By
Jamon
Thu Sep 06, 2012 7:05 pm
Probably should separate such different questions in the future, so it's easier for people to find the answers.
Patterns are like, phrases for a single program or instrument. They can be used in many ways.
You could make arpeggiator patterns that are more complex than the default ones for an ARP track.
You could program a complex pitch-bend pattern, so you're playing an instrument, then hit that pad, and it performs the impossible pitch-bend automatically.
You could program any other kind of expression, like adding vibrato, or a more complex LFO for controlling filter than the default types. The patterns can loop and hold, so to make a kind of LFO you just make it for 1 bar, then it will keep repeating if you want.
You can make bass-line patterns, then easily add a melody to your drum loop. Patterns also have a transpose setting, so you can reuse the same melody with +2 and it'll sound different.
They can be used for live performance.
But there's also the pattern track, which can in some cases replace Simult Sequence. What you do is, when you start a project, make the first track your drum sample program, and record your basic drum loops. So bar 1 might be the intro, bar 2 might be the normal loop, and bar 3 is a variation. Then convert those bars into 3 patterns. Go to the pattern track, and sequence your underlying structure, like: 1 2 2 2 2 3 2 2 2 2. Now you can start a new sequence, or delete that drum track you made, and you've got your drum track now on the pattern track. It'll play with your sequence in the background, so you're free to add on top of it using other tracks.
You can actually use the pattern track to replace the metronome. Since the pattern track can loop, you can just have your preferred drum beat pattern that you drop into the pattern track, and it'll repeat as your sequence plays. Then you can turn it on or off at any time.