Help-help-help me!

I know nothing about analogue sequencing. I haven't the slightest idea about how any of it all works. I usually rely on very fast fingers (tee hee) and have to have several takes if I record something.

If anyone has a spare bit of time to tell me the basics of sequencing, synching, MIDI, whatever - I would GREATLY appreciate it. Keep in mind I know almost nothing about MIDI either, except that it's an outlet in all my electronic boxes & it's a way for boxes to talk to each other/a virtual sequence of button-pushing.

I have two microKORGs & a DR-202 that I think may have some relevance. I like the idea of programming everything into a box (like an MC-4!) and hooking it up to my instruments and watching them sing. Does this actually happen? Also, is there any software that analogue boxes can be physically (cords to the computer & instrument) marched around with? Do sequencers actually march around analogue equipment?

I'm sorry for bothering you noble gentlemen/women with my inferior whatnot. Enclosed is a link to a gallery of pictures of electronic boxes that I just found that I want to kill this guy for. Clickí.

EDITED FOR STUPID

I know. I'm sorry. [tear drips slowly onto oatmeal-smeared bib]

ok... most modern instruments.. in fact all modern instruments generally operate on midi... musical instrument digital interface.

this is a way of connecting up your instruments to each other, to a sequencer etc etc. so they can communicate with each other.

most old analog kit uses a method called CV, or 'control voltage'.. which is a lot simpler.. basically note on/off and pitch etc..

the two can be made compatible by a device which converts midi to cv and vice versa...kenton do some nice midi-cv boxes.

so, yes, you can connect a computer, or a hardware sequencer to any of your instruments, using whichever method is suitable..

you can have all your 'boxes singing' being controlled from one central daw, or a workstation.

you can use one keyboard to trigger sounds on another keyboard.. you can send and recieve user assignable midi signals that will affect and effect any parameters of your sounds which are assignable to midi control. you can input data into a sequencer using your keyboard.. and trigger internal sounds/effects changes etc. on your computer this way

that's the basics of it... what else do you need to know.?

in some cases... cv can be more complex than just an on/off gate. the biggest problem with cv was that it wasn't standardised, so different synth manufacturers used different signals to do different things.

midi was the first attempt to standardise this.

there's been talk of a second generation of midi for a long time, but i know very liittle about it.

afaik, reason has some cv settings.. but i don't use reason, so i'm not 100 per cent on that either.

if you want a simple software midi sequencer to control your kit i'd recommend ableton live

The MMT-8 is a nice and simple hardware sequencer, buy one and read the manual.

  Mr. Modular said:

The MMT-8 is a nice and simple hardware sequencer, buy one and read the manual.

it's ok.

i wouldn't recommend one as a starter kit though.. they're very old and they have a tendency for the buttons nt to work after a while.. you can clean the contacts with acetone, but after you've had it for a while, you have to put your whole weight on the button to get it to work.

i used to have one.. i have no idea where the fuck it is now.

do you have a pc.. i'd recommend getting a software sequencer.. they're infinitely more versatile, and easier to use.

you can get a few pretty decent software sequencers for free if you're the kind of person with no morals about cracked software.

Thanks to all of you! I hated asking but I figured people of this music division would be the best to ask. CV used the jacks that look like regular 1/4" jacks, right?

Also, what kind of workstation/whatnot would you reccomend? What's the maximum amount of boxes they control? I like the idea of being completely analogue. I keep having dreams of MC-4s... their little green numbers...

Again, thanks for all yer time. I greatly appreciate it all.

Thanks Mr. Modular (you replied while I was writing).

yeah, cv had the wee plugs.

i personally wouldn't recommend a workstaton, or even a hardware sequencer.

as i said previously, s/w is more powerful, and generally cheaper.

you can use it solely as a sequencer for external hardware if you like, and have the added advantage of onboard audiio processing if you want to use it at a later stage.

and you can control pretty much as many boxes as you have cables for, but the further down the midi chain each instrument is, the more noticeable the tiny midi delay will get... basically, you're transmitting a midi signal, and it takes time to get along a cable.

pretty unnoticeable with three or four instruments.. and depending on how you route your midi, you can minimise this.

a midi patch bay helps,.(ie a midi box with more than one output.)

