TRAX Tracker Samples |
TRAX NoteFX Repeat
Not to be confused with Chop/ratchet or echo, this is a random step
repeat that pauses the progression of a tracker when a note with this
FX applies is stepped into. There are several other NoteFX going on
here, Remote CC Step controls, filter switching via NoteFx, MIDI MPE,
odd length seq's, all into a GM MIDI Synth. |
PianoTRAXs.mp3
This is unintentionally humanized piano sequences from TRAX sequences.
The tempo is slow so you can hear some Echo-Arp-Sequences going on
plainly and the way they overlap. I think Echo, now expanded to 8x,
is truly one of the better NoteFX in the TRAX sequencers. |
Micro-Arps & Layers
I began by recording into a TRAX tracker, then
applied some micro-arps to it. That's the nice thing about looping
live, inspiration takes over. Most of the rest is from Layers I played
in.
Micro-Arps are in the form of Chopped Notes within a step, or Echoed
Notes from a step that continue up to 8 notes extra. Each of these 8
notes can be transposed +/- 48. |
NewSoloDucking-NoteFX.mp3
TRAX SOLO DUCKING can briefly take SOLO control over everything
playing, for just on step perhaps, but stops notes piling and offers
interesting fills / breaks
Echos and notes on can continue through a
solo duck. |
TRAX NoteFX Solo Ducking
Another sample to demonstrate the solo
ducking which allows a step in any tracker to solo over everything
else. Now the note length (not step) can solo for a longer time.
Another TRAX sequence playing the fast cycle is left to run to
demonstrate, then the TRAX sequence with solo ducking steps is
un-muted so it solos breaking the fast sequence up into shorter
bursts. There is a Layer with occasional percussion & another with
piano / synth that also get solo'd over. |
TRAX NoteFX on Prec. Loop+CVin
This sample hilites a drum loop with random NoteFX applied to hats.
The TRAX sequences with the piano & VCO's are being influenced with a
SongFX Scale modification via a CV input to CC5 jack, and a Transpose
modification via a CV input to CC6 jack.
These inputs are complex LFO and a RIT_M so have varying transpose
/ scale combinations. The fade and FX at the end are post recording. |
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TRAX NoteFX
Chop & Shifts
This sample, also available for syx download, was set up be placing a
note in step 1, then a working chord into step 3. This was then copied
(Fill=4) through the 16 steps. Using Skip=4 all single note steps were
assigned NoteFX1 which had an echo of 12 ticks, random=4.
After this each lane was shifted up/down.
In the percussion TRAX 2, a rhythm was pulled from song 61 and
NoteFX added to all drums (snares mostly) in lane 2 to chop by 2, with
-1 curvature. Fine tune+43 so only probability notes (40%) played
higher. This adds a lot of variation to the drums.
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TRAX
PLFX'ed and ARP'ed
Three TRAX trackers are running, one with
a bass line, one with a simple chord progression that is getting
transposed with Play List Block Transpose as it progresses through the
play List, then a final TRAX tracker with percussion.
The chord TRAX is getting Arpeggiated by ORD:ARPEG
to a VCO. This Arp has masks so only bursts a few notes and is upward,
but Arp Latching is on. The reason it doesn't loop is because TRAX is
sending a quiet single note after the chord which resets the latch.
(Not at end though!)
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TRAX Transpose Patch
Heres a simple Song with only 1 block per 4 TRAX
that uses a simple transpose patch from Row 4 CV to demonstrate
accumulative key changes.
Get it:
DEMO14 SYX
TRAX 1: Chan 1 changing between 3 instruments: Saw Lead, Vibes,
Musicbox. Also driving 2 VCO's with MIDI out source on row 1 & 2
TRAX 2: Chan 2 GM Fiddle and Korg synth, plus a VCO on row 3 to play
the slower melody.
TRAX 3: No MIDI out (LINK on Chan 1) driving CV on Row 4 which is
patched back to CC5 (input) jack.
TRAX 4: Drums with some NoteFX / Skips etc
CC5 is configured as Learn input to control Transpose. TRAX 3 is 4
notes slowly stepping to transpose with delays of 22 so the transposes
happen before a bar change, otherwise the first note wouldn't be
transposed yet! This could be resolved by putting the Transposer TRAX
as TRAX 1 probably.
