This is a noob request/question. I’ve been menu diving and digging through the manual, but it’s slow as molasses teaching myself the AK. Especially the sequencer, and understanding how this thing “thinks”. I’m completely new to Elektron products and the way these things work, so I have no frame of reference. The manual does a decent enough job, but there are places which assume you know and understand the Elektron philosophy.
Wondering if anyone knows any quality online tutorials (preferably video) that teach the the basics of the Elektron sequencer. I imagine the sequencer is pretty similar across all product lines, but if it’s specifically for the A4 or AK that’s even better.
Check out the vids at Elektron’s website that pertain to the Monomachine and the Machinedrum. They cover some sequencing I believe, and the info will be relevant either way, since like you thought the sequencers are all pretty much the same fundamentally (yours is more powerful than MnM ans MD though).
The other thing I would suggest is start simple- make a 4-on-the-floor bass drum pattern, and experiment with P-locking the filter settings and a few other parameters, you will quickly find with a simple sound and pattern you can make insanely powerful and complex music happen, mostly through the sequencer. Once you get your head wrapped around that add a “snare” track or a bass line and start messing that up too. The sky is the limit on this machine.
Good luck!
Ahh, very cool. I’ll check those out. I’ve been watching the Octatrack tutorials, but they weren’t basic and broad enough for me to grasp any more than bits and pieces of what can be accomplished with the sequencer.
The other thing I would suggest is start simple- make a 4-on-the-floor bass drum pattern, and experiment with P-locking the filter settings and a few other parameters, you will quickly find with a simple sound and pattern you can make insanely powerful and complex music happen, mostly through the sequencer. Once you get your head wrapped around that add a “snare” track or a bass line and start messing that up too. The sky is the limit on this machine.
Good luck!
I’ve been doing exactly that. Best way to learn is through experience and trial and error. Figured out how to manually enter notes per beat/trig, but not live record yet. The p-locking and such is beyond me at the moment. TBH, I don’t really even know what that means or how to accomplish it. I assume it means performance locking, and you can ‘record’ filter sweeps and such? I’m sure it’ll all reveal itself soon enough.
Ahhh, here we go! Even just knowing what questions to ask is very revealing of what’s possible.
Entering notes in grid mode has become more obvious after hours of fiddling. Still not fluid (don’t expect to be at this point, either), but it’s starting to make sense.
Don’t know what parameter locks are. I assume they are non-note information, like filter sweeps, that you can assign to trigs/patterns?
Live recording mode is what I’m really interested in, and eludes me thus far.
Copying and pasting is beyond me. Can this be done without needing the same sound/kit loaded on a different track? Or can this only be done across pages on the same track?
Multiple sounds to each track, and sequencing FX are all beyond me.
Thanks for the reply. Believe it or not, it is helpful despite my onslaught of more questions.
Theres absolutely nothing to live recording. Press the record button and the play button simulateously.
You are now live recording.
All notes and non - performance knob movement is recorded. Joystick is not recorded.
You can then double press record to go into step edit mode. Your recorded steps will be there. You can edit any parameter by holding it and seeing the darkened ones and turning that knob.
Really very very simple. One caveat that you’ll get used to is although there is micro timing the resolution is kind of weird. Like for example if you play lets say 4 notes quickly in rapid succession, they might not all capture. It’s something you’ll get the hang of, and it’s just a limitation of the idea of step sequencing and not really an Elektron problem.
Awesome! That was the missing link, right there.
I’ve been reading the manual throughout the day, and just found this part after reading your post.
Thx
Ahh, very cool. I’ll check those out. I’ve been watching the Octatrack tutorials, but they weren’t basic and broad enough for me to grasp any more than bits and pieces of what can be accomplished with the sequencer.
The other thing I would suggest is start simple- make a 4-on-the-floor bass drum pattern, and experiment with P-locking the filter settings and a few other parameters, you will quickly find with a simple sound and pattern you can make insanely powerful and complex music happen, mostly through the sequencer. Once you get your head wrapped around that add a “snare” track or a bass line and start messing that up too. The sky is the limit on this machine.
Good luck!
I’ve been doing exactly that. Best way to learn is through experience and trial and error. Figured out how to manually enter notes per beat/trig, but not live record yet. The p-locking and such is beyond me at the moment. TBH, I don’t really even know what that means or how to accomplish it. I assume it means performance locking, and you can ‘record’ filter sweeps and such? I’m sure it’ll all reveal itself soon enough.
Thanks for the tips![/quote]
P-locking is easy-
Press record (while playing or not). Not live record, just regular record (no blinking led).
Make a normal beat or pattern like you always would.
Hold down any trig of your choice in the pattern, and tweak a parameter (filter, delay, lfo, pitch, whatever, almost anything) while holding down the trig. Once the parameter is where you like it, release the trig. You just p-locked.
See you in a few weeks after you pick up all the little pieces of your brain that exploded once you realized what this can do.
