Hey guys I’ve only had the analog four for about a week, I understand most of the functions I’m looking for but am having some issues which I’m assuming is from user error and was looking for some help. First off I don’t understand how to save different patterns or switch patterns. I currently have two different kits I use, but changing in between them keeps the same pattern, so I tried to reset the pattern by choosing kit 1 and clicking “Bank Group A” clearing the pattern and remaking the pattern and then saving the pattern. I then go to kit 2 click “Bank Group B” remake the second pattern and save it. But I’m assuming that is not how patterns are saved since any bank group I select plays the same pattern. And the patterns don’t seem to save to individual kits because even when I change in between these two one of the patterns is erased and the most recent one I programed is the one they both play. I’m obviously doing something wrong if someone could explain what, that would be great. Also in the manual it says for each of the 8 banks (I’m assuming A-H) there are 16 patterns, is every bar considered one pattern? like four bars of one sequencer track is 4 patterns? And is there a simple way to clear a note on the sequencer while still leaving the step in? Like lets say I accidenly put a note on step 9 which I really wanted to leave blank is there an easy way to just clear step 9 without deleting step 9? Currently I’m just deleting the whole bar and then reprogramming it, thanks in advance.
Have you read the manual?
Have you watched the tutorial available on youtube
eg:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LfH0-0HDAzE
(for AK but sequencer is kit the same, minus key)
[ul]
[li]Saving pattern: it is automatically saved. [/li]
[li]Saving kit: function+kit then choose save kit.[/li]
[/ul]
Please pay attention at the beginning of the manual (not sure the page) there is a small explanation about sound/kit/pattern/song.
You have 8 banks A to H and for each bank 16 patterns.
Physically, when you push one of the bank button (keep button pushed) every single step is a pattern. If there is no pattern, the led is off, else it is on.
Eg. you have a pattern only on H01 and H06 = only step 01 and 06 will have a light when bank H is pushed. All other patterns are empty.
Thanks Klerc, my problem is that I have two kits that I saved (A1, and A2) and I made a pattern in kit A1, I then move to kit A2 where I want to create a second pattern, but whichever pattern I create last (I’ve done this starting with A1 as well as A2 while trying to figure out this problem) seems to be the only pattern saving, and it saves as the default for each kit. So right now I have a pattern I created for kit A1, I then move to kit A2 and when I press play it plays the pattern from A1, but if I clear the pattern of kit A2 it then clears the pattern that was saved to kit A1. All I want to do is save a pattern with A1, and save a second pattern with A2. And I’m going to watch the video you posted but I still dont understand how the “bank group” buttons function as when I push them they don’t seem to change anything, I thought they were save spots for different patterns in a kit, but maybe I just dont’ understand how to utilize their function
As stated previously, patterns are saved automatically.
When you select another pattern, the kit that is associated with the new pattern is loaded by the Analog Four.
Try reading the Quick Start section, near the front of the manual.
I watched most of the Cuckoo video, way more informative than the elektron demos. So it seems my problem is I have two different kits that are saved to the same pattern so Kit 1 and Kit 2 both use A1 as their pattern, how do get Kit 2 to be assigned to Pattern A2? Currently there is a preloaded factory kit and pattern loaded to that slot?
No offense but it is very difficult to help you withou clear visual.
Besides, our explanation will always be less clear than a tutorial video for example.
Try to read the manual and do manipulation in the same time.
If you want to be sure about the pattern you play: it is indicated on your screen. Bottom left.
Also: make sure you are not in song mode (led above song would be on).
If these few things don’t work, try to make a video!
What I’m asking is pretty simple maybe I didn’t explain it correctly above, lets say you make a kit by picking four different sounds, now you want to make a pattern for that kit, how do you choose where that pattern is saved? For example lets say you want to make a pattern for your kit to be saved at A2 (“Bank Group” A, Sequencer button 2) How do you do this?
