How to realize arpeggios/notes sequencer like these?

Discussion in 'Working with Sound' started by ElMoreno, May 11, 2021.

  1. ElMoreno

    ElMoreno Kapellmeister

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    Audiosex boys,
    someone can suggest me how to realize arpeggios/notes sequencer like these used in the song.
    Midi advice is also welcome.



    I'm on Sierra, Logic Pro X 10.4.2 with many plugs (Attention: Logic 10.4.2 has NOT the 'Step Sequencer'!!! :no:)

    Thank you very much :mates:

    IMP.: Please use simple language with concrete and direct examples :yes:
     
    Last edited: May 12, 2021
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  3. Smoove Grooves

    Smoove Grooves Audiosexual

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    Huh? :) Wrong site.

    Anyway, I'd say that is a faux-arpeggiator.
    And I'd just record that simple 2 bar loop into the greatest step stequencer of all: your daw, and copy/paste, as they most probably have.
    I mean the changes aren't the same pattern either, but doesn't mean it's not an arp.
    But I think it's not!

    Uh, was it the music theory side of this you wanted? The actual notes?
     
  4. ElMoreno

    ElMoreno Kapellmeister

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    Huh? :) Wrong site.
    True, true... you're right it's my fault. :rofl:

    No, I didn't want the theory but I wanted was to figure out exactly which sequencer plugin to use (not for the Walking Bass/sixteenth note we can hear below) and the procedure for recreating just that way of playing those notes. :winker:
     
    Last edited: May 12, 2021
  5. Smoove Grooves

    Smoove Grooves Audiosexual

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    I would just play in what I hear there, as I said. I've used Logic for about 20 years now and I don't even touch the Step Sequencer or any MIDI FX arpeggiator in any daw.
    Admittedly I use them from synths though.
    But that's why I feel this isn't actually an arp, it's just played in.
    I mean, it's quite simple to my ears.
    But you don't need the musical details of notes and timings I guess, just a plugin as you said.
    I can't help you there, sorry.
     
  6. Valnar

    Valnar Rock Star

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    xfer cthulu is good
     
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  7. ElMoreno

    ElMoreno Kapellmeister

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    > Smoove Grooves
    Well, you would use the internal Sequencer of a Synth Plug... Which one do you like in particular?

    > Valnar
    I'll give a try also to Cthulu


     Practical examples and/or Midi files are welcome :winker:
     
    Last edited: May 12, 2021
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  8. JMOUTTON

    JMOUTTON Audiosexual

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    Sugar Bytes Thesis & Consequence are about as deep as you can make a arp & sequencer, but for all the ability they have they are damn hard to use till you understand them and how they want to work. If you are a hardcore arp and pattern programmer or want to become one you'll love them. If you just want something that works and doesn't look like the launch and isn't as complex as the control panel of a 60s moon rocket you might want to steer clear.

    Cthulhu is good, UI can be a PITA, Kirnu Cream should also be on your list it is my personal favorite.

    That arp work isn't that difficult to recreate as you can change and ARP or SEQ parameters with automation there are changes in pattern and gate with some randomization and LFO work. The rest is filter/reso automation with a touch of envelope here and there.

    The other question you have to ask yourself, is it the walking bass line or is the prophet 6 that makes song :dunno:
     
    Last edited: May 12, 2021
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  9. Ad Heesive

    Ad Heesive Audiosexual

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    For what you've described as your goals - just trying to add a bit to the good advice you've already received.
    Lots of hints and tips in these videos

    How to Make Music Like Deadmau5 (IN UNDER 10 MINUTES!)

    www.youtube.com/watch?v=RvAtS9n-XlE

    Make powerful interesting and evolving arpeggios like deadmau5

    www.youtube.com/watch?v=uN4box3d53M

    Personal Disclaimer:
    You would have to put a gun to my head before I would approach making music in the way shown in these videos.
    But I still enjoyed watching (and learning from) how they enthusiastically achieved their goals. Good stuff.
     
  10. JMOUTTON

    JMOUTTON Audiosexual

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    I can't sleep so here you go a working example.

    Stock Logic Arpeggiator, Alchemy and DMD. I don't know if the Logic project will be useful to you but it is included if you can't open it you can see my arp settings in the picture I guess. I could have messed with it some more but I am in bed on a laptop and using airpods so it is what it is.
     

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  11. clipper

    clipper Producer

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    Hi, ElMoreno,
    That arpeggiator progression which you hear is based in the main melody (the chords) moving some notes an octave up to get that "movement" in the pattern and it's done only writing the notes in an order (as when you see in arps the option UP, DOWN, UP/DOWN, DOWN/UP...):
    upload_2021-5-12_10-48-43.png
    In my DAW (Bitwig) I use BluARP as arpeggiator (it's free) http://graywolf2004.net/wp/ more flexible, powerful and useful than usual DAWs' built-in arps, it lets you create arpeggios from zero or to choose among all the presets it comes with (and from which you can learn a lot).
    Here you are a video of its functioning explained. It is contained in the Unify VST plugin, but its explained anyway.

