Not sure if the *arpeggiator* in X1 is an instrument but....

Author
Post
Essentials Only Full Version
Michael Lee
Max Output Level: -89 dBFS
  • Total Posts : 90
  • Joined: 2010/12/21 05:59:42
  • Status: offline
2011/01/23 16:26:13 (permalink)

Not sure if the *arpeggiator* in X1 is an instrument but....

...can ANYBODY point me in the direction of actually making music with this thing??? (talking about the one that opens up in another strip beside your channel strip)  Everything I've tried has been basically total musical gibberish....for instance, you would think having a guitar in the track, then going to "guitar", then "strumming" in the arp. would make something coherent, but even using just the very first strum pattern and holding down a basic "C" chord,...it's just ....weird...and seems to get worse with every succeeding patch....most of them won't even play back as a simple C, but some strange chord variation...
 
As always, my first impression is that it's ME, not the software...this stuff is created by guys way smarter than I am, and I kinda doubt they set their sights on creating a total failure, so what am I doing wrong? I can't fins any tutorials, and the manual just says basically, pick a setting, lean back and enjoy...I'd love to!
 
Thanks in advance for any help,
Michael Lee

HP Pavilion Elite HPE-400z series
• Windows 7  64-bit
• AMD Phenom(TM) X4 840T quad-core processor • 6GB DDR3-1333MHz SDRAM [3 DIMMs] from 4GB
• 1TB 7200 rpm SATA 3Gb/s hard drive from 500GB
• 500GB 7200 rpm SATA 3Gb/s hard drive
• 512MB ATI Radeon HD 5450 [DVI, HDMI, VGA adapter]
Focusrite Saffire Pro24 DSP
Axiom 61  2nd generation
Behringer Truth 2031A monitors
Sonar X1c Producer
#1

6 Replies Related Threads
    Fog
    Max Output Level: 0 dBFS
    • Total Posts : 12302
    • Joined: 2008/02/27 21:53:35
    • Location: UK
    • Status: offline
    Re:Not sure if the *arpeggiator* in X1 is an instrument but.... 2011/01/23 22:29:43 (permalink)
    it's used in a lot of electronic music.. and LOADS in music that has synths (80's being a prime example) you have an understanding of how arp's work generally?

    http://en.wikipedia.org/w..Synthesizer#Arpeggiator

    try using it with say Z3ta.. and modify the settings and try single notes .. or delayed notes (hit 1 key .. then wait.. then hit another with it) .. not straight chords where you play all keys at once

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sd0zY_DYxjE

    Candi Staton - You Got the Love

    is probably maybe the best known example of it's use that always comes to my mind.

    notice how it subtly changes on the keyboards ?

    the wiki thing mentions Rio , which I never thought of TBH

    17 seconds in , the synth

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XovoAKVOPOM

    post edited by Fog - 2011/01/23 22:35:40
    #2
    Michael Lee
    Max Output Level: -89 dBFS
    • Total Posts : 90
    • Joined: 2010/12/21 05:59:42
    • Status: offline
    Re:Not sure if the *arpeggiator* in X1 is an instrument but.... 2011/01/24 00:35:13 (permalink)
    Thanks Fog, for the reply. I know about arpeggiators, I go all the way back to the very first Cubase on an Atari computer! and Cubase had a GREAT arpeggiator that you could play with for hours....this thing is X1 is just so weird.....and they stuffed tons of patterns into the files, iIwish they had just put vintage pics of girls in bikinis or something, way more useful!

    HP Pavilion Elite HPE-400z series
    • Windows 7  64-bit
    • AMD Phenom(TM) X4 840T quad-core processor • 6GB DDR3-1333MHz SDRAM [3 DIMMs] from 4GB
    • 1TB 7200 rpm SATA 3Gb/s hard drive from 500GB
    • 500GB 7200 rpm SATA 3Gb/s hard drive
    • 512MB ATI Radeon HD 5450 [DVI, HDMI, VGA adapter]
    Focusrite Saffire Pro24 DSP
    Axiom 61  2nd generation
    Behringer Truth 2031A monitors
    Sonar X1c Producer
    #3
    Glyn Barnes
    Max Output Level: -0.3 dBFS
    • Total Posts : 7564
    • Joined: 2009/06/10 05:12:31
    • Location: A Stone's Throw from the Line
    • Status: offline
    Re:Not sure if the *arpeggiator* in X1 is an instrument but.... 2011/01/24 01:59:56 (permalink)
    Michael Lee


