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Ensoniq Sequencers, Pt.2

Ensoniq Sequencers, Pt.2

2011-03-22 by somethingkillingyou

hi folks, 

last year I started a topic about Ensoniq's sequencers...
my point, at that time, was that the sequencers I was using were more than enough, and had more facilities, so my SD1's sequencer was pretty useless and so on...

a year passed by... a few days ago, I took the bull by its horns and 'forced' myself to use SD1's internal sequencer... 

I remembered that last year, I started by reading the manual, and I quickly got tired about it all...

this time, no manual reading! I just sit and managed to record some drums and bass patterns (I mean 'backing' tracks for a rock song, not drum & bass uh)... in a few minutes I was sequencing my first "song" on the SD1! I recorded in realtime, sometimes I used record overdub ("add") for the drum parts; also, I used quantization a lot because I was not used to record drums in realtime, after years of drumgrid sequencers use...

and I have to say, it's not that bad instead! it's whole logic is a bit different than what I was used to, but all in all it's not THAT hard to use... 
now I have to go give a good read to the fucking manual to better master the various functions, but I must recognize that it is worth the effort after all... 
I know there is a step sequencer in there too, and I can always use external arpeggiators and record their midi output in a SD1 track...
that way, the sequencer is going to be a real weapon! 
the trick is: don't limit the sequencer to it's own features, but use your other gear in tandem with it!

also, now I can finally use odd time measures (5/4, 7/8 and so on) and have different tempos for each part of the song... 
yes! the sequencer I used up to now (quasimidi raven and sirius) only let you choose tempo for the whole song, and the time measure is fixed in 4/4... once, to sequence a song that had a tempo change between the verse and the chorus, I had to use triplets a/o strange bar lenght... I don't even remember how I did it! that was insane... 

so, welcome SD1 sequencer!


Fabio

Re: [Ensoniq-VFX-SD] Ensoniq Sequencers, Pt.2

2011-03-22 by Rish

That's great news, I have been using my SD for many years with outboard gear. I never seq the drums on the SD as it easts lots of notes, instead I just slave a real drum machine and create the seq/songs drum parts on the drum machine.

R 

Sent from my iPod
Show quoted textHide quoted text
On Mar 22, 2011, at 10:58 AM, "somethingkillingyou" <somethingkillingyou@...> wrote:

> hi folks, 
> 
> last year I started a topic about Ensoniq's sequencers...
> my point, at that time, was that the sequencers I was using were more than enough, and had more facilities, so my SD1's sequencer was pretty useless and so on...
> 
> a year passed by... a few days ago, I took the bull by its horns and 'forced' myself to use SD1's internal sequencer... 
> 
> I remembered that last year, I started by reading the manual, and I quickly got tired about it all...
> 
> this time, no manual reading! I just sit and managed to record some drums and bass patterns (I mean 'backing' tracks for a rock song, not drum & bass uh)... in a few minutes I was sequencing my first "song" on the SD1! I recorded in realtime, sometimes I used record overdub ("add") for the drum parts; also, I used quantization a lot because I was not used to record drums in realtime, after years of drumgrid sequencers use...
> 
> and I have to say, it's not that bad instead! it's whole logic is a bit different than what I was used to, but all in all it's not THAT hard to use... 
> now I have to go give a good read to the fucking manual to better master the various functions, but I must recognize that it is worth the effort after all... 
> I know there is a step sequencer in there too, and I can always use external arpeggiators and record their midi output in a SD1 track...
> that way, the sequencer is going to be a real weapon! 
> the trick is: don't limit the sequencer to it's own features, but use your other gear in tandem with it!
> 
> also, now I can finally use odd time measures (5/4, 7/8 and so on) and have different tempos for each part of the song... 
> yes! the sequencer I used up to now (quasimidi raven and sirius) only let you choose tempo for the whole song, and the time measure is fixed in 4/4... once, to sequence a song that had a tempo change between the verse and the chorus, I had to use triplets a/o strange bar lenght... I don't even remember how I did it! that was insane... 
> 
> so, welcome SD1 sequencer!
> 
> Fabio
> 
>

Re: Ensoniq Sequencers, Pt.2

2011-03-22 by somethingkillingyou

oh yeah, you got to be creative with your gear! "in love and war there ain't no rules"... let's put music in too!

I still think some aspects of this sequencer are (a bit) counter-intuitive, anyway I don't think there are really "better" sequencers out there... 

I hate software sequencers with a passion, and I limit the use of the pc to recording, mixing and... web surfing... 
web surfing is surely bad when you spend too much time lusting for extra gear (the notorius Gear Acquisition Syndrome...)... 

...but it's good instead when you can talk with smart persons that can help you concentrate yourself on what you can do with YOUR gear and stop lusting for something that 99% of the time you don't even need!

Fabio

--- In Ensoniq-VFX-SD@yahoogroups.com, Rish <rish@...> wrote:
Show quoted textHide quoted text
>
> That's great news, I have been using my SD for many years with outboard gear. I never seq the drums on the SD as it easts lots of notes, instead I just slave a real drum machine and create the seq/songs drum parts on the drum machine.
> 
> R 
> 
> Sent from my iPod
> 
> On Mar 22, 2011, at 10:58 AM, "somethingkillingyou" <somethingkillingyou@...> wrote:
> 
> > hi folks, 
> > 
> > last year I started a topic about Ensoniq's sequencers...
> > my point, at that time, was that the sequencers I was using were more than enough, and had more facilities, so my SD1's sequencer was pretty useless and so on...
> > 
> > a year passed by... a few days ago, I took the bull by its horns and 'forced' myself to use SD1's internal sequencer... 
> > 
> > I remembered that last year, I started by reading the manual, and I quickly got tired about it all...
> > 
> > this time, no manual reading! I just sit and managed to record some drums and bass patterns (I mean 'backing' tracks for a rock song, not drum & bass uh)... in a few minutes I was sequencing my first "song" on the SD1! I recorded in realtime, sometimes I used record overdub ("add") for the drum parts; also, I used quantization a lot because I was not used to record drums in realtime, after years of drumgrid sequencers use...
> > 
> > and I have to say, it's not that bad instead! it's whole logic is a bit different than what I was used to, but all in all it's not THAT hard to use... 
> > now I have to go give a good read to the fucking manual to better master the various functions, but I must recognize that it is worth the effort after all... 
> > I know there is a step sequencer in there too, and I can always use external arpeggiators and record their midi output in a SD1 track...
> > that way, the sequencer is going to be a real weapon! 
> > the trick is: don't limit the sequencer to it's own features, but use your other gear in tandem with it!
> > 
> > also, now I can finally use odd time measures (5/4, 7/8 and so on) and have different tempos for each part of the song... 
> > yes! the sequencer I used up to now (quasimidi raven and sirius) only let you choose tempo for the whole song, and the time measure is fixed in 4/4... once, to sequence a song that had a tempo change between the verse and the chorus, I had to use triplets a/o strange bar lenght... I don't even remember how I did it! that was insane... 
> > 
> > so, welcome SD1 sequencer!
> > 
> > Fabio
> > 
> >
>

Re: [Ensoniq-VFX-SD] Re: Ensoniq Sequencers, Pt.2

2011-03-22 by Rish

Remember this industry is driven on making you believe that you "can't do it" if you don't have the newest synth, sampler, guitar, effects, mics and more. 

I think It's ok to be a gear whore as long as you set limits and keep your head.

What I have connected to my SD1:

2 Motu MTP ll midi networks.
Korg M3R
2 Yamaha TG500
Proteus FX
Roland D550
Roland JV1080
2 Akai S1000 samplers
Boss Dr 770 drum machine

R



Sent from my iPod
Show quoted textHide quoted text
On Mar 22, 2011, at 3:18 PM, "somethingkillingyou" <somethingkillingyou@...> wrote:

