MD Science Lab: 2 Step

TrabanT · 2014-02-07T15:47:36.000Z

""yoof"":

Hi TrabanT. I’m by no means an expert, but here’s what I did:

I went for the slowest bpm I could (30bpm and then a touch slower with the 3/4 scale multiplier). I suppose this would have given me a tempo of around 100-ish putting a kick drum on each step and a snare on the second step. For the hats, I went for the engine that gives you RTRG as an option (is it E12?) and then played around with the retrig timing until I got some triplet beats / quaver beats. I went with a strategy of having two sets of kick/snare/hat so I could swap between them using mutes (one set had triplet hats and the other had quaver hats for variety). This is already a good start for getting out of the two steppiness.

Then I found the task was all about lfo management Using as many lfo’s to evolve sounds keeps things interesting.

I found a nice delay setting which I fed two EFM HH machines into and those delay settings seemed to provide a feature for my track. I could then just tweak parameters (loaded onto a ctrl 8p machine) almost randomly and this fed lots of variation into my delay.

I found the task difficult but I very much enjoy working within restrictions

thanks for info… working on it right now … really appreciate it!

TrabanT · 2014-02-07T15:48:13.000Z

""Cocker"":

[quote=“yoof”]Hi TrabanT. I’m by no means an expert, but here’s what I did:

I went for the slowest bpm I could (30bpm and then a touch slower with the 3/4 scale multiplier). I suppose this would have given me a tempo of around 100-ish putting a kick drum on each step and a snare on the second step. For the hats, I went for the engine that gives you RTRG as an option (is it E12?) and then played around with the retrig timing until I got some triplet beats / quaver beats. I went with a strategy of having two sets of kick/snare/hat so I could swap between them using mutes (one set had triplet hats and the other had quaver hats for variety). This is already a good start for getting out of the two steppiness.

Then I found the task was all about lfo management Using as many lfo’s to evolve sounds keeps things interesting.

I found a nice delay setting which I fed two EFM HH machines into and those delay settings seemed to provide a feature for my track. I could then just tweak parameters (loaded onto a ctrl 8p machine) almost randomly and this fed lots of variation into my delay.

I found the task difficult but I very much enjoy working within restrictions

+1 for this
Indeed. LFOs are the key. Random LFOs set to trig for me anyways.
Sending multiple LFOs from any unused track to several parameters of another.
Setting the tempo low as possible. 30 BPM and track multiplier at 3/4.
This is the slowest possible tempo for machinedrum (unless clocked externally). Think it works out at 25 BPM. But because there are only 2 steps in the bar as opposed to 16 it’s more like 100 BPM
At any regular tempo LFO values of 1, 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, 64 are synced to the clock. With the scale setting at 3/4 (which is what I was using also) then LFO values of 3, 6, 12, 24, 48 will be relevant.
And defo the E12 machines retrig parameters for getting notes between notes so to speak.
The RAM and ROM are totally not necessary.
Non UW machines are capable of the exact same thing synthesis-wise.
I only used one tiny sample in mine.
Wouldn’t have sounded much different without it tbh.[/quote]
thanks cocker for your explanation! trying stuff out right now

TrabanT · 2014-02-07T15:48:55.000Z

""StinkyBeat"":

I started slower, but after I had some basics raised it till the beat locked, which happened to be 47 BPM I believe.

LFOs, retrig, delay, accent, swing it. I didn’t use any p-lock slides. Virtually no manually tweaking of sound parameters, which is odd for me. I manually triggered a couple of sounds too. And played the mutes.

I’m not exactly sure how something like this comes together. I was throughly shock when I finished building a handful of patterns and kits. I will be using this technique in the future to flush out ideas. It was the most fluid give and take I’ve had with the MD. I love this community.

thanks for your words stinky! messing with my machine right now

glitched · 2014-02-07T16:16:59.000Z

I can’t participate in this one because my MD is in temporary storage, but the “Labs” were one of my favorite things about the old E-U.com forum.

I appreciate the spirit of these types of competitions. Thanks for bringing it back!

-d

analept · 2014-02-08T14:17:14.000Z

I love that MD contest !
there’s really awesome contributions, and now it’s time for mine.

