I am currently aiming to compose, mix and perform everything within my rytm mk2 … so definitely stretching it beyond just a drum machine by adding phrases from my novation summit synth for leads and arps.
With that in mind … do you guys have any tips or insights into how best manage the limitations of the FX in particular in order to use some parallel compression and also add compression to drum sounds but not then compromise my synth parts? Few things I’ve considered are sampling or resampling compressed kicks etc or removing my synth parts from compression but prob this isn’t possible as the compressor is master right? Or hmm can one parameter lock the compressor per trig per track?
On the flip side the gain staging and panning is so excellent on the rytm that soundstaging is not an issue at all
I just want to see how far I can push this … as live I really want to commit to the rytm and be a bit of a ninja on it like Cenk. Rather than multitask too much with my summit. Although I am open to suggestions to run the mains out of the rytm creatively into say an analog heat or a mixer ?
Compressor is on main mix and you can p-lock its parameters.
But you do also have the audio or ext inputs (I always forget which) that is simply mixed in with the main mix output, after the compressor. Not sure whether you intended to bring the Summit live or record it to samples. But that’s one option to not have the compressor on it.
What is tricky for your idea is that you don’t have EQ’s. If sounds need frequency dependent tweaking you need to use the filter. Careful sound design can get around it, but there are limitations. I work that way and just use the stereo main outs. Limitations push creativity.
hey thanks for the advice! I have not P locked compressor settings at all yet and I have the rytm a year … what is your view on the EQ sidechaining features of the rytm? I have lately avoided using it as it seems a bit all or nothing per setting and HIT doesn’t do much for me , maybe I am misusing it no idea. I really need to deep dive into compression best practices …any links you have found useful?
For now I plan to only use the summit into rytm as samples. Maybe that will change long term but in medium I’d rather keep to samples but buy a mixer with 8-10 channels I can run the rytm into and get the EQ features that way … but for now I will stick to use of filter …I’d imagine with some attention to detail around Plocking filter around problematic or muffled parts of each pattern one could get decent results
what mixers get love from elektron users? Not counting Octatrack
I think one can do pretty well by mixing on the just the box. But, yeah, like anything, individual EQing is best.
Wrt to SEQ, for pumping, the HPF works best. Sometimes I use Hit…I’m not sure what about the mix makes me prefer it. I often don’t employ the seq at all.
I think the compressor suits the AR really well. It can do really interesting things.
I got pretty good on the mk1, but the resampling on the mk2 would help a lot.
You can get use the filter envelope to shape the sound before recording, then use the filter as a single band eq on the recorded sample, maybe some compression as well. Repeat as needed until you have what you want.
It eats up memory, maybe takes a minute, but that shouldn’t be too bad if it’s just one-shots. You can always remove the unused samples from the project. It’s also nice because you can compare before/after.
I’m pretty sure I’ve also posted about using the compressor as a limiter in another thread a long time ago. I’d have to dig around though.
Edit: I dug through my archives briefly and could only find troubleshooting stuff with the noise floor, nothing about ratios and whatnot. Always keep the makeup gain as low as possible, pretty much.
I know it’s “technically” not mixing only in the rytm, but I always try to have an oscilloscope or similar plugin handy. The compressor settings are sensitive, and you can wind up with some crazy transients pretty quickly.
For limiting ratio at max, attack of .03 with the release at A1 or A2. Pull the threshold down til right where everything hits at the same volume. It’s been awhile since I’ve messed with it, so try it with your own ear. That’s for when I’m really confident about the mixdown.
For some nice parallel compression, ratio of 1:4 is where to start, and between .3 and 3 depending on how “thick” the transient is. And the release is even more up to taste after that. I’ve pushed some pretty heavy gain reduction in lower ratio settings and it still sounded transparent. It’s never good to listen with your eyes, but once you get a good visual of how it affects the audio signal, its much easier to wield.
I don’t know if they changed the compressor on the mk2, but it don’t feels like a real compressor - more like an emulation… (on the mk1) but for capturing peaks or strange effects when trig-locked it can do some serious crazy stuff … lfo on threshold… very vibrating
Thanks for the advice around using the compressor! I found that really useful today …esp the info around reducing the threshold until everythings volume is more equal. That is really all I am after for now …a basic gelling of the tracks.
Another thing re rytm … the ‘mute mode’ RTRG+ pad solo function doesn’t have a reload to mutes via a shortcut button combo? I can’t see anything in the manual … and also you can’t press FUNC+soloed tracks either to get them back to green in advance like you can do with unmuted tracks which go blue before you release and they go muted … means that if you end up with 4-5 tracks in solo then getting everything back to default green with all tracks playing is 100% manual process? ah well