> oh yeah, you got to be creative with your gear! "in love and war there ain't no rules"... let's put music in too!
> 
> I still think some aspects of this sequencer are (a bit) counter-intuitive, anyway I don't think there are really "better" sequencers out there... 
> 
> I hate software sequencers with a passion, and I limit the use of the pc to recording, mixing and... web surfing... 
> web surfing is surely bad when you spend too much time lusting for extra gear (the notorius Gear Acquisition Syndrome...)... 
> 
> ...but it's good instead when you can talk with smart persons that can help you concentrate yourself on what you can do with YOUR gear and stop lusting for something that 99% of the time you don't even need!
> 
> Fabio
> 
> --- In Ensoniq-VFX-SD@yahoogroups.com, Rish <rish@...> wrote:
> >
> > That's great news, I have been using my SD for many years with outboard gear. I never seq the drums on the SD as it easts lots of notes, instead I just slave a real drum machine and create the seq/songs drum parts on the drum machine.
> > 
> > R 
> > 
> > Sent from my iPod
> > 
> > On Mar 22, 2011, at 10:58 AM, "somethingkillingyou" <somethingkillingyou@...> wrote:
> > 
> > > hi folks, 
> > > 
> > > last year I started a topic about Ensoniq's sequencers...
> > > my point, at that time, was that the sequencers I was using were more than enough, and had more facilities, so my SD1's sequencer was pretty useless and so on...
> > > 
> > > a year passed by... a few days ago, I took the bull by its horns and 'forced' myself to use SD1's internal sequencer... 
> > > 
> > > I remembered that last year, I started by reading the manual, and I quickly got tired about it all...
> > > 
> > > this time, no manual reading! I just sit and managed to record some drums and bass patterns (I mean 'backing' tracks for a rock song, not drum & bass uh)... in a few minutes I was sequencing my first "song" on the SD1! I recorded in realtime, sometimes I used record overdub ("add") for the drum parts; also, I used quantization a lot because I was not used to record drums in realtime, after years of drumgrid sequencers use...
> > > 
> > > and I have to say, it's not that bad instead! it's whole logic is a bit different than what I was used to, but all in all it's not THAT hard to use... 
> > > now I have to go give a good read to the fucking manual to better master the various functions, but I must recognize that it is worth the effort after all... 
> > > I know there is a step sequencer in there too, and I can always use external arpeggiators and record their midi output in a SD1 track...
> > > that way, the sequencer is going to be a real weapon! 
> > > the trick is: don't limit the sequencer to it's own features, but use your other gear in tandem with it!
> > > 
> > > also, now I can finally use odd time measures (5/4, 7/8 and so on) and have different tempos for each part of the song... 
> > > yes! the sequencer I used up to now (quasimidi raven and sirius) only let you choose tempo for the whole song, and the time measure is fixed in 4/4... once, to sequence a song that had a tempo change between the verse and the chorus, I had to use triplets a/o strange bar lenght... I don't even remember how I did it! that was insane... 
> > > 
> > > so, welcome SD1 sequencer!
> > > 
> > > Fabio
> > > 
> > >
> >
> 
>

RE: [Ensoniq-VFX-SD] Re: Ensoniq Sequencers, Pt.2

2011-03-22 by LarryS

Someone of my kind.
I think ALL my gear is from the same era of "obsolete but not yet vintage
collectible", just like yours
 
The industry is distraught at not making their money from me.  Even the
magazines don't.  
Probably, I'm the worst kind of musicion there is:  one who ignores the
opportunity for everyone else to make money from me.
 
L.


  _____  
Show quoted textHide quoted text
From: Ensoniq-VFX-SD@yahoogroups.com [mailto:Ensoniq-VFX-SD@yahoogroups.com]
On Behalf Of Rish
Sent: Tuesday, March 22, 2011 3:53 PM
To: Ensoniq-VFX-SD@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [Ensoniq-VFX-SD] Re: Ensoniq Sequencers, Pt.2




Remember this industry is driven on making you believe that you "can't do
it" if you don't have the newest synth, sampler, guitar, effects, mics and
more. 

I think It's ok to be a gear whore as long as you set limits and keep your
head.

What I have connected to my SD1:

2 Motu MTP ll midi networks.
Korg M3R
2 Yamaha TG500
Proteus FX
Roland D550
Roland JV1080
2 Akai S1000 samplers
Boss Dr 770 drum machine

R

RE: [Ensoniq-VFX-SD] Re: Ensoniq Sequencers, Pt.2

2011-03-22 by LarryS

That sort of gave me a chuckle.
I'm exactly the opposite.

I never use hardware sequencers.  Ever.  I can't use the one on my VFX for
the life of me.
Always software.  Always.

'Course, I'd never do music sequencing with a PC, anyway.  That's for
surfing (like now). 
My music sequencing is done on a Mac.... as it's always been, since 1987
when I got my first one, to this really nice Mac I use now for music.  It
rolled off the production line in 1994.  

Funny thing, I don't even feel like I'm "making-do with old gear".  I feel
*comfortable* with it.  There's no sound I can't make and no time-signature
I can't handle (gear-wise... I may not be THAT talented ;-).  

But maybe someday I'll get the hang of this sequencer.  If nothing else,
just for controlling stuff like patch changes  when I use it live.

L.
Show quoted textHide quoted text
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Ensoniq-VFX-SD@yahoogroups.com 
> [mailto:Ensoniq-VFX-SD@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of 
> somethingkillingyou
> Sent: Tuesday, March 22, 2011 3:18 PM
> To: Ensoniq-VFX-SD@yahoogroups.com
> Subject: [Ensoniq-VFX-SD] Re: Ensoniq Sequencers, Pt.2
> 
> oh yeah, you got to be creative with your gear! "in love and 
> war there ain't no rules"... let's put music in too!
> 
> I still think some aspects of this sequencer are (a bit) 
> counter-intuitive, anyway I don't think there are really 
> "better" sequencers out there... 
> 
> I hate software sequencers with a passion, and I limit the 
> use of the pc to recording, mixing and... web surfing... 
> web surfing is surely bad when you spend too much time 
> lusting for extra gear (the notorius Gear Acquisition Syndrome...)... 
> 
> ...but it's good instead when you can talk with smart persons 
> that can help you concentrate yourself on what you can do 
> with YOUR gear and stop lusting for something that 99% of the 
> time you don't even need!
> 
> Fabio
>

Re: [Ensoniq-VFX-SD] Re: Ensoniq Sequencers, Pt.2

2011-03-22 by Rob Rosenbrock

All this talk has hit a point of curiosity for me. This is something I've been wanting to do for a long time, but never got around to. I've never actually connected my keyboard to the computer.

I think I've got the hardware I need. But what software do I need to do MIDI on my SD-1? I'd like to be able to use the computer for storage and editing.

I've got both Mac and Windows, so the platform doesn't matter to me. With Windows, though, I can use a laptop.

On Mar 22, 2011, at 6:16 PM, LarryS wrote:

That sort of gave me a chuckle.
I'm exactly the opposite.

I never use hardware sequencers. Ever. I can't use the one on my VFX for
the life of me.
Always software. Always.

'Course, I'd never do music sequencing with a PC, anyway. That's for
surfing (like now).
My music sequencing is done on a Mac.... as it's always been, since 1987
when I got my first one, to this really nice Mac I use now for music. It
rolled off the production line in 1994.

Funny thing, I don't even feel like I'm "making-do with old gear". I feel
*comfortable* with it. There's no sound I can't make and no time-signature
I can't handle (gear-wise... I may not be THAT talented ;-).

But maybe someday I'll get the hang of this sequencer. If nothing else,
just for controlling stuff like patch changes when I use it live.

L.

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Ensoniq-VFX-SD@yahoogroups.com
> [mailto:Ensoniq-VFX-SD@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of
> somethingkillingyou
> Sent: Tuesday, March 22, 2011 3:18 PM
> To: Ensoniq-VFX-SD@yahoogroups.com
> Subject: [Ensoniq-VFX-SD] Re: Ensoniq Sequencers, Pt.2
>
> oh yeah, you got to be creative with your gear! "in love and
> war there ain't no rules"... let's put music in too!
>
> I still think some aspects of this sequencer are (a bit)
> counter-intuitive, anyway I don't think there are really
> "better" sequencers out there...
>
> I hate software sequencers with a passion, and I limit the
> use of the pc to recording, mixing and... web surfing...
> web surfing is surely bad when you spend too much time
> lusting for extra gear (the notorius Gear Acquisition Syndrome...)...
>
> ...but it's good instead when you can talk with smart persons
> that can help you concentrate yourself on what you can do
> with YOUR gear and stop lusting for something that 99% of the
> time you don't even need!
>
> Fabio
>


Re: [Ensoniq-VFX-SD] Re: Ensoniq Sequencers, Pt.2

2011-03-23 by Rish

Hey L if your having trouble using the seq in your VFX, it because the VFX does not have a seq! LOL but the VFXSD does.
Anyone ever notice that no computer seq software on the market today has the Ensoniq Rec at first note down feature? I even had a chat with Cakewalk/Sonar R&D guys and they were stumped. I wonder if it was a feature created by Ensoniq.
R
Show quoted textHide quoted text
----- Original Message -----
From: LarryS
Sent: Tuesday, March 22, 2011 5:16 PM
Subject: RE: [Ensoniq-VFX-SD] Re: Ensoniq Sequencers, Pt.2

That sort of gave me a chuckle.
I'm exactly the opposite.

I never use hardware sequencers. Ever. I can't use the one on my VFX for
the life of me.
Always software. Always.

'Course, I'd never do music sequencing with a PC, anyway. That's for
surfing (like now).
My music sequencing is done on a Mac.... as it's always been, since 1987
when I got my first one, to this really nice Mac I use now for music. It
rolled off the production line in 1994.

