Multiple device workflow

The Lounge General Discussion
22

That’s exactly how I feel about it. I’m pretty comfortable with the MPC workflow but it felt quite static in a live performance situation. All I was doing was triggering and re-arranging things I had already prepared, whereas I was much more likely to play, tweak and mangle sounds with the A4 and now the Digitone.

I need an element of improvisation and the unexpected when performing, just to keep it exciting for myself (and hopefully the audience).

I still have my 1000 so I must try combining it with the Digitone and eurorack. Haven’t used it for a year or so but hopefully the intricacies of JJOS will come back to me. :smile:

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23

I have the 1000 too… & the 500 :roll_eyes: it wasn’t on purpose tho, I plan on selling to fund the Digitakt / Digitone. I was going to keep the 2500 for the extra midi & audio outs, but JJOS gives the 1000 & 2500 the same features inside plus I won’t need the extra midi if I add the Digitakt & Digitone. Still thinking on which I’m going to sell.

I agree that you should consider combining your 1000 with the Digitone, A4, eurorack, ect. especially if you like the MPC workflow. But I’m an MPC fan :smile: The Digitone & A4 both have great sequencers, but as you know they’re different from the MPC sequencer & I think their strengths would really compliment each other. I think when it comes to performing the MPC would be a good center/brain. It’s live uses are pretty simple (like you were saying it’s static, not giving you much to perform), but that means you can play more with your other gear.

24

The Micro can only run GBA carts, so no. DMG (original) is usually the best for nanoloop 1 / LSDJ, but they’re getting pretty expensive these days. Or you can get a nanoloop 2 cart and a GBA/DS Lite and enjoy much richer sound in general :smiley:

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25

Nanoloop Hardware should be released soon, maybe that will be an ideal solution for you. It’s planned to have midi out.

26

Yep, I’m eagerly awaiting that! It’d be an interesting combination with elektron gear, but I generally like using nanoloop by itself, as it’s often difficult to juggle a handheld, button based device and something with knobs.

27

This articulates exactly what I was getting at. All that prep work on the MPC Live just to mostly trigger sequences and mute/unmute tracks.

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28

Haven’t played live on stage for quite a while, but I’ve been working on stuff that I can play live for the past two years and currently practising.
So my knowledge basically comes from those two years of practising with the machines, still I learned a lot about what I can do and what I can’t do.
Also have a three machine limit (three seems to be the magic number^^) so I recently kicked out the Micromonsta that I bought for pads from the live setup, have to use an OT track that plays the audio instead.
So it’s probaply OT, AK, Shruthi.

I’d say for Elektron devices: Organize everything in a consistent way and use the performance features - AK/A4 Performance Macros, OT Scenes, Control All on the boxes that have it, use FILL condition and keep it consistent and simple.
For example I use two rows of Macros on my AK, Mod Stick always mapped to the same parameters. Row one usually controls the bassline with filter cutoff, resonance, env depth, env decay, amp decay/release so I can tweak stuff like on a simple bassline groovebox thingie.
The first Macro has the track number in front (like 1Flt, or 2Flt) all others in the row will control that track.
Second row can control a lead, pad or percussive element, but I’ll also stick to simple stuff and keep it consistent.

Track 1 always would have a bass sound, Track 3 a lead sound, track 2 a pad sound, track 4 percussive stuff, so if a track contains a sound I don’t have to check what sound it is.

Tracks in OT and Scenes also are always laid out in a similar way (Track 1 always has a kick drum, track 6 is a Thru machine, stuff like that, Scene 6 will always transition from one part to another, so if a part contains Scene 6 it can be used to transition from one part to the next, Scene 8 controls low pass filter on the Master Track, Scene 9 Highpass etc.).
Midi Tracks on OT also always have the same CC parameters mapped and Parts contain the BPM in the name.

I also started to write notes for my tracks.
Actually started to take notes for recording, because at that time I only recorded OT and AK’s stereo outs in a single take, so I needed a way to remind me of transitions, Scenes, FX n stuff.

