A really cool new Peavey PC1600X hack to tell everybody about - this one from Atom Smasher (atom@icepop.straight-edge.com).... It allows you to set the notes in a 16 (or any length really) step sequence based on the fader's of the PC1600X. This has been done in the past using a Logic environment, but never (to my knowledge) with just a plain old sequencer and PC1600x. Here's Atom's instructions - I've added a few notes at the end. Enjoy! And thanks Atom! -Dan Nigrin - ------------------ Using The Peavey pc1600X as a poor-man's Doepfer 16/3 sequencer. 1) Disclaimer (+ the synth) 2) Programing (the pc1600x) 3) Ideas... *1) This is a MIDI hack, in the sense that you are using the MIDI in a way that it wasn't intended to be used. SOME SYNTHS WILL NOT BE HAPPY WITH THIS. If a synth seems to lock up when doing this, send it an ALL NOTES OFF (Bn 7B 00) message. If that dosen't work, turn it off, take a deep breath, and turn it back on. If that still dosen't work, it's broken. Send it to me and i will dispose of it properly. THINGS THAT WILL MAKE A SYNTH HAPPY OR UNHAPPY Do NOT use patches with any sustain. Set the sustain level to 0 when programming a synth patch for this. Use only attack, decay, and release. (on Casio synths with 8-step envelopes, just turn the sustain OFF) Turn MONO and PORTAMENTO to OFF if things seem funny. There are some synths that this will work great with (Casio CZ-?) and some synths that this will not work at all with. EXPERIMENT. That being said, here's how to program the pc1600x: *2) Go into the Utility Menu; Remote Button Setup. BUTN: Type Ch Start REMT Notes n 112 Set it up like the display above. (n sets the MIDI channel that the 1600 will RECEIVE information on. Select a channel that sees little or no use of MIDI notes in that range.) Next go into the Button edit pages. Edit all 16 buttons in the program to "Send Fader". Now,in the Fader edit Menu, edit all Faders to this STRING: 9n pr 7F (This time n sets the transmit channel, the one that the target synth is set to) Done. Program your sequencer to play MIDI notes starting at #112, up to #127, each a 16th note apart. Set the gate time to a minimum value. (Setting the gate time to a non-minimum value will allow for zipper-notes. If this appeals to you, experiment.) Now, each 16th note played on the sequencer spits out a note depending on where the slider is. *3) Hints and tips Set up just the first 4, or 8 faders/ buttons to do this, keep the rest for the usual CC's and SYSEX's. Or, sending on different channels, 'play' several synths at once. Program a sequence analog-style, but program the sequencer with a flam, or shuffle, to trigger the notes. Groovy. Set the Fader minimum/ maximum values to correspond to the target synth's high-low true voice. This gives the most usable range for the sliders. (That's right, kids. Most synths will NOT respond to all MIDI note numbers. Usually the highest and lowest notes are transposed to be within a certain range.) If you want a MONO synth sound, first try setting the synth to MONO. If that dosen't work, try sending (from the sequencer) an ALL NOTES OFF (Bn 7B 00) message between note-triggers. This can also be used with any CC or SYSEX message to trigger different values within a sequence. (Instead of sending notes, program the faders to send something that will control cutoff. Now, each step of the sequence has a continuously variable 'accent') The reason that this makes some synths freak out, is because you're sending a stream of note-on messages, without sending any note-off messages. So, like I said, some synths will mind, some wont. If anyone figure out any other weird things to do with a 1600, lemme know... atom smasher atom@suspicious.org - ----- Dan's notes: * In Atom's original message to me, he wasn't sure if this would work with the stock PC1600. *I'm almost positive it WON'T, as it uses a feature (buttons 'SEND FADER') that's new to the PC1600X (or upgraded PC1600). * One nice trick I used when playing with this last night is to set the note range for each fader to less than the min or max of your synth - just limit the range to 1 or 2 octaves for instance - it was a quick way to rapidly get more useable sequences (i.e. whole fader throw equals 12 or 24 notes, as opposed to > 100). Please post any more cool variations *you* come up with! Dan dan@defectiverecords.com