The interesting thing with this is once the transpose has changed, the
next TRAX 3 note will also be transposed, so the notes are somewhat
balanced to go into the minus territory countering the gains plus
side. Because all of TRAX 3's "transpose notes" have a NoteFX skip
note randomization, it never plays the same progression. Each note
exponentially changes the possibilities, but are at set intervals from
the last.
To control any runaway, Song Loop#1 has a PLFX on the first 96 bars,
so totaling 192 bars before looping, that will reset the transpose to
0. This takes about 5 minutes
There are some other tweaks, like note ducking on TRAX 2 which changes
the way the beginning sounds occasionally. The brass sounding VCOs on
chan 1 randomly include a decent jab or short embellishment with short
echo and randomization of the microarp (noteFX3) if the instrument is
Saw Lead with the VCO's.
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Song FX / MIDI Song Recordings |
NameThatTune2.mp3
Here's a couple of downloaded MIDI Songs
I chopped into Loops and applied different SongFX to (yay mirror!).
Guess the tunes!
I threw in some short un-FX'ed bits to help but you must admit, unless
you're very familiar without those it'd be hard to know! |
Dev-Collage.mp3
This is is a whole bunch of little tunes I played around with while
developing the Sequarallel in the fall. I made this recording to
inspire myself while I did a re-write for a memory expansion! I knew
it wouldn't be working for a while, guess I could of put another
module together hehe.
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Dj'ing Song FX.mp3
This is SongFX manipulating Loops created from a downloaded version of
"Do ya think I'm Sexy" by Rod Stewart. These were all in the Play List
I believe but I was playing with the blocks. |
Galaxy Song 3 Ways
Monty's crew probably never heard the Galaxy Song
this way before! I have 4 sets of Layers ducking in and out, some
steps soloing, and some TRAX imports (7) being scaled by the Song's
scales. Some of the beats were from my BeatStep Pro into Layers I
think.
During dev. kept adding bits to test this & that! (So it's a bit
saturated) |
SongFX Scale
This is a simple methods of controlling other sequencers within the
Sequarallel with Song Loop FX changes like transpose and scales.
In this example there's 4 different loops (classical music recorded
with no clock), each with an FX subsequence and scales. The scale &
transpose are controlling a TRAX tracker. |
Layer Seq's + SongFX
This is a set of 3 Layer QB's working together under
SongFX controls like transpose, scaling, re-triggering, and all
quant'ed to 1/8 notes.
The 3 Layer Sequences are of varying lengths and some StepFX include
Solo which also removes the drums (TRAX) during those steps.
I have run this "Song" for up to 15 minutes and it still played new
combinations! |
Help Me Rhonda w/SongFX & ARPEG
Here's SongFX making another song
unrecognizable, but with an Arp (ORD:ARPEG) on one VCO, while the
others react to re-triggering and the whole thing to 4 different
SongFX bundles including the non-SongFX at the start which is the only
place the song is recognizable.The
Sequarallel is feeding a vintage box; the Yamaha MU-128, along with a
Korg microKorg on Channel 5. The VCO's are all our SDS_VCO's with no
post FX. ..The sysEx is
here |
FLstudio Comp Original
This is the original recorded into the Sequarallel's
Song Loop recorder that will be featured in an upcoming Video.
The sample to the right is the result of some
tweaking each loop with songFX, too many mods to list here. The
string-like synth's cut filter is set by one of Sequar's envelopes
triggered by the notes ...as doing this in the original ruins the
bandwidth for slow (1/8) quantization trying to spit out 200 CC
changes all at once! |
FLstudio Comp 4 Upcoming Vid21
This is a Song recording of the same sequence I'll be using in an
upcoming video on Song Loop Recording. There's about 10 loops here
with various SongFX applied and Layer 1 has a little hand-played MPE
piece.
This is held by a conditional until SongLoop 6 and
SongLoop 1 has a PLFX that arms it as well. It's a way to add to a
pre-recorded song and have it play at a particular point in the song.
