Small, cheap, midi sequencer

[jamison100]

Hey guys,
I'm simply looking for machine that can play standard midi files.

I bought the Yamaha QY-100 off eBay and I'm not impressed.
--Only holds 20 songs, and on top of that the files have to be small
--Doesn't respond to program change midi commands .. you need to send sysEx data to change songs!
--Not back-lit ... a real turn-off

I'm looking for something in the $500 range that is relatively compact like the QY-100. Mainly I need it to be able to store more songs, and have the capability to call up a song with a midi program change. Also, a jack for a remote foot switch is mandatory.

Again, the ONLY thing I need this gear to do is to play standard midi files. I need it to be simple and quick. I need to use this from stage.

I'm not interested in using a laptop ... need something hardware-based.

Thanks in advance!!
Jamie

[ekeys]

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I had a qy 100 and sold it recently for the same reasons. The onboard sounds and patterns got in the way. To many features made for a crowded small interface. I wanted a more straight forward machine.

ck out the yamah mdf3 midi file player

http://cgi.ebay.com/Yamaha-MDF3-MDF-3-M ... dZViewItem (http://cgi.ebay.com/Yamaha-MDF3-MDF-3-Midi-Data-Filer-Sequencer_W0QQitemZ120160175681QQihZ002QQcategoryZ41784QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem)

Also the qy 80

http://cgi.ebay.com/KAWAI-Q-80-DIGITAL- ... dZViewItem (http://cgi.ebay.com/KAWAI-Q-80-DIGITAL-MIDI-SEQUENCER_W0QQitemZ120159950310QQihZ002QQcategoryZ38071QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem)

[jamison100]

I thought I read somewhere that the Kawai sequencer only holds 20 songs as well. Is this correct?

[Chuck E. Jesus]

here's some info on various old-school midi sequncers:

http://www.vintagesynth.com/index2.html

[dveble]

i use yamaha rm1x.
50 songs with 16 sections with 16 channels, each up 'till 250 bars.
with program changes it could do. so one song could hold up to 16 other songs.
then i don't know if there is enough note/event memory.
110 000 i think?

[jamison100]

I just did some research on the Yamaha MDF3. Seems perfect for what I need. To me here are the following downfalls.
--Old piece of gear .. prone to breaking
--Floppy disks suck .. they get corrupted so easily
--In the manual it says please allow 1-15 seconds for a sequence to start playing. 15 seconds is completely unacceptable for a live show.

Other than that seems like it's just what I need. Does anyone use one of these? Can anyone shine some light onto these issues for me?

I just looked up the Yamaha RM1X .. it's cool, but it's so huge. I don't want something that big. Right now I just keep the Yamaha QY-100 velcroed on my keyboard. I would definitely like to do that with a new sequencer if I can find one that passes my rigorous screening process!

Thanks ... any more help (keyboard players???) would be highly appreciated!
Jamie

[jamison100]

Actually, if I got the RM1X, I could buy the utility shelf extension for my keyboard stand and rock it out Again with the floppy drive! ugh .. Do I have to use the floppy drive, or can I transfer my standard midi files from my computer directly into memory?

[jamison100]

Just reading the manual for the RM1X and it says the RM1X has room for 20 songs. Boo!!!!

[jamison100]

Sorry to keep responding to myself .. lol ... The EMU 7750 XL7 just caught my eye. Seems perfect for me. I'm going to read more through the 364 page manual. Do any keyboard players on this board use it? If so, please enlighten me!!

http://www.americanmusical.com/manuals/ ... manual.pdf

[dveble]

RM1X does have room for 20 songs. that you have to compile from independent 50 styles(songs!!!), each with 16 patterns with 16 channels that could be long 250 bars. also you can do extra songs with pattern chain feature. i used one or two for about 10 years. sometime i use it today. it NEVER failed me. emu mp7 broke after 3 months. it is build really cheap, and it is more heavy then yamaha one.

[jamison100]

I guess I'm not really interested in patterns. My band has about 30-40 songs, and I want to have MIDI sequences for all of them, and I need to be able to call up a song in one button press on my MIDI foot controller. Any other recommendations?

[dveble]

try to borrow one and see for your self.
i don't know how long are your songs?
what i mean is that, within each of rm1x styles, you can have
16 songs that are 256 bars long. and, yes you can chenge 'em with one button press.
and you can do that 50 times (16!). it is more than 30/50 songs.
5 minutes ones are around 175 to 200 bars long, if on 130/140'ish BPM. you do the math.

to explain more.
each of the 50 rm1x user "styles", can contain 16 "songs" with 16 midi "parts" on sepaarate, or same midi channel.
they can NOT be longer than 256 bars. (but you can slow down the tempo and half the resolution down, and get twice the length)
so theoretically you suppose to have 50x16 is 800 songs.
in reality you could do with what you are after. so like 30/50 songs.

also, try not to get confused with yamaha terms.
in rm1x lingo, style could be, the collection of the songs.
it is different from what they call song.
in rm1x, song is compilation of any patterns from any styles!
or, if you can afford any MPC, that will do. and it is hard to brake.

[CapnLockheed]

A couple of other options that work well on stage:

Yamaha DOM-30, Roland SB-55, SD-35, MT-80, MT-90 & MT-300

All floppy based which, as you mentioned, can have its
downfalls but on the upside it solves your storage problem. I always bring a set of backup floppies just in case...thankfully
I have'nt had to use 'em yet!

Cheers....CL

[ekeys]

I have the yamaha mdf2. It has never failed me after alot of years. There can a be slight delay sometimes but only maybe 2-3 seconds. It is easy to create play list on your computer save to disk then load into the mdf. Yes, the floppy is not the best by today's standards but it works. Like I said, I had the qy 100 and I keep going back to the mdf2 because it was so straight forward. One work around to the slight delay between songs is to have several songs on one midi file, sort of like a medley. I think it will read tempo changes in a midi file (might need to verify)Also don't have extra empty measures saved in the midifile at the beginning or end of the file.

The only other thing I know that might work for you besides what I and others have mentioned will cost you. Have you checked out the new sonicell from roland. The new tone module that plays midifiles, wave files or mp3s. Go to the roland web site to see the video demo. I think it will cost you about $800 (USA) That's more than you wanted to spend. One option to raise funds, sell your board, buy a controller (maybe a used one), buy the sonic cell with any extra cash from the sale, use the sonic cell to play back your tracks and use it as a tone module. (I'm good at spending someone elses money)

cheers!

[jamison100]

Just checked out the Sonic Cell...would be PERFECT for me, but it doesn't have a footswitch jack. The reason I need this, is because the drummer starts all the sequences. I actually just made the impulse buy and purchased an E-MU XL-7 off ebay last night. I should be getting it next week. The thing is pretty huge, which sucks, but other than that I think it has all the features I'll need.
If I'm unhappy with the XL-7, you might be hearing from me again in a couple weeks I'll probably have my QY-100 for sale soon if anyone is interested.