The thing with Elektrons is the pattern is basically saved as you create it. To start from scratch, turn on your A4, hit (for example) Bank E. The 16 trigger steps will light, select the left most trigger. You’re now on E1. The pattern edits you make here will be saved to E1. You can copy the pattern to E2 by using pattern/copy, switching to Bank E, pattern 2, and pressing paste.
This is copied from a doc I link to below. They copy track 1 to track 2. My example above is Pattern 1 to Pattern 2.
- Select a track to Copy i.e. [Trk 1]
- Select GRID RECORDING Mode by pressing [REC]
- Press [FUNCTION] + [REC] i.e. Copy
- Select a Destination Track i.e. [Trk 2]
- Press [FUNCTION] + [STOP] i.e. Paste : Press again to UNDO
Reading the doc, I understand that you can ‘save’ a pattern in place. I’ve never done this but it looks like you can lock in a copy, jam on it for a while, then roll back to the saved version using ‘reload’.
- Press [FUNCTION] + [KEYB F1] i.e. Pattern
- Select the SAVE PATTERN option
- Press [Yes/Save] – Pattern is saved
Reload an active Pattern
- Press [FUNCTION] + [KEYB F1] i.e. Pattern
- Select the RELOAD PATTERN option
- Press [Yes/Save] – Pattern is saved
This is my favorite reference doc:
Hang in there. The infinite features intersect with the ‘Elektron Way’.
Hey thanks for the reply, I currently have two kits saved to the same patter: bank A sequencwr button 1, if I want my second patter to be saved to bank A sequencwr button 2, how I can do this?
You are misunderstanding the terminology. You cannot have “two kits saved to the same pattern” on the AF.
Select pattern A1. Adjust the rhythm and the sounds to your liking. The pattern is saved automatically. Manually save the kit with a unique name (for example “KIT FOR A1” to a unique slot number (for example, slot 1). See page 15 of the manual.
Select pattern A2. Adjust the rhythm and the sounds to your liking. The pattern is saved automatically. Manually save the kit with a unique name (for example “KIT FOR A2” to a unique slot number (for example, slot 2). See page 15 of the manual.
When you switch to another pattern, the pattern will automatically recall the kit that was saved with that pattern.
Did you try following the ‘Quick start’ tutorial on page 11 of the manual, as I suggested before?
The thing is - you don’t ‘save’. On my Electribe, for example, you’re working away and you like what you’re doing so you press save, then spin the wheel to another pattern slot and press save again. Then it’s saved there. Elektron doesn’t do this. You are working where you are working. What you’re doing is saved whether you like it or not.
Also, you can’t have two kits for one pattern. You can have two sounds, one per track. We get pedantic about the language because Elektron has its own way and there’s no getting around it.
I think this might be where the disconnect is. Kits and patterns are separate entities. While patterns may link to kits, the kits themselves don’t store patterns, just the four tracks’ sound parameters (and maybe FX, not sure).
As has been said, patterns are auto-saved. First find a blank spot to put a pattern (A02, H04, whatever), then lay down some notes. If you tweak the sounds, you can save those sounds as part of a kit, but the kit has no memory of what patterns use it.
There’s certainly a learning curve when it comes to the A4, and it’ll be a frustrating first month as you inadvertently overwrite patterns, sounds and kits until you start obsessively saving all the time. The manual helps a little, but honestly I wish it were a lot better organized (at least have the commands in a table instead of buried in paragraphs, sheesh).
Thanks guys I figured out the problem I was seeing the starting point as the kit not the pattern, if I start from a new pattern clear it and then load my kit then it works as expected. Before when I was loading my second kit I was still staying on the first pattern so I don’t it had a pattern tied to it yet.
Nice.
I developed this from the original quick ref. I know its a a few dollars but only cost of a coffee. Hope it helps.
https://itunes.apple.com/gb/book/the-analog-four-cookbook/id805893430?mt=11
Just make a copy and work from there ( so the original stays intact )
You can use 2 or more Kits for 1 pattern - only not at thesame time. ( by copying the pattern and assigning a different Kit to eatch )
The auto-save is absolutely nessesary if you want to record a track over a chain of following patterns.