Elektron Musical Instruments

I was just curious how others are integrating the Machinedrum into
their songs.  I love the sound and interface of the MD, but find I
have issues with integrating it into my songs.  It's more of a
workflow issue than anything else, and I'm wondering how other users
are recording their MD parts?

- Record the stereo outs of the MD and "perform" the drum parts in one
pass.  Pros are that it lets you actually 'play' the MD using all the
cool live sequencer functions, and the master effects are present. 
Downside is that the balance between instruments is then fixed (unless
you want to get into multi-band dynamics manipulation).

- Record the MD live in one pass, but use the separate outs to gain
more control over the mix of instruments later on.  More flexibility,
but you lose the master effects, and still need to end up grouping
certain sounds together since there's only 6 outs.  How do you assign
your outs if you use this method?

- Record the separate parts of the MD pattern individually and use the
DAW to mix and match.  More flexibility in the mixdown phase, but
again you lose the main effects, particularly the interaction of all
parts with dynamix.  Also takes away from the performance aspect
somewhat.

- Other methods?

How do you record your MD parts in your studio?


--
Tarekith
http://www.Tarekith.com

(I don't own a MD)

In the past, when I've recorded multi-timbral synths, I've usually
just used the master stereo outs.  I wondered if that was the best
way, so I ran through every track one at a time into my multitracker
and it was slightly clearer.

If you're really anal about maximum clarity, I'd say multitrack it out
BUT the DACs on the MD are supposedly really good... so I doubt I
would bother.  Just do it both ways and decide which you like best.

It's not like people never used gear when it didn't have individual outs.  :3

Take care,
Des

> If you're really anal about maximum clarity, I'd say multitrack it out
> BUT the DACs on the MD are supposedly really good...

>>>It's not so much about clarity (I agree, the D/A's on the MD are
more than fine) as it is about maintaining the ability to balance
levels between drums later on.  I'm not even sure if that's an issue
for me to be honest, just looking to see what other people are doing,
and what they like and dislike about the methods they use. <<<

> It's not like people never used gear when it didn't have individual outs.  :3

>>> Amen to that, pretty much all my gear has had multiple out and I
never use more than the main outs in most cases. <<

--
Tarekith
http://www.Tarekith.com

I use The power of the MD-UW. That means get all my controls  
preprogrammed with Lfos controlling multiple tracks plus tons of  
parameter Locks! Then I will write one 32 note main pattern and and  
15 duplicates for variations! I will arrange my patterns in the MD  
song mode arranger editor then Slave the MD-UW out to my host! I  
route all the mono drums out to 1 of the six individual outputs of  
the MD and and track all the drum sequences in a row that were  
prearranged in the MDs song arranger! If I have more than six drum  
tracks in a pattern I will then reroute those  to their own seperate  
outputs after recording the first six and then track the remaining  
Mono drums. Now for effects, Melodies,Drum hits with effects like a  
snare with a touch of reverb or a track that is having it's pan  
control being manipulated in real time by an Lfo. I will set up a  
bunch of stereo tracks for these and record them individually one at  
a time out of the stereo (1-2 )outs of the MD-UW . So this way It  
will print the delays,verbs additional effects that were programmed  
for those tracks on their own specific stereo tracks. Now if any of  
them like a snare that had some verb on it were printed in stereo  
these hits should be split to mono. After every thing is tracked  
properly into the DAW then I will go in tab to transient seperate the  
individual hits on all the tracks and then time correct all their  
latencies buy snapping them to grid! After that mix time! this is my  
basic procedure for tracking the MD hope it helps give you some  
ideas! best regards, Paul
On Feb 28, 2006, at 4:59 AM, Tarekith wrote:

> I was just curious how others are integrating the Machinedrum into
> their songs.  I love the sound and interface of the MD, but find I
> have issues with integrating it into my songs.  It's more of a
> workflow issue than anything else, and I'm wondering how other users
> are recording their MD parts?
>
> - Record the stereo outs of the MD and "perform" the drum parts in one
> pass.  Pros are that it lets you actually 'play' the MD using all the
> cool live sequencer functions, and the master effects are present.
> Downside is that the balance between instruments is then fixed (unless
> you want to get into multi-band dynamics manipulation).
>
> - Record the MD live in one pass, but use the separate outs to gain
> more control over the mix of instruments later on.  More flexibility,
> but you lose the master effects, and still need to end up grouping
> certain sounds together since there's only 6 outs.  How do you assign
> your outs if you use this method?
>
> - Record the separate parts of the MD pattern individually and use the
> DAW to mix and match.  More flexibility in the mixdown phase, but
> again you lose the main effects, particularly the interaction of all
> parts with dynamix.  Also takes away from the performance aspect
> somewhat.
>
> - Other methods?
>
> How do you record your MD parts in your studio?
>
>
> --
> Tarekith
> http://www.Tarekith.com
>
> YAHOO! GROUPS LINKS
>
>  Visit your group "elektron-users" on the web.
>
>  To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
>  elektron-users-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
>
>  Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service.
>
>



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

I use the MD the whole way through, slaved to whatever master or  
acting as master in some cases, doing all patterns in the MD and  
arranging everything in the very nice song mode in the MD.  Generally  
I use up an entire MD worth of pattern slots for a track, so I've got  
a full backup for each song.  If I need to do levels, I do it in the  
MD, but I do use the multiple outs in various ways derived from what  
sounds are in the drum track (from the MD)...

