ESQ 1 to HALO midi tech question

[ablethevoice]

Hi folks. I'm a total newcomer to this site but not to blogging per say. I'm also unfortunately totally MIDI illiterate. I have manuals to both the ESQ 1 and the Halo but I still can't figure out if my problem is solvable or not.

Anyway- here it is: I have the ESQ MIDI OUT running to the HALO MIDI IN. When I record on the ESQ sequencer, I would like to have each seq track sent to the Halo play a different voice on the Halo, but that's not what happens. Every track recorded on the ESQ sequencer plays whatever voice the Halo is currently set on. So for instance, key events which represent drum sounds will suddenly play piano if I then record a piano track and try to play them both at the same time. I have tried setting the midi channels to different settings... I've tried changing the midi mode of both keyboards (omni, multi, etc) but I still have the same problem. Maybe I haven't hit the right combinations of configurations on the two boards... I don't know. Now, If someone can tell me that the ESQ only transmits on one channel at a time, I can let it go and keep using CEP multitracking as a workaround... but if there is a way to get the ESQ to send to more than one channel at a time, that would be wonderful...
Thanks for any help

[Anfontan]

Originally Posted by ablethevoice

Hi folks. I'm a total newcomer to this site but not to blogging per say. I'm also unfortunately totally MIDI illiterate. I have manuals to both the ESQ 1 and the Halo but I still can't figure out if my problem is solvable or not.

Anyway- here it is: I have the ESQ MIDI OUT running to the HALO MIDI IN. When I record on the ESQ sequencer, I would like to have each seq track sent to the Halo play a different voice on the Halo, but that's not what happens. Every track recorded on the ESQ sequencer plays whatever voice the Halo is currently set on. So for instance, key events which represent drum sounds will suddenly play piano if I then record a piano track and try to play them both at the same time. I have tried setting the midi channels to different settings... I've tried changing the midi mode of both keyboards (omni, multi, etc) but I still have the same problem. Maybe I haven't hit the right combinations of configurations on the two boards... I don't know. Now, If someone can tell me that the ESQ only transmits on one channel at a time, I can let it go and keep using CEP multitracking as a workaround... but if there is a way to get the ESQ to send to more than one channel at a time, that would be wonderful...
Thanks for any help

I have an SQ80 sequencer(basically a ESQ1 with a floppy drive ) that I sync to an old Roland TR 505 drum machine, and I know that the SQ80 must be set to omni mode to work as the master in that setup. As for the Halo, I can't help on that part of the situation. It may just be part your problem, but I can send all 8 channels so its possible.

[misscc803]

On the Halo u need to go to da MIDI settings and change it from OMNI to MULTI and make sure it says accepted. And then u should be able to sequence on your ESQ. Cause i sequence everything from my PK-6 on an Akai MPC 2000. LEt me know what happens.

IF the Halo is setup jus like da PK-6 then go to where it says MIDI scroll through until it says something about OMNI change dat to Multi-accepted and u good fam.

[ablethevoice]

Originally Posted by misscc803

On the Halo u need to go to da MIDI settings and change it from OMNI to MULTI and make sure it says accepted. And then u should be able to sequence on your ESQ. Cause i sequence everything from my PK-6 on an Akai MPC 2000. LEt me know what happens.

IF the Halo is setup jus like da PK-6 then go to where it says MIDI scroll through until it says something about OMNI change dat to Multi-accepted and u good fam.

Thanks for replying so fast... I'm the one slow to respond to yours.

Anyway, I'm afraid you might have misunderstood my original post. I am already able to sequence the Halo using the ESQ... My problem is I want the ESQ's sequencer tracks to fire DIFFERENT sounds on the Halo... at the same time. As I said, if I record ESQ seq track 1 to play drums, and that is the only track with data recorded on it, then fine, great, drums are what I get. If I then select a new ESQ seq track and try to record a piano (or any other sound), that newly-selected sound is being played by the key events recorded on track 1 for drums. I'm trying to figure out how to seperate the ESQ's MIDI data so track 1 from the ESQ plays drums (or whatever) and ONLY drums... track 2 will play bass (or whatever) and ONLY bass, etc.
I'm sorry if I seem to be repeating myself... I'm just trying to be clear on the problem I'm having. Again... if what I want isn't possible either because of a "weakness" of either the Halo or the ESQ that will be fine, too. I already have developed a workaround using Cool Edit Pro's multitracking. I'm just wondering if my lack of fluency with MIDI is limiting what I could be doing with these two instruments.
Again, thanks and respect!

[altitude909]

Are you sure that keyboard is multitimberal?

[misscc803]

I know what u are tryin to do. U are tryin to use more than one sound from the keyboard. What i meantioned is how u go about doin it. If the keyboard isnt Multitimberal it may not work. But what i said is the right way. Try it at least please a and tell me what happens.

[ablethevoice]

Originally Posted by altitude909

Are you sure that keyboard is multitimberal?

LOL I honestly don't know. I assumed the Halo was, because the ESQ is and the Halo is such a newer machine. I couldn't find any mention of multitimberal functions in the owners manual. Also, I assumed the unit was multitimberal because when I select a "jam" voice such as LA KEYS, and play the loop, I hear piano, bass and drums but if I shut off the loop and just play the keyboard, all I hear is a piano... no kbd splits with drums mapped to a few lower keys, bass on the ones above that and piano on the remaining ones.

Sheesh... that is probably the issue... the Halo just isn't multitimberal...however if someone knows otherwise, I'm still listening
Thanks to all so far for your responses.
regards
Tom

EDIT: Oh, and misscc I did try the MIDI function you suggested and still I get what I described. I think I've been asking my Halo to do something it wasn't designed to do.

*slaps forhead!** D'oh!

[altitude909]

I couldn't find any mention of multitimberal functions in the owners manual

Yup. Sounds like your SOL. Multitracking time..

[misscc803]

That keyboard has the mulit function i know it did. I just read the manual. Please hit me up on AIM or yahoo so i can help get u situated.

AIM:missdjcoleycole
Yahoo:misscc803

[misscc803]

Matter of fact go to page 98 of your manual and that will let u know what i was talkin about when i said MULTI MODE.