Q-link sequence function controlling external synth

Hi there,

How do I set the Q-link sequence function up so that I controls my external synth?
When I turn the Q-link knobs (or record) it works fine - they are setup to use control changes - but not with the sequence function?

What am I doing wrong?

Thanks

Pixel

yo pixel

not sure here ... but what i understood q-link sequence data is saved with the sequence - so you can just set it up and it plays back and should be saved with the sequence. i think you cannot save it on tracks as cc message if thats what you mean.

in order to set it up first go to q-link setup send and set it to control change and the number you wanna control on your module. then go into q-link sequence and make the settings for the q-link controller you wanna use ... it should work now

... controllin works fine imo and its actually great ... saving is the problem for q-link sequence i feel, ... what i understand you can just make different settings for the q-links on other sequences and the q-link sequences you set up should be saved with the sequence. again ... not sure on the saving coz i actually never did it coz what i understand the qlink is linked to that controller and that sukks imo and thats why i never really use it ... coz if i wanna use that q-link later on for somethin else - recordin or on another seq for another controller i m **** so to say ...

i hope this is wrong - anyone???

i usually just record control changes as control change messages on tracks ... its a shame - would be dope to record those q-link sequence data too somehow into a track for example - with the ability to use the q-link than later on too - but i haven't found a way to do it ...

could anyone please tell us whether what i m asuming here is correct - ... or am i hopefully just talkin bull?

and - are you guys using it alot? i actually never use it coz of above asumptions - experiences ... if there is another way to use it better please let us know ...

sorry to say pixel

... but last post was bull ...

i just tried it and it doesn't work here either - q-link sequence if applied on my synth is just operating the same way as if i were transfering normal contol change data ...

sorry again

i m interested now too in that ... q-link sequence would be such a nice feature - questions:

is there a way to set up q-link sequence for external modules?

and what about q-link sequence in general - i asume that once i use q-link sequence my selected q-link knob is lokked ... meaning i can't save the setting to anything else as the sequence, which means lokking my selected q-link for the entire song to it ... is it like this? ... anyone please

[quote="Altopiano"]sorry to say pixel

... but last post was bull ...

i just tried it and it doesn't work here either - q-link sequence if applied on my synth is just operating the same way as if i were transfering normal contol change data ...

sorry again

i m interested now too in that ... q-link sequence would be such a nice feature - questions:

is there a way to set up q-link sequence for external modules?



you can set it up for external modules but it does not have anz option to assign the control by midi out port and midi channel number .
ie
if in the main page you are on track two, where your external keyboard is connected to the midi out A of the mpc, go to q link and at the bottom you can choose SEND with F2. you can then choose the controler number say 21 for filter cutoff. you can control the external synth that you wanted by movin the fader...

now this is where the shit hits the fan.

if you now go to another track in the main page , where say your second module is connected and want to control the first synths cutoff, it will affect the cutopff of the second module.... it depends entirely on the main page which is total shit. It would seem akai have not been able to assign the control by midi port or midi track.... this is bullshit...... it means that the control is stuck on only one module and one track for the entire song, unless you go back and forth between tracks on the main page.

peace andy

Guys, I think its easier if you buy an UC16 or an UC33. You can program it to control all kinds of CC messages. Hook it up to your MIDI keyboard. MIDI keyboard into the MPC and voila! Start recording your twists and turns on a track
(An UC16 is less than a 100 bucks)

And I think its better if you leave the Qlinks for the MPC. They are so great but only six of them so you have to be economic.

OR! You could MIDI in and MIDI out your synth to the MPC, if it has knobs off course..

Good luck.

Well, I have to disagree with Ikke in regards to Q-Link sequence. I feel that it can
be a useful feature that could be nice on both internal instruments, as well as external instruments.
One of the things that Q-Link sequence does that you would have a hard time to replicate
with a UC-16 (which I have by the way), is that Q-Link sequence allows one to have
midi cc knob changes that change 16 times in every quarter note (or you can set different resolutions!!!. You can get synchronized
settings that one can't replicate with a hand very well with an external controller.

