Message 3/20
Date: 02-Jan-03 @ 10:06 AM -
RE: Octopus envy
"Problem is not enough arms."
I feel ya, man. I have the same thought every time I try to visualize my future Live PA too. I think the challenge is to plan it out ahead of time, know your gear inside and out, practice makes perfect, and then lay everything out as ergonomically as possible so that what you need is close at hand. You might want to check out some past threads at www.livepa.org - it's only a few months old, but sneakthief, pongoid, and a few others have posted some of thier experiences with live shows.
"Is it possible to use a midi keyboard to control on/off (punching) of sequencer channels, if so, result, 88 channel sequencer control. Yes I do intend to use a PC for live sequencing (and mixing with an outboard controler) unless anyone has any better ideas."
Yes. Using a Windows PC, you could use Logic Touch Tracks, which they added in version 4.0. You can assign tracks to their own MIDI note numbers, and trigger them in realtime. If you have a Mac, MOTU's Digital Performer has a similar feature called "Chunks". Don't know much more about it, other than it's there. Using hardware (my preferred alternative, because it's reliable), there are (2) solutions out there: Roland's RPS (MC-80 and XP-50/60/80) and Korg's RPPR (Triton). I have the MC-80, and know it pretty much inside and out. It's not a groove style sequencer, which means it doesn't chain patterns in realtime or do any fancy stuff... but, it does have a solid 8-way RPS implementation that can trigger external MIDI gear. (Beware that the Roland Groove series, on the other hand, does NOT transmit RPS to the MIDI out port as far as I know). I've seen Korg's Triton documentation, and I believe that their RPPR has a similar implementation as the Roland RPS, but I've never actually tried RPPR out. Another hardware sequencer I've heard of is the Notron, but it is long since discontinued and very rare and expensive.
Also, you might want to keep a look out at the NAMM later this month. I've heard some rumbling from Elektron that they are busy with something... I hope they took my advise and are building a full-scale MIDI sequencer. Also, someone (close to Korg, possibly) was touting their next Electribe a few months ago.
We'll see.
Scott