I'll answer what I can. I remember the new feeling of control and expression as I started working with sequenced music all those years ago. I'm still new to QWS, but a lot of it works in a similar fashion to the sequencer I used for over two decades. (and still use when my full studio is up) I also used to read raw MIDI code in both hex and binary formats, and I know a lot about MIDI specifications as well as the history of these instruments. Anything I can do to help I'll be happy to do.
-----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Bobbi Blood Sent: Wednesday, September 21, 2011 10:08 PM To: QWS list Subject: Re: QWS List QWS Audio Tutorials I half wonder if I should change the subject line of this message, but I'm going to leave it since I'm not really deviating from the topic at the moment. Just wanted to say thanks to Nicole for her extremely informative message. I am still open to whatever information anyone wants to throw into this topic, because as I said, I am very new to all of this and I really enjoy learning what I can, and as much as I can. I will ask questions if I am confused about something, even if it means looking a bit silly for a few moments. How else are we supposed to learn things if we don't ask questions? Anyway, thanks again, and I look forward to understanding more and making connections with other musicians as a result. Most Sincerely, Bobbi -------------------------------------------------- From: "Nicole Massey" <[email protected]> Sent: Wednesday, September 21, 2011 7:59 PM To: "QWS list" <[email protected]> Subject: RE: QWS List QWS Audio Tutorials > Here's a brief explanation of the various MIDI modes. Well, maybe not > brief, > though probably about as comprehensive as anyone is going to want. And of > course, we first start out with a bit of history. > > When MIDI first came out there were only two things that governed mode. > One > was the Omni Mode on/off status, and the other was Mono/Poly status. > > In Omni mode on the synth would respond to all channels without paying > attention to what channel data was sent with the message. This was good > for > troubleshooting a connection or if you only have one synthesizer that > isn't > multi-timbral. This was usually turned off. > > Mono/Poly mode determined how MIDI data was sent and recognized. With Poly > on you could have as many notes on a channel as the synth would play, > while > turning Mono on (which automatically turned Poly off) the lowest note (or > some other note depending on a particular sending scheme of the synth) > would > send on the lowest channel the instrument was set to, and each higher note > went out on subsequent higher channels until the lowest note was released. > Dave Smith of Sequential Circuits, who pretty much authored the initial > MIDI > specification singlehanded, had plans for this functionality, and it > showed > up fairly soon with their Six-Track instrument. The Sequential Six -Trak > was > the first instrument that exhibited what we knew as "multi-timbral" > behavior, though it did it with only one voice per channel. This idea > really > got attention, as up to that point a synthesizer or other MIDI equipped > instrument could respond on one channel, maybe two. (for some of the > keyboards with a split mode) > But since this processing was going on within the instrument and nothing > needed to be changed in the MIDI specification manufacturers (including > Sequential) soon realized that they could use as many oscillators as they > wanted per channel and provide multiple sounds -- what was at first called > "Poly/Mono" or "Mono/Poly" mode until the term "Multi-timbral Mode" caught > on. (Which happened fairly quickly) This was one of the key developments > that made keyboard workstations possible, especially since polyphony and > oscillators went down in price. (Trivia question answer -- the first > workstation was the Ensoniq EPS, as it was the first instrument to provide > the possibility of melodic sounds, drum sounds, and a sequencer in one > box) > > What does this all mean? Well, first, unless you're a vintage synth freak, > forget about Mono mode -- it's not used anymore and though some > instruments > have it its application is for very rare circumstances. Also it's a good > idea to leave Omni in the off position, as otherwise you've got one sound > playing everything on the MIDI pipe. (This is less a problem if you have > several MIDI ports like I do, but it's still a waste of a good MIDI port) > So > the only modes you have to worry about are Poly mode and Multi-timbral > mode, > which I'll call Multi in this case for a couple of reasons that aren't > important here. > > If your synth is in Poly mode, you're going to get one sound on one > channel. > This is fine if you can use that sound for your entire composition. (For > example, a pipe organ patch or a good brass patch or string patch for > sectional compositions) But for the most part it's not going to do what > you > want. > Multi mode on the other hand is quite nice. This will allow you to put > different instruments on different channels. This makes life a lot easier > for you, as you can actually have drums, bass, piano, sax, and strings, > for > example, playing at once. > > That said, some folks start out with Poly mode when they first start > learning this stuff, because multi-part music can be a lot to take in. > That > need is getting less and less, however, as folks are getting better about > picking up on how things work pretty quickly. > > One more thing -- I would strongly suggest that you pick some standards > and > stick with them regarding MIDI channels. It's a lot easier to just assign > a > specific channel to things and use that channel for all your sounds. For > example, it's pretty standard to put drum kits on channel 10. I always put > bass on 9. (Old Jazz ensemble thinking there -- you want your drums and > bass > close together, and it makes it easy to remember) This will alleviate the > need to take time out of your creative process to name a track something > new > and specific -- anything you can do to minimize brain shifting from one > side to the other by keeping in creative mode when doing creative things > is > good, because then you maximize your creative abilities. This also > includes > leaving things plugged in and ready to go so you don't have to spend too > much time doing technical things when you want to create. > > -----Original Message----- > From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of > Bobbi Blood > Sent: Wednesday, September 21, 2011 7:58 PM > To: QWS list > Subject: Re: QWS List QWS Audio Tutorials > > Hey James, > > I am fairly new to this list, as well as QWS. Anyway, I wanted to let you > know that I took a listen to the tutorials you posted. I'm really quite > glad they're up there, to be honest. I've been looking into getting a > midi > keyboard for a while now and it's nice to know just what to expect when > dealing with QWS. > > I am curious though. And for the record, anyone who knows the answer to > this can feel free to chip in with information. If, say, I owned a > Yamaha > Motif, and I wanted to sequence using QWS but use my keyboard's internal > sounds, is it absolutely necessary that I switch it to multitimbral mode? > I'm still the slightest bit confused as to what would happen if I left > multitimbral mode off. Would that mean that only some instruments could > be > used because of multitimbral mode, or would something like the Motif be > just > > as powerful in either situation? > > Any and all information is very much appreciated, and thanks again for > putting those tutorials up. I found them very informative. > > Most Sincerely, > > Bobbi > > -------------------------------------------------- > From: "James Bowden" <[email protected]> > Sent: Wednesday, September 21, 2011 3:44 PM > To: "QWS list" <[email protected]> > Subject: QWS List QWS Audio Tutorials > >> Hello, >> >> I have uploaded the first 3 parts of a QWS audio tutorial. You can find >> the mp3 files in the audio section of the downloads page on the QWS >> website: qws.andrelouis.com >> >> Hope you enjoy them. >> >> I hope to add more sessions as time goes on. >> >> With best regards, >> >> James. >> >> To unsubscribe or change list options, see http://lists.andrelouis.com >> >> for archived list posts, see >> http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected] >> > To unsubscribe or change list options, see http://lists.andrelouis.com > > for archived list posts, see > http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected] > > To unsubscribe or change list options, see http://lists.andrelouis.com > > for archived list posts, see > http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected] > To unsubscribe or change list options, see http://lists.andrelouis.com for archived list posts, see http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected] To unsubscribe or change list options, see http://lists.andrelouis.com for archived list posts, see http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]
