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Conference napalm::commusic_v1

Title:* * Computer Music, MIDI, and Related Topics * *
Notice:Conference has been write-locked. Use new version.
Moderator:DYPSS1::SCHAFER
Created:Thu Feb 20 1986
Last Modified:Mon Aug 29 1994
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:2852
Total number of notes:33157

647.0. "QX7/CZ101 problem encountered" by AKOV68::EATOND (Impressionable Youth) Tue Jan 13 1987 09:18

	I have been attempting to drive my CZ-101 using a newly aquired QX-7
sequencer.  Last night I ran into an interesting problem.

	I had laid down a bass line on one track using MIDI channel 1.  Those
of you familiar with the QX know in order to overdub you need to EXCHANGE
tracks 1 and 2, since you can only record on track 1.  So I EXCHANGEd, and 
proceded to step-time record a snare drum patch on the CZ's channel 2.  After
forgetting to press STOP, losing the bass line, and other pilot errors, I was
able to get a basic track of snare drum and bass on MIDI channels 1 and 2 
running from the CZ's multi-timbral sound source.

	But, when I go to play them back, all of a sudden the snare drum has
changed!  No longer is it crisp and clear, but appears to either have a longer
sustain in its envelope or sounds like the amp is distorted.  It sounded
trashy!  I hit a couple notes on the keyboard itself;  sounds normal.  Run the
sequence again; Trash!

	After trying to re-enter it again to see if I recorded it right it does 
the same thing.  Alone the snare from the CZ sounds fine.  In an over-dubbed
sequence it turns to garbage.

	Is this a problem with the sequencer?  Is it a problem with the CZ
being used in solo mode (multi-timbral)?  Anyone else ever run into something
similar?

	Dan

	P.S.  Using four non-percussive instruments from the CZ driven by the QX
worked O.K. the other night.  Is the CZ's noise source unreliable when driven
externally alongside other channels?
T.RTitleUserPersonal
Name
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647.1I bet....JAWS::COTELet's change the rules and giggle!!!Tue Jan 13 1987 09:3633
    WAG- What note values are you using on the QX? 
    
    If the 101 has any sort of sustain in the drum patch envelope you
    might be playing the note longer than necessary for a crisp percussive
    sound.
    
    Am 8th note percussive pattern  of...
    
                 "8th, 8th, 8th, 8th, 8th, 8th, 8th, 8th"
    
    might better be played as...
     
              "16th, 16th rest, 16th, 16th rest,....."
    
    Drum machine sounds are all attack and release, so the duration
    of a note doesn't mean squat. A synthesized drum, on the other hand
    is often composed of noise, which will sustain for the duration
    of a note. Both the JX3-P and the MKS-30 have a synth'd electric
    tom-tom patch which sounds great if you tap the key quickly. The
    quicker the better. Hold it for any amount of time and it sounds
    like white noise bursts.
    
    You might try sequencing your drum part in real time, not step,
    and quantizing to the smallest value you have (1/24), or not quantizing
    at all if your timing is accurate. I can't see where the problem
    would lie in the sequencer....
    
    I'll try sequencing a drum part tonite using my Roland patch. I
    bet mine sounds ucky too.
    
    Lemme know...
    
    Edd
647.2Let me say this about thatAKOV68::EATONDImpressionable YouthTue Jan 13 1987 10:0410
	I don't believe there is any sustain set on this patch.  I think it is
set to a pretty immediate decay.

	Please note that it sounds O.K. when played alone from the sequencer.
It also will sound fine when played from the keyboard, even if a key is held
down for a time (longer than an eighth note).

	Any CZ owners have comment?

	Dan
647.3I'll try it.BEAGLE::MULELIDTue Jan 13 1987 11:136
    I will try it tonight and come back with the findings. I have both
    a Casio SZ-1 sequencer and a Atari 520ST I can try it on so we'll
    see what happens.
    
    Svein.
    
647.4CZ probsMINDER::KENTWed Jan 14 1987 05:5113
    
    I am sure I have had this problem too at some stage. I think it
    sounds like the percussion sound is picking up the Decay of the
    patch on channel 1. Unfortunately I can't remember what I did to
    cure it. I am also aware that there is a new software ROM for the
    CZ to cure outstanding mode 4 software BUGS, but I'me sure that
    all the bugs related to problems with pitch and not decay envelopes.
    
    Whenever I have glitches with mono mode on the CZ I switch in and
    out of tone-mix and that seems to clear them. But these have only
    been note drones and suchlike.
    
    				Paul.
647.5More symptoms but what's the cure ?GVADG1::HANNAJust another multi-trackerWed Jan 14 1987 08:1520
I have experienced something along the same line. When I play notes on
my CZ101 each would sound clearly and they'd be no cut-off on the decaying
part of the sound.

The same is true if the CZ101 was being played from a sequencer (MICON) 
except if I'm using Mono-Mode 4 (multitimbral). What my ears hear is an 
earlier cutoff of the decay.

On some patches this is not so bad and barely noticable while on others it
alters the character of the sound quite a bit. In such cases, I would then
have the sequencer just play that one "instrument" on its own (NOT using mono
mode 4) and record it on tape. 

What I find it comes down to is that some patches "lose" their quality
when they are part of a multi-timbral sound.

I also have an FB01 which I use in a similar fashion. However, I haven't
noticed this symptom happening with it.

zayed
647.6A mirky dawn coming into view...AKOV68::EATONDImpressionable YouthWed Jan 14 1987 08:3212
	I played around with it a little more last night and am quickly coming
to the conclusion that it is the CZ and not the QX7 that is glitching.  Hearing
some of you others' experiences seems to confirm that.

	Are we running into the inevitable 'you-get-what-you-pay-for' syndrome?
It does seem to me that a multi-timbral, six-envelope (with eight stages, no 
less), eight-voice, digital synth for $200 would have to 'give' somewhere.

	Well, what about this software upgrade ROM that 'Steve' Kent :^) 
mentioned?  Anyone have this done?  Results?

	Dan
647.7I could not hear any change.BEAGLE::MULELIDWed Jan 14 1987 12:588
    I tried a sequence last night with a drum on channel 1 and a bass
    on ch 2, using CZ101 and EZ-track on Atari ST. I could not hear
    any difference in the sound, but maybe if I would have tried the
    same patches as you it would have given your symphtom. From the
    other notes it seem to be the CZ which gives the problem.
    
    Svein
    
647.8NoiseAKOV68::EATONDImpressionable YouthWed Jan 14 1987 14:499
RE Note 647.7 by BEAGLE::MULELID 

>    ... but maybe if I would have tried the
>    same patches as you it would have given your symphtom.
    
	I found the problem to appear not only on a snare drum patch, but also
on an oboe patch.  The common denominator: both patches use noise.

	Dan
647.9Another try.BEAGLE::MULELIDThu Jan 15 1987 12:527
    I tried it again this time with two drum patches using noise and
    one bass patch. Still the drums sounds the same, the only problem
    however the bass I used was much louder than the drums so the balance
    was bad, but the drums did not sound muddy.
    
    Svein.
    
647.11hmm...AKOV68::EATONDImpressionable YouthThu Jan 15 1987 13:098
RE Note 647.9 by BEAGLE::MULELID 

	Well, then it sounds like it might be my unit!  Can anyone else
with a CZ-101 confirm Svein's findings; no problem using noise in 'solo'
mode from a sequencer?

	Dan

647.12Weezy CZMINDER::KENTFri Jan 16 1987 03:148
    I think you should try and get hold of another unit and try, perhaps your
    local shop would lend you one. I still think I've had the same problem
    somewhere. But not as consistently as you do.  
    
    					Paul