OK... while I'm at it, on the sequencers that I see, there's only a few CV/MIDI outlets/inputs. You split all of these, right? But with what...?

Thanks again. I just don't feel like looking it up anywhere else.

hey tisket, lol wtf? did i give you cancer? wtf lol

there's various ways of doing it... seq midi out>midi patchbay with multiple outs> instruments.

seq midi out> instrument.. midi thru on new instrument> other instrument.. repeat as necessary.

seq midi out> midi patchbay.. one midi out> kenton midi/cv box> cv outs to analog kit midi patchbay outs> midi kit.

you'll also want to connect the midi out of your master keyboard, ie the one you do your inputting with to the midi in of your sequencer.

remember to set your midi recieve channels properly on your instruments.

Software sequencers may be more free, but I think a good hardware sequencer puts more fun into things. It's very refreshing to make music without having to sit in front of a computer.

3.55mm plugs for cv/gate

Thanks again. Thinking about that Alesis MMD-8 sequencer. Any other suggestions?

  Fred McGriff said:

hey tisket, lol wtf? did i give you cancer? wtf lol

If you're "Beak", then no - not really. I just got really depressed when I heard it. Then I felt bad and listened to your old one, which was very satisfying. I get really tired of guitars easily and your old EP got rid of the previous drag. Every day, I kill a guitar.

yeah, seriously, don't get an mmt 8.

mmd8? is that an updated version.. that might work.. never heard of it though.

only 8 channels..

  Mr. Modular said:

Software sequencers may be more free, but I think a good hardware sequencer puts more fun into things. It's very refreshing to make music without having to sit in front of a computer.

DEFINITELY. I get depressed by computers too.

Oh yeah, I meant MMT-8. What other good, completely analogue sequencers are there? 8 channels - 8 instruments, right?

Whut about an MC-500/500mkII?

about hard vs soft sequencing: slow/illogical interfaces SUCK when you have a certain idea that your trying to record. and most hardware interfaces ARE slow, especially if you are skilled with pc's. i have a rm1x but it's mainly gathering dust. if i wanna make a complex midi track, i'd rather use cubase sx for speed.

  iep said:

about hard vs soft sequencing: slow/illogical interfaces SUCK when you have a certain idea that your trying to record. and most hardware interfaces ARE slow, especially if you are skilled with pc's. i have a rm1x but it's mainly gathering dust. if i wanna make a complex midi track, i'd rather use cubase sx for speed.

wurd.

and versatility.

imo there's going to come a time when hardware sequencing of eight instruments isn't enough, and sx or similar gives you access to audio recording, internal midi control of vst's and vsti's (virtual synth technology.. ie softsynths and many many digital effects.. digital eq, audio arrrange features etc etc ad nauseam)

you can even sequence yoour outboard kit, then record it as audio into your sequencer, then process it internally.

plus you get (dependdent on your soundcard, procesor and memory) almost unlimited channels.

imagine 128 channels of onboard midi and audio, plus your outboard kit. alll fully configurable with outboard and onboard fx/eq/whatever.. plus beatslicing/audio editing

plus a master section for your final mixdown with all of the aforementioned advantages.... plus the ability to burn that final mix to cd direct.... get a decent free wave editor 0n top of this, and you're away.

sounding better....?

the mc500 is a nice hardware box, but it's just not as versatile as s/w.... it DOES have microscope mode, though which is excellent fun.

it also has the added advantage that it wouldn't look out of place in an episode of buck rogers.

I really only use computers for recording and the occaisonal 303 emulation or drum sequence. Computers are lush and all, but I'm terribly nostalgic for a time when I wasn't born and synths could kill you if one fell on you and electronic boxes were eared with wooden panels. I'm sure I'll have my day with computers sometime.

I think I'm going to get an MC-500mkII. Someone please stop me within 4 hours if you know better than I.

  iep said:

about hard vs soft sequencing: slow/illogical interfaces SUCK when you have a certain idea that your trying to record. and most hardware interfaces ARE slow, especially if you are skilled with pc's. i have a rm1x but it's mainly gathering dust. if i wanna make a complex midi track, i'd rather use cubase sx for speed.

dude i use a rm1x as well. i agree that it sucks trying to sequence with it but i control it with ableton live and its a lot of fun