MV-8000

Workshop
Using the MV-8000 with an External Sequencer
2005 Roland Corporation U.S. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form without the written permission of Roland Corporation U.S. MVWS12
About the MV-8000 Workshop Series
Rolands MV-8000 Production Studio is packed with features for making music. Its a heavy-duty sampler that can do all sorts of things with sounds you sample or import. Its sequencer has 136 tracks for MIDI sequencing and playing back audio, and its set of editing tools is deep. Its a great box for performing using its pads or an attached MIDI keyboardand, of course, it can even burn a CD of your final master mix. Each MV-8000 Workshop Series booklet focuses on one MV-8000 topic, and is intended as a companion to your MV-8000 Owners Manuals. This booklet requires MV-8000 O.S. Version 3 or higher. You can download the latest O.S. for free from www.RolandUS.com.
If youre not, dont worry, because the VGA windows and LCD screens are essentially the same. There are clickable VGA icons for all of the MV-8000s buttons. You can also press an onscreen button by clicking your mouse or by pressing an F button on the MV-8000. The main difference has to do with how you deal with settingsor parametersand how you select objects.
If youre using a mouse: If youre using the MV-8000s buttons:

Left click

Right click

Scroll wheel

About This Booklet
The MV-8000 can act as a powerful sample player when its used with a computer sequencing program, or with a standalone hardware sequencer. It can play up to 16 patches at a time, or 15 patches along with time-stretchable audio phrases. This booklet explains how. The Buttons, the LCD, or a VGA? On the MV-8000, you can work on the built-in LCD or on an optional color VGA monitor. You can use the MV-8000s frontpanel controls, or a mouse on your VGA screen. No matter how you like to work, theres an easy way to get things done. Probably the best idea is to work primarily with a mouse on a VGA, using the MV-8000s buttons to quickly get in and out of MV-8000 screens. The procedures in this booklet typically assume youll be working this way.
You select parameters and objects with a left click. You change the selected parameters value by turning the scroll wheel. You can display an objects menu by right-clicking the object.
You select parameters and objects with the 3, 4, 5, and 6 CURSOR buttons. Change a selected parameters value by turning the VALUE dial or by pressing DEC and INC.
Understanding the Symbols in This Booklet Throughout this booklet, youll come across information that deserves special attentionthats the reason its labeled with one of the following symbols. A note is something that adds information about the topic at hand. A tip offers suggestions for using the feature being discussed. Warnings contain important information that can help you avoid possible damage to your equipment, your data, or yourself.
The MV-8000 as a Multitimbral Sampler
If you use an external sequencer, you can play MV-8000 sounds using Multi Timbre Sampler mode. In the MV-8000s Multi Timbre Sampler mode, it acts as a multitimbral sampler. This means that it can play up to 16 sounds independently and at the same timeits as if the MV-8000 contains a bunch of little samplers. Each of these little samplers is called a part. Each part has its own settings and can play its own patch. If youve sequenced on the MV-8000, youre already familiar with the MV-8000s parts. The INSTRUMENTS window shows you the settings for the 16 parts of the currently loaded project. To see it, press the INSTRUMENTS button.
Playing Audio Phrases via MIDI
Multi Timbre Sampler mode isnt just about patchesyou can also play any audio phrase in Pad Banks 1 through 8 from an external sequencer. You can even lock an audio phrases timing to the tempo of an external sequencer, just as you can lock it to the MV-8000s own built-in sequencer. To learn about the differences between patches and audio phrases, see Two Ways You Can Use Samples on Page 3 of the MV-8000 Sampling Workshop booklet. When you play audio phrases from an external sequencer, the MV-8000 borrows one of the 16 parts, leaving 15 parts for playing patches. Well explain this more later. You can play audio phrases assigned to Pad Banks 1-8 because MIDI can play up to 128 different notes, and Pad Banks 1-8 give you 128 pads.

