michael C Lesko [mailto:MichaelL33@...] 
Sent: Thursday, January 20, 2005 5:40 PM
To: Ensoniq-VFX-SD@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [Ensoniq-VFX-SD] Is It Live - Or Is It Memorex?




Wow what an excellent point!  I agree myself.  There's something about a "CD
player" that gives me the willies.  I mean it is the same, if not better
than using a sequencer it's just I get chills up and down my spine when I
think of a song "skipping" like a CD player occassionaly does.  I would much
rather the whole thing just drop out in dead silence than have to stand
there like a deer caught in the headlights while a refrain of "Girls just
want to have fun" by Cindy Lauper plays over, and over, and over.

It's all just future shock.  Just like being in an elevator we put our lives
on the line with our technology.  Perhaps it's time to go low tech and start
hauling around pianos again., but then again even piano keys break.  Again I
think this all speaks to one of the thrills of playing out in front of a
bunch of people.  How borning it would be to know that nothing could ever go
wrong.  I have to think that it only adds to the excitement of the whole
thing.

Again I am looking into the CD player option.  Honestly my frustration lies
in the fact that I DO have a great laptop with some usefull programs in it,
it's just that I'm not completely aware of everything that is available on
the computer for live performances. I am looking for something that can
"Switch" everything, even perhaps load a sequence from one of my SD-1 disks
too, for each song.  Currently I go through a ballet at the end of each song
to press a button on my DX7II (if it's not already set up through my SD-1)
then jump over to my laptop to load in a sample, then scurry over to my SD-1
and load in my next song
(Whew!)  Somehow technology is causing me more work than creating added
benefits.

Any suggestions on software from all you seasoned pros out there?  Thanks
again for the great letter Alan!

Michael


----- Original Message -----
From: "Alan" <alangino@...>
To: <Ensoniq-VFX-SD@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Thursday, January 20, 2005 11:10 AM
Subject: [Ensoniq-VFX-SD] Is It Live - Or Is It Memorex?





Enjoying the "What A Sequencing Mess" discussion and couldn't stand just
sitting there so I thought I would throw in my two-cent theory in the mix
with hopefully an interesting side-line topic so as not to clutter Michael's
discussion....

I think there are times as musicians when we tend to psychologically fool
ourselves and give ourselves some sort of "live" playing credibility because
we have a synthesizer unit and programmed sequencer accompanying our "live"
performances. I would think we could all agree, however, that is one of the
primary purposes for the existence of synthesizers with on-board sequencers.
It certainly took our talent to create, arrange, play, and program the
sequences, but...once that is accomplished, we have nothing more than pre-
recorded keystrokes within designated patches initiating sounds or music.
There is no difference, bottom line, between that and a CD player playing a
pre-recorded piece of music during a "live" performance. And getting to that
word "psychologically" again, I do definitely think that audience members
would react very differently if they knew you were using a CD player verses
an on-board sequencer. From their perspective, I think they would throw
much, much more scorn toward the CD player. But I also think that is because
they don't, for the most part, have a clue as to what a sequencer is or what
it is really doing anyway. So then...if and when you come to terms with
that, you can move on to what may or may not be more reliable.

Let me first say with regard to my performing, I have been a "single act"
for most of my "live" performance career. There is considerable difference
between that and a band when it comes to equipment failures such as those we
are speaking about. I don't think that anything can be more reliable, as Jay
has previously mentioned in the previous topic, than a CD player with
pre-recorded material with selection and playback as easy as hitting a
button. I have owned my VFX and SD1 for almost 15 years and dearly love them
both but I would never get on stage with the dependability of my performance
riding on either one of the units, especially the VFX. I have experienced
that failure a couple of times. That's my choice of course. I use computer
software to accomplish my sequencing these days anyway so all my VFX and SD1
sequencers do is collect dust. Although I no longer play live very often
anymore, if I did I would have to have a laptop accompanying me and all that
goes with that set-up or.....a CD player.

Someone might say..."Well why don't you just record the whole performance
and lip-sync it or whatever. "Well, unfortunately to the demise of a "live"
performance, you could do exactly that and some folks out there do. And when
you use sequencers or drum machines to accompany your performance you are
doing just that, just in a limited way perhaps. You are going to hit a
button on the sequencer or drum machine and play the same sounds you would
play if you hit a button on a CD player containing your pre-recorded
material. In both cases "you" are not playing any of it at the time of your
"live" performance.

So therein lays the choice you have to make in my opinion. If you think
programmed sequencers playing during "live" performances is different in the
end than pre-recorded music playing on a CD player during "live"
performances, then you will have to put your trust in the sequencer and all
that goes with it. All things considered and with a choice, it seems to me
the CD player would be the more reliable and the easiest to back-up.

