linear sequencer, midi from second keyboard

Forum for Roland FA-06/08
Post Reply
luckyluca
Posts: 32
Joined: 11:43, 8 September 2016

linear sequencer, midi from second keyboard

Post by luckyluca »

do you know if the fa08 allowed recording and playing back a track on the internal sequencer coming from a second keyboard via midi and input ext?

and also record the combined internal and ext tracks to an audio file on the sdcard?

thx
Luca
stevel
Posts: 523
Joined: 07:08, 17 May 2015

Re: linear sequencer, midi from second keyboard

Post by stevel »

You can't record AUDIO into the Sequencer at all. There's no "audio recording" feature beyond taking a sample.

You could record it to a Sample Pad and have the sample pad trigger on beat 1 of the song, and then play along with the other MIDI tracks.

Most likely, it would be easier to edit the audio from the other keyboard in a DAW first, then import it to a Sample Pad so it plays in time with sequence. Probably a lot of trial and error to get it right.

You can, AFAIK, record MIDI from an external keyboard into the onboard Sequencer. It works pretty much just like the FA's own Keyboard.

You can play AUDIO from the 2nd keyboard through the FA, so it combines with the FA's own audio output.

You just can't "record audio onto a track".

It has to be a Sample triggered by a MIDI event.

HTH
luckyluca
Posts: 32
Joined: 11:43, 8 September 2016

Re: linear sequencer, midi from second keyboard

Post by luckyluca »

thanks,
I get your workaround about sampling the 2nd keyboard on a pad and triggering it.

With the internal seq, do you know if or was possible to record the ext input as it's being played back from the seq midi track when exporting wav files?

it is very important in the purchase decision making to being able to record both instruments without the need for an external daw whether possible.


thx!
Luca
stevel
Posts: 523
Joined: 07:08, 17 May 2015

Re: linear sequencer, midi from second keyboard

Post by stevel »

luckyluca wrote:thanks,
I get your workaround about sampling the 2nd keyboard on a pad and triggering it.

With the internal seq, do you know if or was possible to record the ext input as it's being played back from the seq midi track when exporting wav files?

it is very important in the purchase decision making to being able to record both instruments without the need for an external daw whether possible.


thx!
Luca
Sorry Luca, I don't know about the audio from the sample pads being mixed in with the sounds generated from the patches to a wav file.

You can record the internal sounds from the synth to the pads - you play a C on piano and you've got a C on piano on a pad.

So I would assume that it would also get mixed in - I mean, I really can't imagine not being able to - but it is Roland so you never know!

If I get a chance tomorrow I'll see if I can try it.
cda
Posts: 263
Joined: 23:04, 8 August 2014

Re: linear sequencer, midi from second keyboard

Post by cda »

Sounds on the pads are not mixed down to a wav file or exported as a separate track wav AFAIK.
luckyluca
Posts: 32
Joined: 11:43, 8 September 2016

Re: linear sequencer, midi from second keyboard

Post by luckyluca »

cda wrote:Sounds on the pads are not mixed down to a wav file or exported as a separate track wav AFAIK.
Thanks for checking, obviously it's a bit hard as I'm working blind ( I don't own a roland as of yet), but doesn't it sound strange that you could put down a pad track but you couldn't author it nor export it?
Skijumptoes
Posts: 681
Joined: 11:08, 21 June 2010

Re: linear sequencer, midi from second keyboard

Post by Skijumptoes »

It's worse than that mate, you can't hear back existing samples when recording new ones.

So, what does that mean? If you plugged a guitar in and recorded some guitar on a sample track, you are unable to hear that guitar track when it comes to recording some vocals on top.

Even the Juno G could do that, and that was a budget workstation at the time.

So, the way i see it is that the FA is capable of reading audio (.wav) data, or writing it... But not both at the same time. All you can think is that there's a restriction in the hardware, or the coding of the DSP there somewhere - and yup it does sound, or rather IT IS strange!! :-/

Luckily i don't and wouldn't make use of it, so i love my FA for what it delivers - but these little gems of knowledge are hidden until you purchase the unit, unless of course you come asking the questions here, so credit to you for researching.

If you want a true workstation then you would need look elsewhere, if you like Rolands and can do without the Supernatural sounds then a secondhand Fantom would be my go to. If you're not limited to Roland then there's a lot of options out there, but the 'old fashioned' workstation that you crave may mean that going secondhand would give you better options - albeit older technology. It's a bit of a tradeoff.

The other option of course, is something like the Roland Juno/DS and an iPad equipped with an audio interface dock.

Ultimately that method of working with iPads etc. pretty much, is why the old fashioned workstation is slowly becoming more sound module/daw controller specific than the traditional standalone workstation of the past.
User avatar
Myrk-
Posts: 329
Joined: 19:45, 27 August 2016
Location: Bristol, UK

Re: linear sequencer, midi from second keyboard

Post by Myrk- »

If you are looking at sequencing and sampling, better off getting something like a Synthstrom Deluge. I have an FA and it's sat in a cupboard for over a year since I got the Deluge to do all my sequencing. FA is great, but it's really all about it's internal sounds and being in a cover band...
bennyseven
Posts: 699
Joined: 18:01, 19 April 2014
Location: Germany

Re: linear sequencer, midi from second keyboard

Post by bennyseven »

I think the concept of FA is not to give us a multi track seq and sampler under the hood of a workstation.
It is just a XV with SN sounds (and a SPD like sample feature on top), which overall is a really beast soundwise.
All the multi track recording with samples, import and export options, time stretch and pitch features must be done with a DAW. That's part of the concept.
Nevertheless, playing live gives us nice features to shoot samples and working with backing tracks.
Remember the price compared to full fearured workstations like the Fantoms.
Maybe Roland is ahead with a new worldclass workstation, but double/triple the price.
cheers, BennySeven
Post Reply