Tag Archives: sequencer

Collaborative Building on Google Plus

Leave a reply

As you may know, I’ve been kicking ass and chewing bubblegum working on a collaborative Reaktor project on the G+ Reaktor group. Our first project is to create a metasequencer by having one Roux macro modulate another.

Since it’s early in the new year and people are sluggishly recovering from the holidays I’ve gone ahead and done the assigned homework and here is a cheat sheet.

That’s the front panel – “Meta” is our modulator, and it modulates the “Roux” macro. There’s an “active” button to turn the metasequencing on and off, and a Snap# numeric readout to let you know which snapshot you’re selecting with the mouse in the meta-sequencer.

Which brings us to how Meta modulates Roux: it selects and recalls different snapshots. Here’s what it looks like inside:

As you can see, there’s some additional structure in this macro. Important note: the Snap Value [] array module, as you can see in its properties, is set to snap isolate and Morph/Rnd isolate. That’s because we don’t want it changing its own sequence as it recalls different snaps – we only want those events to select different sequences in the other Roux macro.

A couple of other things to note – the value coming out of the Snap Value [] module is scaled between 1 and 16 and quantized to integers. You can’t see it here but the event table has been modified to accept values between 1 and 16. This is perhaps not the optimal way to do this, as we have to change that max value of 16 in two places, but it’ll do for now. Why have a max value at all? It’s easier to select a value with the mouse that way. Again, there are other ways to do it, but later for that.

After the event table the values go through a router which is used to activate or deactivate the metasequencing, then into an order module which directs the values to the Snp and Recl input ports on a Snapshot module. This part should be self explanatory.

I could offer a download of the ensemble I built, but that defeats the purpose of collaborative building. I’d like anyone following along to build their own instrument / ensemble, come up with their own questions, and possibly their own ideas for improvement.

So get cracking!

Chroma and Gris-Gris: Sequenced Monster Monosynth

Leave a reply

Ladies, Gentlemen, Exalted Bipeds, may I introduce to you my latest creation, the Chroma and Gris-Gris ensemble:

Chroma is a performance oriented monosequencer and VA carefully tuned for ergonomic ease of use and glitch free operation in standalone and plugin mode. Slur features in Chroma match up with legato and glide features in the Gris-Gris synth to create a slinky sinuous note articulation.

Sequences can be created and controlled via mouse, MIDI, Konkreet Performer, TouchOSC and Lemur. Since there is now full OSC support in the Reaktor plugin version, you can do everything with Chroma in your preferred DAW that you can do stand-alone. A dream come true!

Now, about those Konkreet Performer mappings:

TouchOSC and Lemur templates are included in the package but there’s something special about Konkreet Performer that sets things on fire when it’s paired with Chroma and Gris Gris, a certain magic in the way it morphs and distorts sound. It is my firmly held opinion that not nearly enough people use KP and if you want something really special and unusual on your iPad you should rush right over to  Konkreet Labs or head straight for the App Store and buy a license.

The Gris-Gris synth is easy to program, surprisingly versatile, screams like a bastard and can be played on its own with MIDI input. Check out the effects bank for some wild quasi-modular sounds. A dedicated filter LFO with a morphing shape control and chaos flux knob provide mutating automation. Flux controls are also provided for the mix and filter feedback sections. Want more sounds? Here ya go:

Chroma’s MIDI output can be used to trigger external synths as well, depending on the completeness of the synth’s MIDI implementation. Tested and fully working synths include NI Massive, NI Absynth, U-he Tyrell and Tal Noisemaker. Some synths may work perfectly for note sequences but not for slur and glide.

Here’s the full cheat sheet:chromanotes

Chroma is 24.99 USD temporarily reduced in price to $19.99 and can be purchased and downloaded immediately. Remember, Chroma is a Reaktor ensemble and requires a full installation of Reaktor 5.8.0, not just Reaktor player.

Buy Chroma and Gris-Gris Now Add to Cart

A Working Clock

Leave a reply

Recently I’ve been working on some new sequenced ensembles and found to my horror that the clock macro I’d been relying on no longer worked properly. Bit rot? Slow change in behavior from version to version? I’m not sure. The problem was the old zero reset bug – old hands at Reaktor are nodding sagely right now – where the first beat or note would not fire off after resetting the song position to zero.

So I went through some frantic experiments and experienced a genuine Dark Night of the Soul until I put something together based on my old clock macros, hints from forums, and ideas from the Reaktor user library.

Unfortunately in the process I upgraded to the current version of Reaktor, 5.7.1, because there seemed to be some subtle differences in behavior between 5.6.2 and 5.7.1 and there’s a limit to how much time and effort I can dedicate to old versions.

Here’s what the new, fixed, stable, working macro looks like on the inside:

As you can see it’s fairly simple. If you’re still sticking with 5.6.2 you should be able to throw one together from this schematic in a few minutes.

Special thanks to Owen Vallis who came up with the idea of using the mod output of the Modulo module to gate the Div output. So much better than using a silly old step filter. Owen posted his fix in this thread on the Reaktor forums so go thank him there.

I’ve stuck the macro in this demo ensemble:

Click here to download the new clock macro.

Grab the macro labeled “SeqDriver 571” and use it in your own creations. Of course, nobody’s perfect and no fix lasts forever so let me know if you find a bug, a sequencer where it doesn’t work or works erratically, or if you need help wiring it into your own creations.

Reaktor drum machine with parameter locks

Leave a reply

Another peek at what’s cooking at ReaktorTips Sound Laboratories.

This is a granular drum sampler I’m working on in Reaktor that has Elektron MachineDrum style parameter locks. I think it sounds pretty good so far. Note the ridiculously low CPU usage – 2% to 2.1%

Reaktor drum machine with parameter locks from Peter Dines on Vimeo.

At the moment, the knobs are used to write looping parameter automation per step, and this works great with Kore 2 hardware controllers, but entering percussion sequences must be done with the mouse. I’ve tried using a keyboard to enter data but it’s hard and fiddly to get the exact velocity you want on a given step, and a pain to remove steps.

I’m going to wait till my Maschine arrives and use its drum pads to trigger sequence entry. The sequencer doesn’t send MIDI yet, but the controller does and from everything I’ve heard it’s a joy to use.

Sorry to keep teasing you guys with this stuff but no downloads – I’m trying to think of a way to monetize this, either with a small payment for the ensemble plus documentation, or maybe something sponsored. And yet at the same time, I want to share. Ah, conflict.

Basic Clock Demo

Leave a reply

This covers some of the same territory as my Virtual Instruments tutorial but goes more in depth about the clock and modulo operations, as well as featuring a sequencer driver macro that syncs to the host.

Here’s the link – it contains the ensemble and an instructional PDF.

The instrument is very rudimentary. Don’t expect to make music with it. Expect to learn some essential Reaktor skills. I’ll be covering ways to use this knowledge in future tutorials. This will be on the exam, in other words. 😀

Questions and comments are welcome.