Smiley Face - Smiley Face - Smiley Face,
Alan








Yahoo! Groups Links










 
Yahoo! Groups Links

On Jan 21, 2005, at 9:12 AM, Rodney Mcdonald wrote:

> Murphy's Law - if things can go wrong, it will!
>
> If skipping is a concern, use an iPod!  More and more, I'm seeing 
> these performers with a Pod XT, a speaker, and an iPod.  A little 
> goofy looking, but hey, it's a paying gig!  I think it will be fine in 
> a band surrounding - just make sure the drummer can 'hear' the track 
> so they'll get the timing - same with your midi tracks.
>
> Don't be so concerned with the technology - just don't do an "Ashley 
> Simpson", and blame your drummer and reflux.  Although, the crowd may 
> get a good laugh!  ...or maybe a different set list, too!  ;o) 
>
>  It happens to pro's, too!  I've seen ZZ Top, stop in mid song, and 
> pick right back up, due to a broken string.  I've seen Edward Van 
> Halen botch solo's, and he was like 'Oh well'.  It is part of the 
> fun!  Jack White from the white stripes said "I find it interesting 
> that a performance can fall apart at any moment" as he plays his 
> Montgomery Ward guitar.  I thought this was a cool approach.
>
> We use Cakewalk Sonar 4 - sign up for a clinic next time and you'll 
> get a great discount.
>
> These programs and v-synths have come a long way! 
>
>  That's my 3 cents!
> Rodney
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Michael C Lesko [mailto:MichaelL33@...]
> Sent: Thursday, January 20, 2005 5:40 PM
> To: Ensoniq-VFX-SD@yahoogroups.com
> Subject: Re: [Ensoniq-VFX-SD] Is It Live - Or Is It Memorex?
>
>
>
>
>
> Wow what an excellent point!  I agree myself.  There's something about 
> a "CD player" that gives me the willies.  I mean it is the same, if 
> not better than using a sequencer it's just I get chills up and down 
> my spine when I think of a song "skipping" like a CD player 
> occassionaly does.  I would much rather the whole thing just drop out 
> in dead silence than have to stand there like a deer caught in the 
> headlights while a refrain of "Girls just want to have fun" by Cindy 
> Lauper plays over, and over, and over.
>
> It's all just future shock.  Just like being in an elevator we put our 
> lives on the line with our technology.  Perhaps it's time to go low 
> tech and start hauling around pianos again., but then again even piano 
> keys break.  Again I think this all speaks to one of the thrills of 
> playing out in front of a bunch of people.  How borning it would be to 
> know that nothing could ever go wrong.  I have to think that it only 
> adds to the excitement of the whole thing.
>
> Again I am looking into the CD player option.  Honestly my frustration 
> lies in the fact that I DO have a great laptop with some usefull 
> programs in it, it's just that I'm not completely aware of everything 
> that is available on the computer for live performances. I am looking 
> for something that can "Switch" everything, even perhaps load a 
> sequence from one of my SD-1 disks too, for each song.  Currently I go 
> through a ballet at the end of each song to press a button on my DX7II 
> (if it's not already set up through my SD-1) then jump over to my 
> laptop to load in a sample, then scurry over to my SD-1 and load in my 
> next song
>
> (Whew!)  Somehow technology is causing me more work than creating 
> added benefits.
>
> Any suggestions on software from all you seasoned pros out there?  
> Thanks again for the great letter Alan!
>
> Michael
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Alan" <alangino@...>
> To: <Ensoniq-VFX-SD@yahoogroups.com>
> Sent: Thursday, January 20, 2005 11:10 AM
> Subject: [Ensoniq-VFX-SD] Is It Live - Or Is It Memorex?
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Enjoying the "What A Sequencing Mess" discussion and couldn't stand 
> just sitting there so I thought I would throw in my two-cent theory in 
> the mix with hopefully an interesting side-line topic so as not to 
> clutter Michael's discussion....
>
> I think there are times as musicians when we tend to psychologically 
> fool ourselves and give ourselves some sort of "live" playing 
> credibility because we have a synthesizer unit and programmed 
> sequencer accompanying our "live" performances. I would think we could 
> all agree, however, that is one of the primary purposes for the 
> existence of synthesizers with on-board sequencers. It certainly took 
> our talent to create, arrange, play, and program the sequences, 
> but...once that is accomplished, we have nothing more than pre- 
> recorded keystrokes within designated patches initiating sounds or 
> music. There is no difference, bottom line, between that and a CD 
> player playing a pre-recorded piece of music during a "live" 
> performance. And getting to that word "psychologically" again, I do 
> definitely think that audience members would react very differently if 
> they knew you were using a CD player verses an on-board sequencer. 
> From their persp ective, I think they would throw much, much more 
> scorn toward the CD player. But I also think that is because they 
> don't, for the most part, have a clue as to what a sequencer is or 
> what it is really doing anyway. So then...if and when you come to 
> terms with that, you can move on to what may or may not be more 
> reliable.
>
> Let me first say with regard to my performing, I have been a "single 
> act" for most of my "live" performance career. There is considerable 
> difference between that and a band when it comes to equipment failures 
> such as those we are speaking about. I don't think that anything can 
> be more reliable, as Jay has previously mentioned in the previous 
> topic, than a CD player with pre-recorded material with selection and 
> playback as easy as hitting a button. I have owned my VFX and SD1 for 
> almost 15 years and dearly love them both but I would never get on 
> stage with the dependability of my performance riding on either one of 
> the units, especially the VFX. I have experienced that failure a 
> couple of times. That's my choice of course. I use computer software 
> to accomplish my sequencing these days anyway so all my VFX and SD1 
> sequencers do is collect dust. Although I no longer play live very 
> often anymore, if I did I would have to have a laptop accompanying me 
> a nd all that goes with that set-up or.....a CD player.
>
> Someone might say..."Well why don't you just record the whole 
> performance and lip-sync it or whatever. "Well, unfortunately to the 
> demise of a "live" performance, you could do exactly that and some 
> folks out there do. And when you use sequencers or drum machines to 
> accompany your performance you are doing just that, just in a limited 
> way perhaps. You are going to hit a button on the sequencer or drum 
> machine and play the same sounds you would play if you hit a button on 
> a CD player containing your pre-recorded material. In both cases "you" 
> are not playing any of it at the time of your "live" performance.
>
> So therein lays the choice you have to make in my opinion. If you 
> think programmed sequencers playing during "live" performances is 
> different in the end than pre-recorded music playing on a CD player 
> during "live" performances, then you will have to put your trust in 
> the sequencer and all that goes with it. All things considered and 
> with a choice, it seems to me the CD player would be the more reliable 
> and the easiest to back-up.
>
> Smiley Face - Smiley Face - Smiley Face,
> Alan
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>   
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>  
>
>
>
>
>
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
> 	• 	To visit your group on the web, go to:
> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Ensoniq-VFX-SD/
>  
> 	• 	 To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
> Ensoniq-VFX-SD-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
>  
> 	• 	 Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of 
> Service.
>
>

