Well, while each track is different in how it’s made, for much of the time, here’s I go from nothing to a finished song on the Blackbox -
Empty project. Zero samples.
I set up the Blackbox to send midi, and start playing my Prophet 12 from the Blackbox virtual keyboard or grid. Sometimes, I connect a proper keyboard for more elaborate playing, sometimes the Deluge for more nuanced sequencing. But many of my tracks used Blackbox only from start to end, as far as midi sequencing and composition goes.
Once I got something I like, I record it into the Blackbox. My takes are long, usually between 64 to 128 bars, or custom lengths set to a few minutes.
I repeat this process until I got a skeleton for a track. At this point, I bring in samples from other sources. Field recordings, left-over recordings from tracks that never happened, one shots, random loops. Whatever pops up into my head, from already existing material.
Once I got something coherent from all this runnnig, all triggered from the sample board still, I resample stuff through one or two Chase Bliss pedals, for extra flavour. I usually apply the Blackbox filter, pitch and granular engine to look for extra textures, or slice loops up for random triggers which creates a sort of modulation effect. I almost never stick to the original recorded pitch.
When all this seems to play in tandem and the mix is working, I start sequencing each pad. I use one pattern per sample most of the time. This is where you can get more creative, and for instance apply polyphony to a loop, set a long release, allow the sequencer to fade it out and then fade it in again while the first trig is still running. Very powerful stuff, as far as creating organics go. Apply velocity to modulation and you got even more movement.
I finally batch sequences up from the Song mode, into a structure where sequences run free across multiple clips in the Song mode. This is where I actually write the song, but it’s usually based on live improvisations where I’ve more or less worked out what I want to do, so this part is the last one and usually only takes a few hours.
Then, I assign the slots to individual outs, hook up the Blackbox to the SiX and sum it and master it. I’ll be adding a master reverb to this final chain now, but until now, it’s been completely dry into the SiX and recorded to a Zoom H1n, and then it’s up on Soundcloud.
I should perhaps add that I almost never use the Blackbox fx either. They’re good, but I like things dry, so apart from resampled material, I don’t use fx at all. Until now, when I’m going to try reverb on the master for a few upcoming tracks.
the truth is maybe out there, but it’s definitely popular around here.
