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

Hi! 
I am controlling my virus b from my xl-7. I am inserting program change messages at the beginning of tracks inn a pattern. It works, but the problem is that the virus takes a short moment to change patches, and misses the first note of the pattern (note that when the pattern loops, the correct patches are all loaded and no probem occurs). The result is that each time I change pattern it sounds DREADFUL as lots of notes are missing (or sometimes sound really weird). 

Any suggestions for how I can work around this using some tricks on the xl-7?

My workflow is a bit like this:

I dedicate some patterns to holding a certain type of sound, for example, I have patterns filled with bassline tracks, each track containing a program change, the midi notes and some controller movements to produce the bassline. Then I have another pattern filled with pad sounds, etc). Another pattern filled with swooshy noises. I dont play these patterns, they are just used as source material for xmix and for composing 'proper' patterns.

I was intending to create songs from my patterns (maybe record some mute changes and tweaks, etc), and for the final result, have songs that play out one after another with little user interaction. But now I am faced with major issues!!!

Any attempts to pre-load 16 patches prior to a song, and to hold them in the virus memory during the song fail due to the way Im composing patterns with xmix.. each pattern is ending up with different patches on different tracks.

Help!!!

2011/9/2 magpieindustries <dach@...>:
> but the problem is that the virus takes a short moment to change patches, and misses the first note of the pattern

Ah, the famous Virus... Sorry, could not resist, but the truth is,
that my (famous) Korg Z1 does the same.

> Any suggestions for how I can work around this using some tricks on the xl-7?

I ended up inserting Program Change messages with some advance, but
that was when I was working with PC based software sequencer, not XL7.

> My workflow is a bit like this:
>
> I dedicate some patterns to holding a certain type of sound, for example, I have patterns filled with bassline tracks, each track containing a program change, the midi notes and some controller movements to produce the bassline. Then I have another pattern filled with pad sounds, etc). Another pattern filled with swooshy noises. I dont play these patterns, they are just used as source material for xmix and for composing 'proper' patterns.
>
> I was intending to create songs from my patterns (maybe record some mute changes and tweaks, etc), and for the final result, have songs that play out one after another with little user interaction. But now I am faced with major issues!!!
>
> Any attempts to pre-load 16 patches prior to a song, and to hold them in the virus memory during the song fail due to the way Im composing patterns with xmix.. each pattern is ending up with different patches on different tracks.

What I would try if I were you - I would completely remove the Program
Change messages from your tracks and manage them directly from the
Virus' level. However, once you're done with the song, you can save
it, download it to your PC using E-loader and then edit in a software
sequencer, adding the Program Change messages in the new measure
before the music starts, to avoid choking the Virus - and then upload
back to your XL7.

HTH,

Bruno

P.S. Thanks for sharing some very interesting way of making music on
XL7! I never thought about this, but true, with XmiX it's possible to
"glue" together tracks from different "storage" patterns. I'm
definitely going to try it!