----- Original Message -----

From: Rodney Mcdonald

To: Ensoniq-VFX-SD@yahoogroups.com

Sent: Friday, January 21, 2005 9:12 AM

Subject: RE: [Ensoniq-VFX-SD] Is It Live - Or Is It Memorex?

Murphy's Law - if things can go wrong, it will!

If skipping is a concern, use an iPod! More and more, I'm seeing these performers with a Pod XT, a speaker, and an iPod. A little goofy looking, but hey, it's a paying gig! I think it will be fine in a band surrounding - just make sure the drummer can 'hear' the track so they'll get the timing - same with your midi tracks.

Don't be so concerned with the technology - just don't do an "Ashley Simpson", and blame your drummer and reflux. Although, the crowd may get a good laugh! ...or maybe a different set list, too! ;o)

It happens to pro's, too! I've seen ZZ Top, stop in mid song, and pick right back up, due to a broken string. I've seen Edward Van Halen botch solo's, and he was like 'Oh well'. It is part of the fun! Jack White from the white stripes said "I find it interesting that a performance can fall apart at any moment" as he plays his Montgomery Ward guitar. I thought this was a cool approach.

We use Cakewalk Sonar 4 - sign up for a clinic next time and you'll get a great discount.

These programs and v-synths have come a long way!

That's my 3 cents!
Rodney

-----Original Message-----
From: Michael C Lesko [mailto:MichaelL33@...]
Sent: Thursday, January 20, 2005 5:40 PM
To: Ensoniq-VFX-SD@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [Ensoniq-VFX-SD] Is It Live - Or Is It Memorex?

Wow what an excellent point! I agree myself. There's something about a "CD player" that gives me the willies. I mean it is the same, if not better than using a sequencer it's just I get chills up and down my spine when I think of a song "skipping" like a CD player occassionaly does. I would much rather the whole thing just drop out in dead silence than have to stand there like a deer caught in the headlights while a refrain of "Girls just want to have fun" by Cindy Lauper plays over, and over, and over.

It's all just future shock. Just like being in an elevator we put our lives on the line with our technology. Perhaps it's time to go low tech and start hauling around pianos again., but then again even piano keys break. Again I think this all speaks to one of the thrills of playing out in front of a bunch of people. How borning it would be to know that nothing could ever go wrong. I have to think that it only adds to the excitement of the whole thing.

Again I am looking into the CD player option. Honestly my frustration lies in the fact that I DO have a great laptop with some usefull programs in it, it's just that I'm not completely aware of everything that is available on the computer for live performances. I am looking for something that can "Switch" everything, even perhaps load a sequence from one of my SD-1 disks too, for each song. Currently I go through a ballet at the end of each song to press a button on my DX7II (if it's not already set up through my SD-1) then jump over to my laptop to load in a sample, then scurry over to my SD-1 and load in my next song

(Whew!) Somehow technology is causing me more work than creating added benefits.

Any suggestions on software from all you seasoned pros out there? Thanks again for the great letter Alan!

Michael

----- Original Message -----
From: "Alan"
To:
Sent: Thursday, January 20, 2005 11:10 AM
Subject: [Ensoniq-VFX-SD] Is It Live - Or Is It Memorex?

Enjoying the "What A Sequencing Mess" discussion and couldn't stand just sitting there so I thought I would throw in my two-cent theory in the mix with hopefully an interesting side-line topic so as not to clutter Michael's discussion....

I think there are times as musicians when we tend to psychologically fool ourselves and give ourselves some sort of "live" playing credibility because we have a synthesizer unit and programmed sequencer accompanying our "live" performances. I would think we could all agree, however, that is one of the primary purposes for the existence of synthesizers with on-board sequencers. It certainly took our talent to create, arrange, play, and program the sequences, but...once that is accomplished, we have nothing more than pre- recorded keystrokes within designated patches initiating sounds or music. There is no difference, bottom line, between that and a CD player playing a pre-recorded piece of music during a "live" performance. And getting to that word "psychologically" again, I do definitely think that audience members would react very differently if they knew you were using a CD player verses an on-board sequencer. From th! eir perspective, I think they would throw much, much more scorn toward the CD player. But I also think that is because they don't, for the most part, have a clue as to what a sequencer is or what it is really doing anyway. So then...if and when you come to terms with that, you can move on to what may or may not be more reliable.

