Ensoniq Corporation ZR-76, MR-61, MR-76 Start Guide

MR/ZR Getting Started Guide

Written by Eric Montgomery

Getting Started

The first thing most people want to do when they get a new piece of gear is to "do it all". They want to start writing songs, and doing performances. My advice is to take your time and get to know the new product first. By the time you finish this manual you will have the basic idea of how to sequence, interface with a computer and store data to disk. Take it a little at a time and you will be moving around on the MR/ZR like you never thought you could!

For A/C connections, refer to the owner’s manual that came with your MR/ZR. If you do not have a manual, you can place an order for one through a local Ensoniq dealer or from the company listed below.

Syntaur Productions 1418 N. Walnut Ave., New Braunfels, TX 78130 830-627-1530 Fax: 830-627-1531 www.syntaur.com

As a tip, try to avoid lifting the ground. Don’t use adapters that convert the 3-prong A/C cable to a 2 prong. If there is ever a power surge there is the possibility that you can hurt yourself or your equipment can sustain damage. It is safer for the both of you!

Audio Connections:

You can listen to the MR/ZR in a few different ways. There is a ¼” headphone jack located on the rear of the unit. You can also try connecting the Main Outputs to a mixer, pair of powered monitors, or even to your home stereo or portable radio. If the connection is going to be to a home stereo or portable radio, those products must have either a Line input, Aux. input or CD/Tape input. Under normal conditions the type of cable needed is a stereo RCA to ¼” cable. Any length is okay, but try to stay less than 18 feet to avoid signal loss. If you are going to use a mixing console, refer to the owner’s manual of that mixer for connections and input control settings. Normally, on a mixer, the type of cables needed for connection are two ¼” to ¼” audio cables. Again, try to stay less than 18 feet to avoid signal loss.

Assuming we have gotten through the A/C power connections and the connections of outputs and inputs, let’s move on to the fun part, making music!

MR/ZR GETTING STARTED GUIDE

Table of Contents

Selecting Sounds--------Page 3

Sequencing and Scoop Editing--------Page 4-5

Standard MIDI Files and --------Page 6

Using the Drum Machine--------Page 7-8

External Sequencer's, MIDI and the MR/ZR-------Page 9

MIDI control over MR/ZR Insert Effects--------Page 10

MR/ZR Auxiliary Outputs--------Page 11

Disk Functions--------Page 12

MR/ZR Rhythm Builder--------Page 13

MR/ZR Q&A--------Page 14-15

MR/ZR Partners--------Page16

MR/ZR GETTING STARTED GUIDE

Button 1 = Piano

Acoustic

Press and hold button 1, press button 7 = Layers

Button 2 = Piano

Electric

tton 3 = Organ

Press and hold button 2, press button 8 = Mallet

Button 4 = Keys

Button 5 = Guitar

Acoustic

Press and hold button 3, press button 9 =Wind reed

Button 6 = Bass

Electric

Button 7 = String Section

Press and hold button 4, press button 10

= Drum kit

Button 8 = Brass Section

Button 9 = Sax Solo

Press and hold button 5, press button 11 =Syn

Other

Button 10 =Vocals

Button 11 =Syn

Pad

Press and hold button 6, press button 12 =Syn

Comp

Button 12 =Syn

Lead

*A quick way to get to the sound groups in a ZR-76 (not MR-61/76) is to use the FAVORITES buttons.

It is easy to go through the sounds of an MR/ZR. There are 2 knobs on the front of the MR/ZR. They are labeled Parameter (on the left) and Value (on the right). The Parameter knob is the SOUND TYPE or SOUND GROUP. The Value knob CHOOSES the SOUND IN THAT GROUP. As an example, if you turn the parameter knob you will see a group name on the left of the screen like DRUM-KIT. If you want to then demo the entire set of drum kits in the unit simply turn the value knob. Take some time and become familiar with the sounds. Don’t forget to use the mod wheel as you go through the sounds. There may be interesting changes that accompany a sound.

