Alesis MMT8

[miamigroove]

google Pete kvitek MMT-8 for a simple program that converts SMF to MMT-8 tracks

[xxxDavidMaysxxx]

Oh calm down you sound fine!

[moldyfig]

Does anyone know how to control the volume of the click track? Mine is really, really low. Almost inaudible. It's quite annoying. Otherwise, I love this machine.

[Fahz0r]

@moldyfig I don't think that's possible by parameter but more of an internal problem... I think my clicktrack is bloody loud and i'd like it to be lower :/

[mixedmeteor]

@moldyfig get a potentiometer and wire it inline with the external speaker wires to make a volume pot for it

[whisperingvenus]

Hi, great video! will this record sound or play the recorded midi only? I mean, for example if we have only 1 synthesizer, would it be possible to record like several different presets (bass, pads, etc..) to the MMT's tracks and play at the same time? thanks!

[FORLOVEOFGOD]

thanks so much for the info. I think i might be able to do something with sysex....

the other thing im trying to do is edit the program change info after i've recorded some data. edit it not just erase it. is that possible?

[Fahz0r]

@FORLOVEOFGOD I think that is possible under EDIT > PART and then pick a TRACK. I'm not sure, i can't look on it cause it's not in this studio, but under the lid you can find all the information you need, even what every number of data means. That should help you on alot.

[corc7614]

@Fahz0r Hi, thanks for making this video explaining the MMT-8's functionality. Is it able to play in time signatures besides 4/4?

[FORLOVEOFGOD]

and can I edit program changes or add program information after I record, it seems i can only delete program information.  Thanks

[Fahz0r]

@FORLOVEOFGOD I'm afraid it's only real time, so you can't really add any notes or stuff to a recorded sequence, only remove them or change the pitch of one of the inserted notes, and velocity.

[FORLOVEOFGOD]

can i load midid files into the machine without playing them in, without recording them live?

[Fahz0r]

@FORLOVEOFGOD No idea actually, but isn't there an application out there that can turn compositions you make in logic or cubase or so and translate them in just 8 channels of midi so you can load them into the MMT8? I'm not sure, might've been for another device, but i haven't look that far into the MMT8 since i'm good with just recording and playing them by hand.

[Roelandvinken]

Does anyone know ow much ppqn the mmt8 has???

[cyphersum]

@Roelandvinken It's 96 ppqn also check out MMT8.com

[nielswil]

i own since yesterday the mmt-8, but no manual and i can't find it anywhere. Where can i find one.

[vinyljunkie07]

Does this sync to MIDI clock? Thinking of adding it alongside my MPC

[Fahz0r]

@vinyljunkie07 Yes you can use it as a slave. I've used my 707 as a master midi clock on it before, so it is possible. I think you'd have to set the clock options to external and that's it, but can't look on it right now cause it's not here at the moment.

[xhilo]

I also have questions on how to hook up an MMT-8, Oxygen 8 MIDI keyboard and a nanosynth module? I want to sequence the sounds on the nanosynth in realtime. so far this is what I have tried: Oxygen (MIDI out) to MMT-8 (MIDI in) and MMT-8 (MIDI out) to nanosynth (MIDI in)....in this mode I can hear the notes I have recorded but I can hear any notes in real time un less I connect the MIDI Thru on the MMT-8 to the nanosynth MIDI in but it wont playback the notes.

[Fahz0r]

@xhilo That's right, and it's what annoys me about the MMT8. I have used a midikeyboard for that, so first i'd have to play it on that and listen to the crappy midi piano version before it goes into the synth i want that makes it a fat bassline. The thing just doesn't do it otherwise to my knowledge.

[whisperingvenus]

@xhilo Usually on some machine there's function to turn the LOCAL on / off, is this what you're looking for?

[keyboardprince]

i still have and use my mmt8 had it since the 80s now but far better than anything else out there i uue it for backing tracks from a motif then straight on to mini disk take 5 mins to make a song i wish alesis would remake it with bigger screen and cd drive it would sell all over the world

[cloud9dnb]

cool thanks for the vid

[MayarO1313]

I've got the manual for the HR-16 and it also as the MMT-8 in it as well...I've also got the manual in PDF format, if you are unable to find it, let me know, I'll be willing to email it to anyone that wants a copy.

My HR-16 (A) is my only drum machine, always wanted an MMT-8 to expand the memory.

Thanks for uploading this, I found it helpful!

[Fahz0r]

Thanks for your reply! Though i found the manual inside the little door on the mmt8 more than just helpful, it has answered all my questions. While at the HQ, and live on stage!

[MayarO1313]

OH, but there is much more detail...Reply back and next time I'm on (rushed atm), I'll send you a link to a PDF version. For Free, of course!

[Biopharmer]

never mind.

Haha, classic korg p-800 sound

[Biopharmer]

Can you quantize the notes?

[enmetertre]

yes you can just press quantize and choose how much and long you want to quantizie.

[descenttoheaven909]

Christ, Watch the video.

[LaudanumVoices]

Nice video.

I have one to sell - well I'm in two minds about it. It's just sitting in the cupboard now.