Let me first say with regard to my performing, I have been a "single act" for most of my "live" performance career. There is considerable difference between that and a band when it comes to equipment failures such as those we are speaking about. I don't think that anything can be more reliable, as Jay has previously mentioned in the previous topic, than a CD player with pre-recorded material with selection and playback as easy as hitting a button. I have owned my VFX and SD1 for almost 15 years and dearly love them both but I would never get on stage with the dependability of my performance riding on either one of the units, especially the VFX. I have experienced that failure a couple of times. That's my choice of course. I use computer software to accomplish my sequencing these days anyway so all my VFX and SD1 sequencers do is collect dust. Although I no longer play live very often anymore, if I did I would have to have a laptop accompan! ying me and all that goes with that set-up or.....a CD player.

Someone might say..."Well why don't you just record the whole performance and lip-sync it or whatever. "Well, unfortunately to the demise of a "live" performance, you could do exactly that and some folks out there do. And when you use sequencers or drum machines to accompany your performance you are doing just that, just in a limited way perhaps. You are going to hit a button on the sequencer or drum machine and play the same sounds you would play if you hit a button on a CD player containing your pre-recorded material. In both cases "you" are not playing any of it at the time of your "live" performance.

So therein lays the choice you have to make in my opinion. If you think programmed sequencers playing during "live" performances is different in the end than pre-recorded music playing on a CD player during "live" performances, then you will have to put your trust in the sequencer and all that goes with it. All things considered and with a choice, it seems to me the CD player would be the more reliable and the easiest to back-up.

Smiley Face - Smiley Face - Smiley Face,
Alan

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From: Kaltar

To: Ensoniq-VFX-SD@yahoogroups.com

Sent: Friday, January 21, 2005 12:30 PM

Subject: Re: [Ensoniq-VFX-SD] Is It Live - Or Is It Memorex?

Well, The Only Thing I Know Is that, Murphy's Law Is Applied At All Levels, And Is Unavoidable.

I Saw A Guy With An iBook In A Gig and He Did Start The Audio and Suddenly, Kernel Panic!

I Was In Mexico City A Year Ago, And I Went With Some Friends to See RUSH Performing That Same Day. The Power Went Down at Least 5 Times.
And The Mix Was So B ad I Couldnt Hear The Bass!!!!

I Was On A Gig And The Guitarist Broke A String. He Kept Playing. On The Same Song, the Drummer Let A Stick Slide Out Of His Hand While lifting It From The Snare... There It Goes Flying Away... We Kept Playing... On The Final Song, I Was On A Steinway Grand Piano. and The Sustain Pedal Came DOWN! With All The Other Pedals... The Piano Was Broken.

Once, When Playing, A Very Aggressive Composition, I Hit The Lower Keys Of A Grand Piano So Hard That, The Keys Didn't Break, But The Piano Leg Did. and All The Piano Came Down.

Murphy's Law Is Unbeatable. On Any Level.

I Would Suggest To Have The Sequencer Running, With 4 Cd Players On Sync at The Same Time... And One Running On Batteries, Other On AC,
Other On A Mouse Turning A Wheel, And Other On A Wind Propeller Thing... And Even Like That, Something Can Fail.

and You Know What??? thats The Beauty Of It!!!! Without Any Fear, It would Be So Boring!!!!


On Jan 21, 2005, at 9:12 AM, Rodney Mcdonald wrote:

Murphy's Law - if things can go wrong, it will!

If skipping is a concern, use an iPod! More and more, I'm seeing these performers with a Pod XT, a speaker, and an iPod. A little goofy looking, but hey, it's a paying gig! I think it will be fine in a band surrounding - just make sure the drummer can 'hear' the track so they'll get the timing - same with your midi tracks.

Don't be so concerned with the technology - just don't do an "Ashley Simpson", and blame your drummer and reflux. Although, the crowd may get a good laugh! ...or maybe a different set list, too! ;o)

It happens to pro's, too! I've seen ZZ Top, stop in mid song, and pick right back up, due to a broken string. I've seen Edward Van Halen botch solo's, and he was like 'Oh well'. It is part of the fun! Jack White from the white stripes said "I find it interesting that a performance can fall apart at any moment" as he plays his Montgomery Ward guitar. I thought this was a cool approach.

We use Cakewalk Sonar 4 - sign up for a clinic next time and you'll get a great discount.

These programs and v-synths have come a long way!

That's my 3 cents!
Rodney

-----Original Message-----
From: Michael C Lesko [mailto:MichaelL33@...]
Sent: Thursday, January 20, 2005 5:40 PM
To: Ensoniq-VFX-SD@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [Ensoniq-VFX-SD] Is It Live - Or Is It Memorex?





Wow what an excellent point! I agree myself. ; There's something about a "CD player" that gives me the willies. I mean it is the same, if not better than using a sequencer it's just I get chills up and down my spine when I think of a song "skipping" like a CD player occassionaly does. I would much rather the whole thing just drop out in dead silence than have to stand there like a deer caught in the headlights while a refrain of "Girls just want to have fun" by Cindy Lauper plays over, and over, and over.