Funny thing, I don't even feel like I'm "making-do with old gear". I feel
*comfortable* with it. There's no sound I can't make and no time-signature
I can't handle (gear-wise... I may not be THAT talented ;-).

But maybe someday I'll get the hang of this sequencer. If nothing else,
just for controlling stuff like patch changes when I use it live.

L.

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Ensoniq-VFX-SD@yahoogroups.com
> [mailto:Ensoniq-VFX-SD@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of
> somethingkillingyou
> Sent: Tuesday, March 22, 2011 3:18 PM
> To: Ensoniq-VFX-SD@yahoogroups.com
> Subject: [Ensoniq-VFX-SD] Re: Ensoniq Sequencers, Pt.2
>
> oh yeah, you got to be creative with your gear! "in love and
> war there ain't no rules"... let's put music in too!
>
> I still think some aspects of this sequencer are (a bit)
> counter-intuitive, anyway I don't think there are really
> "better" sequencers out there...
>
> I hate software sequencers with a passion, and I limit the
> use of the pc to recording, mixing and... web surfing...
> web surfing is surely bad when you spend too much time
> lusting for extra gear (the notorius Gear Acquisition Syndrome...)...
>
> ...but it's good instead when you can talk with smart persons
> that can help you concentrate yourself on what you can do
> with YOUR gear and stop lusting for something that 99% of the
> time you don't even need!
>
> Fabio
>

RE: [Ensoniq-VFX-SD] Re: Ensoniq Sequencers, Pt.2

2011-03-23 by LarryS

Don't panic, R.
That's exactly what I have, a VFX-SD.  Yup, sequencer and disc drive.
So I kinda know what's going on.
 
MOF, I know so much of what's going on that I'll clue you in.  The sequence
I run on a Mac, Opcode StudioVision, has a "wait for note" setting that does
precisely what you're describing.
Opcode had since 1986 or so.  But you may be right, it might not be out
there NOW (but I kinda think it is).
No mystery to it.
 
L.


  _____  

From: Ensoniq-VFX-SD@yahoogroups.com [mailto:Ensoniq-VFX-SD@yahoogroups.com]
On Behalf Of Rish
Sent: Tuesday, March 22, 2011 7:40 PM
To: Ensoniq-VFX-SD@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [Ensoniq-VFX-SD] Re: Ensoniq Sequencers, Pt.2




Hey L if your having trouble using the seq in your VFX, it because the VFX
does not have a seq! LOL but the VFXSD does.
 
Anyone ever notice that no computer seq software on the market today has the
Ensoniq Rec at first note down feature? I even had a chat with
Cakewalk/Sonar R&D guys and they were stumped. I wonder if it was a feature
created by Ensoniq.
 
 R

----- Original Message ----- 
From: LarryS <mailto:vision1@...>  
To: Ensoniq-VFX-SD@yahoogroups.com 
Sent: Tuesday, March 22, 2011 5:16 PM
Subject: RE: [Ensoniq-VFX-SD] Re: Ensoniq Sequencers, Pt.2

  

That sort of gave me a chuckle.
I'm exactly the opposite.

I never use hardware sequencers. Ever. I can't use the one on my VFX for
the life of me.
Always software. Always.

'Course, I'd never do music sequencing with a PC, anyway. That's for
surfing (like now). 
My music sequencing is done on a Mac.... as it's always been, since 1987
when I got my first one, to this really nice Mac I use now for music. It
rolled off the production line in 1994. 

Funny thing, I don't even feel like I'm "making-do with old gear". I feel
*comfortable* with it. There's no sound I can't make and no time-signature
I can't handle (gear-wise... I may not be THAT talented ;-). 

But maybe someday I'll get the hang of this sequencer. If nothing else,
just for controlling stuff like patch changes when I use it live.

L.

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Ensoniq-VFX-SD@yahoogroups.com
<mailto:Ensoniq-VFX-SD%40yahoogroups.com>  
> [mailto:Ensoniq-VFX-SD@yahoogroups.com
<mailto:Ensoniq-VFX-SD%40yahoogroups.com> ] On Behalf Of 
> somethingkillingyou
> Sent: Tuesday, March 22, 2011 3:18 PM
> To: Ensoniq-VFX-SD@yahoogroups.com
<mailto:Ensoniq-VFX-SD%40yahoogroups.com> 
Show quoted textHide quoted text
> Subject: [Ensoniq-VFX-SD] Re: Ensoniq Sequencers, Pt.2
> 
> oh yeah, you got to be creative with your gear! "in love and 
> war there ain't no rules"... let's put music in too!
> 
> I still think some aspects of this sequencer are (a bit) 
> counter-intuitive, anyway I don't think there are really 
> "better" sequencers out there... 
> 
> I hate software sequencers with a passion, and I limit the 
> use of the pc to recording, mixing and... web surfing... 
> web surfing is surely bad when you spend too much time 
> lusting for extra gear (the notorius Gear Acquisition Syndrome...)... 
> 
> ...but it's good instead when you can talk with smart persons 
> that can help you concentrate yourself on what you can do 
> with YOUR gear and stop lusting for something that 99% of the 
> time you don't even need!
> 
> Fabio
>

Re: Ensoniq Sequencers, Pt.2

2011-03-23 by somethingkillingyou

my first synth was an Oberheim OB12... I paid full price for it (new!) in 2005... it's the only synth I bought new... and it wasn't even a fancy synth at that time! (I guess it will never be... but I truly love it)...  then others followed, the main rules being: cheap, strange, different, unhyped. 

I think I can say I love synths that most of the people hate (or at least does not love THAT much...)

the prove? here's my gear list...

Ensoniq SD1/32
Kawai K1m
Kawai K3
Kawai K4r
Kawai K5
Oberheim DPX-1
Oberheim OB-12
Quasimidi Raven Max
Quasimidi Sirius
Siel Mono

cheap Behringer mixer (don't remember which model)
Focusrite Saffire Pro40 audio interface

PC running XP
Cubase SX

...add mics, guitars, bass, amps and fx of course...

I still have my drumset but I don't play drums in my current OMB project! rather funny, since I started as a drummer something like 17 years ago! I was young... now I'm 30... fuck, time is a bitch!

Fabio

--- In Ensoniq-VFX-SD@yahoogroups.com, Rish <rish@...> wrote:
Show quoted textHide quoted text
>
> Remember this industry is driven on making you believe that you "can't do it" if you don't have the newest synth, sampler, guitar, effects, mics and more. 
> 
> I think It's ok to be a gear whore as long as you set limits and keep your head.
> 
> What I have connected to my SD1:
> 
> 2 Motu MTP ll midi networks.
> Korg M3R
> 2 Yamaha TG500
> Proteus FX
> Roland D550
> Roland JV1080
> 2 Akai S1000 samplers
> Boss Dr 770 drum machine
> 
> R
> 
> 
> 
> Sent from my iPod
> 
> On Mar 22, 2011, at 3:18 PM, "somethingkillingyou" <somethingkillingyou@...> wrote:
> 
> > oh yeah, you got to be creative with your gear! "in love and war there ain't no rules"... let's put music in too!
> > 
> > I still think some aspects of this sequencer are (a bit) counter-intuitive, anyway I don't think there are really "better" sequencers out there... 
> > 
> > I hate software sequencers with a passion, and I limit the use of the pc to recording, mixing and... web surfing... 
> > web surfing is surely bad when you spend too much time lusting for extra gear (the notorius Gear Acquisition Syndrome...)... 
> > 
> > ...but it's good instead when you can talk with smart persons that can help you concentrate yourself on what you can do with YOUR gear and stop lusting for something that 99% of the time you don't even need!
> > 
> > Fabio
> > 
> > --- In Ensoniq-VFX-SD@yahoogroups.com, Rish <rish@> wrote:
> > >
> > > That's great news, I have been using my SD for many years with outboard gear. I never seq the drums on the SD as it easts lots of notes, instead I just slave a real drum machine and create the seq/songs drum parts on the drum machine.
> > > 
> > > R 
> > > 
> > > Sent from my iPod
> > > 
> > > On Mar 22, 2011, at 10:58 AM, "somethingkillingyou" <somethingkillingyou@> wrote:
> > > 
> > > > hi folks, 
> > > > 
> > > > last year I started a topic about Ensoniq's sequencers...
> > > > my point, at that time, was that the sequencers I was using were more than enough, and had more facilities, so my SD1's sequencer was pretty useless and so on...
> > > > 
> > > > a year passed by... a few days ago, I took the bull by its horns and 'forced' myself to use SD1's internal sequencer... 
> > > > 
> > > > I remembered that last year, I started by reading the manual, and I quickly got tired about it all...
> > > > 
> > > > this time, no manual reading! I just sit and managed to record some drums and bass patterns (I mean 'backing' tracks for a rock song, not drum & bass uh)... in a few minutes I was sequencing my first "song" on the SD1! I recorded in realtime, sometimes I used record overdub ("add") for the drum parts; also, I used quantization a lot because I was not used to record drums in realtime, after years of drumgrid sequencers use...
> > > > 
> > > > and I have to say, it's not that bad instead! it's whole logic is a bit different than what I was used to, but all in all it's not THAT hard to use... 
> > > > now I have to go give a good read to the fucking manual to better master the various functions, but I must recognize that it is worth the effort after all... 
> > > > I know there is a step sequencer in there too, and I can always use external arpeggiators and record their midi output in a SD1 track...
> > > > that way, the sequencer is going to be a real weapon! 
> > > > the trick is: don't limit the sequencer to it's own features, but use your other gear in tandem with it!
> > > > 
> > > > also, now I can finally use odd time measures (5/4, 7/8 and so on) and have different tempos for each part of the song... 
> > > > yes! the sequencer I used up to now (quasimidi raven and sirius) only let you choose tempo for the whole song, and the time measure is fixed in 4/4... once, to sequence a song that had a tempo change between the verse and the chorus, I had to use triplets a/o strange bar lenght... I don't even remember how I did it! that was insane... 
> > > > 
> > > > so, welcome SD1 sequencer!
> > > > 
> > > > Fabio
> > > > 
> > > >
> > >
> > 
> >
>