It could also time-out in bars count but that took math so chose the
easy route instead! That's what's so great about the Sequarallel! |
MIDI Layers / Layer Step Sequencer |
Layers Quant+Swing
Here's about 10 Layers playing all quantized to
1/8th and about 25% swing. SongLoop FX, even though no Song exists,
can be applied. Song FX switches the scale, but many of the Layers are
odd lengths, 3, 5, 7, 8, 16 & 24 bars. This took me less than 5
minutes to Layer with a MIDI keyboard and another minute to add the
FX! |
BeatStep and some hand Layers
Pulled out the Beat Step Pro, it's been a while!
This is a bit of what was on it. I simply recorded it in as a Song,
changing loops from one to another, than broke it up into loops in the
Sequarallel. After that I played in some Layers on the pads, and
selected a couple of drum loops to just record in (they overlap!) To
finish off, made a couple of TRAX percussive cut-ins with some
randomization. |
Layer Bend FX
Recording Layers with other than MIDI notes is
possible. MIDI CC's, AT, or pitch bend messages can also be a Layer.
Because of Layer Step FX, the recording can be applied to other MIDI
Channels during a Step Sequence.
Here's an example of a subtle pitch bend being applied to lead synth,
then drums, noticeable with the snare. |
Quantized Layer Bend
Recorded Pitch Bends on a MIDI Layer that has time
quantizing turned on will result in the bend being quantized as well.
This, while probably unplanned to an unsuspecting newbie, can offer
some cool glissando-like bends. This can be nicely compounded with
glide on the synth!
But, to avoid this, simply confine any motion-MIDI to a Layer button
with it's quantizing off. |
2 Layers, 1 TRAX
I hand played in a couple of Layers and put
percussion into a TRAX tracker. Very simple I know, but then offset
the cycles of the 2 Layer Sequencers, some steps with some Song Loops
(dummies) to change the transpose and scale.
One of the Layer steps solos the single layer step which I must admit
is like-able!
This is the progression from my song "Hey,Hey" |
2 Layers, 1 TRAX
This is some SongFX mods on a short recording of our
other Accord series module, the Melisma. It was not aligned as the
record was started while the Melisma played and no modular clock so
the Melisma was providing the clock from it's ACLK.
Time Quantizing was applied to some loops while others not, and the
SongFX subsequencer is re-triggering notes to different offsets. |
Non-Sync'ed Layers Recorded
This rather long sample is of 6 Layers
playing (modified by 2 SongFX progressing)
The first 4 Layers were recorded from my Pedal-7 sequencer, but while
varying the modular clock. The Layer QB is set to quant at 1/8ths so
the SongFX note re-triggering makes sense.
This method seems to beg for more experimentation! |
Layers Odd Lengths in Seq
There are 3 Layer QB's (one percussive) playing their sequences but
all are different lengths so they tend to overlap in different places.
In the Layer Sequences are "empty" steps of varied lengths so after a
while it may be possible for there to be a few bars of silence. It
happens after playing for quite a while! |
Layers Odd Lengths in Seq 2
This longer recording is the same project as the previous recording
but with many more Layers added. Some Layers can have Pitch Bends on a
certain channel (out of sync loops!) while others modify cut / rez and
levels making for a very interesting de-tuned sequence.
As mentioned in the original recording's description, the possibility
of silence can and does happen (save some mod. percussion!) |
Layers From MIDI & CV-> Swing
Recorded Layers from various sources are quantized to 1/4, 1/8, 1/16
in 3 different Layer buttons. For the first minute there is a 18%
swing applied. All Layers follow Swing always, regardless of quant
except 1/4 of course!
After a minute the swing is removed.
The refrain is a Layer Step soloing that also has the cowbell, and the
transpositions are PLFX on some blocks in the Play List. Included is a
Yamaha V-drum synth, 3 VCO's, and the trusty micro-korg on channel 5
as usual! |
Layers "Appended"
While recording a Layer of set size with
the [APPEND] option turned on will expand the size of the loop if
playing is continued past the loop point (within 3/4 of a measure).
While one could simply set the Loop size to double the previous,
Append offers a "hands-free" method to do this, thus not interfering
with a creative flow.This is one of my
favorite things to do with the Sequarallel, just loops and build on to
it.
Then, at some point, expand the loops into a song in the Layer Step
Sequencer Editor. |
Layers: A Song in 5 minutes
I recorded in a few layers of loops and applied the CV Mode [ORD:ARPEG]
to the top 3 Gate/CV rows for 3 VCO's to delicately arp along.
