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

>>Unfortunately, you can't do that.  What you could do if you're
trying to transpose live is to route a patchcord to pitch..<<

yeah, I thought so. I was already using a version of this on my
p2k/maq/pocket controller rig, so that my colleague could shift the
octave of his sequencer lines... I do an RT x-fade amongst layers with
different transpose ranges. I have them overlap a bit to get a nice
two-oscillators-on-different-ranges effect.
 
we also use the user-tuning tables so that the doepfer maq stays in
key. it defaults to C2 as the bottom note & doesn't do force-to-scale,
so I've written tables for the different keys we use. I've spent hours
on programming the proteus boxes to make them sound more organic-
routing noise to pitch & stuff like that. they are pretty good, but
for snappy envelopes you need to start with a snappy sample, so we
have our own synth sounds on the flash rom (pro-1, ms6, moogs & so on).

>>suggestion would be to try a different master clock source<<

I think I'm going to end up making the XL-7 the master & just trying
very hard not to stop it in the middle of a piece.... (it would stop a
repeater, a jam-man & a doepfer maq, & upset two echo-pro's & the
adrenalinn on my bass... & the audience would be baffled!) 
at least it does tap-tempo reasonably elegantly.


>>Try X-Mix, for example, you might be able to pull different drum
beats from a different patterns.  Maybe have a pattern full of
alternate beats, one on each track.  Then, you could X-Mix in any of
them into the current pattern.  It will even auto-extend to fill the
current length (so a 1-bar pattern would be extended to 32)...<<

I'll give that a go. I've only had the thing a couple of weeks, so I'm
still poking around & looking at the intimidatingly fat manual.
luckily, most of it is old ground for me... 
we don't often use "programmed" drums (th'other keys man is a drummer,
posing it's own issues when he can't hear things properly on-stage,
but we prefer it that way...) so the issue is more one of trying to
replicate the functionality of another h/w sequencer like the maq or
the notron. 

what I actually want to get the XL-7 doing is playing a chord sequence
in pattern mode while I improvise melody & bass lines over it in a
berlin-school sort of way. 
just tired of carrying so many bits of gear around & trying to stay on
top of all the midi merging/throughing. 

I like the idea of calling up a pattern & having all the important
stuff recalled at one go: the right presets for all channels,
including the ones where there aren't any notes stored against them
(because the maq or a keyboard is going to play on that channel). I
have a workaround for this that involves recording a "placeholder"
part into a track, then deleting the notes again. the XL-7 doesn't
delete the setup data unless you do a particular erase op.) I used to
have to do this with a multisetup recall on the p2k; clunky, & didn't
set up the mix properly.

I also tend to leave the knobs set to their "quick edit" function, so
I've changed two of them to be CC's 7 & 10 (volume & pan) to save me
having to switch to the other pages. damn shame the knobs don't have a
"pass-through" mode, isn't it? I'll probably end up adding a doepfer
PC to act as a master midi mixer.

I have been experimenting with the arpeggiators- maybe this is my way
forward for the live blippy stuff, if I resolve the clock issue & get
it syncopated with the doepfer. I just need to get my head round how
the patterns work. I had to start all over again with this after the
headf*ck of the arpeg section of the novation supernova. 
anyway- cheers for the response. nice to know the list is healthy.
duncan.