After a few weeks starting with hardware synthetizers, I streamlined a process to be able to use my synths effectively with Renoise, keeping their perks but properly including those in a software environment. Felt like it could be shared to help people that uses those. Don’t hesitate to ask questions, or propose new ideas, always open to improve my workflow !
My main goal is to be able to keep producing without having the synths plugged, but without having to commit to early to something I won’t be able to change in the future. I usually have “creative” phases in my production process where I basically add, tweak, compose new things, and some more technical phases where I lay out arrangement, handle mixing and stuff, and needed an effective way to:
- not break my creative flow when working with hardware synths
- go back to “hardware-recorded” parts later when tweaking minor things in term of arrangement or mixing
(TLDR) The main idea is that, all my hardware-synths related tracks are in fact Groups, with 2 tracks, one I call “raw”, which basically contains the LineInput device to listen to and tweak my plugged synth, and another “rendered” with the recorded samples. All effects are living in the Group track, so that it applies to both the raw or rendered, depending on which one at use at a given moment. It also gives me the ability to use the same synth for more than one instrument in a given track.
Easier to explain with examples and screenshots, so here it is.
First Example
This is a track I did few weeks ago, using my TB-03, what is interesting is I used it for different sounds, so needed to record, but I was able to go back until the last minute to any part, to re-record exactly what I needed.
It shows my main TB-03 bassline, where we can see that all effects are actually on the group track. I use Notepad device on the raw one, to be able to recreate my patches (or find the saved presets when they exist on the hardware synth), and info on what parameters I would like to automate during arrangement.
For this one, here is the text in the notepad:
PATTERNS II.A.3 & II.A.4
WAVEFORM SAWTOOTH
OVERDRIVE xxx
DELAY REVERB
---------------
TUNING MID
CUTOFF MID+1 (to automate)
RESO MID-1 (to automate)
ENVMOD MID (to automate)
DECAY MID+2
ACCENT MID-0.5
OVERDRIVE xxx
TIME xxx
FEEDBACK xxx
For this “303” track, I actually only recorded a 4 bar loop, that I chopped a bit in Renoise (hence the “full-cut” effect in the raw track, to kind of replicate those chops when I’m working with the sound directly from the synth, it’s basically a gainer with -INF db that I can activate when I don’t want the synth sound to be heard). So nothing much to show here.
Another track in the same song, that also uses my TB-03 is shown below:
We can still see the Group method containing the effects, and the Notepad to recreate the patch, however, for this one, I wanted to record some parameters variation, for example the Cutoff value or Envelope Modulation. It’s getting interesting because, I wanted to be able to record them at a given time, to continue working with audio, but still be able to go back on it later-on when working on the arrangement and mixing.
The main idea in that case, is to not record the audio first. I’ll first record MIDI CC automations into my Instrument MIDI Control devices, tweaking the synth knobs.
this screenshot shows the matrix view of those 3 tracks (2 tracks + group). The raw track (far left), holds the parameter automations I saved.
Example with one of the parameters automations:
It looks clean because it got reworked manually from Renoise after recording live tweaks (actual finished song, so I cleaned everything when arranging).
When I was happy with my automations, I recorded and unplugged the TB-03, putting the recorded sample in the “rendered” track, giving me the ability to work without my synths, or use the synth on another track.
After a few days for example, I wanted to change the shape of my automation: I had everything to re-plug the synth, and re-record with the edited shape.
The group track (far right), contains effects and automations from devices in Renoise, not related to the synth. That way I can tweak those wether I’m working with the synth or with the sample.
Second Example
This one is a track I’m currently working on, where I know I will need to record new things or tweak some, when going in the arrangement phase. This one uses my Minilogue XD Module. In the 4 following screenshots, we can see tracks/groups effects, matrix view, example recorded MIDI automations, and the fact that notes played on the synth are sent through MIDI from the “raw” track.
We can see that on the “raw” track, there are actual MIDI notes, while the “rendered” one just plays a C-4 to trigger the recorded sample. I can then, work without the synth, muting the “raw” track and enabling the “rendered” one, or go back with the synth by muting the “rendered” one and using the “raw” one.
Later in the track, since it’s still a work in progress, I wanted to add my reese again. To not loose time and creativity rush, I did it kind of roughly, reusing the recorded sample for part1, but layed out differently, just to have a “feel” of how it would sound, while I focus on other instruments.
That’s why, here, the raw track is empty for now: it wasn’t done on the synth yet. When I’ll be working on this specific track of the song, I will do the same as with part1: write the notes in renoise, record and edit automations MIDI data, then record the audio.
Very curious to see if I’m the only one doing such things, and what others are doing with their hardware synths!