Each of the 16 parts receives MIDI data on its own channel. Parts 1-16 receive data on MIDI Channels 1-16, respectively. In an external sequencer, a track can record and play back the data for a single MIDI channel, which then plays the corresponding parts sound in the MV-8000.
Turning On Multi Timbre Sampler Mode
To turn on Multi Timbre Sampler mode: 1. Press SYSTEM to display the SYSTEM menu. 2. Select MIDI to display the MV-8000 MIDI parameters.
This is possible because the MV-8000 can be synchronizedor slavedto the sequencer using a special type of MIDI timing data called MIDI clock. MIDI clock travels from the external sequencer into the MV-8000s MIDI IN jack along with the rest of the sequencers MIDI data.

External sequencer

Any time-based effects you use on the MV-8000such as delays, flangers, and so oncan also be synchronized with the external sequencer tempo. Before setting up the MV-8000 as a MIDI clock slave, make sure your external sequencer isnt currently playing. To slave the MV-8000 to incoming MIDI clock data: 1. On the MV-8000, press SONG SETUP. 2. Select SYNC to show the SYNC window. 3. Set the Multi Timbre Sampler Mode parameter to On. 4. If youd like to play audio phrases from the external sequencer, set Audio Phrase Rx Channel to the MIDI channel youd like to use. If you dont want to play audio phrases, set Audio Phrase Rx Channel to Off. When you select a MIDI channel for playing audio phrases, the samenumbered part becomes unavailable for playing patches. (With the settings shown above, that would be Part 16.)
Locking Audio Phrases to the Sequencer Tempo
Any audio phrase whose BPM Sync parameter is turned on can be locked to an external sequencers tempo. To learn about the audio phrase BPM Sync parameter, see Setting Up How an Audio Phrase Behaves on Page 10 of the MV-8000 Sampling Workshop booklet. 3. Set Sync Mode to Slave-MIDI (MIDI). If your MV-8000s MIDI OUT A or B jack is connected to the external sequencers MIDI INor if youre using a MIDI patchbayturn off the jacks MIDI Clock Output parameter, as shown above. This will prevent a MIDI clock loop that can badly confuse your entire MIDI system.
Setting Up the External Sequencer
In the sequencer, create a track for the MIDI channel of: each MV-8000 partthat plays a patch you want to use. the Audio Phrase RX Channelif youll be using audio phrases. To sync them to the sequencers tempo, set the sequencer to send MIDI clock data during playback.

The EFFECTS and MIXER Windows
As you work in Multi Timbre Sampler mode, you may also want to tweak your: effectsPress the EFFECTS button to select and edit the effects your MV-8000 patches and audio phrases use. mixer settingsPress the MIXER button to adjust the levels, panning, effects, and output routings of your patches and audio phrases. You can actually control many of the settings weve just mentioned from your sequencer using MIDI Control Change messages. See the MV-8000 Owners Manual for details on these advanced operations. While your external sequencer is playing, stay in the MV-8000s INSTRUMENTS, EFFECTS, and MIXER windowsor on the SEQUENCER screento ensure successful Multi Timbre Sampler mode operation.
To learn how to do these things, see your sequencers manual. Once youve set up the sequencer, youre ready to go.
Working in Multi Timbre Sampler Mode
As you play MV-8000 sounds from your sequencer, youll operate the MV-8000 in Multi Timbre Sampler mode.
Multi Timbre Sampler Mode Home Base
Your base of operation in Multi Timbre Sampler mode is the INSTRUMENTS windowits the place where you can load patches you need, and where you can adjust their part settings.

Audio Phrase Operations

As you work with an external sequencer, you can edit existing audio phrasesor assign new oneswhenever the sequencer is stopped. Press AUDIO PHRASES, as usual, to perform any audio phrase operations you like. When youve finished, press the INSTRUMENTS button before resuming sequencer playback or recording. You can sample while an external sequencer is playing MV-8000 sounds. This lets you sing or play along and capture your performance as a sample. You can then stop the sequencer and use Quick Assign to send the sample to a patch, or assign it as an audio phrase. See the MV-8000 Sampling Workshop booklet for more details on sampling.
To learn how to load patches, see the MV-8000 Loading Patches Workshop booklet.