[Adlibnote]

awsome!!! more vids!!

looking to get one for myself!

[pv6]

:D Thanks for this. I got a broken MMT-8 & an HR-16 from a garage sale for $10 a few months ago. The electrical guy I know managed to fix the MMT, so it's nice to see if I can put it to any use now.

[globalnywiesniak]

Can you upload a video of programing the sequence instead of recording on it (of course if it is possible)? By the way - is it possible?

[Fahz0r]

simply said, i don't know :/ I believe you can look into each track to see what you've recorded into it and append it (i think, couldn't quite figure out how) but it doesn't seem to have a step sequencer... I recently got an ESQ-1 workstation, i'll make a video demonstrating it soon.

[hovhaness]

God I miss mine..

use to have it with an Ensoniq, & HR16 + HR16b setup.

Had madd fun back in those days.

The only prob i ever had with it is that once a year it would just crash on me, but i used it like 12-16 hours a day back then Lol..

[SheerxNess]

does anyone know what kind of cords you have to use for this i bought a drum machine

Alesis HR 16 and it only came with power supply if someone could tell me send me a message on what i need i would greatly appricate it

[Fahz0r]

what you need is a MIDI cable, a 3 pin MIDI or a 5 pin DIN cable. Both look the same, work the same. You can find 5 pin DIN cables at your local hardware store.

[greg81]

Thanks for the vid.

lol @ gratuitous tb-303 in the picture.

[Fahz0r]

that's a tr606, but i wish it were a tb303 :(

[greg81]

Aw, you don't need someone elses' overused sounds, Fahz0r.

[Fahz0r]

you have a point there, but i'd still want to play with it at least once in my life. I love every synth, no matter how milked out they are.

[Gabrioche]

And... can you create very simple patterns and make them play back in loop?

[Fahz0r]

When you play and record, the notes are recorded exactly as you played them, and you can quantize them to any beat you want manually, right after.

You can record chords, basslines, synth riffs, knob movement, anything.

The whole MMT8 consists of one big mass of looping data. If this answers your question, yes, everything you record loops, and you can trigger this by the LOOP ON/OFF button.

[Gabrioche]

It's maybe a stupid question but when you play and record, do the notes clip on the time steps? Or they are recorded exactly as they are played?

And can you record chords?

Thanks!

[miamigroove]

it depends on if QUANTIZE is on/off. if off, it records exactly as you play. Yes, you can record chords.

[SurfingOnSineWaves]

So you can't like ...

Choose 16 steps and then choose the note it's going to play, step by step? Thanks for the info!

[Fahz0r]

nope you can't. No prob !

[SurfingOnSineWaves]

Can you use it as a step sequencer?

[Fahz0r]

you can somewhat edit the notes being recorded if that's what you mean, but that's really ungodly awefull. The MMT8 is only capable of recording midi and quantizing it, etc.

[allmorale]

Can this be linked up with a sampler? I have an old Akai S20 and was wondering if I could make use of this Alesis with it.

[Fahz0r]

although i don't have that much experience with triggering samples by midi using an MMT8, but i think any sampler really is able to configure a center key (mostly C-2 or C-1) and using a midikeyboard you can trigger the samples from keys C-1 till C-5 for example (hope you know i'm talking octaves here). Hope this was a clear answer :)

[Ryoga2K]

Any sampler with midi Capabilities can be connected to a computer sequencer or trigger, the midi interface is universal.

[hematurge]

YES! You can drive an S-20 with an MMT-8. The S-20 has quite a nice MIDI spec as well.

[johnisfaster]

can you set phrases to be unusual lengths as in 13 steps or 10 steps? if so, could you have one phrase playing at 10 or 12 steps and another phrase playing at the same time at 7 or 9 steps?

[Fahz0r]

fortunatly, you can set the amount of steps to any value you want. UNfortunatly, you cannot change the steps of every channel individually.

[sleestack]

can you program it with out a keyboard? Also, can you do percussion rolls? Can it handle that type of resolution?

[Fahz0r]

unfortunatly you can't really. You can edit the notes recorded from the keyboard afterwards, but i find that feature very hard to use, almost impossible.

[sleestack]

How about drum rolls? Can it go beyond the 16 step grid? Like Vsnares buzzy snares etc,..I realize Midi is sluggish to begin with.

[Fahz0r]

if you can bang the keys of your keyboard at 256 steps, then yes, you can. It's not really a programmable sequencer like for instance the tb-303 has. It's simply a device which records and sends midi data

[sleestack]

I guess you could slow the tempo down. I wonder if you can play in phrases form another sequencer.

[sleestack]

also, I bet it would be cool to play an octapad into it.

[Fahz0r]

that's actually a good idea. Never really been to the point where i wanted drumrollsolos, but this might be a good way to do so. The less it's quantized, the better

[georgebushisawesome]

Excellent! THank you for sharing this. More musicians should do the same! The MMT8 was very easy to use, I still have mine from 1991, and I've since bought two more.

-U.S.A.

[ZackShadowtail]

Nice video, and don't worry, your English is fine, clear and understandable.

[yozeroz]

cool machine.