It's all just future shock. Just like being in an elevator we put our lives on the line with our technology. Perhaps it's time to go low tech and start hauling around pianos again., but then again even piano keys break. Again I think this all speaks to one of the thrills of playing out in front of a bunch of people. How borning it would be to know that nothing could ever go wrong. I have to think that it only adds to the excitement of the whole thing.

Again I am looking into the CD player option. Honestly my frustration lies in the fact that I DO have a great laptop with some usefull programs in it, it's just that I'm not completely aware of everything that is available on the computer for live performances. I am looking for something that can "Switch" everything, even perhaps load a sequence from one of my SD-1 disks too, for each song. Currently I go through a ballet at the end of each song to press a button on my DX7II (if it's not already set up through my SD-1) then jump over to my laptop to load in a sample, then scurry over to my SD-1 and load in my next song

(Whew!) Somehow technology is causing me more work than creating added benefits.

Any suggestions on software from all you seasoned pros out there? Thanks again for the great letter Alan!

Michael



----- Original Message -----
From: "Alan"
To:
Sent: Thursday, January 20, 2005 11:10 AM
Subject: [Ensoniq-VFX-SD] Is It Live - Or Is It Memorex?






Enjoying the "What A Sequencing Mess" discussion and couldn't stand just sitting there so I thought I would throw in my two-cent theory in the mix with hopefully an interesting side-line topic so as not to clutter Michael's discussion....

I think there are times as musicians when we tend to psychologically fool ourselves and give ourselves some sort of "live" playing credibility because we have a synthesizer unit and programmed sequencer accompanying our "live" performances. I would think we could all agree, however, that is one of the primary purposes for the existence of synthesizers with on-board sequencers. It certainly took our talent to create, arrange, play, and program the sequences, but...once that is accomplished, we have nothing more than pre- recorded keystrokes within designated patches initiating sounds or music. There is no difference, bottom line, between that and a CD player playing a pre-recorded piece of music during a "live" performance. And getting to that word "psychologically" again, I do definitely think that audience members would react very differently if they knew you were using a CD player verses an on-board sequencer. From their persp ective, I think they would throw much, much more scorn toward the CD player. But I also think that is because they don't, for the most part, have a clue as to what a sequencer is or what it is really doing anyway. So then...if and when you come to terms with that, you can move on to what may or may not be more reliable.

Let me first say with regard to my performing, I have been a "single act" for most of my "live" performance career. There is considerable difference between that and a band when it comes to equipment failures such as those we are speaking about. I don't think that anything can be more reliable, as Jay has previously mentioned in the previous topic, than a CD player with pre-recorded material with selection and playback as easy as hitting a button. I have owned my VFX and SD1 for almost 15 years and dearly love them both but I would never get on stage with the dependability of my performance riding on either one of the units, especially the VFX. I have experienced that failure a couple of times. That's my choice of course. I use computer software to accomplish my sequencing these days anyway so all my VFX and SD1 sequencers do is collect dust. Although I no longer play live very often anymore, if I did I would have to have a laptop accompanying me a nd all that goes with that set-up or.....a CD player.

Someone might say..."Well why don't you just record the whole performance and lip-sync it or whatever. "Well, unfortunately to the demise of a "live" performance, you could do exactly that and some folks out there do. And when you use sequencers or drum machines to accompany your performance you are doing just that, just in a limited way perhaps. You are going to hit a button on the sequencer or drum machine and play the same sounds you would play if you hit a button on a CD player containing your pre-recorded material. In both cases "you" are not playing any of it at the time of your "live" performance.

So therein lays the choice you have to make in my opinion. If you think programmed sequencers playing during "live" performances is different in the end than pre-recorded music playing on a CD player during "live" performances, then you will have to put your trust in the sequencer and all that goes with it. All things considered and with a choice, it seems to me the CD player would be the more reliable and the easiest to back-up.

Smiley Face - Smiley Face - Smiley Face,
Alan









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----- Original Message -----
From: "Jay Barnes" <apdced34@...>
To: <Ensoniq-VFX-SD@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Friday, January 21, 2005 7:33 PM
Subject: [Ensoniq-VFX-SD] Re: Is It Live - Or Is It Memorex?




I was watching TV and caught Chuck Berrys performance when
he was being inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.  All
of a sudden he stopped playing and singing.  Then he started
again.  During a subsequent interview he said he forgot what
song he was playing.  So it's not always equipment we've bought
that fails us.  As an opening song, my buddy and I were playing
"Oh Pretty Woman" (Roy Orbison).  A song I'm very comfortable
with.  I screwed the opening guitar licks up so bad it was
unrecognizable.  Sometimes you gotta suck it up, recover, and
keep going.  I just kept hoping people were thinking that our
version was just really different.  hahaha
Jay