The End

We hope youve found this workshop helpful. Keep an eye out for other MV-8000 Workshop booklets, all available for downloading at www.RolandUS.com. For the latest MV-8000 updates and support tools, visit the Roland U.S. Web site at www.RolandUS.com. If you need personal assistance, call our amazing Product Support team at 323-890-3745.

MV-8000

Workshop

Loading Patches

2005, 2006 Roland Corporation U.S. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form without the written permission of Roland Corporation U.S. MVWS02
About the MV-8000 Workshop Series
Rolands MV-8000 Production Studio is packed with features for making music. Its a heavy-duty sampler that can do all sorts of things with sounds you sample or import. Its sequencer has 136 tracks for MIDI sequencing and playing back audio, and its set of editing tools is deep. Its a great box for performing using its pads or an attached MIDI keyboardand, of course, it can even burn a CD of your final master mix. Each MV-8000 Workshop Series booklet focuses on one MV-8000 topic, and is intended as a companion to your MV-8000 Owners Manuals. This booklet requires MV-8000 O.S. 3.5 or higher. You can download the latest O.S. for free from www.RolandUS.com.
If youre not, dont worry, because the VGA windows and LCD screens are essentially the same. There are clickable VGA icons for all of the MV-8000s buttons. You can also press an onscreen button by clicking your mouse or by pressing an F button on the MV-8000. The main difference has to do with how you deal with settingsor parametersand how you select objects.
If youre using a mouse: If youre using the MV-8000s buttons:

Left click

Right click

Scroll wheel

About This Booklet
The MV-8000 comes with lots of patches. The PATCHES folder on its hard drive holds 103 of them. Also, each project including every demo projecthas its own patch library. You can load any of these patches. This booklet explains how. The Buttons, the LCD, or a VGA? With the MV-8000, you can work on the built-in LCD or on an optional color VGA monitor. You can use the MV-8000s frontpanel controls, or a mouse on your VGA screen. No matter how you like to work, theres an easy way to get things done. Probably the best idea is to work primarily with a mouse on a VGA, using the MV-8000s buttons to quickly get in and out of MV-8000 screens. The procedures in this booklet typically assume youll be working this way.
You select parameters and objects with a left click. You change the selected parameters value by turning the scroll wheel. You can display an objects menu by right-clicking the object.
You select parameters and objects with the 3, 4, 5, and 6 CURSOR buttons. Change a selected parameters value by turning the VALUE dial or by pressing DEC and INC.
Understanding the Symbols in This Booklet Throughout this booklet, youll come across information that deserves special attentionthats the reason its labeled with one of the following symbols. A note is something that adds information about the topic at hand. A tip offers suggestions for using the feature being discussed. Warnings contain important information that can help you avoid possible damage to your equipment, your data, or yourself.
About Patch Loading How Many Patches at a Time?
Whenever youve got the MV-8000 turned on, youre in one of the songs in the currently loaded project. For each song in a project, you can load and use up to 16 patches at a time. To learn more about what a project is, see the MV-8000 Creating a New Project Workshop booklet. Each patch is played by one of the songs 16 parts. You can think of each part as a separate instrumentin fact, to display the songs parts and their patches, you press the INSTRUMENTS button.
Depending on how many samples a project has, and how long they are, its possible to be out of room when you attempt to load a patch. If youre just getting into your MV-8000, though, its not likely to happen very soon. The MV-8000 ships from the factory with generous 128 MB of RAM. If you need more, you can expand it up to 512 MB, as explained in the MV-8000 Owners Manual. RAM is cleared whenever you power off the MV-8000, so its always important to save your project before you turn off the MV-8000.