There are many banks to become familiar with. The MR or ZR users guide has a complete list of the possible banks. Here are just a few of the banks to choose from. Drum Kit, Guitar-E, Percsolo, Keys, Organ-E, Sound efx and Syn Comp. Your banks and sounds will expand if you install an EXP-3 Urban Dance expansion board into your MR or ZR. You’ll be adding such banks as the EXP bank and Loop groove bank. Loop groove will contain exactly what it says, R&B and Dance sampled drum grooves! Other banks that will show up while using the MR/ZR are User, Custom and RAM. Those banks will show up if you create your own drum kits and patches. Other expansion boards available for the MR/ZR are the EXP-4 Perfect Piano (already installed in the ZR) and EXP-1 Real World ethnic instruments expansion board.

Selecting Sounds

Sounds

Press the Select Sound button Turn the Parameter knob to select a sound group Turn the Value knob to select a sound within that group

MR/ZR GETTING STARTED GUIDE

Your next thought might be, “wow I got so many great sounds. How do I begin sequencing?" Just in case you don’t know, sequencing, simply put, is a recording of your performance on the instrument. The 16 Track recorder remembers the notes you play, and plays the notes back for you. The cool part is that if you want to edit or change anything you played, it can be done. There are features to do this such as Scoop editing and quantizing. We will talk about quantizing in a moment. First, let’s sequence!

Sequencing

Select Track 1 Press Enter Select a sound and press Enter Press and hold the Record button Press Play and release both buttons There will be a 1 measure (4 counts if you are in 4/4 time) intro Start Playing, Press Stop when finished recording

To record yourself playing along with the first track:

Press the Track 2 button

(The screen will display the Selected track number in the upper left of the screen, TK01, TK02 etc.)

Repeat the above steps

“What if I played a note that I do not like? Can I erase it?” Yes! There are TWO ways to get rid of a single note after it has been recorded. You can Scoop the note out of the recording.

Scoop Editing

Sequencing and Scoop editing

Option 1> Press and hold Record Play the key that you want to erase Release record and the key and press Enter

*This method erases the note from the entire sequence.

Option 2> Press and hold Record Press Play, then release both buttons (the unit is now in normal record mode) Press and hold Record Play the key you want to delete

*Play the key and hold it. As long as you hold the key down, it is erasing the note from the sequence.

Erase a Track

Select the track you want to erase Press the (16 Track Recorder section) Erase button Press Enter

MR/ZR GETTING STARTED GUIDE

Another very useful tool that will allow you to create professional sequences is the use of Quantizing. What quantizing does is to shift the notes you have played to get them to be “in time” with specific predetermined times of the sequence. This feature is very useful for polishing up a drum or percussion track. It may be a good idea to quantize drums, percussion and bass tracks as they are the primary rhythm keepers of a sequence or song.

Quantize

Press the Quantize button Turn the Parameter knob to select QUANTIZE TO= Turn the Value knob to select a quantize resolution Press Enter

Groove tips

*Use 1/16 for a Dance music feel. It is very “straight”. *If you want it to “swing” like in Jazz or Hip Hop/R&B use 1/16T (Triplet). *Remember that Michael Jackson tune, “The way you make me feel”? Remember Sting's "Brand New Day"? They were both quantized at a rate of 1/8T!

*Another thing about grooves and feel to keep in mind is this. Lately, a popular groove or feel has been to use very fast tempos. It is impossible to play at the tempo of some of today's Hip-Hop, or Techno songs. But, it is possible to get that style by playing at half that speed and then raising the tempo to the desired speed. Simply record your beats at HALF the tempo you intend on using. If you really want the song to be at 140bpm, record all the data at 70bpm. Speed up the tempo to see if it sounds the way you want. If you need to make changes, slow it down and make the changes.

*Assuming you quantized something (or made any other type of sequencer edit), you can undo your last change. Simply press the EDIT UNDO button and the very last change you made will be undone.

Quantizing

MR/ZR GETTING STARTED GUIDE

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