Sp 1200 MIDI/ what can/can't it do??

[Veck]

The SP 1200 has 4 banks (A-D) with 8 sounds (1-8). You can play these 32 sounds via midi, each sound has his own Note. At the same time you can send with a second note pitch information. So you can pitch each sound +7 or -8 semitones. Check out the "sp 1200 manual pdf", google is your friend

[10 ton splash]

Originally Posted by incurablebeatlus

What can the SP do and what can it not do in terms of MIDI functionality??

I would like to use the sequencer of the SP to program drums but then trigger the sequence in abelton. Can i then switch patterns with a program change or similar type MIDI command? Can someone shine some light on this for me?

Thanks slutz.

I use the sp with ableton all the time. I normally just program sequences in song mode on the sp and control start and stop with midi clock. Ableton is the master, but the sequence is from the sp. I use a rme ufx with this setup and the timing is tight.

[incurablebeatlus]

Originally Posted by 10 ton splash

I use the sp with ableton all the time. I normally just program sequences in song mode on the sp and control start and stop with midi clock. Ableton is the master, but the sequence is from the sp. I use a rme ufx with this setup and the timing is tight.

When using abelton as you do, can you launch scenes out of order so-to-speak and have the SP keep up with those changes? Or it just gets the tempo clock from abelton and when you start it (the sp seq.) it always just begins at the begining regardless of what 'scene' abelton might be launching??

Im wanting to be able to jump around in the diferent sequences in the SP with abeltons clip launcher so that I can work out different arrangements and loop particular scenes as I work.

For example; 4 bars of just kick intro, 4 bars kick and snare, 4 bars of all-in drums, now if I want to work on just the 4 bars kick and snare can I set it to launch the scene and it will play just that section so that I can work on synths etc for that scene w/o having to first hear the 4 bars kick only intro and then have it go to the next section and on to the next all while in abelton I am still in the same scene??

Is this making any sense?

Thanks for any and all help, I am pretty new to abelton still and as I said I have never used an SP so I am all ears. And yes I am now off to RTFM but I doubt it has a chapter on working the SP and abelton together...

[Ossicle]

OP, that makes a lot of sense and I'm now interested in this too. I'm travelling atm so I can't test it myself.

What I normally do is just program the sequences in the SP and launch them live from the SP's control panel, while Ableton controls the start/stop and tempo via midi. This is really simple and it still maintains the swing and character of the SP's sequencer.

I think you won't regret getting an SP 1200/12.

[xanax]

The SP's MIDI is pretty basic, i doubt it responds to program changes and such but can't say i've ever looked into doing that, i only do regular midi clock sync and for that it performs accurately/tight. External midi sequencing from the SP is also notoriously shallow compared to MPC's only recording note on information, meaning you often gotta play with the EG on the synth/sampler you're trying to sequence. all that being said, the SP is still unbeatable on sound, interface & workflow imo.. and it's sequencer does have a certain groove/swing due to the low ppq and quirky swing values, now good luck hunting one down

[10 ton splash]

Originally Posted by incurablebeatlus

When using abelton as you do, can you launch scenes out of order so-to-speak and have the SP keep up with those changes? Or it just gets the tempo clock from abelton and when you start it (the sp seq.) it always just begins at the begining regardless of what 'scene' abelton might be launching??

Im wanting to be able to jump around in the diferent sequences in the SP with abeltons clip launcher so that I can work out different arrangements and loop particular scenes as I work.

For example; 4 bars of just kick intro, 4 bars kick and snare, 4 bars of all-in drums, now if I want to work on just the 4 bars kick and snare can I set it to launch the scene and it will play just that section so that I can work on synths etc for that scene w/o having to first hear the 4 bars kick only intro and then have it go to the next section and on to the next all while in abelton I am still in the same scene??

Is this making any sense?

Thanks for any and all help, I am pretty new to abelton still and as I said I have never used an SP so I am all ears. And yes I am now off to RTFM but I doubt it has a chapter on working the SP and abelton together...

Sorry, I haven't tried that. Ive only used song mode. Ill try to find out if it can be done.

[10 ton splash]

From the manual:

The SP-1200 can also slave to MIDI timing information coming in the MIDI IN jack. It is not necessary to press RUN/STOP when running from MIDI, as MIDI systems should include start and stop commands as part of the MIDI data stream. When slaved to a MIDI device, the MIDI THRU jack echoes whatever is coming in the MIDI IN jack. If the master MIDI device sends MIDI Song Position Pointer informa- tion and is started in the middle of a song, the SP-1200 will silently fast forward to syncronize with the master clock.

Maybe you could use clyph x or max for live to generate song position pointer information when launching clips. Worth a further look.