sound module / sequencer question...making sure I am doing the correct way...

[LANSTARR]

I will be getting my turbo phatt module with virtuoso 1, xtreme lead, and planet earth roms hopefully by christmas. I was talking to a friend of mine who uses a proteus 2000 with a roland xp-60 about the proper way to use it with a sequencer (I use to just sample my modules sounds directly into my mpc). My original intent was to use CC# to sent bank change messages to the sound module. But I saw it as a pain to go through all those steps to make bank changes for every track on every pattern I make. So my friend was telling me about the way he uses his proteus with his xp.

Lets see if I have this right. Each bank on an emu module has 128 programs and corresponds to a midi channel. So bank 0 would correspond to channel 1, bank 1 to channel 2, bank 2 to channel 3, ect. So to use one of the 128 programs on say bank 3, I would set the track on my mpc to midi channel 4. Likewise, I can use one of the 128 programs on bank 6 by setting the track to midi channel 5. Is this correct? Also, suppose I wanted to use 2 programs from the same bank. I could, for example set the midi channel on track one to channel 1 and use program number 10, and then set the midi channel on track two to channel 1, and use program number 11. Is this correct?

My next question is would I be able to rearrange what programs are on what bank? For example, I would want to put all piano programs on bank 0, string on bank 1, and guitars on bank 2, ect. Would I be able to do that?

Lastly, I heard something about saving performances on the emu sound module. Can you give me some information on exactly what that does why I would want to do that?

Thank you all for all you help

- LANSTARR

 

[Rev E]

Lanstarr,

I'm assuming that you're using the Turbo Phatt with Roland XP series (you did not explicitly say). You're actually in better shape than you thought.

"Each bank on an emu module has 128 programs and corresponds to a midi channel. So bank 0 would correspond to channel 1, bank 1 to channel 2, bank 2 to channel 3, ect"

NO, not exactly. Each bank DOES have 128 programs, but each bank DOES NOT correspond to a particular MIDI channel. Simply put, with the Emu module (I just recently sold my Mo' Phatt), you have 16 MIDI channels. In performance mode, ANY sound from ANY bank can be placed on ANY MIDI channel. So you may put any sound on the MIDI channel of your choice... You are NOT limited to put a certain sound on a certain MIDI channel.

What your friend was most likely referring to was MSB and LSB. I forget their exact translation right now (most significant something and least significant something) , but they are essentially a way to map a bank and a specific sound via MIDI. When you send cc's (controller messages), you will have to send the specific MSB and LSB that correspond to both the desired bank and the desired program (patch) that you want to play. If you are using the Roland to control the program changes of the Emu, then you'll need to get out both manuals to figure out how to set up the MSB and LSB data on both ends. I use my sequencer (Logic Audio) to call up an environment to call up sounds on my modules. It took some reading, but it's well worth it!

"My next question is would I be able to rearrange what programs are on what bank? For example, I would want to put all piano programs on bank 0, string on bank 1, and guitars on bank 2, ect. Would I be able to do that?"

I am not aware of a way to do this within the actually keyboard or module itself (the patches are in the ROM and cannot generally be rearranged). However, you CAN do this with a computer and MIDI editor program, like Sound Diver (by Emagic) or Unisyn (by MOTU, I think). In those Editor programs, you can put similar patches in groups (keyboards in group 1, basses in group 2, yada, yada...) With an editor, you can also create custom patches and save them within the editor rather than on the keyboard or module.

Another simple way to do this is just to use the User Bank on the Turbo phatt for rearranging sounds. Emu is nice about this by giving the you an equal amount of user banks as they give you ROM banks (the user banks are duplicates of the ROMs) so you can rearrange to your heart's content.

Lastly, I heard something about saving performances on the emu sound module. Can you give me some information on exactly what that does why I would want to do that?"

Say you want a certain set of instruments for a certain song on certain MIDI channels, you would set up a performance. The performance would save the instruments, their relative volumes, their panning assignments, any effects that you used for that song. That way you simply call up a performance for a certain song or sequence rather than having to redo putting 16 instruments in their proper setup everytime you want to play that song.

 

[LANSTARR]

Thanks for the help. Let me clear up a couple of things. I have an akai mpc 2000 and I plan to use it wit an emu module. A friend of mine has an xp60 and proteus. What he told me is that to use bank 0, simply set my mpc to channel 1. To use bank 1 simply set my mpc to channel 2. So on and so on. Then he says than when I am finished making the song, save it, power off, and come back to it later, it will automatically recall which bank to use for each track because the banks # corespond to the midi channel #. Is this true?

About the performances, is that saved in the midi file, or the sound module. If it is saved in the module, how many performances can it save? Can I save one performance for every song I make?

 

[Chriss]

your friend obviously don't know what he's talking about...
The banks are just banks filled with data... Banks and midi channels are way different things.. A channel is the Midi data itself.. you play all your notes and events through the channel..

It goes like this:
You select a midi channel you wanna play through on your sequencer.. Then you find that same midi channel on your module.. usually you select a part on the module and assign a midi channel to it
Let's say you choose Channel 1 on your sequencer, and assign Channel one to Part 1 on your module..
it's first when you select what instrument that Part/Channel will be playing you're gonna use the banks..
A bank is just a list of instruments available.. You usually have 128 instruments listed in one bank (128 cause of bit operation).. from those lists you select the instrument you want the Channel/Part to use..
So you don't "play" banks.. you play on midi channels and banks are only an easy way to handle the intrument lists... k?

I think what your friend tried to explain was setting up the parts
The most easy thing to do is to assign Part 1 To Channel 1, Part 2 To Channel 2, Part 3 To Channel 3, ect.. and yes, that will be remembered..

About performances:
Performances must be saved before you change to another performance or shut the module down.. it's saved in the flash memory of the module.. Yeah, you can have a performance for each song.. it's kindof a setup of your parts and instruments.. you can usually have at least 128 performances, that's 128 or more different setups..

 

[LANSTARR]

Thanks chris and rave e

I understand what you are staying about the channel to bank relationship. But midi channels have to somehow correspond to banks, because when you set it to channel ten, by default, it plays drums.

Let me tell you what I want to do so maybe you can help me out a little bit more. I want to set up a template on my sequencer. I will make track 1 - 16 on my sequencer use midi data from channel 1-16 respectively. I want the sound modules banks 0 - 12 to use sounds from bank 1-13 in the way I was describing before; channel 1:bank 0, channel 2:bank1, channel 3:bank 2, ect. Is there any way to set up a template so that it does automatically with out having to set that up? Would I use performances to acheive that?

 

[Chriss]

they don't correspond to banks in any way.. many modules are just preset with drumbanks specifically assigned to channel 10.. Seriously..

But of course you can make every part on your module set up like that... of course..

Using performances is the easy way, but you'll have to keep one of them untouched and then, each time you want a new song, save it as a new performance..

You can also make a sysex dump and save the data on your computer as a midi file, then you can start up the engines simply by running that midi file... that is a bit more difficult though, but perhaps more safe...