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DRUMS => Spark => Spark Users Community => Topic started by: Distressor on January 17, 2015, 05:16:22 pm

Title: Sequencing externals
Post by: Distressor on January 17, 2015, 05:16:22 pm
Hi,
I am looking for a hardware to sequence drums coming from the D16 Drumazon AU Plugin running in Logic Pro.
As far as i understand Spark LE will sequence its own drum samples only.
Is this correct or can i use the internal sequencer for different AUs or even external hardware as well?
If the answer is yes i'll buy it right away.
Thanks
Title: Re: Sequencing externals
Post by: Koshdukai on January 17, 2015, 05:40:15 pm
SparkLE (and Spark) hardware are "just" MIDI controller surfaces, with no local processing power that includes standalone sequencing. All sequencing (and sound generation) is done by the software side of Spark/SparkLE, now known as "Spark 2".

BeatStep is the only hardware controller + Standalone sequencer that I know from Arturia (if we exclude their hw synths seqs)
Title: Re: Sequencing externals
Post by: Distressor on January 17, 2015, 05:57:02 pm
Hi Koshdukai,
thanks for the fast replay.
Do you know if the Spark2 software sends out midi note numbers from its sequencer?
Does the SparkLE hardware controller communicate with the software with regular midi messages or is there a special Arturia protocol running?
Title: Re: Sequencing externals
Post by: Koshdukai on January 18, 2015, 03:23:11 am
Well, Spark2 should send MIDI out from the pads and the sequencer.
There's a "Send MIDI from..." Yes/No setting in Prefs to turn that on/off.

Running as Standalone, you'll have to set its Setup, Audio MIDI Settings, MIDI Output
and running as VST/AU, your DAW will have to allow MIDI out from it to be directed to other MIDI in instruments or MIDI output ports.

Problem is... this isn't working in 2.1, at least I'm currently unable to make it work either as Standalone or Live 8.
(TBH, I've never been able to understand properly if it was me doing something wrong, if I understood it wrong and expected something it wasn't meant to do or if this was/is something that never worked and I was unable to explain it properly for this "bug" to be fixed).
EDIT: Just tried this again with Live 8 and it works, as long as Live's own sequencer is running along with Spark 2's own sequencer. If Live is stopped but Spark 2 is running, no MIDI is passed out from it by Live.

Regarding the controller, it uses regular but a special set of MIDI CC's and Notes to mirror the software state and to send the user actions on the controller to the software.

Both Spark and SparkLE have a user-configurable "Generic MIDI Controller" mode, like any other MIDI controller, to allow it to control other software, while in this "Generic" mode.
Title: Re: Sequencing externals
Post by: mixalis on January 22, 2015, 03:52:08 pm
I would love to see a tutorial on how to sequence externals with sparks sequencer
Title: Re: Sequencing externals
Post by: Terrym on January 22, 2015, 04:37:47 pm
Hi all ,i can use spark to play other drum instruments in cubase ok if i get time to make a video i will . i know its tricker in other daws due to the  midi set up . but all you do is have spark track open and say add groove agent and set the input of groove agent to spark midi out.
arm the track . also make sure your pads are on the same midi notes in spark . press play now the sequence is playing groove agent.

hope this helps


regards

terrym
Title: Re: Sequencing externals
Post by: Koshdukai on January 25, 2015, 10:26:53 pm
I guess BeatStep PRO can solve this more easily now, if you don't intend to use Spark's sounds

http://www.arturia.com/beatstep-pro/overview
Title: Re: Sequencing externals
Post by: Beetlebum on March 03, 2015, 07:33:30 pm
Thanks Koshdukai!

I can get also midi output from the Sparkle VST sequencer in Plogue Bidule only if I slave the VST to the host sync.

I'm not sure if this is normal or not, but have asked Arturia support about it.
Title: Re: Sequencing externals
Post by: Beetlebum on March 07, 2015, 06:29:06 pm
I was finally able to get the sequencer to output the midi note data running the Sparkle VST inside Bidule.

To get midi note output from the Sparkle VST sequencer, the sequencer must be provided (host) sync, and receive a 'start/play' command. In Bidule I did this by using a Step Sequencer object and slaving the Sparkle VST to it.