--- In Ensoniq-VFX-SD@yahoogroups.com, "Michael C Lesko"
<MichaelL33@p...> wrote:
> Whoa, a mouse turning a wheel powered CD player, now that's
an interesting idea!
>   ----- Original Message -----
>   From: Kaltar
>   To: Ensoniq-VFX-SD@yahoogroups.com
>   Sent: Friday, January 21, 2005 12:30 PM
>   Subject: Re: [Ensoniq-VFX-SD] Is It Live - Or Is It Memorex?
>
>
>   Well, The Only Thing I Know Is that, Murphy's Law Is Applied
At All Levels, And Is Unavoidable.
>
>   I Saw A Guy With An iBook In A Gig and He Did Start The
Audio and Suddenly, Kernel Panic!
>
>   I Was In Mexico City A Year Ago, And I Went With Some
Friends to See RUSH Performing That Same Day. The Power
Went Down at Least 5 Times.
>   And The Mix Was So B ad I Couldnt Hear The Bass!!!!
>
>   I Was On A Gig And The Guitarist Broke A String. He Kept
Playing. On The Same Song, the Drummer Let A Stick Slide Out
Of His Hand While lifting It From The Snare... There It Goes
Flying Away... We Kept Playing... On The Final Song, I Was On A
Steinway Grand Piano. and The Sustain Pedal Came DOWN!
With All The Other Pedals... The Piano Was Broken.
>
>   Once, When Playing, A Very Aggressive Composition, I Hit
The Lower Keys Of A Grand Piano So Hard That, The Keys Didn't
Break, But The Piano Leg Did. and All The Piano Came Down.
>
>   Murphy's Law Is Unbeatable. On Any Level.
>
>   I Would Suggest To Have The Sequencer Running, With 4 Cd
Players On Sync at The Same Time... And One Running On
Batteries, Other On AC,
>   Other On A Mouse Turning A Wheel, And Other On A Wind
Propeller Thing... And Even Like That, Something Can Fail.
>
>   and You Know What??? thats The Beauty Of It!!!! Without Any
Fear, It would Be So Boring!!!!
>
>
>   On Jan 21, 2005, at 9:12 AM, Rodney Mcdonald wrote:
>
>
>     Murphy's Law - if things can go wrong, it will!
>
>     If skipping is a concern, use an iPod!  More and more, I'm
seeing these performers with a Pod XT, a speaker, and an iPod.
A little goofy looking, but hey, it's a paying gig!  I think it will be fine
in a band surrounding - just make sure the drummer can 'hear'
the track so they'll get the timing - same with your midi tracks.
>
>     Don't be so concerned with the technology - just don't do an
"Ashley Simpson", and blame your drummer and reflux.
Although, the crowd may get a good laugh!  ...or maybe a
different set list, too!  ;o)
>
>     It happens to pro's, too!  I've seen ZZ Top, stop in mid song,
and pick right back up, due to a broken string.  I've seen Edward
Van Halen botch solo's, and he was like 'Oh well'.  It is part of the
fun!  Jack White from the white stripes said "I find it interesting
that a performance can fall apart at any moment" as he plays his
Montgomery Ward guitar.  I thought this was a cool approach.
>
>     We use Cakewalk Sonar 4 - sign up for a clinic next time and
you'll get a great discount.
>
>     These programs and v-synths have come a long way!
>
>     That's my 3 cents!
>     Rodney
>
>     -----Original Message-----
>     From: Michael C Lesko [mailto:MichaelL33@p...]
>     Sent: Thursday, January 20, 2005 5:40 PM
>     To: Ensoniq-VFX-SD@yahoogroups.com
>     Subject: Re: [Ensoniq-VFX-SD] Is It Live - Or Is It Memorex?
>
>
>
>
>
>     Wow what an excellent point!  I agree myself.  There's
something about a "CD player" that gives me the willies.  I mean
it is the same, if not better than using a sequencer it's just I get
chills up and down my spine when I think of a song "skipping"
like a CD player occassionaly does.  I would much rather the
whole thing just drop out in dead silence than have to stand
there like a deer caught in the headlights while a refrain of "Girls
just want to have fun" by Cindy Lauper plays over, and over, and
over.
>
>     It's all just future shock.  Just like being in an elevator we put
our lives on the line with our technology.  Perhaps it's time to go
low tech and start hauling around pianos again., but then again
even piano keys break.  Again I think this all speaks to one of the
thrills of playing out in front of a bunch of people.  How borning it
would be to know that nothing could ever go wrong.  I have to
think that it only adds to the excitement of the whole thing.
>
>     Again I am looking into the CD player option.  Honestly my
frustration lies in the fact that I DO have a great laptop with some
usefull programs in it, it's just that I'm not completely aware of
everything that is available on the computer for live
performances. I am looking for something that can "Switch"
everything, even perhaps load a sequence from one of my SD-1
disks too, for each song.  Currently I go through a ballet at the
end of each song to press a button on my DX7II (if it's not already
set up through my SD-1) then jump over to my laptop to load in a