I use a MD non UW mk1, play with swing here and there, play a sort of a melody with three EFM HH set a different pitch and live tweaking parameters.
it’s incredible how far you can go with only 2 steps …

hope you enjoy

StinkyBeat · 2014-02-08T14:54:14.000Z

Analept
Great composition and incredible production value. Really great hearing each sound… so clean.

MOKA · 2014-02-08T16:37:43.000Z

@analep

Some sounds interesting …
What machine did you use for the bass waw which starts at 1:51 sec?

To master the track, what did you use Software or Hardware?

analept · 2014-02-08T20:29:05.000Z

Thanks for the kind words StinkyBeat !!

@Moka

the bass is that 3 EFM HH I was talking about. I was helped by the frequency/notes sheet available on elektron-users. It’s also the sames 3 machines that make the other “melodic” sounds later on the track.
It’s only one kit, but after some tweaking that bass sound is transform on a … uhm … other weird sound …

I didn’t do any mastering works on this.
It’s record on the ipad using a scarlett focusrite in Auria, without any fx or plug-in.

thank you for the interest !

J_C_Selector · 2014-02-09T10:33:23.000Z

Have a listen.
Just a quick try.
Lots of fun.
Edit: non UW, no plocks, just lfo’s modulating lfo’s, modulating lfo’s

Golden_Dragon · 2014-02-09T19:16:57.000Z

New to forum…Challenge sounded like fun. Here’s my first attempt, levels need some work.

pseen · 2014-02-10T19:30:40.000Z

Fun challenge, interesting results. Have learned a lot more about the LFOs.

https://soundcloud.com/pseen/002-1

ChrisAllen · 2014-02-10T20:31:04.000Z

Pseen that sounds pretty awesome man!I’m just realizing when I was trying this I never set the scale setup to 2/16!Is that what every one did?
I think I need to try another one before the month is over!Messing with all these lfos is really opening some interesting doors tho!I am loving my MD more than ever!
-Chris

ChrisAllen · 2014-02-11T01:44:28.000Z

Here is a new try with the scale set to 2/16

https://soundcloud.com/portal-techno/md-science-lab-2-step-round-2

Deep_Cycle · 2014-02-11T14:00:04.000Z

[url=“https://soundcloud.com/deep-cycle/md-science-lab-2-step”]
https://soundcloud.com/deep-cycle/md-science-lab-2-step

I haven’t had my MD that long so this was a great way to learn a bit more about the box, cheers Void.
[url=“https://soundcloud.com/deep-cycle/md-science-lab-2-step”]
The 2-step limit was great fun to experiment with, hope to see more of these labs.
Might just give it another go

apoc-2012 · 2014-02-11T20:40:03.000Z

I decided to have a blast at this over the last two evenings. It certainly made me explore areas of the MD I wouldn’t normally use. I found it great for live jam timing training as well. Might even add some a4 acid to this to take it further.
Great initiative void.

joshEjosh · 2014-02-12T01:46:52.000Z

Here’s my first attempt. Looking forward to doing more Science Labs with my Elektrons.

blarue09 · 2014-02-12T02:52:53.000Z

""J_C_Selector"":

http://youtu.be/IsRRrnabp2s

Have a listen.
Just a quick try.
Lots of fun.
Edit: non UW, no plocks, just lfo’s modulating lfo’s, modulating lfo’s

Isn’t this how you perform inception?

poonti · 2014-02-12T04:02:13.000Z

Here’s my very short two-stepish two-step - I think I’ll try using some lfo’s if I do another one.

J_C_Selector · 2014-02-12T05:51:05.000Z

""blarue09"":

[quote=“J_C_Selector”]http://youtu.be/IsRRrnabp2s

Have a listen.
Just a quick try.
Lots of fun.
Edit: non UW, no plocks, just lfo’s modulating lfo’s, modulating lfo’s

Isn’t this how you perform inception?[/quote]
Sorry, not sure what you mean ?
Ahh ok got it lol.
I actually had an lfo controlling the next lfo’s amount that controlled the next lfo’s amount which controlled the hihats retrig time.

StinkyBeat · 2014-02-16T14:32:18.000Z

I didn’t use it on my submission. But, since experimenting with this form of composition, I discovered that using an echo control machine and p-locking different times and feedbacks has yielded interesting results. Next to try, several control echo machines p-locked with muting and unmuting for rhythm variation.