I’m evaluating multiple ways of turning OT/A4 jams into songs. I can think of some ways (and have tried out some):
-run one pattern and perform live buildup and fxon OTA4 only - record in realtime (very intuitive and fast, but no editing and prone to errors)
record individual tracks from OTA4 into computer and arrange them with ableton (more control, but somewhat static and clumsy)
use OT built-in arranger (hard to program slow param changes, have to figure out how to make OT communicate with A4)
record OT sounds into computer and use ableton to sequence A4 in real time (sequenced CC vs p-locks…, too much of a change between jamming mode and songwriting mode)
I just want to keep it simple and make it as easy as possible to jump from jamming to songwriting. Maybe I should go for option 1 and practice harder.
What is your experience? What works best for you?
Here is my current approach for this (I use OT+MnM) :
I first start with pattern on both machines which will be centerpiece of track. Then I build several variations of this pattern for breaks/intros/outros. Then I just play around with them in order to find which parameters are preferred to tweak in a live situation, when and how introduce and remove sounds and how to switch between patterns. This gives me overall structure of the track which I will stick with.
For the recording/arranging part in the studio I have a Renoise template song. It contains tracks for each and every track of my OT and Mono with midi machines (instruments in terms of Renoise) assigned to them. I also have automation devices with preconfigured CC parameters for OT and Mono. These devices are sitting on corresponding midi tracks and send MIDI CC messages to tracks of both boxes respectively. Then i just draw automations for those parameters I found to be interesting (mute/solo messages can be also sent via CC) and that’s it. Entire song structure is replicated in Renoise pretty easily this way. Renoise can also transmit song pointer position, clock (1024 PPQN, very stable) and change bank/program messages to switch between patterns.
This is the best mix between jamming and arranging I’ve came up with so far. Hope it helps you sort some things out
ideally, i have every OT+AR (no A4 here) track going through an individual channel into ableton via audio interface. (would love it if OT had more outputs)
then i jam with what is there, a rough arrangement and mixdown will originate in the jam, the rest you can finish quickly in ableton.
if i’m in a hurry, i make busy and layered loops on the machines, then solo each track for the duration of a few sequences while recording into ableton. arrange & mix in ableton. then i go back to the hardware for recording individual tracks with specific modulations. this is pretty quick and rewarding.
i usually avoid the OT’s arranger, unless i’m stuck somewhere without a computer.
I found the best solution possible for this problem:
Since I mostly use one pattern anyways and do a lot with muting, and the A4 perf mode, I just sync ableton to the boxes and record all ccs on separade channels. After recording I go back and make little adjustmens
For some reason I experience about 80ms latency which is why I run audio inputs through an external tool called ‘Chainer’ by Xlutop. There latency is almost inexistent.
Jam and build one big sequence on both. Use chains on the A4 to automate mutes per pattern. In other words, I make several copies of the same pattern and use the cool feature of muting different tracks on several copies of the same pattern.
Then make several copies of the OT pattern and add fills to an 8 bar track.
This way I have the structure of a song but also have the freedom to jam.
Finally like others have said, I then just record into the DAW!
I’ve found a good way for myself. Im using only OT + ableton.
i take my first track (for example it is a drum loop) and send it to outputs c/d. everything else is going through a/b. I’m recording only c/d in ableton
So I start to play and press record in ableton for output c/d and I’m jamming paying closer attention to my first track. I’m tweaking parameters on the fly, making drum rolls etc. Evetything else is playing still just like backing track.
Now I have tweaked version of track 1 so I mute it so the next time it will play from ableton.