sample, then scurry over to my SD-1 and load in my next song
>
>     (Whew!)  Somehow technology is causing me more work
than creating added benefits.
>
>     Any suggestions on software from all you seasoned pros out
there?  Thanks again for the great letter Alan!
>
>     Michael
>
>
>
>     ----- Original Message -----
>     From: "Alan" <alangino@s...>
>     To: <Ensoniq-VFX-SD@yahoogroups.com>
>     Sent: Thursday, January 20, 2005 11:10 AM
>     Subject: [Ensoniq-VFX-SD] Is It Live - Or Is It Memorex?
>
>
>
>
>
>
>     Enjoying the "What A Sequencing Mess" discussion and
couldn't stand just sitting there so I thought I would throw in my
two-cent theory in the mix with hopefully an interesting side-line
topic so as not to clutter Michael's discussion....
>
>     I think there are times as musicians when we tend to
psychologically fool ourselves and give ourselves some sort of
"live" playing credibility because we have a synthesizer unit and
programmed sequencer accompanying our "live" performances.
I would think we could all agree, however, that is one of the
primary purposes for the existence of synthesizers with on-board
sequencers. It certainly took our talent to create, arrange, play,
and program the sequences, but...once that is accomplished,
we have nothing more than pre- recorded keystrokes within
designated patches initiating sounds or music. There is no
difference, bottom line, between that and a CD player playing a
pre-recorded piece of music during a "live" performance. And
getting to that word "psychologically" again, I do definitely think
that audience members would react very differently if they knew
you were using a CD player verses an on-board sequencer.
From their persp ective, I think they would throw much, much
more scorn toward the CD player. But I also think that is because
they don't, for the most part, have a clue as to what a sequencer
is or what it is really doing anyway. So then...if and when you
come to terms with that, you can move on to what may or may not
be more reliable.
>
>     Let me first say with regard to my performing, I have been a
"single act" for most of my "live" performance career. There is
considerable difference between that and a band when it comes
to equipment failures such as those we are speaking about. I
don't think that anything can be more reliable, as Jay has
previously mentioned in the previous topic, than a CD player with
pre-recorded material with selection and playback as easy as
hitting a button. I have owned my VFX and SD1 for almost 15
years and dearly love them both but I would never get on stage
with the dependability of my performance riding on either one of
the units, especially the VFX. I have experienced that failure a
couple of times. That's my choice of course. I use computer
software to accomplish my sequencing these days anyway so all
my VFX and SD1 sequencers do is collect dust. Although I no
longer play live very often anymore, if I did I would have to have a
laptop accompanying me a nd all that goes with that set-up
or.....a CD player.
>
>     Someone might say..."Well why don't you just record the
whole performance and lip-sync it or whatever. "Well,
unfortunately to the demise of a "live" performance, you could do
exactly that and some folks out there do. And when you use
sequencers or drum machines to accompany your performance
you are doing just that, just in a limited way perhaps. You are
going to hit a button on the sequencer or drum machine and play
the same sounds you would play if you hit a button on a CD
player containing your pre-recorded material. In both cases "you"
are not playing any of it at the time of your "live" performance.
>
>     So therein lays the choice you have to make in my opinion. If
you think programmed sequencers playing during "live"
performances is different in the end than pre-recorded music
playing on a CD player during "live" performances, then you will
have to put your trust in the sequencer and all that goes with it.
All things considered and with a choice, it seems to me the CD
player would be the more reliable and the easiest to back-up.
>
>     Smiley Face - Smiley Face - Smiley Face,
>     Alan
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>     Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>     Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>     Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>     . To visit your group on the web, go to:
>     http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Ensoniq-VFX-SD/
>
>     . To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
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>
>     . Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms
of Service.







