Hey there,
just wanted to ask what are people’s workflows and preferred ways of inputting melodic sequences?
Do you step edit? Live play, and/or quantize? Employ a MIDI controller, workstation, dedicated sequencer? Etc.
Thanks!
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I use all of them, whatever the idea calls for. If you were looking for the “best way(s) for you”, that would be whichever one(s) you enjoy the most. If you were looking for pros and cons of different ways I leave that to the group to discuss but obviously you learn that through experience.
What I’m more interested in is why do you ask?
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Live Play first.
Same for rhythms.
Then refining the grid.
Can’t see a better way.
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I usually use a (keystep) midi controller unless the melodic sequence is really simple. If I’m not competent enough to keep up with the bpm, I slow it down and try to live play it with quantize. If that isn’t working out, I program the notes.
If I think about it too hard, I get stuck on the actual entry of notes and it takes forever to move on creatively. At that point I usually have a snack or do something unproductive and just like that, my momentum is gone.
If at the end, I hear something that really stands out as off, I’ll go back and replay it.
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Asking because despite lots of music and gear experience, I am pretty new to using sequencers and I just wanted to see if anybody had some techniques, workflow ideas, or even obscure hardware solutions that I haven’t thought of yet.
And just kind of curious about sequencer use in general because it seems like different genres are very influenced by the type of sequencing and sequencers used, like your compositions are going to be very influenced by how you’re using these tools.
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I’ve seen people do shit like populate every trig with the same note, throw an lfo on the track, remove steps to create a rhythm, and then change one or 2 notes to break the monotony. You are correct, it does depend on the genre and the type of melody.
My answer was more about traditional melodic composition (ie you have composed a melody and now you want to get it into the sequencer), for some genres it’s really “anything goes”.
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Live play 95% of the time. But I was lucky enough to have had years of piano lessons in my younger years so I understand this not being the best option for others. But 5% of the time I’ll opt for a more random approach- click in a bunch of steps, randomly set them to different pitches, then refine while letting it play out. I come up with with things that way which I never would via live play. I have a lot of habits and familiar phrases which can be hard to break out of.
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A good 90% of my melodic basslines are me plodding randomly at a keyboard, then removing / shifting notes. If nothing sticks, work on a beat and repeat.
The other 10% is randomly turning knobs on my RYK M185 sequencer until it grooves
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I picked up a Launchpad Pro mk3 to play my Elektron boxes via MIDI, and that helps a lot. I’m not a keyboard/piano player but I spent many years with the Launchpad and/or a Push, so I’m comfortable with the pad grid layout and working with scales etc. And I much prefer working out ideas by playing notes with my hands vs. entering steps on the sequencer (though there’s a time and place for both).
In modular, there are a ton of cool ways to generate melodies. You can combine different rhythms and pitch sequences to get unexpected results, you can start with a simple idea and evolve it with all kinds of control signals, you can get your hands on things with joysticks, sliders, etc. Modular gets me much quicker results (despite having to patch up a mess of cables) but it’s more of a dialogue with the machine rather than translating an idea in my head.
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I often have a loop running on a KSP or in Live with a basic 4 on the floor kick. I’ll add a note or two and then build upward and outward from there.
Related —I’d love a simple 16 step sequencer iPhone app if anyone has recommendations.
Let my Torso T1 do it!!!
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If you are pretty new, then the best idea, technique, or solution is to keep practicing and doing self-discovery until you are past the “newbie” phase. Then you will have a better idea and answer to your question.
You will get a zillion different answers in here from a zillion different people with a zillion different sets of experiences, and while a lot of it can help out, nothing beats finding some things out for yourself.
Keep at it, and ask yourself that question in a few month.
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Mash the buttons and knobs in a manic fashion until something sounds decent.
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disclaimer: i am a drummer, and the following workflow is heavily defined by that. so:
- step sequencers rocks
- first i input only root note and check whether new phrase is fine rhythmically. sometimes i input them directly, sometimes using attached pad controller and finger drumming.
- then i change some steps to the characteristic notes of the scale i’m working in (e.g. flat 2nd and flat 7th if i’m in phrygian).
- then all other adjustments.
that’s basically it.
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Bass chords melodies =
Live play from keyboard, hit record on the sequencer when I’m grooving to it. Edit sequence as I see fit after.
Drums, I’m a drummer so i know what I want, I sequence 90% of it. Sometimes I’ll play it in and let the sequencer capture and play it back to me.
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Live play from keyboards or pads
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Live play on my Keystep into Ableton. Hit capture when I hear something I like. Try to figure out the scale. Repeat and refine.
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I make my best melodies with Korg products with touch scales/gate arp features. NanoPAD2, EMX slider and touch pad, Kaossilators and the Gadget touch screen keyboard.
I also have a Push 2 which works well but I prefer it for chords.
I love programming step sequencers too but for more repetitive riffs and acid lines.
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“What is the highest technique you hope to achieve?”
“To have no technique”
In other words I don’t have a preferred way, the only thing that is important is if I like the result or not.
Could be a laboriously entered step sequence.
Could be played in from a keyboard/pads/ribbon etc
Could be randomised data.
Could be mash the keyboard then edit.
Could be an analog sequencer.
Etc.
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I learned music through jazz piano, so for me, melodies almost always start with 2 or 3 chords that fit together well. I turn them into arpeggios, try a few variations, add passing tones, and before long (on a good day) a melody will suggest itself. Programming out a melody on a step sequencer has never worked for me.
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