( The VCO's have heavy reverb effect)
There's a wee bit of arranging in the Layer Step Sequencer Editor.
From the time I started to the time I recorded this
was about 5 minutes! I began playing around with the Limit & Mirror
Modifiers in the Layer Quick-box, which is the bulk of this sample
...then some SongFX swing changes |
Layers PLFX'ed
Some simple piano playing and percussion recorded on another Layer QB
comes alive once some PLFX (PlayList FX) are added to control
mirroring and Layer StepFX transposing and changing MIDI channel.
SOngFX has some swing added to my already swingy style of playing.
The VCO's can be heard running ORD:ARPEG modes and
one of those is sending notes back to the MIDI synth as well. This way
a fairly simple little keying on the piano turns into a much denser
passage! |
Layers New Probability
In the Layer Loop Step Sequencer Step-FX you'll find the new
Probability setting. This setting is random and works well to thin out
heavier Layer combinations.
Used sparingly, it removes the odd note, but used a lot (like less
than 20%) notes can be sparse but still fit to accompany another Layer
QB or TRAX sequences playing.I have
noticed it can be interesting when CV Mode Order Arpeg is active. The
Arp continually changes around but keeps going in it's rhythm! |
Layered Drums + SongFX Tweaks
This barrage of drum solo's is interestingly simple. I recorded 3 drum
Layers from FL Studio during a clocking test, then manipulated the way
they play in Layer loop step sequencer, and added a fairly randomized
TRAX sequence. There are two SongFX adding swing and drum
re-triggering, but the sizes are going to cause overlaps at different
points, thus a lovely complex series of rhythms.
The sysEx is
Demo 15 if you want to play around with it! |
CV MODEs / ORDERs / ARPEG / Gate / CV In / Out / Remotes |
CVin Recorded to TRAX&Layers
I patched 3 CV sources into the CC5, CC6, and ClkOut jacks configured
as single CV2Note (uses no gate, just voltage change)
2 from the Ornaments & Crime as a sequencer and 1 from a complex
waveform LFO. The sequencer was not in sync, on a different clock as
can be heard. SOngFX imposed various scales over the recordings, but
also while playing so some jive, while others defeat! |
CVin's and SongFX
A pair of CV'inputs are configured to
play MIDI notes while the 3rd is selecting scales in SongFX#5, which
is first up once the play button was hit.
Several tracks are playing at once, 2 TRAX sequences, Up to 10 Layers,
and a dummy Song Loop sequence is acting as key-changer and scaler.
Swing also changes. 4 VCO's two MIDI synths, minimal FX. This is
without any PLFX or Automation as really, it's not needed! |
CVin's Scaled & Recorded
Recording CV inputs is always interesting as they can be made to use
the scales presently active in a Song Loop FX bundle.
Once played back, even to the same series of scales, but at a
different alignment or Song Loop Scale, swing & transposition,
plus other FX like re-triggering, the recording really takes on a life
of it's own.
In this epic-ish sample such is the case. As with the sample above, an
LFO is selecting 8 scales in the first few bars, Maj, min, Maj7, min7,
C+G, C+F,C+E & C+Ab diads |
Live Arping-no Quantization
The newest and 5th Chord Order Mode to get notes to the Gate/CV jacks
following Stack, Range, Cycle, and Random is Arpeggiator. The
full-featured Arp's can be configured on each of the 4 rows
independently.
This sample is manually playing on 2 channels, one split to 3 Arps, of
various clocks and masks, then starting the sequencer with some plucky
piano and hand-played sloppy percussion to which I must re-align my
playing to once it started... This is non-quantized Arp so can start
at any time. In quantized mode it falls into the "beat" accurately. |
Mixed Arping-KeyBoard Assist
The CV Arp is patched to a pair of VCO's but is also sending to the
MIDI synth on unique channels. I was adding to the Arp's with the
keyboard, as well as soloing some parts.
It was all quite easy and fluid. I tend to leave quantization off
on the Arp's when feeding Sequarallel sequences in. Quantized
sequences like the TRAX tracker may miss the quantization point and
lag by whatever the Arp clock is set to. This could also be desired
though! |
CVin's Remote Controlling Arp
The CV Inputs are configured as Remote parameter modifiers (Learn)
from a sequencer (to Arp Step Time) and a pair of LFO's to TRAX Mirror
& Scales which give the huge note range but still scale quantized.