Re: [Ensoniq-VFX-SD] Re: Ensoniq Sequencers, Pt.2

2011-03-23 by Rish

Well....now that I can stand up again, I am doing Lead vocals in my current Electro Rock Dance band and a friend is using my SD1 32 synth rig. Ya you have some old synths, I had the K5 for a while but man is that a soft sounding synth! no attack or punch at all. I really like the TG500 racks!
R
Show quoted textHide quoted text
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Tuesday, March 22, 2011 8:01 PM
Subject: [Ensoniq-VFX-SD] Re: Ensoniq Sequencers, Pt.2

my first synth was an Oberheim OB12... I paid full price for it (new!) in 2005... it's the only synth I bought new... and it wasn't even a fancy synth at that time! (I guess it will never be... but I truly love it)... then others followed, the main rules being: cheap, strange, different, unhyped.

I think I can say I love synths that most of the people hate (or at least does not love THAT much...)

the prove? here's my gear list...

Ensoniq SD1/32
Kawai K1m
Kawai K3
Kawai K4r
Kawai K5
Oberheim DPX-1
Oberheim OB-12
Quasimidi Raven Max
Quasimidi Sirius
Siel Mono

cheap Behringer mixer (don't remember which model)
Focusrite Saffire Pro40 audio interface

PC running XP
Cubase SX

...add mics, guitars, bass, amps and fx of course...

I still have my drumset but I don't play drums in my current OMB project! rather funny, since I started as a drummer something like 17 years ago! I was young... now I'm 30... fuck, time is a bitch!

Fabio

--- In Ensoniq-VFX-SD@yahoogroups.com, Rish wrote:
>
> Remember this industry is driven on making you believe that you "can't do it" if you don't have the newest synth, sampler, guitar, effects, mics and more.
>
> I think It's ok to be a gear whore as long as you set limits and keep your head.
>
> What I have connected to my SD1:
>
> 2 Motu MTP ll midi networks.
> Korg M3R
> 2 Yamaha TG500
> Proteus FX
> Roland D550
> Roland JV1080
> 2 Akai S1000 samplers
> Boss Dr 770 drum machine
>
> R
>
>
>
> Sent from my iPod
>
> On Mar 22, 2011, at 3:18 PM, "somethingkillingyou" wrote:
>
> > oh yeah, you got to be creative with your gear! "in love and war there ain't no rules"... let's put music in too!
> >
> > I still think some aspects of this sequencer are (a bit) counter-intuitive, anyway I don't think there are really "better" sequencers out there...
> >
> > I hate software sequencers with a passion, and I limit the use of the pc to recording, mixing and... web surfing...
> > web surfing is surely bad when you spend too much time lusting for extra gear (the notorius Gear Acquisition Syndrome...)...
> >
> > ...but it's good instead when you can talk with smart persons that can help you concentrate yourself on what you can do with YOUR gear and stop lusting for something that 99% of the time you don't even need!
> >
> > Fabio
> >
> > --- In Ensoniq-VFX-SD@yahoogroups.com, Rish <;rish@> wrote:
> > >
> > > That's great news, I have been using my SD for many years with outboard gear. I never seq the drums on the SD as it easts lots of notes, instead I just slave a real drum machine and create the seq/songs drum parts on the drum machine.
> > >
> > > R
> > >
> > > Sent from my iPod
> > >
> > > On Mar 22, 2011, at 10:58 AM, "somethingkillingyou" wrote:
> > >
> > > > hi folks,
> > > >
> > > > last year I started a topic about Ensoniq's sequencers...
> > > > my point, at that time, was that the sequencers I was using were more than enough, and had more facilities, so my SD1's sequencer was pretty useless and so on...
> > > >
> > > > a year passed by... a few days ago, I took the bull by its horns and 'forced' myself to use SD1's internal sequencer...
> > > >
> > > > I remembered that last year, I started by reading the manual, and I quickly got tired about it all...
> > > >
> > > > this time, no manual reading! I just sit and managed to record some drums and bass patterns (I mean 'backing' tracks for a rock song, not drum & bass uh)... in a few minutes I was sequencing my first "song" on the SD1! I recorded in realtime, sometimes I used record overdub ("add") for the drum parts; also, I used quantization a lot because I was not used to record drums in realtime, after years of drumgrid sequencers use...
> > > >
> > > > and I have to say, it's not that bad instead! it's whole logic is a bit different than what I was used to, but all in all it's not THAT hard to use...
> > > > now I have to go give a good read to the fucking manual to better master the various functions, but I must recognize that it is worth the effort after all...
> > > > I know there is a step sequencer in there too, and I can always use external arpeggiators and record their midi output in a SD1 track...
> > > > that way, the sequencer is going to be a real weapon!
> > > > the trick is: don't limit the sequencer to it's own features, but use your other gear in tandem with it!
> > > >
> > > > also, now I can finally use odd time measures (5/4, 7/8 and so on) and have different tempos for each part of the song...
> > > > yes! the sequencer I used up to now (quasimidi raven and sirius) only let you choose tempo for the whole song, and the time measure is fixed in 4/4... once, to sequence a song that had a tempo change between the verse and the chorus, I had to use triplets a/o strange bar lenght... I don't even remember how I did it! that was insane...
> > > >
> > > > so, welcome SD1 sequencer!
> > > >
> > > > Fabio
> > > >
> > > >
> > >
> >
> >
>

Re: [Ensoniq-VFX-SD] Re: Ensoniq Sequencers, Pt.2

2011-03-23 by Rish

Hey L dude just messing with ya! its all good! I have used Logic and every other soft seq out there but still love the simple and quick setup I get out of the SD1.
R
Show quoted textHide quoted text
----- Original Message -----
From: LarryS
Sent: Tuesday, March 22, 2011 7:51 PM
Subject: RE: [Ensoniq-VFX-SD] Re: Ensoniq Sequencers, Pt.2

Don't panic, R.
That's exactly what I have, a VFX-SD. Yup, sequencer and disc drive.
So I kinda know what's going on.
MOF, I know so much of what's going on that I'll clue you in. The sequence I run on a Mac, Opcode StudioVision, has a "wait for note" setting that does precisely what you're describing.
Opcode had since 1986 or so. But you may be right, it might not be out there NOW (but I kinda think it is).
No mystery to it.
L.

From: Ensoniq-VFX-SD@yahoogroups.com [mailto:Ensoniq-VFX-SD@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Rish
Sent: Tuesday, March 22, 2011 7:40 PM
To: Ensoniq-VFX-SD@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [Ensoniq-VFX-SD] Re: Ensoniq Sequencers, Pt.2

Hey L if your having trouble using the seq in your VFX, it because the VFX does not have a seq! LOL but the VFXSD does.
Anyone ever notice that no computer seq software on the market today has the Ensoniq Rec at first note down feature? I even had a chat with Cakewalk/Sonar R&D guys and they were stumped. I wonder if it was a feature created by Ensoniq.
R
----- Original Message -----
From: LarryS
Sent: Tuesday, March 22, 2011 5:16 PM
Subject: RE: [Ensoniq-VFX-SD] Re: Ensoniq Sequencers, Pt.2

That sort of gave me a chuckle.
I'm exactly the opposite.

I never use hardware sequencers. Ever. I can't use the one on my VFX for
the life of me.
Always software. Always.

'Course, I'd never do music sequencing with a PC, anyway. That's for
surfing (like now).
My music sequencing is done on a Mac.... as it's always been, since 1987
when I got my first one, to this really nice Mac I use now for music. It
rolled off the production line in 1994.

Funny thing, I don't even feel like I'm "making-do with old gear". I feel
*comfortable* with it. There's no sound I can't make and no time-signature
I can't handle (gear-wise... I may not be THAT talented ;-).

