Conference napalm::commusic_v1

    (Noting hint: SHOW KEYWORD SEQUENCER/FULL or DIR/TIT=SEQ)

    If you can get by without a disk drive, the cheapest/easiest way to go
    is *probably* the Alesis MMT-8 - you should be able to stay within your
    $250 range.  You won't have 30 SONGS, but you will have access to a lot
    more than 30 PATTERNS, and each pattern can have its own patch change
    commands (one per channel) - and even a little fill if you want to
    throw one in. Of course, if you start wanting very busy patterns,
    you'll quickly run out of memory (circa 25k events?) long before you
    run out of patterns. 

    The MMT-8 is battery backed-up, which is great for quick "power-up and
    edit and shut down" type work, but can only read/write to cassette
    tape. 

    If you want an on-board disk drive, the question becomes problematic.
    There are a million different ways to go in that instance. 

-b

    ...sounds like a "MIDI DJ" by {I forget) may be just the thing for you.
    
    One of the regular readers of this file recently had one for sale, but
    it may be gone. I'm sure he'll let you know...
    
    Edd

    The DJ uses 5�" floppies, but I think the DJ is not pattern-oriented,
    Edd.  If it's a linear sequencer (ala QX7/21, MTP or MC500), then
    there's going to be some delays involved with getting the proper
    sequences loaded from disk, no?
    
    I guess it depends on how often/fast you need to change a bunch of
    patches.  But hey, who am *I* to disagree with you, Eddrick?

-b

	I am the (former) owner/seller of the MIDI DJ.  It is a decent box with
a wart or two.

	It takes no more than five seconds to load any song to its 12K note
memory.  There's a great Performance Mode on it that allows you to string song 
after song and even change the order on the fly.  It is two full tracks (not a 
track and a sub-track like the QX7/21 - which means anything one track can do, 
the other can do, as well) and has some basic editing features (though NOT 
individual event editing).  It was quite an advanced unit for its time.

	The big zit on it, though, is that it wouldn't merge incoming MIDI data
with outgoing MIDI data (a must for any sequencer, in my opinion).  That's fine
if you do all your solos on a synth with a keyboard.  Not good if you have 
multi-tibral racks that are controlled both by sequencer AND the keyboard in
performance.

	It looks like a disk drive (which is what it is, with the sequencer 
built in), has four buttons which bring you through menus and sub-menus.  In 
spite of what may appear to be an unfriendly interface, it is very easy to use.
As mentioned before, it takes �" floppies.  It also has some extra features like
intialization and full copying of disks.

	I paid $275 for it new (actually it was second hand, but the guy I 
bought it from never used it) and sold it to a friend (non-noter) for $175.  I
have seen them go used for as low as $100 (when you can find them - they are not
all that commonly found).

	If it is your first sequencer, and you don't need to control a MIDI 
module WHILE the sequencer is also controlling the SAME module, I recommend it.
If you've used more advanced units (with features like individual event editing,
etc), you probably won't care for it.

	When I had it, I did my main sequencing on a C64 (using Dr. T's KCS) and
downloaded the finished song onto the MIDI DJ.  This gave me a cheap approach to
the best of both worlds - extensive MIDI sequence editing features and a super
performance-oriented sequencer unit (i.e., fast song access, not carrying around
a computor).  I could go back to that and not suffer much if I had to get rid
of my MC500.  If so, I'd have to buy a MIDI merge box, fer sher.

	The only other (dedicated) sequencer I've found that has the Performance
Mode that sold me on the MIDI DJ is the MC500 (which is what I upgraded to).  
Incidently, the MC500 requires additional software to perform this, whereas the
MIDI DJ had it built in.

	Dan

    
    I have seen 2 devices that cuaght my eye recently in the area of
    sequencing and live performance. (something I will be doing soon
    if plans come to fruition)
    
    1 was a midi disk recorder by ELKA I think. This was about 200 pounds
    and was basically a date recorder and player, no sequencing. I.E.
    what ever you put in comes out. So you put together your sequence
    using XYZ system or whatever and then record direct to disk using
    the recorder. When you want to play it back live you just select
    filenumber and play. and whammo no delay or anything. It also has
    a pause for stopping between songs.
    
    2 Was as above but recorded straight to cassette. Yes standard
    cassette. Can't remeber who made it but I read a review that said
    it worked very well. Plus you can create copies using analog copy.
    
    				Paul.

   
 >   2 Was as above but recorded straight to cassette. Yes standard
 >   cassette. Can't remeber who made it but I read a review that said
 >   it worked very well. Plus you can create copies using analog copy.
    
    Yes, I have one of these and use it often. It takes the direct
    analog outs from my board and captures the output on standard cassette
    tape at 1 7/8 IPS. 
    
    While no editing is possible, it does allow me to capture all the 
    human nuance some sequencers are panned for omitting.
    
    ...and yes, real time duplication in the analog domain is possible.
    
    Edd
    

    What's the advantage of this over a disk-based sequencer?  I can see
    how the unit might be smaller, but I'd think that the inability to
    arrange things randomly on-the-fly would be quite restrictive. 

    Do you use this thing live, Edd - of just for backups?

-b

    > Do you use this thing live, Edd - or just for backups?
    
    I generally use my MC-500 (or previously, my QX7) to work out
    all the parts and then transfer to the analog.
    
    The big advantage is in the data format. I've NEVER had a compatability
    problem when exchanging sequences in the analog domain, despite the
    myriad of competing manufacturers.
    
    While I've personally never used one live, I've seen it done many
    times, with varying amounts of success.
    
    Edd

    re the last few : cassette-based analog sequencing...
    
    back in the spring I was attending workstation training at a hotel
    in San Jose for a week, and I noticed the woman playing in the lounge.
    Of course, the fact that she played well and was extremely attractive
    also got my attention... anyway, she had quite an elaborate MIDI
    setup on and around the grand piano, which included a DX7IIFD, and 
    she had quite a large library of cassettes which she used for backup.
    
    karl
    
    (no, I didn't get her number)

    
    
    Hey edd I wasn't kidding.
    
    There really is a device into which you load MIDI-data which it
    then converts to analogue on record, and on play-back it acts as
    a driver for the midi-system, Cassette based.
    
    I thought it was quite a good ruse.
    
    					Paul.