MD UserWave

Ball Sack · Post by **Ball Sack** » Fri Sep 08, 2006 2:49 pm

A good read thanks.

jngpng · Post by **jngpng** » Fri Sep 08, 2006 3:36 pm

Tarekith wrote: a unique resonant filter arrangement that lets you create anything from a low pass to a notch to a hi pass filter.

I'm guessing you meant band-pass rather than notch in this sentence?

Just a small detail, nicely written review otherwise!

Miss LadyLive · Post by **Miss LadyLive** » Fri Sep 08, 2006 3:58 pm

Thanks for all the info guys..Im please to say that im a proud mother, MD-UW born today 2.8kg

kuniklo · Post by **kuniklo** » Fri Sep 08, 2006 4:02 pm

Miss LadyLive wrote:
kuniklo wrote:Read the manual first. I sold my MD.
Why did you sell? What was your main reason for doing so, i would love to know your views..

I like the MD a lot, but I didn't like it enough to justify spending $1600+ on it. The sequencer is also surprisingly limited, IMO. You can't mix straight sixteenths and triplets in the same pattern, each track in a pattern has to be the same length and run at the same speed and direction as the rest. The sampled sounds are kind of weak, and it's really easy to lose work or overwrite old work if you're not paying close attention.

I replaced it with a PX-7 Command Station, which cost me about 1/4th the price of the MD-UW. It's synthesis engine isn't nearly as flexible, but the sequencer is much better:

1. Multiple tracks at different grid resolutions including mixtures of straight & triplets and variable swing.
2. Multiple overdubbing modes, including first note record and punch in/out.
3. More extensive editing tools (merge/explode tracks, extend, copy & paste etc).
4. Event list editing as well as realtime, grid & step record.
5. Tempo & meter changes *within* any pattern.
6. Song mode with parallel notes & controller track alongside pattern events.
7. MPC-style note repeat.
8. 16 realtime controllers assignable to any parameter.
9. Xmix for live, on-the-fly swapping of individual tracks within patterns.
10. A fantastic user-programmable arpeggiator that can also run in "beats mode" to trigger percussion riffs

I can use the sequencer on the PX-7 to trigger Battery or Microtonic drums in Live. The MD can do this too but the more capable sequencer on the PX-7 makes this more fun *plus* the PX-7 has fantastic MPC-style pads for banging beats out on instead of the cheap little plastic chiclets on the MD that aren't even velocity sensitive.

The MD is a fun instrument but not worth the premium, IMO. You could practically build yourself a studio for the price of the UW.

Tarekith · Post by **Tarekith** » Fri Sep 08, 2006 4:52 pm

jngpng wrote:
Tarekith wrote: a unique resonant filter arrangement that lets you create anything from a low pass to a notch to a hi pass filter.
I'm guessing you meant band-pass rather than notch in this sentence?

Just a small detail, nicely written review otherwise!

Both actually, if you invert the width and freq knobs (ie, make the freq higher than the width) it can do notch filtering too.

Tarekith · Post by **Tarekith** » Fri Sep 08, 2006 4:54 pm

kuniklo wrote:The MD is a fun instrument but not worth the premium, IMO. You could practically build yourself a studio for the price of the UW.

One reason it took me so long to get. Definitely one of those things you buy after you have the rest of your studio sorted.

PX-7 is a cool box, I had one and an XL-7 as well, I was one of the moderators of the XX-7 yahoo list for years as well (though I went by rEalm back then). You might like this:

http://tarekith.com/assets/CommandStationFAQv203.htm

http://tarekith.com/assets/TipsandTricksv102.htm

kuniklo · Post by **kuniklo** » Fri Sep 08, 2006 4:58 pm

Tarekith wrote: PX-7 is a cool box, I had one and an XL-7 as well, I was one of the moderators of the XX-7 yahoo list for years as well (though I went by rEalm back then). You might like this:

http://tarekith.com/assets/CommandStationFAQv203.htm

http://tarekith.com/assets/TipsandTricksv102.htm

I actually read those both pretty closely when I was considering the PX-7. Very useful. Thanks!

Tarekith · Post by **Tarekith** » Fri Sep 08, 2006 5:09 pm

Miss LadyLive wrote:Thanks for all the info guys..Im please to say that im a proud mother, MD-UW born today 2.8kg

You might like this:

http://tarekith.com/assets/machinedrum_ ... ksv103.htm

jngpng · Post by **jngpng** » Fri Sep 08, 2006 5:35 pm

Tarekith wrote:
jngpng wrote:
Tarekith wrote: a unique resonant filter arrangement that lets you create anything from a low pass to a notch to a hi pass filter.
I'm guessing you meant band-pass rather than notch in this sentence?

Just a small detail, nicely written review otherwise!
Both actually, if you invert the width and freq knobs (ie, make the freq higher than the width) it can do notch filtering too.

Not according to my ears + UW or MNM, or either of the manuals

. The Freq knob sets the lower cutoff frequency of the filter, and the Width knob sets the amount by which the upper cutoff frequency is offset from this (and only in a positive direction). Try it yourself - set the width to the lowest value and then sweep the freq value up and down. You'll hear a narrow BP filter, not a notch.

Tarekith · Post by **Tarekith** » Fri Sep 08, 2006 6:29 pm

You're right, i was going by memory, which was obviously faulty. My apologies.

Miss LadyLive · Post by **Miss LadyLive** » Fri Sep 08, 2006 7:02 pm

Tarekith wrote:
Miss LadyLive wrote:Thanks for all the info guys..Im please to say that im a proud mother, MD-UW born today 2.8kg
You might like this:

http://tarekith.com/assets/machinedrum_ ... ksv103.htm

Thanks for the link Tarekith, but i think i'll read the main manual first,then have a look at the user tips. The MD seems pretty easy to use straight from the box, but im sure there is loads more to follow..I feel like lil girl on christmas day.