Well - to start with my problem. In much of my dance-oriented music I start out by creating a pattern with a beat, a melody and so on. Often I assign some parameters like filter and synth-sweep to my midi controller too. I also have Renoise configured so that numpad 0-9 mutes/demutes channel 0-9 (something I really recommend - I have “open vsti-editor” assigned on numpad-",").
By muting channels and controlling different parameters, I can often create the basic arrangement of my song - and the fun part of it is that I do it “on the fly”. This is also where my problem appears. I find it very hard to recreate the same arrangment by doing it the old tracker way. It doesn’t come natural to me. So I’m thinking if there’s a way to “render” the arrangement I create on the fly somehow. I know that it’s possible to record the parameter change while playing, but there isn’t a way to record “muting channels”, are there?
If there were - one solution would be simply to copy up a lot of unique patterns from 1 pattern, and then start recording the mutes and parameterchanges. Then there would be an arrangment to work out from.
Another variation I have on my idea is that Renoise could somehow create unique patterns based on what I was doing with a pattern being played. If I was muting/demuting channel 1 a lot throughout playing a pattern, it would create an unique pattern where channel 1 only has the note-information that was actually playing (the muted ones being deleted and done in a intelligent way so that it sounds similar to what was outputted).
Maybe I’m unique in the way I struggle to arrange music, but I sure hope that I’m not. I also know my thoughts aren’t really completed, so I’m very eager to hear your input on this and if you see any value in it. What do you think?
Hey, I understand your way of working wth music and i´ve had a lot of fun with the methods you mentioned myself. One way of dealing with your problem would of course be using a recording progrm like Audio Hijack on mac which records the live output of any program and do a “live” thing. Another way would maybe be assigning the volume controller on each track to midi controller buttons, and recording the midi messages, that way "muting"your tracks?
Of course an arranger will help a lot, doing this more non realtime.
But…I’ve heard rumors that some time in the future you can assign clips or patterns to instruments
Several instruments in instrument list can be linked into a new instrument.
You can then split instruments inside this instrument to midi keys. In other words, each split is then a link to a unique instrument. A unique instrument (normal instrument) can be assigned to a specific track.
Now enable a big quantize to keep everything synchronized.
Enable edit hit play and start playing/arranging your song by playing notes ^^
These notes (each note will then play a clip/pattern) will then be recorded to individual tracks.
We could have options to sustain note, Or just toggle note on/off by pressing the key twice etc. (So you don’t have to hold all the keys down all the time).
Now, there should be no problem to then convert these notes into clips (if you have only used one track in your instrument-pattern). This converting could be optionally set to be done real time.
And there you go. Live arranging.
Press edit and play, then press the key c-4 and a loop of clips you have linked to this key will be inserted in track1 until you press c-4 again. Press d-4 and a variation of this clip will be inserted instead. Press c-5 and a another clip will be inserted in track2 etc etc.
You probably don’t know what the … I’m talking about
But it will rock and is actually very easy to set up!
Time will show…
it occurrs to me that you could even put together a fast patch in puredata or max/msp that would make the midi trick with one tap= note on two taps=note off happen over the IAC MIDI Interconnect on the mac.
I’ve read that discussion somewhere, instrument patterns and quantize would make Renoise such a powerful live tool! And I guess the instrument patterns could be one-shot or looped as well? These functions were the only reason I started checking out ableton live. But I think I’m sticking to Renoise and crossing my fingers for this one. I think more and more people are starting to find out how fun it is to do stuff “live”.
Yeah I was also thinking that’s the best way to go.
Track mutes should be recordable and assignable to midi controllers IMO. Well, I think almost everything in Renoise should… sample loop points for starters.
Also, it gave me the idea to try to add the gainer-dsp on every channel and then assing them to the buttons of my midi-controller - that way it’s recordable. It ain’t the easiest solution to the problem and it takes some setup to do (compared to muting channels, which keys are already defined globally in the preferences) but it is a small step to realizing my arrangement-ideas a little further.
