Anyone rock a sp with a rack DIFFERENT than the Emax/S950...

Something Like That

Anyone?

I'm trying to see if the SP can control cv info and other midi control data by assigning a pad along with the slider to the fuction within the rack.

Anyone using an Emu ESI series, Yamaha A series, Akai S3000xl or newer rack sampler sucessfully with their sp.

I'm referring to having the sp control midi functions like: pan, resonance, volume, lfo, various effects...and any other synth like functions that rack samplers have. I'm able to hook up a midi keyboard and get it to control these functions by using midi "thru" on the sampler/keyboard/sp, but I'd like to simplify things by having the sp control these paramaters.

The MPC60 can do it but its way ahead of the SP in midi capability so I wouldn't be surprised if you guys have experienced trouble in the same area.

Lets figure this out. It would be very benificial to those of you who do more than one shots, loops, and LPFs....

DFACE DXA

950 only for me

Something Like That

well. I figured it out. Its not going down as intended.

The SP can only do 1 shots so no modulation and changing of paramaters through knobs,buttons. Takes a newer mp and or sequencer to get that action going.

Now, if you slave your mp or keyboard sequencer to the SPs clock, then you will be able to control rack paramaters through the kb while keeping time to the sp clock but thats not a working option for those of us who don't have multiple sequencers.

Drinks

OneShots and Multi Mode Volume, not Pitch.

Something Like That

ok.

So what are you trying to say?

Drinks

Just that the only MIDI information you can control from the SP to an external device is the volume via the faders (or multi mode) and that the SP sends a note ON message, followed immediately by the note OFF.

Unfortunately, Pitch information is not transmitted. That is, you can control different notes from different pads but that the pitch value won't change. Shame really.

Oh, and you can obviously control the MIDI clock.

If anybody knows any other MIDI controls the SP can change, I'd love to know.

I used to use an A3000.

Drinks

BTW, Voltage (CV) can't be directly controlled by the SP. Unless I'm missing something - or unless you have a CV/Gate to MIDI convertor.

Oh and please elaborate on the LPF control. Are you saying you can control enveloppe functions such as the cutoff from the SP's fader via MIDI???

This topic should be in the MIDI Questions section.

Something Like That

Cool.

I got what your saying, thanks.

I was trying to use a similar Yammy sampler with the SP but its going to take the 60 to do it. I also wish the SP could control more of these paramaters and it is a shame...really.

LPF envelope control, Pitch, etc...no can do. That was all part of my question and the answer (to my knowledge and others input) is...no can do.

As for controlling the volume of external devices in multi mode; I didn't know the SP could do that so props for that nugget.

I guess the best options for real sample mangling, synthesis, filters, etc would be using a S3000xl or an EmaxI/II/ or Emulator III with the SP.

I would say Emu ESi-5000 series rock but my Yammy rocks to...just gotta have a better equipped midi device to harness it full potential for my production style.

The SP is still a monster though...

I was hoping to get this running since I'm having to downsize gear to free up space and funds for an overseas move.

How are you running your A3000 to the SP? I put my 4000 in toggle mode for one shots but then all 8 keys on the SP play that one shot and I get no drums or other sounds off any pad. Perhaps I should turn on Constant Pitch? Does the Yammy have constant pitch (like the S950)? I leave the SP and Yammy on Omni. When its (A4000) not in toggle mode -which enables one shot- then I get nothing but ultra short clicks from the Yammy. Is there a way to set the A3000/4000 on "one shot" mode with out enabling 'toggle'. I've read that damn manual 3 times and its stupidly weak and nondescript in some areas...and I ain't no new jack to racks and midi. Yammys have an odd user interface.

Drinks

"I guess the best options for real sample mangling, synthesis, filters, etc would be using a S3000xl or an EmaxI/II/ or Emulator III with the SP."

It really won't matter what sampler you use. The SP as MIDI controller is the weak link. Not sure about the MPC series as I've never used them as controllers but I would imagine they can as they have the same engine as the S series. Its all down to the system messages included in the design.