On Feb 28, 2006, at 4:59 AM, Tarekith wrote:

> I was just curious how others are integrating the Machinedrum into
> their songs.  I love the sound and interface of the MD, but find I
> have issues with integrating it into my songs.  It's more of a
> workflow issue than anything else, and I'm wondering how other users
> are recording their MD parts?
>
> - Record the stereo outs of the MD and "perform" the drum parts in one
> pass.  Pros are that it lets you actually 'play' the MD using all the
> cool live sequencer functions, and the master effects are present.
> Downside is that the balance between instruments is then fixed (unless
> you want to get into multi-band dynamics manipulation).
>
> - Record the MD live in one pass, but use the separate outs to gain
> more control over the mix of instruments later on.  More flexibility,
> but you lose the master effects, and still need to end up grouping
> certain sounds together since there's only 6 outs.  How do you assign
> your outs if you use this method?
>
> - Record the separate parts of the MD pattern individually and use the
> DAW to mix and match.  More flexibility in the mixdown phase, but
> again you lose the main effects, particularly the interaction of all
> parts with dynamix.  Also takes away from the performance aspect
> somewhat.
>
> - Other methods?
>
> How do you record your MD parts in your studio?
>
>
> --
> Tarekith
> http://www.Tarekith.com
>
>
>
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>
>
>

I guess for me it is always a bit different, no steadfast rules...

I'll use Song mode to lay down a nice litle track on the MD and see how it intereacts with some of my other devices...
Various other *gasp* drum machines, synths, fx boxes, etc...
I also find myself using midi machines on the MD a lot for simpler triggers to some synths for basslines and such...

Usually working in song mode for a few fun weeks while I work out the song as a whole with all my instrumentation.
 
Then comes the DAW portion.
I have used the Main outs before to just record the MD to a stereo track. This works but ruins fine tuning later on so....
Lately I prefer to use more of the outs, or record a few instruments at a time via the main outs... This of course like you pointed out sort of ruins the dynamix of how the different parts relate to each other. which frankly stinks.. if it bothers me 2 much ill resort to the previous methods... If I can rework the dynamix after the fact properly then I'll stick with it...

Always changing my workflow i guess....

To break it down, I rarely will set any steadfast rules for the DAW section of my workflow or even the music making section... 

The creative pieces I'll make, before the recording stage are usually always done in song mode and I try to work out all the issues pre-recording. This makes the DAW work must less painfull since for me at least, although I have excellent computer skillz, its just not as fun as working out a song on a computer as opposed to a hands on device...

guess i didnt really help much! im a mess!!

-JC

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: damon 
  To: elektron-users@yahoogroups.com 
  Sent: Tuesday, February 28, 2006 4:56 PM
  Subject: Re: [elektron] How do you record your MD?


  I use the MD the whole way through, slaved to whatever master or  
  acting as master in some cases, doing all patterns in the MD and  
  arranging everything in the very nice song mode in the MD.  Generally  
  I use up an entire MD worth of pattern slots for a track, so I've got  
  a full backup for each song.  If I need to do levels, I do it in the  
  MD, but I do use the multiple outs in various ways derived from what  
  sounds are in the drum track (from the MD)...

  On Feb 28, 2006, at 4:59 AM, Tarekith wrote:

  > I was just curious how others are integrating the Machinedrum into
  > their songs.  I love the sound and interface of the MD, but find I
  > have issues with integrating it into my songs.  It's more of a
  > workflow issue than anything else, and I'm wondering how other users
  > are recording their MD parts?
  >
  > - Record the stereo outs of the MD and "perform" the drum parts in one
  > pass.  Pros are that it lets you actually 'play' the MD using all the
  > cool live sequencer functions, and the master effects are present.
  > Downside is that the balance between instruments is then fixed (unless
  > you want to get into multi-band dynamics manipulation).
  >
  > - Record the MD live in one pass, but use the separate outs to gain
  > more control over the mix of instruments later on.  More flexibility,
  > but you lose the master effects, and still need to end up grouping
  > certain sounds together since there's only 6 outs.  How do you assign
  > your outs if you use this method?
  >
  > - Record the separate parts of the MD pattern individually and use the
  > DAW to mix and match.  More flexibility in the mixdown phase, but
  > again you lose the main effects, particularly the interaction of all
  > parts with dynamix.  Also takes away from the performance aspect
  > somewhat.
  >
  > - Other methods?
  >
  > How do you record your MD parts in your studio?
  >
  >
  > --
  > Tarekith
  > http://www.Tarekith.com
  >
  >
  >
  > Yahoo! Groups Links
  >
  >
  >
  >
  >
  >



