Arpeggiators and Rapture

Rapture has the ability to become a great arpeggiator using the Pitch EG.

I can see where you're coming from with this, Adam. The concepts of an arpeggiator and that of Rapture's StepGens seem to be the same thing, but there's important differences. An arpeggiator takes the notes in a held chord, and redistributes them sequentially. Take a C major triad, for example. The notes C E G would form a held chord, but running it through an arp would give you those notes in sequence with a Forward shape. C, E, and then G, and back to C again (repeating). A Reverse shape would result in G, E, then C before returning again.

A StepGen is more of a phrase or pattern sequencer: a mini-version of what you'd see in a Piano Roll, within the synth itself. It runs through the pattern in the sequence that you've defined, and then repeats after it reaches the end point. One note triggers the entire sequence, and a held chord results in that pattern in parallel with each other. If you had an ascending "scale" programmed in a StepGen, and played that same C major triad, the sequence would begin on each note (C, E, and G), then begin its ascent (three times over) from there.

Man, it's more difficult to explain than it is to actually do. Play a chord into the StepGen with a "pattern" in it. Then play that same chord in an arpeggiatior (if you have one), and the differences start to become apparent. I'll try to flesh this out a little later, because I don't want to start throwing the Octaves and Shapes of an arpeggiator into it just yet. There's a high potential for confusion between these two (somewhat similar) concepts.

I've often thought about this. Why doesn't someone publish, either in actual musical note version, or in MIDI file, something like "25 most overused arpeggio patterns in trance and electronica" or something similar?

Because 'someone' would pay just to avoid hearing those 25 most overused arpeggio patterns ever again?




-René

ORIGINAL: René

Because 'someone' would pay just to avoid hearing those 25 most overused arpeggio patterns ever again?

But that's the way beginners learn!

Because 'someone' would pay just to avoid hearing those 25 most overused arpeggio patterns ever again

Arpeggiators suck. I hate them. And I use them all the time now. Contradictory?

My mind-set changed 180 degrees when I got ahold of Project5 V2 and a hardware arpeggiator. The difference is in the control. In P5, that because of MIDI Remote Control and automatable parameters. In hardware, it's much the same reason, plus hands-on control. If you want to hypnotize someone in a flash, set an arp running at sixteenth notes and let 'er rip. "You're getting sleepy ... very sleepy ..."

But if you want to incorporate arps in a highly musical way, MIDI Remote Control everything. Shapes on the fly; trigger the latch from note velocity; tie four parameters to your mod wheel; mix it up. And (most importantly), know when enough is enough. They also have an on/off switch.

those pictures from Chad are exactly what I just proposed.

That was cool of him, wasn't it, Rick? Actually, there's some very interesting aspects of P5's Arpeggiator that don't 'get much press'. It's more appropriate for discussion in the Project5 forum, and the permutations are too numerous to detail here, but I'll touch on it briefly. It has applications in both Dimension Pro and Rapture, and becomes very useful in shaking up the usual arp approach, especially in multi-timbral mode.

Project5's Arpeggiator is per-track, and each of those tracks can have additional layers added to them. Those layers are accessed by the arp in different orders, depending on the Shapes (pictured above) and some other factors. And both the arpeggiator and the layers can be funneled to specific MIDI channels. Add to that the fact that layers can contain their own MIDI FX.

Result? The arpeggiator does its thing on a single track/layer, then jumps to another track/layer and cycles through them, before looping back to run through the next Octave selected. Each of the layers can be processed by MFX independently, and funneled to one or more of DP/RP's individual Elements. You end up with a variety of Element sounds (& MIDI FX) automatically switching among all of your available options, as controlled by a single arpeggiator.

The results sound amazing, and it's something that I've been able to do with no other arp setup. Certainly shakes up the notion of what an arpeggiator is *supposed* to sound like. Throw in a few Pitch StepGen sequences under arp command to top it off. Then, bring in the MIDI Remote Control.

How 'bout some MP3s of what all of this "madness" sounds like?

A little easier to program than Rapture, where you have to switch pages.

When an Element has the focus: 1-6 on the Qwerty (not the keypad). It helps.

Hmm ... there was a MIDI FX step sequencer that drifted in & out. I never could get it to work. And then it got difficult to find.
It used to be here: MIDILfo.

I know it is only a click away but with the hardware you could take all three lines in at a glance.

Agreed. I consider that to be a necessary compromise. I don't know how else they could get everything in without tabbing the "pages".

But I was thinking about different step seq. within the same element - pitch, filter cutoff, etc.

The same tip works when the Modulators have the focus: use 1-7, though.

I'll be the first to admit my short term memory isn't as good as it use to be, although I no longer indulge the way I used to.

Same here. OK, I'm lying about the last part. But it's weird how a little goes a long way now.

they have (had) a step seq. that wasn't available. Curiouser and curiouser as Alice said.

The full step sequencer (for Note Ons) is available in the full (registered) version. [Plugin Details] The LFO part has one for CC messages.

I hope that you have better luck than I did with the demo. I'd have bought it if I could've gotten it to work completely. Then again, you have to be a little leery of something that glides in & out of availability. I can find other ways to throw $30 out the window (if you can ever get it).

Be sure to check out the [Free Utilities], though. There's a couple of useful items.

there is no upgrade path for it.

Ginko Biloba. It's all we can hope for at this point.

I just watched the Sonar 5 video: MIDI and Instruments Video

Sonar 5 has a nice sounding arpeggiator! Can Cakewalk make this a plugin for purchase?

Yes, it has a MIDI FX arpeggiator, but it is less than stellar......much less so...

ORIGINAL: b rock

but it is less than stellar......much less so...

Point taken. It was worth a shot. Although I must say that it's finding new life for me in the MIDIOut hack.
Edit: I still haven't had much luck in researching a standalone arp, Adam.

I have just tried to loopback the MIDI to try and record an arp in P5. I just get a bunch of 'crud' in Sonar. I guess the P5 demo is limiting me... Oh well. It was worth a shot...