"Yammys have an odd user interface"

Yes they do. But killer filters IMO. I don't use the A3000 anymore. Sold it before it depreciated. As its been a while (1999) I can't remember the Yamaha's exact interface but a way around using the one shot is to increase the Decay and Release of the sample. It'll definitely do the trick and will fade naturally depending on the settings (I ran my A3000 from an Atari ST with the SP clocked as slave). You'll also want the SP on OMNI with Pitch Keys ON to trigger different samples - of course, that will depend on how the samples are organised on the keygroup within the Yamaha - again, something I can't recall. You should try a Yamaha forum though...

Something Like That

yeah, Im a member of the Yammy forum. Couple cats running 2000xl's w/ A5s but nobody does it with a SP.

The 60 is in a box on its way to Forat so the new rig is:

A4/60/Emax w/ the SP as the master, 60 as the slave.

Thanks for your input

dolo72

I just found this thread
You can sort of control pitch lfo pan filter freq cut off and even sample start from the SP to the EMU Esi - It only works when you put the dynamic pads on or when you put the sp into multimode and then the SP transmits velocity information. On the ESI you can make velocity information control most of the parameters for the sample. It works more for the filter type stuff - if you could transmit velocity information without the dynamic pads then it would mean you could chop up samples on the ESI superquick like on the SP with the fader. This is one of the tweaks id love to see on the SP software but according to other post on this forum it aint gonna happen.

Dolo

downsample

You can send multi pitch and multi level information from the SP1200.

Its in set up - MIDI parameters, pitch keys.

the messages are a bit crazy so you may need a MIDI converting program or do it yourself in Max/MSP.

But doing this you could control synth filters and lfos from the SP

Something Like That

Have you tried this?

downsample

yes it works. ive made VSTs that are designed to work with the SP1200 before. You can pretty much build anything with Max/MSP.

What do you want the 1200 to do, specifically?

downsample

Right... I'm not sure of your intentions but im bored so lets talk shop.

You need a computer with MIDI in/out to do what I'm suggesting. I'm sure you guys know whats going on but just for the amateurs i'll break it down....

MIDI FLOW: SP1200 ---> CPU running Max/MSP ----> int/ext Synth or whatever

You could make life a whole lot easier by just creating groove templates to get that SP swing and use your DAW to control everything... but if you really want the SP to control a synth yada yada. (for live use I assume) It can be done.

I'll make it short and sweet (cause getting into Max details can take forever).

As i said before the SP can send pitch and velocity data via midi, although its an old school format and unless you know something i dont your modern DAW wont receive it properly (it may be in the options somewhere)... Al la multipitch trigger will show up as two midi events occuring at once on the timeline.

So we route the MIDI events into Max and can see exactly what infos coming in. Then we can do some Max stuff (object orientated programming) to transform the info into modern midi and choose wherever we want to send it. Out to external hardware or to soft synths, whatever note or CC you want. Pretty much anything that can be controlled by MIDI.

This is all good but here is the catch... Sorry this is kinda tricky to explain, too many brews!

The SP1200 does not send CC's so to make a smooth change (emulate a CC) you would need to send all the info before you actually wanted the values to change. (no real time!)

Attention Amateurs: With CC's you control the parameter in real time. With this you have to send a start and end value before you want to make a change.

Example: You have a totally wicked beat on your SP running through an external low pass filter, to change the external filter and make it close over a bar you would need to sequence (or play live) the change 1 bar before you want it to actually happen.

A bit annoying but its pretty instinctive.

Any abrupt changes in filter setting or LFO speeds etc can be done real time, you could make a Max patch that is just listening to one SP bank, then assign half the pads to gradual changes and half to real time. You could also change up these settings on the fly by adjusting your outputs in Max. (this could even be done by MIDI from the SP of you never wanted to touch your computer)

Hope this clears up some Q's,

Hit me up.

Peace