I've just gotten my MPC 4000 , so haven't had chance to explore all of the features, but
this was one of the reasons that i purchased an MPC for was the Q-Link sequence feature.
I can do the same thing with my Doepfer MAQ (if I set it to Midi CC instead of Midi Note)
but I only have 3 channels and 30 presets, where with Q-Link sequence, I have 6 channels and
all 6 channels are saved in each sequence, so virutally unlimited presets. I haven't had chance
to try it on an external instrument. I was going to give that a try tonight, but I have used
it for internal parts and it works great. I did some checking and see that Akai changed the
way Qlink is setup in 1.30 and therefore is different then what is in the normal manual. You will
want to go to Akai's site and download the 1.30 Manual Addendum to see the new method.
Basicly from what I can see when I read through it, is that you need to go to the
"Transmit" field when in the Q-Link sequence. Then go to which ever knob that you want
to use, and change it to "Ctrl Change".

The addendum indicates this:

"When the Q-Link Knob/Slider is opereated, teh Control Change information as set in SEND (F2) page will be sent out.
Select this option to control the external devices, etc., using the Q-Link knob/slider.
The destination of control Change and/or the Midi channel is set as according to the track that is selected."


I'll be giving this a try tonight and will let everyone know how it works. But looks like
it should be pretty straight forward.

Also, somebody indicated that the there is a limitation of only 6 sequenced tracks, as their are only 6 Q-Link sliders/knobs. From what I understand, Q-Link info can be recorded to
the sequence itself, so I don't see any reason why Q-Link sequence info can't be recorded as well. Logically, it seems that one should be able to set up all 6 events and record those sequenced events to sequencer and then clear the Q-Link settings and set 6 more up. As long as your are using Midi CC as your event transmissions, I don't see any reason why you can't use Q=Link to automate more the 6 events.


Also, another nice thing about using Q-Sequence rather then a UC-16, is that you can have the sequence going during your set, you might have Q1 knob set to control an internal filter cutoff
on a program and have Q2 knob set to control your external synth's Filter cuttoff. You can
have the Q-Link sequence controlling movements on both instruments whlie you are
going through your track mutes in a ilve situation and then click the "Active Button" of both
to overtake what the sequence is doing and change the values live, and then when you are
done tweaking your filter sweep solo, click the active buttons again, so they are off , and
the Q-Link sequence takes over with it's previous settings. Quite nice for doing live improvs
and then going back to your normal song.


I use my UC-16 for Midi CC things that I don't want to Q-Link sequence (such as volumes of individual parts) and save the 6 Q-Link's for items that I specifically want to incorporate with the sequencer features.

The Q-Link sequence feature is just one of the MANY things that puts the 4000 above the MPC-1000, MPC-2000, MC-909, MV-8000.

Use it to automate your music to bring it alive.

Pixel, I see now , after re-reading your post, that you have it set to control change already!

So i'll have to give this a try tonight. One thing that you might try is see if toggling the
"Active" switch for the necessary Q-Link knob/slider helps out.

Hi Pixel,
I did end up giving it a try and it seemed to work with no problems. I am running OS 1.60 BTW.

What I did was on Track 1 , set it to Midi Out A - Midi Channel 1
and set my Waldorf Q to the same channel and plugged into Midi Out -A.


I then went to Q-Lilnk Setup button , and select "Send" and changed Q1 to CTRL CHANGE,
set the ctrl number to 7 (volume control).

I now go to Q-Link Sequence. Change the step to what ever ( in my case 1/64) and then used the Jog Wheels arrow buttons to go to down to
1-16 section and moved from left to right 1 --- > 16 and made different
knob settings by moving the Q1 knob when I was in each of the 16 positions.
I then made sure the "Active" button WAS NOT on and then clicked
the Q-Link Sequence button to activate the Q-Link sequence. I then pressed play on the MPC and I can hear the volume be changed automagically by the MPC.

When I want to override this, I click the "Active" button under Q1 and it takes over and I have control over the volume, then I click "Active" so it is off and the sequence takes back over.



Hope this helps out, and that I didn't leave any important details out.

bump 2011

Quit bumping all the old threads, please.