Akai S950 Operator's Manual page 89

USING MIDI VOLUME CONTROL ON THE S950
There exists in the MIDI specification a special MIDI control code number 07
which allows you to remotely control the volume of the 5950 from another
MIDI controller. This can be switched in and out using Page 04 in the MIDI
mode. This has a variety of uses.
Firstly, you can use a MIDI footpedal to control volume. Assuming your synth
or MIDI keyboard has such a facility, you can simultaneously control the
volume of both the 5950 and the synth using the fOOtpedal. This can be
extremely expressive on string sounds where you can create crescendo and
swell effects.
Another use is simply to remotely control the output volume of the 5950 if
it is stuck away in rack out of harms way but perhaps the most powerful use
of this control is when you are sequencing multi-timbrally because you can
mix the various parts using the MIDI volume control.
Assuming you have a multi-timbral set up programmed using the MIDI offset
function found in EDIT PROGRAM, go to the MIDI buton and ensure that the
parameter LOUDNESS is switched to ON - the S950 is now set up to respond to
MIDI control 07. Now create a multi-channel sequence on your MIDI sequencer.
Having done that, overdub a MIDI volume control setting on, say, MIDI channel
1 using the appropriate data entry facility on your synth or keyboard. You
will note that only the instrument assigned to MIDI channel 1 on the 5950
changes volume as you move the data entry slider whilst the other instruments
don't change volume. Furthermore, that data entry slider movement can be
recorded into your sequencer. You will be able to do this for all tracks and
instruments, fading sounds in and out gradually thereby creating a flexible
automated mixing facility that would embarrass even very sophisticated mixing
consoles!!
Note: all this depends on the capabilities of your particular synth or
keyboard controller and sequencer. It could be that your synth has-no way of
generating MIDI control 07 or, alternatively, your sequencer may not be able
to actually record it. This is for you to establish with your own equipment
set up. Having said that, most synths, keyboards and other MIDI controllers
do generate MIDI control 07 and most sequencers allow you to actually record
that control data as part of a sequence so all this should be no problem.
USING THE MONITOR SELECT
In REC and EDIT SAMPLE, Page 02 has a facility whereby you can monitor the
sound you are sampling or the sample you are editing in the context of a
program. This can be very useful if you are doing any multisampling or if you
are sampling or editing drums.
To monitor, for example, a new snare drum sample in conjunction with other
drums in a program called DRUMS i, go to PAge 02 of the REC mode and, using
the CONTROL knob, scroll through the programs and select DRUMS 1. You will
now be able to hear your new sample in conjunction with the other samples in
the program.
The same is true of EDIT SAMPLE. If you want to hear how your edits sound
within the context of a program, go to Page 02, select the appropriate
program using the control wheel and you will hear the sample currently
selected for editing with the other samples in that program.
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