707 to jx8p and hr16

[princefan3]

Hi Guys....me again.

as ive now retired the atari sequencer for now...im going to start multi tracking in audio.

ive learnt how to use the 707 to control my hr16 via midi in order to get the timing correct...and boost
the sound pallett somewhat.

i was wondering if i connect the midi from the 707 to the jx8p is there any benifit in this...can i use the 707 as a type of sequencer....?

[Z]

Yes, the 707 can be used as a basic pattern sequencer for external MIDI instruments in a similar fashion as the TR-909's external instrument mode. However, you will not have any control over note length - only a trigger, so you will need to design your synth patch accordingly.

Here's a video demonstration I made of the TR-909's external instrument mode:
[youtube][/youtube]

[princefan3]

WOW that was stunning Z....thanks so much for the example...thats really inspried me....2 ruddy 909s man.

would i be right in saying.

the first 909 was triggering the J6 and still managing to play its own drums..

the second 909 was controling the JD800..

would the pattern sequence have been able to be played up or down a tone or two seeing as the J6 has an arpeggiator.... as the note sequence got repetative towards the end...?

[Z]

Correct, the 1st 909 triggered the Jupiter 6 and the 2nd 909 triggered the JD-800. Drums added from BOTH 909s - listen again in stereo and hear the "panning" high hats and such. Unfortunately, there's no way to transpose the patterns - you would have to program a new pattern.

The 909 can program its own drums as well as an external instrument only on MIDI notes 36-52. With the 707, instead of using the 707 sounds, you can program those sounds to trigger an external instrument, back in the late 80s, I used this technique with a TR-626 to play a bass line on one channel of my AX60 leaving the other for chords or melody while drums came from TR-909 or Alesis HR-16.

[princefan3]

Ok Z thats a big shame you cannot transpose...i take it that you did try to anyway to see..?

so therefore a need for another drum machine, just to play the same higher transposed rythm...shame.

so the 707 does not have the ability to play its own sounds and sequence...but to only sequence..

however it can triger via rim shot and sequence a midi pattern at the same time..im hoping.

if you had to buy a further drum machine for sequence purposes what would you opt for...505 606 626..?

[princefan3]

And OH i forgot...loving the fact that its all in the lounge..TOP MAN....

[Z]

The only way I can see your could transpose the sequence that was playing is using the pitch bender. You wouldn't need a 2nd machine to play a transposed sequence, just a new pattern with a transposed sequence.

According to p. 46 of the 707 owners manual, there are 2 MIDI note assignments for the 707s voices, the first being the traditional "general MIDI" note configuration with notes spread across the bottom 2 octaves of a keyboard and the 2nd configuration similar to the 909's external instrument mode where notes are configured chromatically from note number 36 through 50.

If I were to buy a drum machine to use as a MIDI pattern sequencer, I'd chose the 626 because there are more voices to use (30 I think) to program notes with and you can also change the MIDI note numbers and MIDI channels for these voices so you could technically sequence multiple MIDI instruments, but with only a few notes.

Instead of buying a drum machine to use as a sequencer, I'd look into a dedicated hardware sequencer. The Alesis MMT-8 is a great, easy-to-use pattern sequencer that I still use on occasion today and can be had for under $100.

I was only using the 626 as a sequencer back in the late 80s because I was a poor teenager and didn't have a sequencer (except for some crappy software for my Commodore 64) and borrowed my buddy's 626.

[princefan3]

i did hear some good things said about the 626 funny enough and it gives you latin stuff....my first sequencer was an MMT- 8 but dropped it and it broke up...the buttons on her were useless though and started to get annoying after a while..so it went.

good thinking batman with the pitch bender...there are a few options on the jx8p i believe.

i used to have an issue with trying to play the 707 via a mother keyboard, as for some reason i couldnt reach the bottom octaves of the keyboard...

when you say the 2 nd config does it mean i can play the 707s sounds now do you think...im not great with midi
note configuration as never really got into it...probablly missing a whole new world for me.

there were some slight changes in pitch i did notice that made the sequence more interesting ...what were you doing there then...was you adding accetnts or something..

[pflosi]

I think a Midipal between 707 & synth would easily be able to transpose in this situation...

[princefan3]

Z i need your help here...im looking at page 46 on manual. of 707 ...ive done what they have told me ref the button pressing...but im not getting any luck with sequencing the jx8p...as yet

i have set both midi channels to the same channel....could you help any further..?

[pflosi]

What mode are you in? AFAIR it sends midi note messages only in song play mode...

[princefan3]

Hi Pflosi...i says to get into track playing mode first

then while holding shift...press midi chanel button and instrument/guide button

not a lot happens after that....should i be able then, to press the 16 buttons to make a synth sound heard from the jx8p.

[pflosi]

I'm not sure whether the pads / buttons send out midi... I'm not at home ATM so I cannot try. What happens if you play the song?