So the Arp range is about 1/8 to 1/32 steps from the CV sequencer
making notes "pile up" on the 7th & 8th beat. The sudden tempo change
is one of the 4 TRAX sequences playing at double time.
After about 1 minute I stop the TRAX Sequence playing and just take
over on the keyboard, with the Arp changes keeping me in time. |
CV
Remote: TRAX Echo Repeats
CV Learn function is selected for the
Clock Out jack configured to be an input. The learned parameter is
TRAX 1A's NoteFX #1 Echo Repeat (0-8)
There is a chord of 3 notes on Step 1 and Step 9 each having 2 notes
with NoteFX #1 applied. The echo repeats are changing because the CV
input is on an LFO. Some do 8 while others only the original. Each
echo step is a different note in the micro-arp, which causes a dual
note progression through the resulting scale!
This sample is from upcoming Video. |
3 CV
Remotes: 3 TRAX Param's
CV Learn's are set for all 3 jacks
(CC5,6,&CKo) to control Note FX Echo repeats like the sample to the
left, TRAX Mirror, and TRAX Note Limiting (both sides). There is also
2 other TRAX Letters (consecutively playing) ratcheted notes, and
triggered Envelope Rate shifting a Reflex LiveLoop Karplus patched to
two of the VCO's.
At first none of the CV in's are patched, then one by one I plug them
in. The Mirror input is an offset sequencer at the same clock as the
one to the Sequarallel. TRAX Reset input also patched.
This sample is also from upcoming Video. |
3 CV
Remotes: 3 TRAX Drums
CV Learn's are set for all 3 jacks
(CC5,6,&CKo) but this time to change Notes, actually drums, in a TRAX
tracker sequence.
At about 1:30 I un-mute a Layer QB loop that is a recording of the
TRAX! I had to turn off channel 10 on Merge LINK<>MIDI's and LINK out
to stop feedback, than patched the MIDI out to LINK in!
Afterwards I Mirrored the new Layer track at 39 to
produce some inverted drum patterns, then quantized to 1/16th's to
keep it tight. The double-time kicks are an inverted hat I believe :) |
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Random Scaled CVin + Vocals
Using CV inputs to create MIDI Notes can be somewhat lame as the
voltages need to be correct etc. but with Scale and Transpose coming
from a set of SongFX it becomes inspiring!
So much for me I had to snatch some lyrics out of
mid-air and 1-off this thing into Reaper!
OK I'll admit I played 5 or 6 notes and bent some
stuff into a Layer, but this demonstrates how easy it is to come up
with something useful without the complexity (or forethought) |
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Play List / Envelopes / Other |
VCOsTuned.mp3
Here's some stubborn VCO's tuned to
perfection with the Sequar's Auto-Tune. 2 VCO's are SDS_VCO, one a
Hz/volt, and one more an actual 555 timer osc. on a wish board. |
Play List Conditionals
This is a demonstration (& stress test) of Play List Conditional
Blocks. These blocks can stop a group from playing until either the
set bars pass, or, if before that time 1 or 2 block conditions are
true, at which point play can continue or jump to somewhere else in
the Play List. It's a very fun tool if you like experimenting with
generative music. If I had kept recording! |
Envelope FX on 4 VCO's
I patched VCO PWM's and a ring-follower from a Disting MK4 VCO into my
old non 1V/oct VCO and it's VCA is controlled also by an envelope
directly (the shimmering sound). 2 of the CV's have some glide and
some of the Layers are pitch-bending.
There's a lot more going on of course but triggering the internal
envelopes with various sources is so very useful! |
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Envelope FX Over MIDI
Notes & External triggers are setting off
a couple of parametrically drawn envelopes to modify the cut filter &
pitch bend of a GM Synth and a Korg.
Envelopes can run without playing anything if externally triggered, or
just free-run like LFO.Shoving this
much MIDI down the line is fairly dense, but the Sequarallel will
manage the update rates of anything it can control, based on how much
is already happening. This is pretty seamless for most CC/PW/Mod apps. |
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