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[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

On 2/28/06, Tarekith <Tarekith@...> wrote:
> I was just curious how others are integrating the Machinedrum into
> their songs.  I love the sound and interface of the MD, but find I
> have issues with integrating it into my songs.  It's more of a
> workflow issue than anything else, and I'm wondering how other users
> are recording their MD parts?
>

When I was using the monomachine I used it for everything ... besides
the internal machines I was controling an akai s612 and emu procussion
which fed the inputs, so the mnm was the sequencer, synthesizer, and
mixer in the set up. Everything was performed and recorded straight to
minidisc from the main outputs.

Since I got the machinedrum I've been doing more loop-cutting and
sampling of indvidual hits, which I then import into audiomulch or
littleGpTracker. When I cut a loop I do 3 or 4 takes, muting different
instruments (to ease making a composition with the parts).

I'm sure the MD will earn it's place as a performance peice/mixer as I
get more familiar with it's machines, especially the UW RAM :)

<3
j.0rdan

--
lobit labia @ http://mp3death.us/

Thanks guys, excellent answers.

On 2/28/06, Jesse <jesse@...m> wrote:
> I guess for me it is always a bit different, no steadfast rules...
>
> I'll use Song mode to lay down a nice litle track on the MD and see how it intereacts with some of my other devices...
>
>   I use the MD the whole way through, slaved to whatever master or
>   acting as master in some cases, doing all patterns in the MD and
>   arranging everything in the very nice song mode in the MD.

--
Tarekith
http://www.Tarekith.com

> Thanks guys, excellent answers.

good topic...

-JC

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Tarekith 
  To: elektron-users@yahoogroups.com 
  Sent: Tuesday, February 28, 2006 5:44 PM
  Subject: Re: [elektron] How do you record your MD?


  Thanks guys, excellent answers.

  On 2/28/06, Jesse <jesse@...> wrote:
  > I guess for me it is always a bit different, no steadfast rules...
  >
  > I'll use Song mode to lay down a nice litle track on the MD and see how it intereacts with some of my other devices...
  >
  >   I use the MD the whole way through, slaved to whatever master or
  >   acting as master in some cases, doing all patterns in the MD and
  >   arranging everything in the very nice song mode in the MD.

  --
  Tarekith
  http://www.Tarekith.com


------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  YAHOO! GROUPS LINKS 

    a..  Visit your group "elektron-users" on the web.
      
    b..  To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
     elektron-users-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
      
    c..  Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service. 


------------------------------------------------------------------------------



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

I have some of the same workflows as others.  At first I tried 
recording the instruments on the dedicated 6 outs or sending a 
combination of them, no panning/effects.  This obviously helps on 
mixdown and more freedom.  But yea, this can be time consuming and you 
loose the interaction and dynamics that seem to flow better between 
instruments when you just do all the panning/effects in the MD and 
record the stereo outs.  But you loose the freedome later!  Since I've 
tried both ways I think I prefer the former.  Just because of the 
freedom aspect.  It's more work but usually I can get stuff sounding 
better.  With this I ususally just compile patterns in song mode and 
record.

It is time consuming, but it's the most flexible route.  Normally that's 
what I do, or I can get more anal and mute all the drums but the one I 
want to record, and do that to all the drums used.  I make sure that 
I've tweak and composed on the MD as much as possible before I do that 
so I don't have to go back and re-tweak, and then re-record.  It's a 
long process, but I just remind myself that if it wasn't for computers I 
would be doing the same thing with analog tape anyway...

monads wrote:
> I have some of the same workflows as others.  At first I tried 
> recording the instruments on the dedicated 6 outs or sending a 
> combination of them, no panning/effects.  This obviously helps on 
> mixdown and more freedom.  But yea, this can be time consuming and you 
> loose the interaction and dynamics that seem to flow better between 
> instruments when you just do all the panning/effects in the MD and 
> record the stereo outs.  But you loose the freedome later!  Since I've 
> tried both ways I think I prefer the former.  Just because of the 
> freedom aspect.  It's more work but usually I can get stuff sounding 
> better.  With this I ususally just compile patterns in song mode and 
> record.
>
>
>
>
>
>  
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>  
>
>
>
>   

-- 
.roby
http://www.sweet-trip.net
http://www.myspace.com/sweettrip