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From: "Jay Barnes" <apdced34@...>
To: <Ensoniq-VFX-SD@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Friday, January 21, 2005 10:19 PM
Subject: Re: [Ensoniq-VFX-SD] Re: Is It Live - Or Is It Memorex?


>
> These forums don't usually make me laugh out loud.
> This did.  Thanks.
> By the way.  How did the gig go after your initial
> flub?
> Jay
>
>
> --- Michael C Lesko <MichaelL33@...> wrote:
>
> > You know I did something like that at a gig once.  I
> > was young and our
> > womanizing guitarist only promoted the show to
> > school aged women.
> > Turned out we were starring out to a crowd of women,
> > no men, just a
> > club full of women.  I thought I had died and gone
> > to Venus.  Anyway
> > I was so nervous that I entirely goofed up the
> > opening keyboard line
> > of "These dreams" by Heart.  This was like one of
> > those nightmares
> > where you stand in front of everyone you've ever
> > known butt naked.
> >
> > A little aside from that.  Did you know that a club
> > full of women are
> > perfectly able and willing to party and dance
> > without any men around?
> > They probably won't need us for fertalization soon
> > either.
> >
> > Michael
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "Jay Barnes" <apdced34@...>
> > To: <Ensoniq-VFX-SD@yahoogroups.com>
> > Sent: Friday, January 21, 2005 7:33 PM
> > Subject: [Ensoniq-VFX-SD] Re: Is It Live - Or Is It
> > Memorex?
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > I was watching TV and caught Chuck Berrys
> > performance when
> > he was being inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of
> > Fame.  All
> > of a sudden he stopped playing and singing.  Then he
> > started
> > again.  During a subsequent interview he said he
> > forgot what
> > song he was playing.  So it's not always equipment
> > we've bought
> > that fails us.  As an opening song, my buddy and I
> > were playing
> > "Oh Pretty Woman" (Roy Orbison).  A song I'm very
> > comfortable
> > with.  I screwed the opening guitar licks up so bad
> > it was
> > unrecognizable.  Sometimes you gotta suck it up,
> > recover, and
> > keep going.  I just kept hoping people were thinking
> > that our
> > version was just really different.  hahaha
> > Jay
> >
> > --- In Ensoniq-VFX-SD@yahoogroups.com, "Michael C
> > Lesko"
> > <MichaelL33@p...> wrote:
> > > Whoa, a mouse turning a wheel powered CD player,
> > now that's
> > an interesting idea!
> > >   ----- Original Message -----
> > >   From: Kaltar
> > >   To: Ensoniq-VFX-SD@yahoogroups.com
> > >   Sent: Friday, January 21, 2005 12:30 PM
> > >   Subject: Re: [Ensoniq-VFX-SD] Is It Live - Or Is
> > It Memorex?
> > >
> > >
> > >   Well, The Only Thing I Know Is that, Murphy's
> > Law Is Applied
> > At All Levels, And Is Unavoidable.
> > >
> > >   I Saw A Guy With An iBook In A Gig and He Did
> > Start The
> > Audio and Suddenly, Kernel Panic!
> > >
> > >   I Was In Mexico City A Year Ago, And I Went With
> > Some
> > Friends to See RUSH Performing That Same Day. The
> > Power
> > Went Down at Least 5 Times.
> > >   And The Mix Was So B ad I Couldnt Hear The
> > Bass!!!!
> > >
> > >   I Was On A Gig And The Guitarist Broke A String.
> > He Kept
> > Playing. On The Same Song, the Drummer Let A Stick
> > Slide Out
> > Of His Hand While lifting It From The Snare... There
> > It Goes
> > Flying Away... We Kept Playing... On The Final Song,
> > I Was On A
> > Steinway Grand Piano. and The Sustain Pedal Came
> > DOWN!
> > With All The Other Pedals... The Piano Was Broken.
> > >
> > >   Once, When Playing, A Very Aggressive
> > Composition, I Hit
> > The Lower Keys Of A Grand Piano So Hard That, The
> > Keys Didn't
> > Break, But The Piano Leg Did. and All The Piano Came
> > Down.
> > >
> > >   Murphy's Law Is Unbeatable. On Any Level.
> > >
> > >   I Would Suggest To Have The Sequencer Running,
> > With 4 Cd
> > Players On Sync at The Same Time... And One Running
> > On
> > Batteries, Other On AC,
> > >   Other On A Mouse Turning A Wheel, And Other On A
> > Wind
> > Propeller Thing... And Even Like That, Something Can
> > Fail.
> > >
> > >   and You Know What??? thats The Beauty Of It!!!!
> > Without Any
> > Fear, It would Be So Boring!!!!
> > >
> > >
> > >   On Jan 21, 2005, at 9:12 AM, Rodney Mcdonald
> > wrote:
> > >
> > >
> > >     Murphy's Law - if things can go wrong, it
> > will!
> > >
> > >     If skipping is a concern, use an iPod!  More
> > and more, I'm
> > seeing these performers with a Pod XT, a speaker,
> > and an iPod.
> > A little goofy looking, but hey, it's a paying gig!
> > I think it will be fine
> > in a band surrounding - just make sure the drummer
> > can 'hear'
> > the track so they'll get the timing - same with your
> > midi tracks.
> > >
> > >     Don't be so concerned with the technology -
> > just don't do an
> > "Ashley Simpson", and blame your drummer and reflux.
> > Although, the crowd may get a good laugh!  ...or
> > maybe a
> > different set list, too!  ;o)
> > >
> > >     It happens to pro's, too!  I've seen ZZ Top,
> > stop in mid song,
> > and pick right back up, due to a broken string.
> > I've seen Edward
> > Van Halen botch solo's, and he was like 'Oh well'.
> > It is part of the
> > fun!  Jack White from the white stripes said "I find
> > it interesting
> > that a performance can fall apart at any moment" as
> > he plays his
> > Montgomery Ward guitar.  I thought this was a cool
> > approach.
> > >
> > >     We use Cakewalk Sonar 4 - sign up for a clinic
> > next time and
> > you'll get a great discount.
> > >
> > >     These programs and v-synths have come a long
> > way!
> > >
> > >     That's my 3 cents!
> > >     Rodney
> > >
> > >     -----Original Message-----
> > >     From: Michael C Lesko [mailto:MichaelL33@p...]
> > >     Sent: Thursday, January 20, 2005 5:40 PM
> > >     To: Ensoniq-VFX-SD@yahoogroups.com
> > >     Subject: Re: [Ensoniq-VFX-SD] Is It Live - Or
> > Is It Memorex?
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >     Wow what an excellent point!  I agree myself.
> > There's
> > something about a "CD player" that gives me the
> > willies.  I mean
> > it is the same, if not better than using a sequencer
> > it's just I get
> > chills up and down my spine when I think of a song
> > "skipping"
> > like a CD player occassionaly does.  I would much
> > rather the
> > whole thing just drop out in dead silence than have
> > to stand
> > there like a deer caught in the headlights while a
> > refrain of "Girls
> > just want to have fun" by Cindy Lauper plays over,
> > and over, and
> > over.
> > >
> > >     It's all just future shock.  Just like being
> > in
> === message truncated ===
>
>
>
>
>
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----- Original Message -----

From: DLIII4president@...

To: Ensoniq-VFX-SD@yahoogroups.com

Sent: Monday, January 24, 2005 6:28 PM

Subject: Re: [Ensoniq-VFX-SD] Is It Live - Or Is It Memorex?

can anyone tell me where I can find a owners manual for my keyboard.. please


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