But maybe someday I'll get the hang of this sequencer. If nothing else,
just for controlling stuff like patch changes when I use it live.

L.

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Ensoniq-VFX-SD@yahoogroups.com
> [mailto:Ensoniq-VFX-SD@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of
> somethingkillingyou
> Sent: Tuesday, March 22, 2011 3:18 PM
> To: Ensoniq-VFX-SD@yahoogroups.com
> Subject: [Ensoniq-VFX-SD] Re: Ensoniq Sequencers, Pt.2
>
> oh yeah, you got to be creative with your gear! "in love and
> war there ain't no rules"... let's put music in too!
>
> I still think some aspects of this sequencer are (a bit)
> counter-intuitive, anyway I don't think there are really
> "better" sequencers out there...
>
> I hate software sequencers with a passion, and I limit the
> use of the pc to recording, mixing and... web surfing...
> web surfing is surely bad when you spend too much time
> lusting for extra gear (the notorius Gear Acquisition Syndrome...)...
>
> ...but it's good instead when you can talk with smart persons
> that can help you concentrate yourself on what you can do
> with YOUR gear and stop lusting for something that 99% of the
> time you don't even need!
>
> Fabio
>

RE: [Ensoniq-VFX-SD] Re: Ensoniq Sequencers, Pt.2

2011-03-23 by LarryS

30? really?
What a geezer!  Man!  A fossil!
you're almost dead!
Are you sure you're still breathing?

L. <--- 53.
Show quoted textHide quoted text
>I was young... now I'm 30... 
> time is a bitch!
> 
> Fabio

Re: Ensoniq Sequencers, Pt.2

2011-03-23 by somethingkillingyou

...forgot a buddy: Kenton Control Freak! god I love that little box!

I don't know if there is a more versatile midi controller out there, honestly I don't really care, since it serves me so well that I don't think I'll ever need another controller...

it helps me programming my synths without the need of standing in front of the pc monitor struggling with that hideous mouse... 

took a lot of time to setup all the controllers for all of my synths (countless sysex strings...), but it's well spent time, when you then end up controlling anything you can think of, including cubase mixer and vsts... 

I can live with the pc, but give me faders to edit patches and to mix my tracks! the more the hands-on control, the better.

...also the SD1 benefits from it! except for the Fizmo, the only thing Ensoniq gear is really missing are knobs and faders... but that's just my 0,02...

F.

--- In Ensoniq-VFX-SD@yahoogroups.com, "somethingkillingyou" <somethingkillingyou@...> wrote:
Show quoted textHide quoted text
>
> my first synth was an Oberheim OB12... I paid full price for it (new!) in 2005... it's the only synth I bought new... and it wasn't even a fancy synth at that time! (I guess it will never be... but I truly love it)...  then others followed, the main rules being: cheap, strange, different, unhyped. 
> 
> I think I can say I love synths that most of the people hate (or at least does not love THAT much...)
> 
> the prove? here's my gear list...
> 
> Ensoniq SD1/32
> Kawai K1m
> Kawai K3
> Kawai K4r
> Kawai K5
> Oberheim DPX-1
> Oberheim OB-12
> Quasimidi Raven Max
> Quasimidi Sirius
> Siel Mono
> 
> cheap Behringer mixer (don't remember which model)
> Focusrite Saffire Pro40 audio interface
> 
> PC running XP
> Cubase SX
> 
> ...add mics, guitars, bass, amps and fx of course...
> 
> I still have my drumset but I don't play drums in my current OMB project! rather funny, since I started as a drummer something like 17 years ago! I was young... now I'm 30... fuck, time is a bitch!
> 
> Fabio
> 
> --- In Ensoniq-VFX-SD@yahoogroups.com, Rish <rish@> wrote:
> >
> > Remember this industry is driven on making you believe that you "can't do it" if you don't have the newest synth, sampler, guitar, effects, mics and more. 
> > 
> > I think It's ok to be a gear whore as long as you set limits and keep your head.
> > 
> > What I have connected to my SD1:
> > 
> > 2 Motu MTP ll midi networks.
> > Korg M3R
> > 2 Yamaha TG500
> > Proteus FX
> > Roland D550
> > Roland JV1080
> > 2 Akai S1000 samplers
> > Boss Dr 770 drum machine
> > 
> > R
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > Sent from my iPod
> > 
> > On Mar 22, 2011, at 3:18 PM, "somethingkillingyou" <somethingkillingyou@> wrote:
> > 
> > > oh yeah, you got to be creative with your gear! "in love and war there ain't no rules"... let's put music in too!
> > > 
> > > I still think some aspects of this sequencer are (a bit) counter-intuitive, anyway I don't think there are really "better" sequencers out there... 
> > > 
> > > I hate software sequencers with a passion, and I limit the use of the pc to recording, mixing and... web surfing... 
> > > web surfing is surely bad when you spend too much time lusting for extra gear (the notorius Gear Acquisition Syndrome...)... 
> > > 
> > > ...but it's good instead when you can talk with smart persons that can help you concentrate yourself on what you can do with YOUR gear and stop lusting for something that 99% of the time you don't even need!
> > > 
> > > Fabio
> > > 
> > > --- In Ensoniq-VFX-SD@yahoogroups.com, Rish <rish@> wrote:
> > > >
> > > > That's great news, I have been using my SD for many years with outboard gear. I never seq the drums on the SD as it easts lots of notes, instead I just slave a real drum machine and create the seq/songs drum parts on the drum machine.
> > > > 
> > > > R 
> > > > 
> > > > Sent from my iPod
> > > > 
> > > > On Mar 22, 2011, at 10:58 AM, "somethingkillingyou" <somethingkillingyou@> wrote:
> > > > 
> > > > > hi folks, 
> > > > > 
> > > > > last year I started a topic about Ensoniq's sequencers...
> > > > > my point, at that time, was that the sequencers I was using were more than enough, and had more facilities, so my SD1's sequencer was pretty useless and so on...
> > > > > 
> > > > > a year passed by... a few days ago, I took the bull by its horns and 'forced' myself to use SD1's internal sequencer... 
> > > > > 
> > > > > I remembered that last year, I started by reading the manual, and I quickly got tired about it all...
> > > > > 
> > > > > this time, no manual reading! I just sit and managed to record some drums and bass patterns (I mean 'backing' tracks for a rock song, not drum & bass uh)... in a few minutes I was sequencing my first "song" on the SD1! I recorded in realtime, sometimes I used record overdub ("add") for the drum parts; also, I used quantization a lot because I was not used to record drums in realtime, after years of drumgrid sequencers use...
> > > > > 
> > > > > and I have to say, it's not that bad instead! it's whole logic is a bit different than what I was used to, but all in all it's not THAT hard to use... 
> > > > > now I have to go give a good read to the fucking manual to better master the various functions, but I must recognize that it is worth the effort after all... 
> > > > > I know there is a step sequencer in there too, and I can always use external arpeggiators and record their midi output in a SD1 track...
> > > > > that way, the sequencer is going to be a real weapon! 
> > > > > the trick is: don't limit the sequencer to it's own features, but use your other gear in tandem with it!
> > > > > 
> > > > > also, now I can finally use odd time measures (5/4, 7/8 and so on) and have different tempos for each part of the song... 
> > > > > yes! the sequencer I used up to now (quasimidi raven and sirius) only let you choose tempo for the whole song, and the time measure is fixed in 4/4... once, to sequence a song that had a tempo change between the verse and the chorus, I had to use triplets a/o strange bar lenght... I don't even remember how I did it! that was insane... 
> > > > > 
> > > > > so, welcome SD1 sequencer!
> > > > > 
> > > > > Fabio
> > > > > 
> > > > >
> > > >
> > > 
> > >
> >
>

Re: [Ensoniq-VFX-SD] Re: Ensoniq Sequencers, Pt.2

2011-03-23 by Rish

Nothin to it Im in my 40s!
R
----- Original Message -----
From: LarryS
Sent: Tuesday, March 22, 2011 8:18 PM
Subject: RE: [Ensoniq-VFX-SD] Re: Ensoniq Sequencers, Pt.2

30? really?
What a geezer! Man! A fossil!
you're almost dead!
Are you sure you're still breathing?

L. <--- 53.

>I was young... now I'm 30...
> time is a bitch!
>
> Fabio

Re: Ensoniq Sequencers, Pt.2

2011-03-23 by somethingkillingyou

...

well, you're right... !!!

