Exploring the function and possibilities of polyrhythmic creation within Ableton Live is a venture rich with sonic prospects. An exciting revelation comes in the innovative form of the SEQUND VST by Alexkid - a product of the Isotonik Collective. This powerful sequencer metamorphosizes the best traits of Alexkid's MaxforLive sequencers, inheriting a legacy of user-favorite elements and fusing them with dynamic and inventive functionalities.
Collaborating with Tadashi Suginomori, Alexkid integrates a duality of melodic lanes into SEQUND VST – a tool that enables users to simultaneously weave intricate musical patterns. This dual-lane system draws from its ancestor, the PROBABILISTIC sequencer, with the added twist of an independent lane length – a key facilitator in generating complex polyrhythms and steadily evolving melodies. This highly intuitive mechanism triggers your creativity, whether your pursuit is an exciting bass-line with subtle variations or eccentric melodies brimming with groove.
With the additional components of Hold, Chance, Length, Octave, Transpose, and 3 MIDI CC# lanes, SEQUND doesn't stop at allowing you to manage the melodic lanes – it makes them funky and flexible. Meanwhile, the probability lane is a part of the brew that facilitates spontaneous melodic variation by allowing you to alternate between two melodies.
SEQUND VST goes a step further – or perhaps, many steps – with the inclusion of a new Ratchet lane – an exciting development that was introduced in the 1.5.6 update. This feature continues to reinvent the wheel of sequencing tradition; the Ratchet lane allows subdivision of individual sequence steps, enabling rapid-fire repeats of notes within a singular step – thereby allowing an unraveling sequence of sublime complexity.
As of version 1.5.6, the plugin also hosts a revolutionary Step Lock function. This feature shields specific steps in your sequence from the effects of randomization and reset functions, thereby preserving the integrity of your sequence structure while allowing for route alterations in pattern rhythm and melody. Crucially, this feature permits the controlled influx of unpredictable musical textures within a structured framework.
Simultaneous to managing the aforementioned features, SEQUND VST is also prepared for real-time performance - armed with MIDI-triggered pattern changes and sequence transpositions. The implementation of these features not only heightens the depth of your SEQUND sequencing prowess but also elevates the landscape of real-time electronic music performance in Ableton Live.
The allure of SEQUND does not end at its own virtues but extends to the embrace of its users' creativity. Catered to that end, SEQUND bundles an extensive collection of artist presets from names such as Alexander Kowalski, Christian Burkhardt, and Damon Wild, among others – bestowing a diverse palette of creative options within your reach.
Moreover, with a dynamic range of compatibility, SEQUND VST is not confined within the bounds of Max4Live. It embraces a broad range of DAWs, including VST3, AU, and AAX compatibility. This universality is complemented by integrated scale quantization and customizable MIDI CC lanes, proving SEQUND as a true bridge between Max4Live sequencing and mainstream DAWs.
Unleashing the formidable power of the SQEUND VST is ultimately a transformative journey into the heart of polyrhythmic musical evolution. This exceptional device from the illustrious Alexkid is not just an instrument; it's an inventive gateway towards bold melodic and rhythmic expression.
[max4live device: SEQUND VST by ALEXKID](https://isotonikstudios.com/product/seqund-vst-by-alexkid/)
Example Usage
Let's dive into creating a basic polyrhythmic pattern with SEQUND, the Max4Live device by Alexkid, which is perfectly suited for novice users who are just getting started with music production.
Firstly, drag and drop SEQUND onto a MIDI track within Ableton Live. You'll be greeted by its intuitive interface.
To create a polyrhythmic groove:
- Choose a scale and root note from the 'Scale Panel' that fits the key of your project.
- In the 'Gate' lane, create a pattern by enabling certain steps. This will dictate the timing of your notes.
- Open the 'Pitch A' lane and input a few notes at various steps. This creates your first melodic rhythm.
- Now, set a different step length for the 'Pitch B' lane. For instance, if 'Pitch A' is set to an 8-step loop, try a 7-step loop for 'Pitch B' to create a polyrhythm.
- Use the 'Prob A/B' lane to set the probability between both Pitch A and Pitch B lanes, creating a dynamic interplay between the two melodies. A 50/50 setting will give each melody equal playtime.
- Use the 'Ratchet' lane to add more complexity by setting repeated rapid-fire notes on certain steps.
- Optionally, add 'Hold' steps to create longer note durations, especially effective with sounds that have a glide or portamento effect.
- Experiment with the 'Transpose' lane to modulate your sequence up or down by semitones, creating variations in real-time.
To add more expression to your sequence:
- Assign one of the three 'CC' lanes to a parameter like filter cutoff on your synthesizer.
- Input varying values within this lane to modulate the sound over time, giving your sequence more life and movement.
Finally, take advantage of SEQUND's pattern storage:
- Once you're happy with your sequence, save it as a pattern within SEQUND.
- Create a few more varying patterns with different gate and pitch configurations.
- Use MIDI notes to trigger these patterns on the fly, allowing you to sequence changes during a live performance or while recording.
And there you have it! With these simple steps, you've programmed a rich, evolving polyrhythmic pattern using SEQUND, making your productions more dynamic and engaging. Happy music-making!
