Specifications

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• Auto Loop
The two orange pads on the left
are Auto Loop pads. Four banks
are available for a total of eight.
Samples assigned to these pads
are automatically looped and
adjusted to match the selected
tempo.
• Composed Loop Pads
The gray pads located in the middle are for composing
loops from one-shot samples, much like sequencing
with a rhythm machine. You can use these pads to
sequence samples that you want to loop but can’t
because they don’t start at the beginning of the
measure.
A typical way of using these pads would be to assign
drum kit samples to them (see photo below) and tap on
them to create a rhythm loop. The pads are touch-
sensitive, so you can generate dynamic drum phrases
that sound as if they were played by a live drummer.
• Free Sample Pads
These pads are dedicated for one-shot playback. Tap
them as you like while listening to the sequencer play
back the other tracks in record mode. Good for voice
samples, special effects, and adding samples
spontaneously throughout your composition.
• Audio In Pad
This is the smaller orange pad to the right of the Free
Sample pads. With this pad, you can input sounds from
external sound sources (such as a turntable, CD player,
synthesizer or microphone), process them with
powerful effects or filters, and mix them in with sample
playback. Try mixing your favorite CD into a sample
sequence playing on the SU700 and adding various
effects and filters to it.
Hint: Try your hand at remixing!
Many artists today feature a vocal-only track on their CDs as a
bonus track. Use these tracks to try your hand at genuine
remixing. First, sample a few drum loops from a sampling CD
(commercially available) and assign them to the Auto Loop pads.
For variety, try to use samples that have a different groove than
the original song. Then connect a CD player to the AUDIO IN of
the SU700 and play the vocal track. With both the CD player and
sequencer playing back, you can mute and unmute the drum
loops and apply different effects to each of the tracks—including
the vocal track! You’ll be surprised at how easy it is to make
cool-sounding remixes. Use your imagination to create your own
original remixes. You can use the Groove function to change the
feel of the rhythm, or apply special EQ effects to give your
samples a lo-fi feel. Don’t forget about the copyright laws!
• Master Pad
This pad is located to the right of the Audio In pad.
Use it to control the levels and effects of your entire mix.
2. Knob Functions
The knobs located above each of the pads can be
assigned various parameters for real-time control.
Use the Knob Function buttons on the left side of
the operation panel to select the parameter to be
assigned. Parameters include filters (four types
including low pass filter), EG parameters, 43 types of
effects, 2-band EQ, LFO, and more.
The parameter value for each knob is shown on the
display. All parameter changes can be recorded into
the sequencer* in real-time by turning the knobs.
*Changes can also be sent to an external sequencer as MIDI
control data.
Tip:
Use the Groove function to alter the rhythmic feel of a sample.
By changing the timing, velocity and gate time parameters,
you can make your samples pull forward, sound laid back or feel
jumpy. Groove shuffling is commonly used with MIDI data, but
the ability to do this with samples is a feature unique to the SU700.
Kick Snare Closed hi-hat Open hi-hat
Part 3 Yamaha Samplers — Sampling Unit SU700
◊ Independent Control of BPM and Pitch ◊ Track and Pad Configuration ◊ Knob Functions
32
The SU700 is an innovative desktop sampler combining
the functions of sampler, sequencer, effects processor
and mixer all in one unit. Most operations can be
controlled in real-time to give you ultimate power, not
only for creating music, but also for live performance.
The SU700 is the most powerful all-in-one desktop
sampling workstation you can own.
You don’t need knowledge of music or MIDI to use the
SU700. All you need is your musical sense and
imagination to let the SU700 open up the door to infinite
possibilities. That’s because it has been carefully
designed for intuitive music creation and live
performance. Now, let’s take a look at its features.
■ Independent Control of BPM and Pitch
If you raise the RPM of a record, the pitch of the music
will rise. If you lower the RPM, the pitch will lower;
female vocals, for example, will sound like male vocals.
This is a physical phenomenon and there’s not much we
can do about it. With the SU700, however, it’s possible
to change the pitch of samples without affecting their
tempo...or change their tempo without affecting their
pitch.
This is a feature that will prove useful in creating music
based on phrase samples such as break beats. Let’s say,
for example, you’ve selected a number of cool drum
phrases from records and CDs for sampling. Chances
are the BPM will be different for each one, and there’s
nothing more troublesome than trying to make their
tempos all match. The SU700, however, automatically
adjusts these different tempos—instantly. You no longer
have to deal with cumbersome procedures; the SU700
lets you concentrate on creating music.
Just run the SU700’s sequencer, and all sample loops
will play back perfectly synchronized to any BPM* you
set on the sequencer. Changing the BPM of the
sequencer won’t affect the pitch of the samples.
*BPM: Beats per minute. The number of beats that occur in one
minute (i.e. tempo). You can guess the type of dance music a
person likes by the BPM he/she prefers. For example, if he/she
likes a BPM under 100, there’s a good chance they’re into trip-
hop or chill-out ambient techno. A bass phrase originally sampled
at 134 BPM can be lowered to 92 BPM for use in trip-hop. This is
thanks to the evolution of digital musical equipment. With the
SU700, you can easily do things that were only a dream a few
years back.
Many artists use the Yamaha RM1x sequence remixer
together with the SU700 and synchronize the two using
the RM1x as the MIDI clock master. Mijk van Dijk is one
such artist, who praises the SU700 as “the perfect
phrase sampler,” because you don’t have to worry about
the samples’ BPM. (You can listen to an interview with
Mijk van Dijk on the CD-ROM included with this
handbook.)
■ Basic Structure
To use the SU700 to its fullest potential, we recommend
that you understand its basic structure. But that
shouldn’t be a problem because most of the SU700’s
functions are performed through buttons and knobs
conveniently laid out on the top panel. Operation is
easy...and fun!
1. Track and Pad Configuration
The SU700’s pads are spread out across the bottom of
the unit, where they can be easily accessed. The four
colored buttons on the left side of the unit are for
selecting banks 1 to 4, and the ones on the right are for
selecting pad functions. (Pads can be assigned various
functions other than just simple playback of samples.
Read on for details.) The eight rectangular pads at the
center and the two square ones on their left are for
playing back samples. Switching between the four banks
gives you a total of 40 sample tracks. All 40 tracks can
be stereo-sampled. The pads are classified into three
groups: Auto Loop, Composed Loop Pads and Free
Sample Pads. Let’s take a look at each of them.