Willyum's 'Endless drum patterns' (Samples provided)

Willyum · Post by **Willyum** » Sun Oct 08, 2006 11:16 pm

(Edited)
(OK, I was told this was a little long to read... so basically there is a zip file at the end for download that contains a Live 6 song file with samples that shows how to create endless amounts of patterns to inspire creativity during brain freezes. Just press play on one of the sample cells).....

OK now back to Full read.....

Willyum's 'Endless drum patterns' (Technique and Samples provided)

Because of Stale Bread's post of appreciation, I'm going to do something I didn't think I would do....

I'm giving away a secrete weapon. I'm sure I am not the first to use this technique but I don't recall anyone else sharing it with the community.

This is Concept programming.

I came up with this track to give me a never ending or repeating way to get new ideas for whenever I am having a creative block. The file and samples I have uploaded focuses on drums but can theoretically be used for any rhythmic sound.
This zip file is 1 Live 6 song file, 6 drum loops and this text file(sorry Live 5 people but once I updated the file in 6 it can't be played back in 5.... but it does work the same in 5.)
5 drum loops are all similar in feel but all different in sound and pattern. The 6th drum loop is optional and was added for uniformity in sound.

OK, This is a 2 part process.....
Session view, then arrangement view.
(I will try to keep this simple since the advanced Live users will already know how to do this)

In session view I have taken 5 distinctive drum loops. I have warped and looped them all so that they are properly quantized, so the snares and kicks don’t flam when layered over each other. (I picked loops that compliment each other and don’t clash) I put them in cells in the session view under each other.
On the clips ‘Launch’ panel, I turned legato mode on so if I switch samples in the middle of playing, the next sample would pick up where the other sample left off instead of starting the new sample from the beginning. This keeps the flow consistent without throwing the listeners groove off. (to do the switch freehanded you must set the global quantize to less than 1 bar)
I reduced my follow actions to 3 quarters of a beat (not 3 /4 of a bar). The first box (bars) should be zero, the second box (1/4 notes/ beats) should also be zero and the Last box (1/16) should be 3 (which is 3/16, considering you are using a 4/4 pattern). What this does is prepare a loop to be ready to change on every 3/16 of a beat. Do not use even numbers because that takes away the random appeal.
The follow ‘action’ box will tell the sample where to go after the 3/16 mark. If ‘no action is selected the loop will continue to play regularly. If play is selected the loop will restart itself every 3/16 of a beat. What we want to do is have the sample continue where it left off in another sample but we want it to be random so that it is always different so I switched the Action to ‘any’.
This was repeated for all files. Using 3/16 ensures that no 1 complete bar can possibly start AND end evenly and using ‘any action’ will ensure a 3,125 to 1 ratio of change within the bar (but since the bar starts and ends on any of the varying 3/16 locations that’s 9 possible variations on the bar placement….. Ok so it’s not endless, its 28,125 to 1 chance for repeat per bar. Anyway….

For part 2, arm the track for recording and enable recording the trigger 1 of the individual cell to play. All of the actions are recorded in the arrange view. Record for at least 10 bars, hit stop and switch to arrange view.
Create a 1 bar loop range and hit play. Set your grid to about 1/4 and listen to the new loops, sliding over 1 quarter of a bar at a time till you find a pattern that feels really nice. Consolidate the loop and go look for some more.

In this example, I used different sounding loops so you can clearly hear what is going on. I used re-pitch instead of stretch cause it works well for different types of music at different tempo's (Drum & Bass) Ideally what you would want to do is create a few different drum patterns with the same drum set or piano riffs or whatever rhythmic sounds you want to use and apply the same concept. You may also need to recreate some loops for instance if you use a guitar, notes will get cut off, so you will use the structure created, learn it and replay it so that it sounds proper… Or you could just leave it sounding crazy. I have some beat repeats in there too.

Either way, you will never be stuck in a creative rut again!

