Operating instructions

SEQUENCER MODULE
© 1985, 1986, 1987 E-mu Systems, Inc. Page 171
BACKGROUND
The Emulator II eight-track Sequencer not only records up to eight tracks of Presets from
the Emulator II, but can sequence up to eight MIDI instruments via the MIDI OUT port.
Sequences are saved on a Performance disk as part of the Bank.
Each Sequencer track can polyphonically record the notes you play from any one Preset
in the Emulator II’s Bank. Although you cannot record two different Preset sounds on
one track, you can record different Presets on different tracks. Also, you can play as
many simultaneous notes as desired on a track, but will only hear as many notes as the
instrument is capable of playing (eight notes for the Emulator II).
Hint: If all the Presets in a Bank are variations on one instrument, you won’t be able to
sequence multi-instrumental compositions. There are two ways around this. One, make
up a Performance disk with some drum sounds, bass, a chordal instrument, etc. By
choosing sounds wisely and using loops, you can fit several different instrument sounds
on a single Performance disk. The other option is to drive other instruments via the MIDI
port. For example, if you drive a MIDI-based drum machine then it no longer becomes
necessary to have a drum Preset in the Bank. For more information on creating Presets
specifically for Sequencer applications, see Part 4 of the Advanced Applications section.
To sequence MIDI instruments, simply create a Preset, enter the desired MIDI
parameters (see PRESET DEFINITION 30, “MIDI Setup”), but don’t assign any sounds
to the Preset. Thus, as the Sequencer plays notes from this Preset, the note data will
come out the MIDI port but not trigger any sound from the Emulator II. Note that each
Preset can be assigned to its own MIDI channel; for more information on creating “MIDI
Presets”, refer to the MIDI/SMPTE supplement.
The Sequencer capacity depends on how many seconds of sampling time are left in the
Bank. Each available second (27,500 samples) stores approximately 4,500 notes -- so if
you have 10 seconds left, you’ve got a 45,000 note polyphonic sequencer!
WORKING WITH A SEQUENCE
Creating a completed Sequence involves five main steps. These are:
1. DEFINE the Sequence by creating, numbering and naming it, then specifying the
time signature and sequence length.
Note: When driving MIDI instruments, if you do not want the Emulator II to
double the MIDI instrument DEFINE a Sequence and assign MIDI Presets (as
mentioned above) that have no Voices assigned to them.
2. Determine the tempo (clock) reference for the Emulator II -- either the Emulator
II’s internal clock, an external click track, MIDI, or SMPTE time code.
3. SETUP a Sequence track by selecting the track on which you want to record,
specifying the tempo, choosing an auto correct setting to optionally round off any