    (The video has subtitles which I recommend you to move by clicking on them and drag them to any other place in the video where it does not cover the explanation of the important parts of the arpeggiator).
    And, finally, to give you a little bit more of undersanding of an arpeggiator (from: http://kevin.mcguireclan.net/papers/ArpEggWeb/ArpEgg.htm):
    I hope it's been useful for you!
    Cheers.
     
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  12. ElMoreno

    ElMoreno Kapellmeister

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    Dear musician friends,
    I want to thank all of you for your valuable advice and sample files sent to me. :wink:

    Now I will start studying them all to find (I hope) the right solution I need for my song and as soon as I become famous I will mention your names! :winker:

    Too bad that the BlueARP plug is “only VST” and, therefore, cannot be used with Logic. :snuffy:
    (About AU plug possibility see my Edit below) :yes:

    Oh... further ideas, advice and help are always welcome :bleh:
     
    Last edited: May 13, 2021
  13. phumb-reh

    phumb-reh Guest

    Treat your arpeggiator as an instrument!

    That is, instead of just picking a pattern and holding down a chord, vary your fingerings, add random notes/octaves, retrigger some notes mid-phrase.

    Then when you get something workable, record your keyboard twinklings as MIDI (that is, MIDI input, not arp output). Now you have something to work with.

    Then while playing a pattern into an arpeggiator, tweak the arp settings, change note lengths, change clocks as it sometimes sound especially nice when you change to dotted/triplet as a rhythmic flourish at the end of the pattern, or double the tempo. Also you can go full chiptune by setting the arp speed to really fast, say 64th or 128th notes to mimic chords on a monophonic instruments. Record these as automation, or if you have a controller, map some controls and do it live.

    Good times.
     
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  14. clipper

    clipper Producer

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    There's always a solution (in this case it is called a VST-Host): Use Blue Cats PatchWork. Have a look at sister site.
     
  15. BuntyMcCunty

    BuntyMcCunty Rock Star

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    I love me a good arpeggiator. Although I've got all the cracked stuff, Cthulhu, the SugarBytes stuff, etc, the one I tend to use most of all is the one that comes included with Ableton. The other that I use quite a lot is KirnuCream, which is pretty easy to get up and sounding good quickly.

    But I love the look of BluARP and I love even more that it's free.And after playing with it for five minutes, I love it even more. Loads of power for minimul effort. Fantastic.

    Thanks for the heads up.
     
    Last edited: May 12, 2021
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  16. poly

    poly Platinum Record

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    HY-Plugins have also some good arp/seq plugins!
     
  17. Ankit

    Ankit Guest

    Wait!!!

    HY-Plugins create the best Midi Plugins. They are very in depth, you may wanna go that deep:chilling:

    1. HY-MPS2
    [​IMG]

    2. HY-SeqCollection2
    [​IMG]

    3. HY-RPE2
    [​IMG]
     
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  18. Smoove Grooves

    Smoove Grooves Audiosexual

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    Soz! If that had an @ before my name I would have been back to answer you! I didn't know you had mentioned me.
     
  19. ElMoreno

    ElMoreno Kapellmeister

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    @ Smoove Grooves
    I do not knew how to do... The one above is the right way?

    > Tip for Logic users: BlueArp don't need the classic AU plug. It can be used via MidiFX by installing the free 'BlueARP.midiFX.x64.component' on the site.
    In this way BlueARP_OSX_MFX drives any plug we load on our track (Serum, Zebra, Sylenth, Spire or whatever you prefer). Good news. :yes:
     
    Last edited: May 13, 2021
  20. RobertoCavally

    RobertoCavally Rock Star

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    IMO there are two (or more) cases reg synths and arps. If the synth has an internal arpeggiator/step sequencer/etc (like many emulations) it is hard to impossible to recreate all the effects that those can do, no matter the MIDI source. When you program those hold/glide/gate/.. functions they'll give a particular sound. E.g., to fake a 303-ish bassline go for something internal.

    Many popular softsynths don't have an internal arp (like Serum) and you use like "LFO" or some other mod.

    Or you can use MIDI info. Either produced by a plugin or just drawn in your DAW. In the example you gave, I'd just make a MIDI loop as "faux-arpeggiator" like @Smoove Grooves said. This is what I hear (just the beginning, didn't listen to the rest):

     
    Last edited: May 13, 2021
  21. Smoove Grooves

    Smoove Grooves Audiosexual

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    Hi @RobertoCavally!
    Yes, but it's not actually a 2 bar it's a 4 bar.
    There is another note you missed. It got me too at first!
     
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