    for instance, you would think having a guitar in the track, then going to "guitar", then "strumming" in the arp. would make something coherent, but even using just the very first strum pattern and holding down a basic "C" chord,...it's just ....weird...and seems to get worse with every succeeding patch....most of them won't even play back as a simple C, but some strange chord variation... 
      

    This is because with a lot of the guitar patterns it is not arpeggiating you chord you hold down, Its designed so you just enter the root note. The problem then is your stuck with the chord structure defined in the pattern and the is no way to change from major to minor, to 7th etc. You could argue its not acting as an arpeggitor at all but as a trigger for a midi sequence.
     
    If they could get some of the chord detection functionality of Real Guitar or Evolution Strawberry built in here it would be a lot more useful.


    Intel i7 3770K @4.4GHz, 32GB RAM, 240GB SSD System disk, 2 x 2TB and 1 x 1TB (with SSD Cache) HDD. Windows 10,  Sonar Platinum. Roland Quad Capture. 
    Music - Switchwater on Soundclick
    Music - Goldry Bluszco on Soundcloud
    #4
    Fog
    Max Output Level: 0 dBFS
    • Total Posts : 12302
    • Joined: 2008/02/27 21:53:35
    • Location: UK
    • Status: offline
    Re:Not sure if the *arpeggiator* in X1 is an instrument but.... 2011/01/26 22:40:17 (permalink)
    michael , you mean the phrase synth .. yes some of us are that old ;-)

    #5
    Michael Lee
    Max Output Level: -89 dBFS
    • Total Posts : 90
    • Joined: 2010/12/21 05:59:42
    • Status: offline
    Re:Not sure if the *arpeggiator* in X1 is an instrument but.... 2011/01/27 15:00:42 (permalink)
    Fog


    michael , you mean the phrase synth .. yes some of us are that old ;-)

    hahahaha with a Casio *MIDI* keyboard that came in a guitar case with gold plush lining!
     
    We were SO far ahead of the crowd!
     
    I got "Fatal Error" messages so many times I finally wrote a song with that as the Title!

    HP Pavilion Elite HPE-400z series
    • Windows 7  64-bit
    • AMD Phenom(TM) X4 840T quad-core processor • 6GB DDR3-1333MHz SDRAM [3 DIMMs] from 4GB
    • 1TB 7200 rpm SATA 3Gb/s hard drive from 500GB
    • 500GB 7200 rpm SATA 3Gb/s hard drive
    • 512MB ATI Radeon HD 5450 [DVI, HDMI, VGA adapter]
    Focusrite Saffire Pro24 DSP
    Axiom 61  2nd generation
    Behringer Truth 2031A monitors
    Sonar X1c Producer
    #6
    Jonbouy
    Max Output Level: 0 dBFS
    • Total Posts : 22562
    • Joined: 2008/04/14 13:47:39
    • Location: England's Sunshine South Coast
    • Status: offline
    Re:Not sure if the *arpeggiator* in X1 is an instrument but.... 2011/01/27 18:19:34 (permalink)

    I'm talking about the 8.5.3 version here as I don't know what if any improvements have been made in X1's version.

    But I've found it much like you, outside of the context of Project 5 where it seems this one was ripped from it is pretty limited in it's usability as an arpeggiator.

    The amount of effort it took to integrate again, for me at least, makes it one of those areas where I feel that effort would have been better spent removing glitches and improving core functionality.

    Anybody reliant on good arpeggiator functionality certainly isn't going to be using this one.

    And what functionality did it add alongside the reasonable if basic MFX one already included?
    post edited by Jonbouy - 2011/01/27 18:28:32

    "We can't do anything to change the world until capitalism crumbles.
    In the meantime we should all go shopping to console ourselves" - Banksy
    #7
    Jump to:
    © 2024 APG vNext Commercial Version 5.1