The Push 3-compatible Max4Live Random Note Generator

Example Usage

Imagine you’re a beginner wanting to create a whimsical and surprising melody that seems almost unplanned. With the Drunq 1.0 Max4Live device, you can easily inject randomness into your music. Here’s how you can use Drunq to accomplish this with your Push 3:

1. First, load Drunq into a MIDI track in Ableton Live.
2. On the Push 3, navigate to the Drunq device by pressing the 'Device' button and selecting it from your device list.
3. Start by setting the ROOT pitch. If you have a key in mind, you can set the ROOT to the base note of that key. For instance, C3 can be a good neutral point.
4. Adjust the RANGE to suit the breadth of the melody you desire. Since you’re a beginner, start with a small range, like ±12 semitones, for a variation within one octave above and below your root note.
5. Utilize the REPEATS knob on your Push 3 to make the melody a bit more predictable. Setting REPEATS to 2 will repeat each random note three times before moving to the next.
6. The SKIP function is great for adding syncopation. Set SKIP to 1 to create a pattern that will skip every other incoming note, creating a unique rhythm.
7. Choose between MODE I for a wandering melody or MODE II for an unpredictable melody. As a beginner, Mode I could be more manageable and musical to start with.
8. Keep the DURATION value moderate to ensure each note is clearly heard – perhaps around 500ms.
9. Set up velocity for dynamic variation or keep it consistent for an even performance.
10. Finally, enable the CLOCK if you want Drunq to start generating notes as soon as you hit Play on Ableton Live.

Now you are ready to experiment and hear the unexpected melodies Drunq will create for you. Remember, if you find a sequence that you particularly enjoy, use the FREEZE function to loop it and tweak the LENGTH and START parameters to fine-tune your looped sequence. This can be the foundation for your track or an interesting background element to enrich your music production.

In this intermediate usage example, we'll harness the creative randomness of Drunq 1.0 to inject some unpredictable melodies into our Ableton Live session. Imagine we're composing a piece that needs a touch of serendipity, and we want to generate a sequence that interacts with our existing chord progression in C minor.

First, insert Drunq 1.0 into a MIDI track that is preloaded with a synth sound that complements your track. Let's adjust the 'ROOT' control to 'C3' to anchor our randomness in C minor.

Next, set the 'RANGE' to 12 semitones so that Drunq will create notes within an octave above and below our root note, allowing for some melodic variation without straying too far from our tonal center.

Now, let's experiment with the 'REPEATS' settings. We want to create a sense of anticipation without becoming too repetitive, so set 'REPEATS' to 2. This way, each generated note will have a chance to establish itself in the listener's ear by playing three times before moving on to a new random note.

For the 'SKIP' parameter, choose a value of 3 to create rhythmic interest by waiting for every fourth incoming note before Drunq triggers a new note. This syncopation will add complexity to our sequence.

Switch to 'Mode II' for this experiment to make use of more adventurous random pitches that can surprise and add spice to your melody.

Adjust 'DURATION' to set note lengths that complement your track. Longer durations would suit a more sustained synth patch, while shorter durations work well with staccato sounds. In this scenario, a setting around 500ms should meld the melody into our C minor progression nicely.

Set 'VELOCITY' to around 100 to give our notes a consistent force, ensuring they cut through the mix without overpowering other elements.

To add an evolving cyclic pattern to our randomness, activate the 'FREEZE' function and set 'LENGTH' to 8 to loop half of the most recently generated notes. Set the 'START' parameter to 5, cycling our loop from halfway through our buffer for a more complex melodic structure.

Lastly, disable the 'CLOCK' function, as we want Drunq to respond to an external MIDI controller, like Push 3. By activating notes from the Push 3, we'll control when Drunq generates new pitches, giving us the hands-on integration with our physical hardware to inspire on-the-fly composition.

As you start to play with this setup, you'll notice a dynamically evolving melody taking shape. Drunq's generated randomness – tempered by our parameters – weaves in and out of your chord progression, offering a balance between structure and surprise. Remember, each adjustment to Drunq's controls can lead to a wholly unique melodic adventure, so don't hesitate to tweak settings as you go to refine the generated sequence to your taste.

Further Thoughts

In this expert-level tutorial, we are going to dive into a compositional technique using Drunq 1.0, harnessed to create evolving melodic patterns that interact with a chord progression in Ableton Live, specifically utilizing the Push 3 controller for hands-on manipulation.

Imagine you're in the process of creating an atmospheric techno track that requires a dynamic lead element that continuously evolves throughout the piece. Here's how to integrate Drunq 1.0 within your Ableton Live session to achieve this:

1. Set Up The Instrument: - Create a MIDI track and load your preferred synthesizer that delivers a lush, sustained sound. - After the synthesizer, insert the Drunq 1.0 device.
2. Configure The Root Pitch: - Select the key of your track – let's say D minor. - Set the ROOT on the Drunq device to D3, the root note of the D minor scale.
3. Define The Range: - To maintain musical relevance, set the RANGE to +/- 12 semitones, which confines the randomization to one octave around your root note.
4. Establish a Loop: - Activate the FREEZE function to loop the last portion of generated notes. - Set the LENGTH to 8 to create an 8-note looping sequence. - Utilize the START knob on the Push 3 to audition different starting points of the loop in real-time, creating variations.
5. Determine Note Duration and Velocity: - Slide the DURATION to 1 second for a smooth transition between notes. - Experiment with VELOCITY settings to give your notes a humanized dynamic.
6. Explore The Modes: - Start with Mode I for a meandering sequence, then switch to Mode II during a build-up to introduce a touch of chaos into the progression.
7. Process The Generated MIDI: - Enable MIDI capture in Ableton Live and record the Drunq-generated sequence. - Drag the recorded MIDI clip to a new track and edit as needed, refining your lead pattern or harmonizing with your chord progression.
8. Play With Real-Time Control: - While your track is running, tweak the REPEATS control to introduce subtle variations or to emphasize certain notes during specific sections. - Use the SKIP feature to occasionally withhold notes and create rhythmic gaps, allowing other elements of the track to breathe.
9. Integrate With Session View: - Pair Drunq with other MIDI effects such as Chord or Scale to conform generated notes within your desired harmonic framework. - Map key parameters of Drunq to macro controls for quick adjustments during live performance.

By leveraging the versatility of Drunq 1.0 with the hands-on approach of the Push 3, you craft a signature sound that dynamically interacts with your track, providing a fresh listener experience with each play-through. Experiment with these settings and take your live performances and compositions to new, unforeseen heights.

Related Links

• https://discrete.gumroad.com/l/Drunq
• https://www.ableton.com/en/manual/using-push-2/
• https://www.ableton.com/en/live/max-for-live/
• https://cycling74.com/
• https://www.ableton.com/en/packs/max-live-essentials/
• https://maxforlive.com/library/device/10323/drunq