Where a Loaded Patch Goes
You can load patches: from the current projects libraryinto the currently selected part. in the MV-8000 PATCHES folder or in another projectinto any part and/or add it to the current projects library.
Load a patch into a part, or load it into the project library.
To try out any of these patches, select its part, and then play the pads or a connected MIDI keyboard.
A Patch Needs a Part to Play It When you save a project, each songs patchesand the samples they playare automatically saved with the project. All the Patches That Fit Before you play or work on a project, the project is loaded into the MV-8000s RAM (for Random Access Memory). RAM also holds all of a projects samples, patches, and songs. When you want to load a patch from the current projects library, you start by selecting the part thatll play itonce youve done this, you can then load the patch into the part. If youre loading a patch from the PATCHES folder or another project, you select the part to be used as you load the patch. Well explain how to do both of these things later.
The Project Library Collects Patches There are a number of reasons you might want to load a patch into the current projects library. Here are the three most common reasons: You might be collecting patches you plan to use in a project, but youre not ready to assign them to parts yet. Youre gathering patches you might want to use, maybe even instead of patches youre already working with. You might be planning to use a patch in other project songspatches you stash in the project library can be used in any of the projects songs.
2. Click Library to see whats in the projects patch library.
You can also open the library from the INSTRUMENTS window by turning the scroll wheel on your mouse or the VALUE dial on the MV-8000. 3. Select a patch youd like to load. (Weve selected the fourth patch in the picture above.) If you want to try out a patch before loading it, click Preview and play it on the pads or a connected MIDI keyboard. 4. Click Use This to load the patch into the part you chose in Step 1. The MV-8000 returns you to the INSTRUMENTS window, with the patch loaded into the selected part. You can now play the patch on the MV-8000s pads, or on a connected MIDI keyboard.
Loading the Current Projects Patches
If youre new to the MV-8000, try this procedure with the Version 3 demo project loaded, as weve done here. To load a patch from the current projects patch library: 1. Press INSTRUMENTS to display the current songs 16 parts, and use the MV-8000s 6 or 5 CURSOR buttons to select the part you want to have play the patch. (Weve selected Part 6 here for no particular reason.)

Loading Patches from Outside the Project
Heres how to load a patch into the current song from the MV-8000s PATCHES folder, or from another project. Both procedures start the same way. In the following two sections, well work with a new, blank project. To learn how to create a project, see the MV-8000 Workshop booklet Creating a New Project.
If what you see doesnt look like this, press 3 repeatedly until it does.
Navigating to a Patch Outside the Project
1. Press INSTRUMENTS to display the INSTRUMENTS window.
If Hard Disk doesnt appear in the upper left of the screen, click Select Drive, choose Hard Disk, and then click Select. At this point, youll navigate to the patch you want to load, as described later on in Loading a Patch from the PATCHES Folder and Loading a Patch from Another Project.
Trying Out a Patch Without Loading It
Once you navigate to a patch, you can try it out without adding it to your project until youre sure you want to. Heres how. 1. Select the patch you want to hear, and then click Preview the MV-8000 temporarily loads the patch and its samples, and then displays the IMPORT PREVIEW window. 2. Press the MENU button to display the Instruments menu.
3. Select Load Patch as shown above, and click Select to display the contents of the MV-8000s hard drive.
3. Check out the patch by playing it on the pads or on a connected MIDI keyboard. 4. If you: dont want to load the patchclick Stop. decide you do want to load the patchclick Import.
Loading a Patch from the PATCHES Folder
1. After following the instructions in Navigating to a Patch Outside the Project, double-click the PATCHES folder.
3. Select the patch you want to load. (We selected Afro Mute 1 in the picture at the left.) 4. Click Load. 5. Finish up by jumping ahead to Picking the Place the Patch Goes, which follows the next section (click here).
Loading a Patch from Another Project
1. After following the instructions in Navigating to a Patch Outside the Project on Page 5, double-click the PROJECTS folder to display the projects on the MV-8000s hard drive.
As you can see, the PATCHES folder contains other folders that make it easy to find the type of patch you want.
2. Double-click the folder youd like to check out to see whats in it. (Weve double-clicked the GUITAR folder here.)
2. Double-click the project that contains the patch you want to load. (We double-clicked MVDEMO_V3 here.)
If youd like to close the project folder youre in and select another project, click the Up Folder icon, or press 3.