I hope I'll still be playing my music when I'll be an almost dead fossil for real! I can't imagine life without playing some music...

but time kind of scares me anyway, and 17 years playing is no little time... it's a lot of time indeed! 

but I guess 30 is not the right age for mid life crisis :)

--- In Ensoniq-VFX-SD@yahoogroups.com, "LarryS" <vision1@...> wrote:
Show quoted textHide quoted text
>
> 30? really?
> What a geezer!  Man!  A fossil!
> you're almost dead!
> Are you sure you're still breathing?
> 
> L. <--- 53.
> 
> 
> >I was young... now I'm 30... 
> > time is a bitch!
> > 
> > Fabio
>

Re: [Ensoniq-VFX-SD] Re: Ensoniq Sequencers, Pt.2

2011-03-23 by Rish

You can have all the knobs and faders to create sounds in real time for the SD by using Unisyn on the PC.
R
Show quoted textHide quoted text
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Tuesday, March 22, 2011 8:19 PM
Subject: [Ensoniq-VFX-SD] Re: Ensoniq Sequencers, Pt.2

...forgot a buddy: Kenton Control Freak! god I love that little box!

I don't know if there is a more versatile midi controller out there, honestly I don't really care, since it serves me so well that I don't think I'll ever need another controller...

it helps me programming my synths without the need of standing in front of the pc monitor struggling with that hideous mouse...

took a lot of time to setup all the controllers for all of my synths (countless sysex strings...), but it's well spent time, when you then end up controlling anything you can think of, including cubase mixer and vsts...

I can live with the pc, but give me faders to edit patches and to mix my tracks! the more the hands-on control, the better.

...also the SD1 benefits from it! except for the Fizmo, the only thing Ensoniq gear is really missing are knobs and faders... but that's just my 0,02...

F.

--- In Ensoniq-VFX-SD@yahoogroups.com, "somethingkillingyou" wrote:
>
> my first synth was an Oberheim OB12... I paid full price for it (new!) in 2005... it's the only synth I bought new... and it wasn't even a fancy synth at that time! (I guess it will never be... but I truly love it)... then others followed, the main rules being: cheap, strange, different, unhyped.
>
> I think I can say I love synths that most of the people hate (or at least does not love THAT much...)
>
> the prove? here's my gear list...
>
> Ensoniq SD1/32
> Kawai K1m
> Kawai K3
> Kawai K4r
> Kawai K5
> Oberheim DPX-1
> Oberheim OB-12
> Quasimidi Raven Max
> Quasimidi Sirius
> Siel Mono
>
> cheap Behringer mixer (don't remember which model)
> Focusrite Saffire Pro40 audio interface
>
> PC running XP
> Cubase SX
>
> ...add mics, guitars, bass, amps and fx of course...
>
> I still have my drumset but I don't play drums in my current OMB project! rather funny, since I started as a drummer something like 17 years ago! I was young... now I'm 30... fuck, time is a bitch!
>
> Fabio
>
> --- In Ensoniq-VFX-SD@yahoogroups.com, Rish wrote:
> >
> > Remember this industry is driven on making you believe that you "can't do it" if you don't have the newest synth, sampler, guitar, effects, mics and more.
> >
> > I think It's ok to be a gear whore as long as you set limits and keep your head.
> >
> > What I have connected to my SD1:
> >
> > 2 Motu MTP ll midi networks.
> > Korg M3R
> > 2 Yamaha TG500
> > Proteus FX
> > Roland D550
> > Roland JV1080
> > 2 Akai S1000 samplers
> > Boss Dr 770 drum machine
> >
> > R
> >
> >
> >
> > Sent from my iPod
> >
> > On Mar 22, 2011, at 3:18 PM, "somethingkillingyou" wrote:
> >
> > > oh yeah, you got to be creative with your gear! "in love and war there ain't no rules"... let's put music in too!
> > >
> >; > I still think some aspects of this sequencer are (a bit) counter-intuitive, anyway I don't think there are really "better" sequencers out there...
> > >
> > > I hate software sequencers with a passion, and I limit the use of the pc to recording, mixing and... web surfing...
> > > web surfing is surely bad when you spend too much time lusting for extra gear (the notorius Gear Acquisition Syndrome...)...
> > >
> > > ...but it's good instead when you can talk with smart persons that can help you concentrate yourself on what you can do with YOUR gear and stop lusting for something that 99% of the time you don't even need!
> > >
>; > > Fabio
> > >
> > > --- In Ensoniq-VFX-SD@yahoogroups.com, Rish wrote:
> > > >
> > > > That's great news, I have been using my SD for many years with outboard gear. I never seq the drums on the SD as it easts lots of notes, instead I just slave a real drum machine and create the seq/songs drum parts on the drum machine.
> > > >
> > > > R
> > > >
> > > > Sent from my iPod
> > > >
> > > > On Mar 22, 2011, at 10:58 AM, "somethingkillingyou" wrote:
> > > >
> > > > > hi folks,
> > > > >
> > > > > last year I started a topic about Ensoniq's sequencers...
> > > > > my point, at that time, was that the sequencers I was using were more than enough, and had more facilities, so my SD1's sequencer was pretty useless and so on...
> > > > >
> > > > > a year passed by... a few days ago, I took the bull by its horns and 'forced' myself to use SD1's internal sequencer...
> > > > >
> > > > > I remembered that last year, I started by reading the manual, and I quickly got tired about it all...
> > > > >
> > > > > this time, no manual reading! I just sit and managed to record some drums and bass patterns (I mean 'backing' tracks for a rock song, not drum & bass uh)... in a few minutes I was sequencing my first "song" on the SD1! I recorded in realtime, sometimes I used record overdub ("add") for the drum parts; also, I used quantization a lot because I was not used to record drums in realtime, after years of drumgrid sequencers use...
> > > > >
> > >; > > and I have to say, it's not that bad instead! it's whole logic is a bit different than what I was used to, but all in all it's not THAT hard to use...
> > > > > now I have to go give a good read to the fucking manual to better master the various functions, but I must recognize that it is worth the effort after all...
> > > > > I know there is a step sequencer in there too, and I can always use external arpeggiators and record their midi output in a SD1 track...
> > > > > that way, the sequencer is going to be a real weapon!
> > > > > the trick is: don't limit the sequencer to it's own features, but use your other gear in tandem with it!
> > > > >
> > > > > also, now I can finally use odd time measures (5/4, 7/8 and so on) and have different tempos for each part of the song...
> > > > > yes! the sequencer I used up to now (quasimidi raven and sirius) only let you choose tempo for the whole song, and the time measure is fixed in 4/4... once, to sequence a song that had a tempo change between the verse and the chorus, I had to use triplets a/o strange bar lenght... I don't even remember how I did it! that was insane...
> > > >; >
> > > > > so, welcome SD1 sequencer!
> > > > >
> > > > > Fabio
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > >
> > >
> > >
> >
>

Re: Ensoniq Sequencers, Pt.2

2011-03-23 by somethingkillingyou

well, the K5 sound can be fatten up in multi mode, but that eats a lot of polyphony... anyway the "pureness" of the additive sound (only harmonic partials, no noise generator) is prone to sound very digital and kind of sterile anyway... of course I love it for what it is! :)
I mean it's horses for courses, and I like my setup because of its versatility... subtractive, additive, wavetable... just add imagination and the will to create new strange sounds!

I hate the fact that the day that I'll be able to program additive synthesis, I'll be a dinosaur for real... brilliant concept, but a pain to program... the easiest way is to analyze some samples and attempt resynthesis... additive can turn yourself into a sort of mega-synth-nerd and eat up a lot of playing time... but an inspiring new sound can lead to a brilliant song!

F.

p.s.
I'm glad you're doing better!