Let's explore the creation of a dynamic polyrhythmic pattern with SEQUND, focusing on intermediate users seeking to integrate evolving melodies and intricate rhythms into their Ableton Live set. We'll craft a sequence that employs multiple lanes to add depth and texture to our music production.
- Start by selecting a fitting tempo for your session in Ableton Live, and insert SEQUND on a MIDI track loaded with your preferred software synthesizer.
- Begin with the Gate lane to establish the rhythmic backbone of your pattern. Set it to a 16th-note grid and activate steps to form a complex rhythm that deviates from a common 4/4 pattern to leverage SEQUND’s polyrhythmic capabilities.
- Open the Ratchet lane and apply a division of 3 to every fourth step, adding a burst of rapid notes, creating a staccato effect that contributes to a more intricate groove.
- Activate the Hold lane on steps where you wish the note to sustain, perfect for adding tension before a section with ratcheted steps or serving as a transition.
- In the Pitch A and Pitch B lanes, craft two distinctive melodic lines. Let Pitch A follow a more conventional scale pattern while Pitch B introduces unexpected note jumps to add variety.
- Use the Prob A/B lane to set different probabilities for each step, creating an evolving interplay between the two pitch lanes. For instance, letting Pitch A dominate the first half of the sequence while incrementally increasing Pitch B's influence towards the latter half.
- Use the Transpose lane to pitch-shift certain steps by a few semitones to inject slight variations, keeping your sequence dynamic and less predictable.
- Utilize SEQUND’s randomization function on the Velocity lane to assign a varied velocity to each step, ensuring that the timbre and intensity of your sound change subtly over time.
- Assign one of the MIDI CC lanes to control the filter cutoff of your synthesizer, drawing in a pattern that gradually opens the filter over 8 steps before closing it back down, adding motion to your sequence.
- Save your sequence as a preset. Then create a few variations with different step configurations and save them as well. Use MIDI mapping in Ableton Live to switch between these patterns on the fly, ensuring that your performance or arrangement remains engaging and dynamic.
By harnessing these various SEQUND lanes, you’ve constructed a versatile sequence that can be further tweaked in real-time during a live set or while composing. The power of SEQUND lies in its ability to inspire creativity through its multifaceted approach to sequencing, and with this example, you’ve tapped into just a slice of its potential.
Further Thoughts
In the studio today, we're going to dive into a practical application of the SEQUND VST by Alexkid to construct an intricate polyrhythmic pattern that can serve as the backbone for an entire track. We'll use Ableton Live as our DAW for this session.
First, we'll open an empty MIDI track and load up SEQUND VST as an instrument. For context, let's say the project is a deep techno track with an emphasis on evolving textures and hypnotic grooves.
Here's our step-by-step process:
- Set the Foundation: We'll start by setting our root key to C and selecting a Minor scale in the Global Scale Panel to give our patterns a moody vibe. We'll place a 4/4 kick drum on a separate track to anchor the rhythm.
- Crafting a Polyrhythmic Sequence: We configure SEQUND VST’s gate lane to 16th notes. Then, we adjust the length of the Pitch A lane to 7 steps and Pitch B to 11 steps, laying the groundwork for polyrhythms since 7 and 11 are prime numbers, ensuring our patterns won't quickly repeat.
- Designing Pitches and Rhythms: In the pitch lanes A and B, we'll create melodic patterns. For texture, we use the new Ratchet lane feature, subdividing certain steps and adding a dynamic repetition effect — particularly useful for staccato plucks or percussive elements.
- Applying Dynamic Expression: We'll utilize the Chance lane to inject randomness into the appearance of certain notes, setting some steps at less than 100% to create a less predictable sequence.
- Integrating Movement with MIDI CCs: To bring our sequence to life, we'll map each of the three MIDI CC lanes to different parameters on our chosen synth — like filter cutoff, resonance, and envelope decay — programming variations that will evolve throughout the pattern.
- Utilizing Step Lock and Pattern Changes: To preserve certain steps in our sequence, we'll activate Step Lock to keep them constant while experimenting with the randomization feature for other steps. We'll also take advantage of the ability to store and recall 12 patterns per preset, gracefully changing between them using MIDI note triggers for on-the-fly modifications during live performance or recording.
- Expression Through Transposition: With our sequence running, we'll play with real-time transposition, both before and after scale quantization. This allows us to alter the melodic content on the fly, either using the in-built Transpose lane or with MIDI notes to transpose our sequence live, maintaining musicality within our selected scale.
- Final Touches: As these different polyrhythmic patterns intertwine, the sequence will begin to take on a life of its own. We tweak the negative swing for a laid-back groove, and we adjust the octaves to expand the sonic texture.
- Session Recording: With our sequence crafted, we hit record and capture the performance. We play with the pattern changes, transpositions, and CC modulations live, giving the track a dynamic and improvised feel.
In conclusion, the SEQUND VST elevates our track into a complex, polyrhythmic wonderland, illustrating that with a creative approach and a powerful tool, one can achieve evolving musical patterns that captivate and move the listener. The intricacy made possible by SEQUND’s feature set not only inspires but also challenges us to think outside the confines of typical sequencer functionality.