For live I developed symbols and a kind of colour code that I use to indicate track mutes, part changes, transitions etc. which Scenes to use, when to use Fills, when I play stuff live etc.
Basically I have a header with basic information of the track and then each pattern in a row.
The symbols and colours make it easy to see whats going on.

Probaply I couldn’t make use of all the Scenes and transitions I’ve setup and planned without my notes, but I could still play the tracks.

Even though I play some stuff live, so not everything is sequenced, I still have it recorded in the sequencers so I could unmute the track if I’d need to.

Some people use their OT Parts so that the 16 patterns in a bank are divided into 4 Parts (Part 1=Patterns 1-4, Part 2=Patterns 5-8 etc.) which probaply makes it easier to play with transitions and stuff like that, I chose to rely on my notes instead, because I can’t force my music into such a grid.

Edit; Typos^^

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29

Spent a bit of time with the 1000, Digitone, eurorack combination this morning and already feeling it much more than the Live. I’d forgotten how much I liked JJOS on it.

Now thinking that adding a Digitakt might be a device too far. I’m with Schnork in considering 3 to be the optimum number of things to play with. First world problems, eh? :wink:

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30

Generally, I tend to have a core which can be scaled up.

Previously, I had Ableton MIDI sequencing a Virus Ti for synth parts and a Korg ESX1 for drum samples. Mixed on a Mackie 1604Vlz with TC reverbs and delay rack-units. Roles obviously divided between drum sample play-back and synth lines.

Back in the very early days, it was an Emu e5k, Supernova and a Yamaha 01v all MIDI sequenced from a Roland MC80. Similar split for drum sample play-back and synth lines.

Now, for the main dance set (which gets structurally quite complex), the core is MPC Live which hosts a few stems per “song” and MIDI sequences. Usually mixed through a QU24, which can take a lot of extra inputs. We don’t tend to arrange on-the-fly with the main project. So, I’ve moved away from a larger multiple device set-up.

Then my on-stage partner and I add a whole lot of live improvisation on-top, which is usually dependent on size-of-stage, distance to gig, storage facilities (e.g. if it’s a festival) etc. I can add guitar, synths, percussion or even electronic drums if we really want. My partner adds synths and samples. We rely on that improvisation for transition between songs.

I’m hoping to cut down on the stems and use more on-board events on the MPC in future. I’ve already started on that for newer material.

If I’m using the Elektron kit, I’ll normally sample loops and play-back on the MPC.

Festivals can be especially difficult, since set-up time can be limited in terms of time and space available. That’s one of the reasons why the core setup idea works for us.

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31

I used to be a “drummer” in one band, used only the MPC2500. Programming new stuff in on the fly is fun as heck! JJOS has the extended erase settings like ALL NOTES and ERASE BAR which are super useful for live programming though.

You just keep spamming tracks, spawn new tracks with the same kits, and layer those tracks to build modulation. And erase old stuff to make room, using mutes to best masking effect at times.

As for the OP, 2 boxes is my favourite, Its like having two decks, enough to keep things going and do blends/transitions with. However, this assumes that both boxes can do full compositions on their own.

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32

Great insights so far everyone. Keep em coming!

I think what I’m going to do is try out a few different setups, as my next gig isn’t until October. I had a play with the Volca Drum into/controlled by Monomachine lastnight, that was pretty fun. Next up is Volca Drum / Lyra-8 / Eurorack… which may be too much, but I’ll give it a try :slight_smile: I think even the Volca and Lyra-8 would be good for a minimalist, heavy IDM set.

33

Nice! Glad you were feeling it! I agree that adding a Digitakt might be too much (unless you like switching things up & using different set ups). The sampling & sequencer features being different from an MPC would make it a nice addition, but the Digitone has the same sequencer & you already have a lot of sampling power with the 1000.

I think the 1000 & 2500 have the best value of the MPC’s due to JJOS. & I’m sure it’s a different workflow using knobs & sliders compared to the touchscreen on the Live. I know the Live has a lot to offer, but you have to like using a touchscreen.