--- In Ensoniq-VFX-SD@yahoogroups.com, "Rish" <rish@...> wrote:
Show quoted textHide quoted text
>
> Well....now that I can stand up again, I am doing Lead vocals in my current Electro Rock Dance band and a friend is using my SD1 32 synth rig. Ya you have some old synths, I had the K5 for a while but man is that a soft sounding synth! no attack or punch at all. I really like the TG500 racks!
> 
> R
>   ----- Original Message ----- 
>   From: somethingkillingyou 
>   To: Ensoniq-VFX-SD@yahoogroups.com 
>   Sent: Tuesday, March 22, 2011 8:01 PM
>   Subject: [Ensoniq-VFX-SD] Re: Ensoniq Sequencers, Pt.2
> 
> 
>     
>   my first synth was an Oberheim OB12... I paid full price for it (new!) in 2005... it's the only synth I bought new... and it wasn't even a fancy synth at that time! (I guess it will never be... but I truly love it)... then others followed, the main rules being: cheap, strange, different, unhyped. 
> 
>   I think I can say I love synths that most of the people hate (or at least does not love THAT much...)
> 
>   the prove? here's my gear list...
> 
>   Ensoniq SD1/32
>   Kawai K1m
>   Kawai K3
>   Kawai K4r
>   Kawai K5
>   Oberheim DPX-1
>   Oberheim OB-12
>   Quasimidi Raven Max
>   Quasimidi Sirius
>   Siel Mono
> 
>   cheap Behringer mixer (don't remember which model)
>   Focusrite Saffire Pro40 audio interface
> 
>   PC running XP
>   Cubase SX
> 
>   ...add mics, guitars, bass, amps and fx of course...
> 
>   I still have my drumset but I don't play drums in my current OMB project! rather funny, since I started as a drummer something like 17 years ago! I was young... now I'm 30... fuck, time is a bitch!
> 
>   Fabio
> 
>   --- In Ensoniq-VFX-SD@yahoogroups.com, Rish <rish@> wrote:
>   >
>   > Remember this industry is driven on making you believe that you "can't do it" if you don't have the newest synth, sampler, guitar, effects, mics and more. 
>   > 
>   > I think It's ok to be a gear whore as long as you set limits and keep your head.
>   > 
>   > What I have connected to my SD1:
>   > 
>   > 2 Motu MTP ll midi networks.
>   > Korg M3R
>   > 2 Yamaha TG500
>   > Proteus FX
>   > Roland D550
>   > Roland JV1080
>   > 2 Akai S1000 samplers
>   > Boss Dr 770 drum machine
>   > 
>   > R
>   > 
>   > 
>   > 
>   > Sent from my iPod
>   > 
>   > On Mar 22, 2011, at 3:18 PM, "somethingkillingyou" <somethingkillingyou@> wrote:
>   > 
>   > > oh yeah, you got to be creative with your gear! "in love and war there ain't no rules"... let's put music in too!
>   > > 
>   > > I still think some aspects of this sequencer are (a bit) counter-intuitive, anyway I don't think there are really "better" sequencers out there... 
>   > > 
>   > > I hate software sequencers with a passion, and I limit the use of the pc to recording, mixing and... web surfing... 
>   > > web surfing is surely bad when you spend too much time lusting for extra gear (the notorius Gear Acquisition Syndrome...)... 
>   > > 
>   > > ...but it's good instead when you can talk with smart persons that can help you concentrate yourself on what you can do with YOUR gear and stop lusting for something that 99% of the time you don't even need!
>   > > 
>   > > Fabio
>   > > 
>   > > --- In Ensoniq-VFX-SD@yahoogroups.com, Rish <rish@> wrote:
>   > > >
>   > > > That's great news, I have been using my SD for many years with outboard gear. I never seq the drums on the SD as it easts lots of notes, instead I just slave a real drum machine and create the seq/songs drum parts on the drum machine.
>   > > > 
>   > > > R 
>   > > > 
>   > > > Sent from my iPod
>   > > > 
>   > > > On Mar 22, 2011, at 10:58 AM, "somethingkillingyou" <somethingkillingyou@> wrote:
>   > > > 
>   > > > > hi folks, 
>   > > > > 
>   > > > > last year I started a topic about Ensoniq's sequencers...
>   > > > > my point, at that time, was that the sequencers I was using were more than enough, and had more facilities, so my SD1's sequencer was pretty useless and so on...
>   > > > > 
>   > > > > a year passed by... a few days ago, I took the bull by its horns and 'forced' myself to use SD1's internal sequencer... 
>   > > > > 
>   > > > > I remembered that last year, I started by reading the manual, and I quickly got tired about it all...
>   > > > > 
>   > > > > this time, no manual reading! I just sit and managed to record some drums and bass patterns (I mean 'backing' tracks for a rock song, not drum & bass uh)... in a few minutes I was sequencing my first "song" on the SD1! I recorded in realtime, sometimes I used record overdub ("add") for the drum parts; also, I used quantization a lot because I was not used to record drums in realtime, after years of drumgrid sequencers use...
>   > > > > 
>   > > > > and I have to say, it's not that bad instead! it's whole logic is a bit different than what I was used to, but all in all it's not THAT hard to use... 
>   > > > > now I have to go give a good read to the fucking manual to better master the various functions, but I must recognize that it is worth the effort after all... 
>   > > > > I know there is a step sequencer in there too, and I can always use external arpeggiators and record their midi output in a SD1 track...
>   > > > > that way, the sequencer is going to be a real weapon! 
>   > > > > the trick is: don't limit the sequencer to it's own features, but use your other gear in tandem with it!
>   > > > > 
>   > > > > also, now I can finally use odd time measures (5/4, 7/8 and so on) and have different tempos for each part of the song... 
>   > > > > yes! the sequencer I used up to now (quasimidi raven and sirius) only let you choose tempo for the whole song, and the time measure is fixed in 4/4... once, to sequence a song that had a tempo change between the verse and the chorus, I had to use triplets a/o strange bar lenght... I don't even remember how I did it! that was insane... 
>   > > > > 
>   > > > > so, welcome SD1 sequencer!
>   > > > > 
>   > > > > Fabio
>   > > > > 
>   > > > >
>   > > >
>   > > 
>   > >
>   >
>

RE: [Ensoniq-VFX-SD] Re: Ensoniq Sequencers, Pt.2

2011-03-23 by LarryS

Why fatten it at all?
Just save it for the softy parts.

I mean, the ONE lesson, perhaps the most valuable lesson that I learned
long, long, ago applied to synths and computers in exactly the same way.
That is:  There's No Such Thing As One Unit That Does It All.

The biggest problem people have with their computers is trying to do
EVERYTHING on them.  Computers are CHEAP.  Buy an old one to write your
great novel on.  $10.  Never crash.  It has nothing to do.  The Mac I do
music on could be purchased today for some similar price.  Maybe $50.  It
never crashes.  It does NOTHING except music.

And synths are the same way.  What's that K5 worth?  $100?  tops?  I have a
Kawai K1r and I use it when I need *that sound* -- otherwise it sits.  For
$50, I could buy another if I wanted one.  So letting it sit costs me
nothing.  Fatten it up?  I'd never do that.  I have other synths for "fat".
Saves me time and hassle trying to get 'fat' from a synth that could never
do it in the first place.  Some synths just ain't got 'fat'... other synths
ain't got 'light'.   Easy.

For many years, they tried to sell us synths that would sound like something
else.  Synths that would sound like everything else.  After a while, I
finally caught on that not only were they *lying* and would say anything to
make a sale -- marketing hype -- but I was far ahead to not stay up late
nights trying to teach a pig to sing.  I just let the synth do its own
thing.

Y'know, my first synth was a brand new Arp Odyssey in 1976.  $1400 for a
monophonic non-progammable synth.  $1400 of THOSE dollars, when gas was 76
cents/gallon and we were shocked it jumped that high.  As far as I'm
concerned, there has never been a better time to make electronic music than
right now.  The very best synths EVER are also the cheapest synths to be
had.  For that same $1400 today, I could have a rack-full of stuff with
*100* voices, easy.  

And don't get me started on my $8,500 Prophet-10 I bought new....  Yup.  One
synth.  10 voices.  But it had two manuals!  ;-)

L.
Show quoted textHide quoted text
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Ensoniq-VFX-SD@yahoogroups.com 
> [mailto:Ensoniq-VFX-SD@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of 
> somethingkillingyou
> Sent: Tuesday, March 22, 2011 8:59 PM
> To: Ensoniq-VFX-SD@yahoogroups.com
> Subject: [Ensoniq-VFX-SD] Re: Ensoniq Sequencers, Pt.2
> 
> well, the K5 sound can be fatten up in multi mode, but that 
> eats a lot of polyphony... anyway the "pureness" of the 
> additive sound (only harmonic partials, no noise generator) 
> is prone to sound very digital and kind of sterile anyway... 
> of course I love it for what it is! :)
> I mean it's horses for courses, and I like my setup because 
> of its versatility... subtractive, additive, wavetable... 
> just add imagination and the will to create new strange sounds!
> 
> I hate the fact that the day that I'll be able to program 
> additive synthesis, I'll be a dinosaur for real... brilliant 
> concept, but a pain to program... the easiest way is to 
> analyze some samples and attempt resynthesis... additive can 
> turn yourself into a sort of mega-synth-nerd and eat up a lot 
> of playing time... but an inspiring new sound can lead to a 
> brilliant song!
> 
> F.

Re: [Ensoniq-VFX-SD] Re: Ensoniq Sequencers, Pt.2

2011-03-24 by Jim Hughston

and I am 75.
 
Jim

From: Rish <rish@...>
To: Ensoniq-VFX-SD@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Tuesday, March 22, 2011 9:20 PM
Subject: Re: [Ensoniq-VFX-SD] Re: Ensoniq Sequencers, Pt.2


  
Nothin to it Im in my 40s!
R

----- Original Message ----- 
Show quoted textHide quoted text
>From: LarryS 
>To: Ensoniq-VFX-SD@yahoogroups.com 
>Sent: Tuesday, March 22, 2011 8:18 PM
>Subject: RE: [Ensoniq-VFX-SD] Re: Ensoniq Sequencers, Pt.2
>
>  
>30? really?
>What a geezer! Man! A fossil!
>you're almost dead!
>Are you sure you're still breathing?
>
>L. <--- 53.
>
>>I was young... now I'm 30... 
>> time is a bitch!
>> 
>> Fabio
>
>

Re: [Ensoniq-VFX-SD] Re: Ensoniq Sequencers, Pt.2

2011-03-24 by River Of Life

So far you are the big winner Jim.