The Up Folder icon

If youd like to close the project folder youre in and select another project, click the Up Folder icon, or press 3. 3. Double-click the selected projects PATCHES folder to display the contents of the projects patch library.

1. Set: Partto the part youd like to have play the patch. To load the patch into an empty part, select a part that currently holds a patch named Init Patch. (Set the Part parameter to Off if you only want to load the patch into the current projects patch library.) Libraryto the location in the current projects patch library where youd like to store the patch. To load the patch into an empty library location, select a location that currently holds a patch named Init Patch. (Set the Library parameter to Off if you only want to load the patch into a part.) Any patch called Init Patch is just a placeholder in an empty part or library location. When you create your own patches, be sure to rename them so theyre not called Init Patch to avoid confusion later.
4. Select the patch you want to load, and click Load. 5. Finish up by following the steps below in Picking the Place the Patch Goes.
Picking the Place the Patch Goes
When you load a patch from outside the current project, you can load it to a part in the current song and/or to the currently loaded projects patch library.
2. If: youve selected an Init Patch part or library location click Execute. youre replacing a patch in a part, and the patch is also in the projects libraryclick Execute so that the patch in the library still works. youre replacing a patch and want to erase its samples altogether to save space in RAMclick With Delete.
Loading Multiple Patches from the Same Folder
To load more than one patch from a folder at the same time: 1. Navigate to the desired patch folder. 2. Select each patch you want, and click Mark On/Off.

Getting Rid of Patches

Whenever you load a patch, its samples get loaded into the MV-8000s sample RAM, and when you save the project on your hard drive, the samples get saved with it. Once samples are in a project, they stay there, taking up space, even if you decide you dont want to use their patch in any of the projects songs after all. Thats why its a good idea to delete unwanted patchesand their samplesfrom the current project. When you load a patch from the MV-8000 PATCHES folder or from another project, feel free to delete the patch from the current project. Itll still be safe and sound on the MV-8000s hard drive, stored in the PATCHES folder or in the project you loaded it from. If a patch and its samples exist only in the current project, though, deleting the patch will erase itand its samplescompletely.
When you click Mark On/Off, you checkmark or un-checkmark the highlighted patch.
3. Click Load. The MV-8000 asks what you want to do.
To delete a patch: 1. Press the INSTRUMENTS button. 2. Select the part thats playing the patch. The patch you want to delete has to be assigned to a part in order to be deleted. If its not currently assigned to a part, select a part, click Library, select the patch, and then click Use This.
4. To: load the patches into a series of partsset the Part parameter to the first part you want to use. The MV-8000 automatically selects a set of parts starting with the one youve chosen. Load the patches into a series of project library locations set the Library parameter to the first library location you want to use. The MV-8000 automatically selects a set of locations starting with the one youve chosen. 5. Click Execute to finish loading the patches.

3. Press the MENU button, and then select Delete Patch. 4. Click Selectthe MV-8000 asks if youre sure you want to proceed.

Click:

Yesto continue. Noto cancel the operation. Assign Onlyto delete the patch, but leave the samples in sample RAM. This allows you to continue to use the samples in the project, even if their patch is gone. (Of course, this doesnt clear them from the project.)
If you click Yes in Step 4, the MV-8000 reminds you that its about to delete samples that may be being used by another patch, as an audio phrase, or in a recorded track, and asks again if youre sure you want to continue.
5. Press Yes to finish deleting the patch and its samples.

The End

We hope youve found this workshop helpful. Keep an eye out for other MV-8000 Workshop booklets, all available for downloading at www.RolandUS.com. For the latest MV-8000 updates and support tools, visit the Roland U.S. Web site at www.RolandUS.com. If you need personal assistance, call our amazing Product Support team at 323-890-3745.