• toka1
  • VC New Member
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  • From: pk
  • Registered: 2011-08-15
  • Posts: 1

Topic: Live shows//////.....

Hello! I am going to be playing live shows, and I want my VL2 presets to change automatically at the proper places throughout my song without any conscious involvement on my part, as the performer. I have been told the way to do this, is by sending midi program changes to the VL2 from an external device, but I have so many sub questions in regards to how to do this, that no one can seem to answer for me to the extent I need them explained. (step-by-step, from the ground up)  I have never done midi sequencing for live shows. Please, please if anyone could shed any light on this for me, I would be indebted to you! Here are my questions surrounding this topic:

GENERAL QUESTION:
1. How do I send midi patch changes to the VL2? What is required?

SPECIFIC QUESTIONS:
2. Would it be preferable for me to use Logic Pro 9 to send the changes? (seeing as this is the program I have used to make all my music)
3. If I do use logic, does this mean I need to have my computer up on stage (running logic) sending the data to the VL2 throughout every live performance? OR:
4. Is there a way to pre-record the program file changes -at certain times in the song- using logic, and send that data to another external device that is capable of storing and saving that information, that then interacts directly with the VL2 during live performances -so I don't have to have logic open and running on stage?

If the answer to question #4 is Yes, then
5. What are those other options for devices that can send program changes to a VL2 - other than a computer?

6. And out of those options, are any of them capable- as logic is- of pre-programing the changes, at the proper times throughout a song, and saving that data, before sending it to the VL2? (In this case, taking logic out of the sequencing equation all together?)

Any other advice or resources where I can get more guidance and elaboration on this topic would be greatly appreciated. Thanks so much!!

-B4neptune

  • Registered: 2011-08-30
  • Posts: 40

Re: Live shows//////.....

I think the reason you've not gotten a response is that there is so much to tell you... I'll try to help a little.

To send MIDI data, you need a device that can send MIDI. Computers can do it (your Logic Pro is software that will allow this), workstation synths can do it, and there are smaller devices too. But there are a few things to consider. First, will you be actually making sound from MIDI? If not, you're going to have an adventure trying to stay in sync with your preset/step changes. If you are making sound from MIDI, look at the device doing that... it can probably help you here.

The pre-programmed changes you mention are actually a well-known concept, a MIDI song file. MIDI songs can contain much data including note data, and data that controls items like your VL2. You can definitely do this but you're going to have to do some learnin'. smile

All this said, are you sure this path is going to be easier than just setting up your presets and steps in order? It's not difficult to do, and you only have one (STEP) switch to push as you work your way through the song.