Blessings,

Vince



At 08:38 PM 3/23/2011, you wrote:



and I am 75.

Jim

Show quoted textHide quoted text
From: Rish
To: Ensoniq-VFX-SD@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Tuesday, March 22, 2011 9:20 PM
Subject: Re: [Ensoniq-VFX-SD] Re: Ensoniq Sequencers, Pt.2


Nothin to it Im in my 40s!
R

----- Original Message -----
From: LarryS
To: Ensoniq-VFX-SD@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Tuesday, March 22, 2011 8:18 PM
Subject: RE: [Ensoniq-VFX-SD] Re: Ensoniq Sequencers, Pt.2


30? really?
What a geezer! Man! A fossil!
you're almost dead!
Are you sure you're still breathing?

L. <--- 53.

>I was young... now I'm 30...
> time is a bitch!
>
>; Fabio



Re: Ensoniq Sequencers, Pt.2

2011-03-24 by somethingkillingyou

I agree with lesson #1.

but the more I stay away from software sequencers, the more happy I feel :)

and you're definitely right, there has never been a better time to make electronic music than right now. 

F.


--- In Ensoniq-VFX-SD@yahoogroups.com, "LarryS" <vision1@...> wrote:
Show quoted textHide quoted text
>
> Why fatten it at all?
> Just save it for the softy parts.
> 
> I mean, the ONE lesson, perhaps the most valuable lesson that I learned
> long, long, ago applied to synths and computers in exactly the same way.
> That is:  There's No Such Thing As One Unit That Does It All.
> 
> The biggest problem people have with their computers is trying to do
> EVERYTHING on them.  Computers are CHEAP.  Buy an old one to write your
> great novel on.  $10.  Never crash.  It has nothing to do.  The Mac I do
> music on could be purchased today for some similar price.  Maybe $50.  It
> never crashes.  It does NOTHING except music.
> 
> And synths are the same way.  What's that K5 worth?  $100?  tops?  I have a
> Kawai K1r and I use it when I need *that sound* -- otherwise it sits.  For
> $50, I could buy another if I wanted one.  So letting it sit costs me
> nothing.  Fatten it up?  I'd never do that.  I have other synths for "fat".
> Saves me time and hassle trying to get 'fat' from a synth that could never
> do it in the first place.  Some synths just ain't got 'fat'... other synths
> ain't got 'light'.   Easy.
> 
> For many years, they tried to sell us synths that would sound like something
> else.  Synths that would sound like everything else.  After a while, I
> finally caught on that not only were they *lying* and would say anything to
> make a sale -- marketing hype -- but I was far ahead to not stay up late
> nights trying to teach a pig to sing.  I just let the synth do its own
> thing.
> 
> Y'know, my first synth was a brand new Arp Odyssey in 1976.  $1400 for a
> monophonic non-progammable synth.  $1400 of THOSE dollars, when gas was 76
> cents/gallon and we were shocked it jumped that high.  As far as I'm
> concerned, there has never been a better time to make electronic music than
> right now.  The very best synths EVER are also the cheapest synths to be
> had.  For that same $1400 today, I could have a rack-full of stuff with
> *100* voices, easy.  
> 
> And don't get me started on my $8,500 Prophet-10 I bought new....  Yup.  One
> synth.  10 voices.  But it had two manuals!  ;-)
> 
> L.
> 
>    
> 
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Ensoniq-VFX-SD@yahoogroups.com 
> > [mailto:Ensoniq-VFX-SD@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of 
> > somethingkillingyou
> > Sent: Tuesday, March 22, 2011 8:59 PM
> > To: Ensoniq-VFX-SD@yahoogroups.com
> > Subject: [Ensoniq-VFX-SD] Re: Ensoniq Sequencers, Pt.2
> > 
> > well, the K5 sound can be fatten up in multi mode, but that 
> > eats a lot of polyphony... anyway the "pureness" of the 
> > additive sound (only harmonic partials, no noise generator) 
> > is prone to sound very digital and kind of sterile anyway... 
> > of course I love it for what it is! :)
> > I mean it's horses for courses, and I like my setup because 
> > of its versatility... subtractive, additive, wavetable... 
> > just add imagination and the will to create new strange sounds!
> > 
> > I hate the fact that the day that I'll be able to program 
> > additive synthesis, I'll be a dinosaur for real... brilliant 
> > concept, but a pain to program... the easiest way is to 
> > analyze some samples and attempt resynthesis... additive can 
> > turn yourself into a sort of mega-synth-nerd and eat up a lot 
> > of playing time... but an inspiring new sound can lead to a 
> > brilliant song!
> > 
> > F.
>

Re: [Ensoniq-VFX-SD] Re: Ensoniq Sequencers, Pt.2

2011-03-24 by Ed Talbot

Mega Dittos Larry!
I pre-ordered a Fantom G6 because I thought My SD-1 could not last forever. Now I appreciate the SD more than ever and the Fantom sits in a rack almost totally ignored.
When we endeavour to create Music we run the risk of being buried in technological B.S.
Thanks for the reminder!
Show quoted textHide quoted text
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Wednesday, March 23, 2011 9:03 PM
Subject: [Ensoniq-VFX-SD] Re: Ensoniq Sequencers, Pt.2

I agree with lesson #1.

but the more I stay away from software sequencers, the more happy I feel :)

and you're definitely right, there has never been a better time to make electronic music than right now.

F.

--- In Ensoniq-VFX-SD@yahoogroups.com, "LarryS" wrote:
>
> Why fatten it at all?
> Just save it for the softy parts.
>
> I mean, the ONE lesson, perhaps the most valuable lesson that I learned
> long, long, ago applied to synths and computers in exactly the same way.
> That is: There's No Such Thing As One Unit That Does It All.
>
> The biggest problem people have with their computers is trying to do
> EVERYTHING on them. Computers are CHEAP. Buy an old one to write your
> great novel on. $10. Never crash. It has nothing to do. The Mac I do
> music on could be purchased today for some similar price. Maybe $50. It
> never crashes. It does NOTHING except music.
>
> And synths are the same way. What's that K5 worth? $100? tops? I have a
> Kawai K1r and I use it when I need *that sound* -- otherwise it sits. For
> $50, I could buy another if I wanted one. So letting it sit costs me
> nothing. Fatten it up? I'd never do that. I have other synths for "fat".
> Saves me time and hassle trying to get 'fat' from a synth that could never
> do it in the first place. Some synths just ain't got 'fat'... other synths
> ain't got 'light'. Easy.
>
> For many years, they tried to sell us synths that would sound like something
> else. Synths that would sound like everything else. After a while, I
> finally caught on that not only were they *lying* and would say anything to
> make a sale -- marketing hype -- but I was far ahead to not stay up late
> nights trying to teach a pig to sing. I just let the synth do its own
> thing.
>
> Y'know, my first synth was a brand new Arp Odyssey in 1976. $1400 for a
> monophonic non-progammable synth. $1400 of THOSE dollars, when gas was 76
> cents/gallon and we were shocked it jumped that high. As far as I'm
> concerned, there has never been a better time to make electronic music than
> right now. The very best synths EVER are also the cheapest synths to be
> had. For that same $1400 today, I could have a rack-full of stuff with
> *100* voices, easy.
>
> And don't get me started on my $8,500 Prophet-10 I bought new.... Yup. One
> synth. 10 voices. But it had two manuals! ;-)
>
> L.
>
>
>
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Ensoniq-VFX-SD@yahoogroups.com
> > [mailto:Ensoniq-VFX-SD@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of
> > somethingkillingyou
> > Sent: Tuesday, March 22, 2011 8:59 PM
> > To: Ensoniq-VFX-SD@yahoogroups.com
> > Subject: [Ensoniq-VFX-SD] Re: Ensoniq Sequencers, Pt.2
> >
> > well, the K5 sound can be fatten up in multi mode, but that
> > eats a lot of polyphony... anyway the "pureness" of the
> > additive sound (only harmonic partials, no noise generator)
> > is prone to sound very digital and kind of sterile anyway...
> > of course I love it for what it is! :)
> > I mean it's horses for courses, and I like my setup because
> > of its versatility... subtractive, additive, wavetable...
> > just add imagination and the will to create new strange sounds!
> >
> > I hate the fact that the day that I'll be able to program
> > additive synthesis, I'll be a dinosaur for real... brilliant
> > concept, but a pain to program... the easiest way is to
> > analyze some samples and attempt resynthesis... additive can
> > turn yourself into a sort of mega-synth-nerd and eat up a lot
> > of playing time... but an inspiring new sound can lead to a
> > brilliant song!
> >
> > F.
>

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