Without out an external sync, all the sequencer puts out is active sensing. I'm not sure if this is a bug or not.

Another similar thread over here:
http://forum.arturia.com/index.php?topic=83345.0
Title: Re: Sequencing externals
Post by: mixalis on June 07, 2015, 02:18:03 pm
Can i see a video on this? i want to control groove agent with spark sequencer as well!
but i cant find out how yet...Also there is no similar video on the net..it will be helpful...


Hi all ,i can use spark to play other drum instruments in cubase ok if i get time to make a video i will . i know its tricker in other daws due to the  midi set up . but all you do is have spark track open and say add groove agent and set the input of groove agent to spark midi out.
arm the track . also make sure your pads are on the same midi notes in spark . press play now the sequence is playing groove agent.

hope this helps


regards

terrym
Title: Re: Sequencing externals
Post by: Terrym on June 08, 2015, 04:15:38 pm
Hi, There is a bug in spark 2  and it's not sending any midi data out . this is being looked at by arturia ,


regards


Terrym
Title: Re: Sequencing externals
Post by: mixalis on June 08, 2015, 07:26:46 pm
Ok...When the fix is done, please make a quick video on this..

Thanks!
Title: Re: Sequencing externals
Post by: Terrym on June 08, 2015, 07:36:05 pm
No problem.
Title: Re: Sequencing externals
Post by: mixalis on September 15, 2015, 03:05:46 pm
Hi there! I hope you can make this video now that the fix is here....
Title: Re: Sequencing externals
Post by: mixalis on October 28, 2015, 11:19:06 am
Hi all ,i can use spark to play other drum instruments in cubase ok if i get time to make a video i will . i know its tricker in other daws due to the  midi set up . but all you do is have spark track open and say add groove agent and set the input of groove agent to spark midi out.
arm the track . also make sure your pads are on the same midi notes in spark . press play now the sequence is playing groove agent.

hope this helps


regards

terrym


how did you made the pads on the same midi notes in spark?         i tried with midi control center but didnt work
Title: Re: Sequencing externals
Post by: Terrym on October 28, 2015, 12:13:23 pm
Hi on the pad cmd click or control click to midi learn

Regards


Terrym
Title: Re: Sequencing externals
Post by: mixalis on October 28, 2015, 04:20:11 pm
nice! its working now..... ;)
Title: Re: Sequencing externals
Post by: mixalis on August 02, 2017, 12:20:05 pm
Hi there! i would like to ask if i can use Spark le pads, to play other hardware drum machine... is it possible?
Title: Re: Sequencing externals
Post by: 019297 on August 25, 2017, 01:46:19 am
yes, You need a midi interface with a midi output to go to your external machine, set up prefs in spark software so that pads and seq are both outputting midi notes. Both the computer and external drum need to be connected with midi, on the same channel, and using the same drum map.

I do not do this, but I use it for groove agent in cubase
Title: Re: Sequencing externals
Post by: Papy ion on August 26, 2017, 05:38:03 pm
hi

for people who are interested on how to set midi note comming out of SPARK2 using the Midi Control Center...
it's quite easy:

first
-check your daw or hardware drumbox to know the midi channel (usualy 10 for a drum device)
  and the notes they are waiting for (read the manual or check the software settings)

then
-turn the SPARKLE in "MIDI" mode (white LED on the right of the level knob) by pressin [filter]+[slicer]+[roller]
-run Midi Control Center
-select the SPARKLE in the MCC
-clic on the pad you want to set
-set the note number
-set the midi channel it's supposed to trig in your daw or hardware drumbox
and don't forget to pess [SYNC] and maybe save the template by dragging the "working mémory" to the "locale template" and rename it for exemple "midi note to tom cat"  ;D oups bad exemple! or "midi note to DB"

when all is done
-turn back the SPARKLE to the "Spark" mode (blue LED on the left of the white you just change before... next to the volume knob!)

you can now run SPAR2 software and eventualy press [connect controler] (near the [perfs] button)

hope it helps.
 :)
Title: Re: Sequencing externals
Post by: Papy ion on August 27, 2017, 10:33:50 pm
hi!

as far as i know the answer is NO!  ;D
(for external hardware sequencer) but i'm still looking for a way to figur it out.

if you find the answer i'd be very intersted to know how.

salutations.