Like I said, I'm sharing this info cause another member made it seem like we are not wasting our time here so if you like this please let me know so in the future I'll try to post some more or get other people to post thier secretes.

Willyum (AKA - Flip, Flippa, Flip-O-Matic)

This zip folder is about 4MB

http://www.sendspace.com/file/8k1sc6

Let me know if anything is not working. And remember press play on one of the cells when first opening the file or it will only loop 1 sample for some reason.

Willyum · Post by **Willyum** » Mon Oct 09, 2006 12:21 am

I don't use SendSpace often so can someone let me know if it's loading properly?

Pitch Black · Post by **Pitch Black** » Mon Oct 09, 2006 12:43 am

Downloading now (56k dialup) . . .

earsmack · Post by **earsmack** » Mon Oct 09, 2006 12:46 am

Interesting...almost *too* active for my taste but I can see where something like this might be useful even when working out fills and transitions. Nice concept. Downloaded fine, btw.

Willyum · Post by **Willyum** » Mon Oct 09, 2006 2:32 am

OK, I got about 50 downloads and only 1 '50/50' review.
Is this tutorial a bad tutorial, Did I write too much, is it a useless concept for most users. Let me know if it needs improvement.
I'm not looking for review of the sounds, just a review of the tutorial.

Thanx Willyum

Johnisfaster · Post by **Johnisfaster** » Mon Oct 09, 2006 2:36 am

I thought it was a little long winded to read so I never got around to downloading it. sorry. but you asked so i thought I'd share.

I was a little hungover though so maybe thats why..

Pitch Black · Post by **Pitch Black** » Mon Oct 09, 2006 2:45 am

Hi Willyum, Its a good tutorial, though it could possibly be improved by using more complimentary breaks to give that instant "wow this is amazing!" factor. I know you didn't want a review of the sounds - but the technique is solid and well explained. I have a simillar trick I posted here: http://www.ableton.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=2686

Thanks for taking the time to make/post the tutorial! This sort of sharing helps us all.

cheers
p

azurescens · Post by **azurescens** » Mon Oct 09, 2006 5:34 am

cool stuff mate, thanks for sharing!

Willyum · Post by **Willyum** » Mon Oct 09, 2006 6:17 am

Pitch Black wrote:Hi Willyum, Its a good tutorial, though it could possibly be improved by using more complimentary breaks to give that instant "wow this is amazing!" factor. I know you didn't want a review of the sounds - but the technique is solid and well explained. I have a simillar trick I posted here: http://www.ableton.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=2686

Thanks for taking the time to make/post the tutorial! This sort of sharing helps us all.

cheers
p

Wow, in 2003, I don't even think I was up to session view back then. I think I was using Live as a straight multitrack recorder strictly in arrangement view back then.
Great minds think alike.

stale bread · Post by **stale bread** » Mon Oct 09, 2006 8:04 am

good lookin out Willyum i'm going to try this out tomorrow night., i have been the consumate follow actions avoider, this'll be my first foray.

flipotto · Post by **flipotto** » Tue Nov 14, 2006 8:55 pm

I tried to download it but it is gone....

thanks

k

rpsx · Post by **rpsx** » Wed Nov 15, 2006 3:44 am

this is awesome. i think i get what you're describing. but, like previous post, file seems to be gone. hope it makes it's way back up, as i'd like to see it in action as an example before i try to reconstruct what you're doing just from your words myself. if it's as i imagine, YOU ROCK. sounds fun.

bonomius · Post by **bonomius** » Wed Nov 15, 2006 8:14 am

please could anyone upload it again? Thanks

Contra · Post by **Contra** » Wed Nov 15, 2006 1:11 pm

funnypitch black, that post you made breakbeat mania was posted on my birthday....hey now dont steal my social security number now,,,,,

Willyum's 'Endless drum patterns' (Samples provided)

Willyum's 'Endless drum patterns' (Samples provided)

post the download of the tutorial again please.....