Ableton Forum

I was reminded of this after reading the recent fascinating post about using the three adjacent black keys with arpeggiation for trance. But this is for real...

It is pretty simple to set up a patch that emulates the Lowry organ marimba repeat setting used by Townshend on Baba O.

First, sample one of the notes (or synthesize your own) and load it into sampler.

Second, use the scale plugin followed by autopan (which has been tweaked to give square wave tremolo) to make the note groups F thru G and B thru C# sound "on the beat" 16th notes and note groups G# thru A# and D thru E sound "off the beat" 16th notes. This is accomplished by changing the phase of the tremolo for the second group.

You end up with having the 12 scale tones split up into two groups of three adjacent keys each that either sound on or off the beat in repeating manner.

It is much more satisfying to play the song live using this setup than trying to come up with some kind of arpeggiator emulation. Check it out.

Are you splitting the midi data somehow? Could you post a screenshot? Sounds like a great trick, btu I just can't make it work

I am using two midi tracks. One is called MRL and the other is MRR. On one track the scale function filters out some of the notes as detailed in my prior post and the autopan/tremolo causes the notes to play as 16th notes on the beats.


On the second track the scale function filters out the opposite remaining notes and the tremolo causes them to be heard as 16th notes off the beat -- the phase of the tremolo has been reversed on this track.


It is kind of funny to me that an old organ patch could be this elusive yet simple. It has also been a real rush to play that music on the original emulated instrument and add my own expression to it. If you are into that sort of thing.