So, since a chord progressions (with real polyphony, not oscilator’s pitch sound locks)
is a pain in the a$$ to program on A4 (or is there an easy way that i am not aware of it),
it would be very practical to create progressions in my daw, then import them into A4…
Is this possible? And how?
Thanks.
How much easier could it be than holding the trig and playing the chord (grid mode) ! - if you’re into ‘broad’ chords do it on an external keyboard - or record it live.
Either way you best learn how to do it because your idea to import won’t fly for now and i doubt it will come overbridge, but who knows !
i play chords in with one of my external synths. it is just like controlling any other synth. do you not have an external keyboard?
You will need one to play/record chords that are stretched outside of the octave.
yeah i have a keyboard and i am aware of all your tips guys…
its just that i am not a keyboard player (but can succesfully program progressions, like evryone else i assume:))
anyway, just wanted to know is this possible…
thanks!
Maybe you can record them directly from your DAW ??
Never tried this but might work
Basically just eliminate the MIDI controller from the process
Sync DAW to A4
Use A4 as master clock source
MIDI out of DAW to MIDI in on A4
Program the chord sequence in your DAW
Hit Live Record mode
Chords from DAW get recorded to A4
I’ll have to try this and see if it works
that’ll work a treat 
just need to be mindful of the quantized nature of the A4 seq (even with quantize off) but that’s a super (too easy to see) tip !
Just tried it. Works really well actually. Used Quantize Live Record Mode.
Further more you can put MIDI plugins in the chain and the A4 sequencer records all that info too. Used the Arpeggiator and Randomizer from the Ableton MIDI plugins. Interesting results.
Just need to remember to mute/disable MIDI out from the DAW as soon you have recorded something you like.
cocker thats awesome!! really good idea!
illtry that when i setup my desk…
seems like you have your head around midi… maybe you can help me with another issue:
i have slim phatty, minitaur and A4 (also microbrute for sale if anyones interested)
i want to setup it like this:
channel 1: track 1 of A4 (using 3 notes polyphony)
channel 2: track 4 of A4 (as a mono synth for arpeggios)
channel 3: slim phatty (leads)
channel 4: minitaur (of course, bass!)
i have only one midi out on my interface and three different modules… i will explain how i am planning to set it up, and you guys can give directions.
interface’s OUT to A4’s IN
A4’s THRU to Phatty’s IN
Phatty’s THRU to Minitaur’s IN
that should make it possible to control all synths from DAW, when channels are properly set up insde DAW and in synths??
just wanted to know am i planning it rite??
i am freeing up one separate small room for my desk with setup so i want to be prepared
Just one thing I would add, If you’re planning to try out the method above you will need to have a two way connection between A4 and DAW. Soyou would have A4 MIDI OUT to DAW interface MIDI IN and vice versa
That way you can use the A4 as the Master Clock source but still be receiving MIDI note data from your DAW
The rest looks good
THRU port all the way when you’re daisy-chaining synths
By default the A4 is configured to receive MIDI on channels 1 to 9
1 - 4 = Tracks 1, 2, 3 and 4
5 = FX Track
6 = CV Track
7 = not used
8 = Performance Mode
9 = Auto Channel
You could disable MIDI for 5, 6, 8 and 9 in the MIDI Channel set up on the A4 and use these for the Minitaur and the Slim Phatty. Or you could leave it as it is and use MIDI channels 10, 11, 12 etc… for the Minitaur and Phatty
Good tip for syncing with daw. I was planning to use them just as modules. But syncing A4 will have better performannce with LFO’s on A4 right?? If not synced they will modulate parameters in bpm speed that states in A4 right?? And that could cause out of time problems if DAW is not in the same bpm speed?
If your DAW is synced as slave to the A4 then it will follow whatever BPM you have set on the A4. The A4 LFOs are can be synced perfectly to the A4 sequencer. Just a matter of knowing the correct parameter divisions.
To be honest, you will get far more satisfaction out of using the sequencer of the A4 rather than using it as a module with your DAW. The Elektron sequencers are top notch. Good knowledge of the sequencer will lead to results you would never get from your DAW.
If you plan to use the A4 as just a module than I think you will be missing out on more than half of what makes it such an amazing machine
i know!! i will be using a4 sequencer for live dub techno/house sets (with minitaur and electribe es mk2)
but i also want to make deep house records that use all of my synths…
its kind of two projects actually… one for live,(repetetive techno/deep) and one for more “musical” stuff, like with more progressions, longer then 64 sequences of basslines etc… its just easier with my daw…(to me of course), with vocals and stuf…
I’m totally with you, I need a DAW to write proper polyphonic MIDI phrases, it’s almost impossible to write the melodies/chords I want on the A4 sequencer.
I’ve been recording phrases from Ableton into teh A4 sequencer, it’s pretty inaccurate though, I’m searching for why it’s recording with occasional errors. 