Getting beyond the sequencer

xidnpnlss · 2015-04-17T13:42:39.000Z

cause thereve been so many negative posts recently, i want to say outright that i adore this beast and any issue is way to improve on an already great machine. This is not a complaint by any measuree; more of inquiry on adapting a different paradigm.

Software is great because you can put anything anywhere in the space/time quantinuam. im finding it difficult to apply the same approach to the AR. In all honesty I’ve yet to indulge these leanings to the ADV/INF setting (though that requires ultilizing the infested DIRECT jump). Which is why I’m reaching out now to see if anyone has any tips - mathmatical, visual, whicheverway- to structure choas within (liberal) order.

tracks with various number of steps, moving steps via fun + arrow, a hyperactice effort to live rec+clear track+live record? Putting random patterns together?

If only these machines saved tempo…

I realize the AR is a drum machine and does not apologize for its 4-2-da-4 DNA. As it certainly shouldn’t.

Advanced Cenks.

NickD · 2015-04-17T15:16:43.000Z

I’m still in exploring mode with my AR, but I’m definitely getting good results from different track lengths - especially combined with the choke groups. So the mid and hi toms cutting one another off over, say, 16 and 27 steps leads to patterns that are certainly hard to predict, despite being entirely predictable. Of course you can then mix this up by having a random LFO change the sample later every step, or every three steps or whatever. Throw some LFO variations onto a few performance mode pads and you’re well into unpredictable territory. You can of course p-lock and slide LFO values - again, very effective with different pattern lengths.

Ultimately I always end up wishing I had another LFO - every session this just cements itself as my #1 feature request. But performance mode as a source of unpredictability is good compensation in the meantime.

Hmm - now I’m wondering about setting MIDI LFO’s from the Octatrack loose on the performance mode pads…

bluewolfse7en · 2015-04-17T15:58:59.000Z

""NickD"":

Hmm - now I’m wondering about setting MIDI LFO’s from the Octatrack loose on the performance mode pads…

I use the OT’s midi LFO’s on the Rytm quite a lot, works great!!!

ADV Mode is indispensable to me. I used to sample say the MD hats into the OT then switch to 7/16 or whatever & run along side the other MD tracks. With ADV on the Rytm it’s way quicker.

Another cool trick is to place trigs in a 16/16 pattern. Switch to 32/32 & copy your trigs across in retrograde. 1 is 16. 2 is 15 etc.
Switch back to 16/16 & let it play. This is normal forward direction.
But if you use Function & ^ whilst in the Scale menu, you can switch to 32/32 on the fly giving you fake Pingpong direction! Works great with Basslines & pretty much anything melodic on the A4 too

xidnpnlss · 2015-04-24T14:02:38.000Z

Great tips.

I’m getting a lot if mileage from Trig mutes + ADV mode + and sequence shifting. Moving the sequence in conjunction with the moving cursor is almost “snake” game fun.

I’ll try these out too. The ping pong idea is great. Thanks. Keep them coming!

MK7 · 2015-04-24T19:51:11.000Z

Create a basic pattern, copy pattern, live rec, even more live rec, paste pattern to remove all the mess and start again. But I also use the OT’s Midi sequencer a lot to get even more mileage out of live rec jams. There you can, for instance, assign several tracks with different lengths to the same instrument.