Lately, I’ve been struggling with a bit of writer’s block lately so in today I want to try an experiment and see what happens when you flip (or sample) generative music created on a sequencer and some synths. What is generative music? For this example, it is using a set of music notes, and setting a sequencer to play them at random. To further add variability (and musicality) we’ll use per step probability so when the sequencer triggers a step, there’s only a small percentage of that step playing the set note. To make this work, we’re going to first make a generative track on the Circuit Track and if you don’t have a circuit, any sequencer or plugin that can set a musical scale and trigger probability on a per step basis will work. Then we’ll sample that track into the SP (or any sampler) and do what the SP does best and chop it up. If you’re interested in any of the gear I’m using today, affiliate links are below and purchasing anything from these links helps support my work at no extra cost to you.
Making Generative music is often a great way to create a base melody or rhythm to get inspired by, but just how far can we take it today? Let’s find out and make generative music on Circuit Tracks/sampling on SP404 MKII
Check out this video for a detailed look into the process:
The Generative Process On Circuit Tracks (and other grooveboxes):
First we need to set the sequencer to play at random. In Pattern Settings, there are four options for running the sequencer: 1: play forward 2. pattern runs backwards 3. runs forward then backwards 4. random - it just bounces all over the sequence. This fourth setting is perfect for making generative ideas.
Next, we'll need to set the scale for the track. Then, choose a note for each step of the sequence and add it in. You'll want to have every step programmed, as the "random" sequencer setting can choose any step at any time (You can alter the speed by changing the pattern's playback speed). Now we can finally add the generative secret sauce: probability!
Per step probability means that each time the sequence triggers a step, you can select the percentage for how often that step will actually play the note programmed. This adds instant variability and makes each run of the sequence completely different from the last.
The Sample Flip: The generative track was just the beginning, now we can use these sounds as samples and chop them on the SP404MKII (or any sampler). In the video above, I sampled each individual instrument separately into the SP and even ran the generative part through multiple times to add even more variance and options when chopping. This section is much more dependent on your own production wants, so try out a few things and see what works.
Sometimes, these ideas end up out way different from what you'd expect, but that’s the beauty of this workflow. You never know what sounds will come out of the generative process and from there using a sampler you can chop up, repitch and twist sounds into something unrecognizable and awesome in it’s own right. If you want to check out these sounds for yourself and see what you can make, head over to my website for the sample pack to download all the sounds.
Generative Dreams Sample Pack: https://soundsbysunwarper.bandcamp.com/album/generative-dreams-evolving-textures-arps-and-noise-drums
Links to the gear I use:
Novation Circuit Tracks: https://amzn.to/41kgtmD
Roland SP404 MKII: https://amzn.to/3SrqlqC
Behringer MS-1: https://amzn.to/3KsYjsS
Korg Minilogue: https://amzn.to/3Zf9adV
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Buy/Stream: https://fanlink.to/iJnp
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