Noobs question about EM-1

abadroza · Post by **abadroza** » Mon Mar 30, 2009 2:31 pm

Hi there,

I have EM-1, Im new in this and I have little problem. I read all in manual, and didnt find answer, please help!

When tribe is in song mode, I dont know how to starts recording with some parts muted. I try to press record button, then with tap button mute all parts I want, then press play, but nothing happens, it records only changes after pressing play button. I know this option exists, because all demo songs use it.

I know the answer is simple, but i cant see it!

abadroza · Post by **abadroza** » Tue Mar 31, 2009 9:09 pm

This forum has a lot of members, come on, people, must have at least someone who knows the answer to this simple question!
Please help!!!

silverfilter · Post by **silverfilter** » Wed Apr 01, 2009 8:37 am

I read your post the other day. I just couldn't understand exactly what your problem is that's why the member's might have no clue on how to answer your query.

but to try... Song mode is composed of a combination of patterns so I guess the parts that are muted might be that of a copy of the pattern that doesn't have the information or data recorded or simply erased for that certain pattern to have the instrument not playing.

The EM1 doesn't record anything without pressing play AFAIK.

abadroza · Post by **abadroza** » Wed Apr 01, 2009 12:12 pm

Thank you for your answer, but it is not what I need.

I understand how the song mode works, I read all the manual and its all clear to me, but...

I have reviewed all positions in the demo songs. For example, in the Dream trance track in the first few positions is the same pattern, but each position beginning with some muted parts. Nothing is deleted, the pattern is there, with all the instruments, only some parts are muted. When I press the tap key, I can clearly see it.
I want to know how I can do it?
I do not want to make more patterns if I need only some parts of it.
I hope you understand me now, sorry if my english is bad.

TrondC · Post by **TrondC** » Wed Apr 01, 2009 12:54 pm

as far as I rember from when I had an ER and EA-1, you can not save mutes to a pattern. so even if you mute some parts, save a pattern and then switch to a second patternd and back, the part will play with no mutes. are you sure the demo song is not playing different patterns, only say pattern A01 has only one part playing, then A02 has the same part playing plus another one etc, that's how I had to work around the inability for the EA and ER to save mutes (and I think only the ESX and EMX can do this) is this what you mean?

abadroza · Post by **abadroza** » Wed Apr 01, 2009 1:35 pm

Yes, you are completely right, EM-1 can't save muted parts on pattern, its clear, but Im talking only about the song mode. I am absolutely sure that there is a only one pattern, when I switch EM-1 in the pattern mode, that pattern plays all parts, but in song mode track starts with just two parts solo, all other are muted. If I unmute all parts its plays all sounds just like in pattern mode.

So, my question is: When EM-1 is in song mode, how to starts recording with some parts muted? (but the way that when it is played back, its still stay muted)

chad9477 · Post by **chad9477** » Wed Apr 01, 2009 6:33 pm

I've had an EM-1 for years and to the best of my knowledge, starting a song with parts muted isn't a capability it possesses. (That's one reason I switched to the EMX, which can do this.) However, there's a way around it that I used to use:

Copy the pattern you want to use at the beginning of the song to another location (from C.02 to C.01, for example). Then erase all of C.01's parts you don't want playing at the song's beginning. Start your song with C.01, then program it to switch to the full pattern (C.02) when you're ready.

Another approach I used was to copy it as above, but lower the volume on the parts I didn't want playing initially. This works well if you want to fade the parts in slowly rather than have them enter at full volume.

Hope this helps.

abadroza · Post by **abadroza** » Wed Apr 01, 2009 7:27 pm

Its ok, I understand it, thanks for your help.
But what about demo songs? 3 of 5 demo songs use this option, it can not be a trick? Is Korg trick us? I think no. I hope no.

There must be the correct way to do this, just like in demo songs!

silverfilter · Post by **silverfilter** » Wed Apr 01, 2009 9:08 pm

have you tried instantly pressing mute the moment it starts recording in song mode? that might do it. Would take perfect timing though but it's a start.

abadroza · Post by **abadroza** » Thu Apr 02, 2009 7:43 am

Yes, I tried it (also tried to press at the same time), but in the moment when I record it sound ok, but when it is played back, first step is allways played, and after first step all parts are muted (or mutes are not recorded).

silverfilter · Post by **silverfilter** » Thu Apr 02, 2009 7:12 pm

is this the beginning of your track you're having trouble with?

abadroza · Post by **abadroza** » Fri Apr 03, 2009 8:36 am

Yes, it is my the biggest problem, but its not only, same thing goes for the recording of all positions. What will happen when I want to put another pattern in song to starts with mutes? It will plays all parts again!
For examle, I put pattern A.01 on positions 1 & 2, after it I put pattern A.02 on positions 3 & 4. I want position 1 starts with synth part 1 solo, and positon 2 with no mutes. Now comes position 3 with pattern A.02, and I want it start with synt part 1 solo, and positon 4 with no mutes.
This example can be seen in Drum&Bass demo song.

For the previous thing I'll provide same example again:
Dream trance demo song starts with pattern A.39, synth part 2 and drum part 1 solo, all other are muted. It have perfect timing, mutes starts from step 1, and end on step 64. Now I can stop the song, and go to position 3 for exampe... same thing is there - pattern A.39, synth parts 1&2, drum parts 1,2,4&5 plays solo, other are muted, it have perfect timing again - mutes starts from step 1 and end od step 64.

To me it looks like it was programed, not recorded in standard way. But, I must say again - nothing else changed except the mutes.

I have to say that EM-1 is not my first drum/synth machine, but its first with record key.

chad9477 · Post by **chad9477** » Fri Apr 03, 2009 8:41 pm

I never noticed that about the demo songs...I bought my EM-1 years ago and I paid very little attention to them.

One thing I can think of is that the Korg guys composed those songs using some sort of editing software that allowed them to set the parts to mute initially.

You might look around online for EM-1 editing software. I never used it myself, but I'm sure I saw some available for free download in the past.

There's a Yahoo group dedicated to the EM-1...you might join it and look through the archives if you have the patience, and/or ask the members to point you in the right direction. It's not too active anymore, but look here: http://launch.groups.yahoo.com/group/KorgEM1/

abadroza · Post by **abadroza** » Sat Apr 04, 2009 2:31 am

Thanks a lot for your reply, and thanks for the link.

I think they wasn't use editor, it would be stupid to put something what it can not do to presents machine.

And one more think, I do not want to use editor, because I'm sick of computer and editing music on it

In the meantime I worked hard to understand the machine, and I found the solution how they could do it. Its tricky, not so useful, boring, and stupid!

I dont know, maybe its not the same way, but it works exactly the same like in demo songs, here it is:

what I want? I want to put pattern A.01 on position 1, with synth part 1 solo.

What I did? I put pattern A.01 on positon 1 and positon 2! then press record, then press play. When position 2 comes I press solo key and synth part 1 key. So now position 2 starts with synth part 1 solo right from step 1. Pattern on position 1 is no longer necessary and it can be deleted with SHIFT+12 (delete pattern from song).
The same process can be used in all positions, so it can solve the problem in any part of song - beginning, middle, end.

If someone appears with the same problem, maybe this can help him.

shabudua · Post by **shabudua** » Sat Apr 04, 2009 2:49 am

Clever! You gotta love the tribes...for almost every limitation, there's an ingenious workaround waiting to be discovered.