Programs switching out of my control in song mode

[comradec]

I'm working my way around the Fusion's sequencer and one issue is causing me some problems.

I recorded four synth tracks in a new song, put the sequence in a loop and then created a fifth synth track.

Browsing through the programs to find a suitable sound for the part I'm playing on the fifth track, however, I've found that track 1 repeatedly keeps switching to a program I hadn't programmed into it.

If I go back to track 1 to see what's going on, the display says that the program being used is the one I originally selected, but that's not what comes out the speakers. I have to increment or decrement out of that program to another one, and then go back again to the original program, before it will resume playing the program (a drum kit) I started off with.

This is happening quite a lot.

I have a feeling it might be occurring when I select the same drum kit program on track 5 as I have on track 1, but I can't be absolutely sure about that, and presumably there can't be an issue with duplicating patches on different tracks?

Any ideas, anyone?

[comradec]

This problem is driving me up the wall now, as I've still not managed to solve it.

I started a new song since my previous post, and the same thing is happening. Just when I've got a couple of tracks worked out and I'm trying to find a patch (i.e. program) for the third track, the patch attached to the first track will suddenly switch to something I didn't intend at all. The interface still says the patch I set is there but that's not the sound being made. I have to put in another patch and then return to the one I wanted before it comes in. And then it'll come unstuck again soon after while I'm working on track 3.

This can't be a program change issue because the patch that's disappearing is the one I choose before recording the note data, and it's not happening at the beginning of a loop or when I locate back to the start of the song; it happens at any time.

It's actually quite difficult to change patches in song mode as, so far as I know, you can't access the program categories view while scrolling through the sounds.

Moreover, I assume because not all banks have an equal number of sounds in each instrumental category or even none at all, you can be browsing through the banks and the organ you had on track 2 will suddenly revert back to the Holy Grail piano or whatever.

[Shreddie]

That sounds weird!

The only thing I can think of is that the Fusion may be getting program change commands from another device via MIDI. Have you got anything else hooked up to it? If so, try disabling program and bank change commands in Global>MIDI and see what happens.

If that doesn't work the only other thing I can suggest is a reset. Hold record and play while powering up. You won't loose any data that way but you will need to go and sort out all your preferences in Global mode afterwards.

[comradec]

Mar 14, 2009 0:52:58 GMT Shreddie said:

That sounds weird!

The only thing I can think of is that the Fusion may be getting program change commands from another device via MIDI. Have you got anything else hooked up to it? If so, try disabling program and bank change commands in Global>MIDI and see what happens.

If that doesn't work the only other thing I can suggest is a reset. Hold record and play while powering up. You won't loose any data that way but you will need to go and sort out all your preferences in Global mode afterwards.

There's no other equipment connected to the Fusion via MIDI at the moment. I'm using it as a standalone songwriting tool and the only thing it gets hooked up to is the computer via USB when I'm installing new patches, like the Hollow Sun freepacks.

I could try a reset, I guess.

[lildave]

I can duplicate this problem but only under certain circumstances. When in SONG mode and I enter the editor tab, I usualy COPY measures 1-5 and then PASTE OVER starting at measure five and everything is fine until I change my mind about the PROGRAM/SOUND. So lets sat instead of a piano i want to use a guitar on the track I just coppied and pasted. Oh, well. I'm stuck with that piano. I can change it while it's playing but as soon as it loops to the start of measure one it will automatically switch right bacj to the piano. I thought, "Well what if I save it while I have my new sound selected?" Same thing. I've turned off everything that's midi related and still have the same problem so i think this is a bug.

[twokks]

Program categories can be accessed via LOCATE/INC while in Song/Edit/Track/Program--program being highlighted.

[comradec]

Mar 14, 2009 2:41:12 GMT twokks said:

Program categories can be accessed via LOCATE/INC while in Song/Edit/Track/Program--program being highlighted.

Ah, now there's a trick I hadn't spotted. I guess that probably deals with the other thread I've started on this issue. Thanks.

The index in the user manual is relatively poor. I've not managed to look up anything that way yet. There's an art of compiling an effective index but the Fusion manual hasn't got the hang of that at all.

[psionic11]

Some more suggestions:

Recall how on most synths you have the actual program/patch you call and play around with, and then if you make any changes to that preset, the edited "copy" goes into a buffer. It's the buffer that you're experimenting around with. Unless you save any changes, when you leave that buffer, all is lost.

Something similar to this concept but a little more involved is happening here, I believe. For instance, in a MIX or SONG, which is the current track/program in the front buffer? The one you see, the one you just changed, or the one you hear? Discover which buffer you're working in, and perhaps a solution will present itself.

Also, perhaps you could STORE your works as you progress. Plenty, plenty of room for storage on the Fusion's harddrive, so don't be limited by old mindsets of yesteryear's memory-hungry vintage models -- make multiple and generous SAVEs as you go along. I personally like using version numbers to document my journeys. Like, Sultry Piano2.3, tweak the resonance, spread the stereo field a bit more using Keytrack, and delay, and... ooh, I like, STORE Sultry Piano 2.4, then move on w/ more tweaking, save, etc. Same with songs.

If STORE isn't fixing your issues, perhaps then a MIDI Program Change was saved into the MIDI stream? SONG/Edit/Editor/Trk Event displays the MIDI data event by event. Again, be sure to place yourself into the correct buffer by Selecting the Track to Edit when on this page.

Food for thought.

[psionic11]

Btw, out of curiosity, is the drum kit you're referring to the SH kit? I tend to use that as a quick scratchpad starter kit, but it does have some drawbacks. It crackles and pops often when trying to play notes outside the range of the actual notes, for one thing.

Also, remember the Fusion's directory system is a little screwy. I'm sure you've got an inkling of this as you've downloaded new Banks into the Fusion. When you record a song, the Editor calls up the the Program for that track by referring to it as Bank: X Prog: Y ...

But when you load (and Verify!) a new Bank into the Fusion, an odd re-arrangement takes place. The 7 ROM banks (Presets 1-4, Electronica, Drum, More) always stay put. But the newest Bank you just loaded goes then after the last ROM but before Preset 5. Okay, not too unusual. But later, as you load more new Banks, they get pushed down the line making an ever-increasing list of Banks, but always the newest Bank ends up after the last ROM, but your 2nd newest Bank is all the way at the end of the list...!?!

Or something like that. Basically what happens, is that all that re-arranging means what used to be Supersound X in your HitSong1 becomes something else after you add new Banks because now the MIDI Editor only remembers Bank: X Prog:Y, and NOT "Supersound X."

Re-arrange Banks, re-arrange Sounds, whether you want to or not.

The closest thing to good advice the bare-bones "engineer's" manual says about this is something like, well actually I don't remember, it's been a year now.

Bottomline: arrange Banks/Sounds into something somewhat final, THEN make Songs. Otherwise, be aware when moving Banks (such as adding new Banks) that they may affect your Songs. =/

[lildave]

I JUST found a fix for my problem I mentioned above. In the editor tab while in SONG mode. On the COPY screen you see five options at the bottom of the screen all reading INCLUDED. Turn the OTHER EVENTS to NOT INCLUDED at it fixed my problem. Maybe this will help yours too. I hope so.

[lildave]

Oh, and is your automation turned on. When mine is turned on and I record my Fusion does some strange things. I don't quite understand automation.

[billmelator]

I think OS 2.0 would make this much easier.