Hi,
Been listening to lots of sequenced music recently.
I realise most of you here probably listen to “grid” music all the time…
I want to try to make something synced/sequenced/structured, but I want it to be weird. And interesting. Straight up 4 to the floor house/techno etc is NOT what I want to make.
Have a listen to this, and if you can answer both (or one) of these questions, I’d be really grateful:
Is the DN2 capable of these kinds of patterns, rhythmically - forget the actual sounds (that’s the next question), I’m interested to know if , with some clever programming and a lot of patience, I could tease something like this out of the DN2 sequencer
Question 2 - are these kinds of sounds achievable with the DN2, or am I digging in the wrong place?
If your level of skill is high enough you can sequence most things with most things and if you’re asking this question that may be difficult to properly assess.
Possibly, but some of it is better suited to sampling.
Cool. Thanks for engaging @shigginpit .
Yes, I thought the same re sampling. I intend to connect ipad to dn2, and use Koala for samples…(or if I can figure out Overbridge, then to connect DN2 to macbook and use Simpler in Ableton)
Patterns - really up to you how program the sequencer. Track layers and trig probability will cover most of the structure. Different tracks can have different lengths to create poly-rhythms. I highly recommend exploring poly-rhythms and layering specifically with the Digitone II to break out of the 4/4 lean that it naturally gravitates towards. There are a lot of other tools here I am not even mentioning. When it comes to what is missing on that front, it’s worth noting that it is linear, so only going in one direction
Sounds - Not really. You can get somewhat into vocal territory with use of SRR on the DNII in tandem with other modulations. Maybe someday we will have a formant filter machine or vocoder synth machine.
Take a look at section 10.11 “Page Setup” and see if it makes sense. If you need to have tracks/patterns be sometimes 10 steps, sometimes 14, etc that’s how to set it up.
There is a lot that you can accomplish with DN2 by itself, standalone.
I’d start by working on a pattern that is written at double your desired tempo so that you have more boxes on your grid without the confusion of different tracks at different note divisions.
Work on the sound design after you have some patterns or you’ll never make any progress. Just get into the general area of a sound. Cymbals or drum hits don’t have to start out perfect, just enough to know what you want there.
You can always change how it sounds once you have the patterns,
You can always remake the pattern at the correct tempo by using the features of the sequencer but by doubling the grid, you get more boxes to work with and it may be easier to visualize the note placement.
Good luck to you and share your results. Sounds interesting!
Sure! I can try to help, but its a easy thing to set up - one cable, a couple of Project settings and you’re off to the races. Harder part will be deciding if you want to sequence Koala internally or from the Digitone2 sequencer.
Even if your level of skill is low, by using your ears, watching tutorials and practicing to build up your understanding, you can still go a long way.
Skill is not the same as aptitude. You may have low skill and great aptitude. Skill can be built by practicing. Aptitude can be supplemented (to a degree) with hard work.
If you have a passion for making this kind of music, then that can carry you a long way.
Do you have a background of playing some musical instruments?
This is the kind of info I need, so thanks @bfbfbf123 - super helpful.
Thanks @shigginpit - it’s heart-warming to receive such generous wisdom. Most of the time when I ask for help with stuff like this, I get snippy answers, or people make assumptions about my level of understanding, which in turn makes me despondent and I give up.
It’s really nice to get so much help (so quickly!) And please, don’t think you might be patronising me - you won’t. The simpler, the better, in terms of help/suggestions. Keep 'em coming!
I would work on learning how to make patterns before you work on subdividing tracks.
If you cannot visualize the grid, then subdivisions of the grid will feel asynchronous. Work to understand what you’re seeing and what the trigs represent.
The only reason I recommend doubling the tempo is so that everything is on a universal grid and so all note positions can be easily and immediately related to each other.
Work on visualizing subdivisions after you understand working on a grid a little better.
The surest way to make music that sounds “something like this” is to try to replicate the thing you want to sound like.
All advice so far has been great…focused practice is the important thing, and if you’re just starting out, be patient and kind to yourself if your skills aren’t there.
But start with stock sounds, and focus on programming. You could start with the song you linked…try to isolate different elements with your ears, and see how close you can get to laying them down. Don’t worry about being perfect, by using an existing piece of music as a scaffold, you will learn a lot. Have fun!
Good advice.
I hope it’s obvious that I don’t just want to completely rip-off Nicolas’ vibe wholesale (?!)
Just want to know if I can get vaguely into that territory and then create something that is my own…
