Is it common to use the sequencer for live gigs?

[MoogtoRoland]

When I purchased my X8 I was (and still am) planning to use the sequencer for live gigs (for example, to play strings while I play the piano part, being limited to two hands). Is this a common use of the sequencer?

I gave it a shot yesterday and can't get it to work - the strings part that I recorded is played with the piano patch I am trying to play. Any hints would be appreciated.

[Skyline_UK]

You need to be in Performance mode and the strings on one part (of the 16). One of the other parts needs to have your required piano patch allocated to it, and that part needs to be the currently selected part. Start the sequence and play along.

[Diametro]

Personally, I find it easier to play along with an audio track mixdown of my backing material.

MIDI can get funky when too much is sequnced and played live.

I think the sequencer is better live more for MIDI data (like recording parameter changes to affect aspects of instruments you are playing to change them over the course of the song) than actual MIDI notes.

That may not be very clear as I admit I'm still learning the ins and outs of performing LIVE with the Fantom X.

But using a mixdown will also save on polyphony. A couple of strings tracks using sustain can easily eat up 30-60 voices of polyphone, and the UltimatGrand patch is a polyphny hog too. Best to mix down the strings. It works just fine and it uses only 4 voices or whatever it is.

[MoogtoRoland]

My next question will betray that I am really new to this millenium when it comes to electronic music & keyboards.

What do you mean by "audio track mixdown" and how do you use it live?

Thanks,

Tony