Writing Entire Song On One Sequence

Danny Scott wrote:I was thinking more like this:

(Seq = 64 measures)

Starting measure 1:
Trk1 Kick
Trk2 Snare
Trk3 Hats

Measure 4:
Trk1 Kick
Trk2 Snare
Trk3 Hats
Moog Bass

Measure 8:
Trk1 Kick
Trk2 Snare
Trk3 Hats
Moog Bass
Rhodes

Measure 12 :
Trk1 Kick
Trk2 Snare
Trk3 Hats
Moog Bass
Rhodes
Vocal Chant

Track 16:

Trk1 Kick
Trk2 Snare
Trk3 Hats
Moog Bass
Rhodes
Vocal Chant
Prophet pad

See where I'm going with this? Building up the drama on one sequence. I would then do a breakdown in the middle by removing parts, then going full steam at the end for drama. That's how I would do a TV cue.

If you do it all on one sequence, then Yes! Its possible to build up the parts in a dramatic fashion as you described. Though I recommend to place those other instruments and vocals on their own seperate track other than Trk3 (or am I reading it wrong?) to mute the tracks in and out.

With one sequence you can precisely build up the drama at every pass with Overdub. In case you missed something at the first recording, overdub will be there to add those elements too. So its impossible to mitchell this up.

Yeah Ill,

That's how I need to do it, like in a DAW fashion.

Yeas, I would like all of the instruments on separate tracks for pricice control of panning, fx, compression, etc. Is that what exploding is?

Come to think if it, if it's in one long sequence, can't I just delete parts that I don't need during the sequence instead of muting them?

Ill-Green wrote:

Danny Scott wrote:I was thinking more like this:

(Seq = 64 measures)

Starting measure 1:
Trk1 Kick
Trk2 Snare
Trk3 Hats

Measure 4:
Trk1 Kick
Trk2 Snare
Trk3 Hats
Moog Bass

Measure 8:
Trk1 Kick
Trk2 Snare
Trk3 Hats
Moog Bass
Rhodes

Measure 12 :
Trk1 Kick
Trk2 Snare
Trk3 Hats
Moog Bass
Rhodes
Vocal Chant

Track 16:

Trk1 Kick
Trk2 Snare
Trk3 Hats
Moog Bass
Rhodes
Vocal Chant
Prophet pad

See where I'm going with this? Building up the drama on one sequence. I would then do a breakdown in the middle by removing parts, then going full steam at the end for drama. That's how I would do a TV cue.

If you do it all on one sequence, then Yes! Its possible to build up the parts in a dramatic fashion as you described. Though I recommend to place those other instruments and vocals on their own seperate track other than Trk3 (or am I reading it wrong?) to mute the tracks in and out.

With one sequence you can precisely build up the drama at every pass with Overdub. In case you missed something at the first recording, overdub will be there to add those elements too. So its impossible to mitchell this up.

Danny Scott wrote:Yeah Ill,

That's how I need to do it, like in a DAW fashion.

Yeas, I would like all of the instruments on separate tracks for pricice control of panning, fx, compression, etc. Is that what exploding is?

Come to think if it, if it's in one long sequence, can't I just delete parts that I don't need during the sequence instead of muting them?

Is there any reason you would not want to work with separate sequences, then combine them in song mode as one long sequence? That way it's easier to edit a particular section of the song.

@Danny Scott

Yes exploding means to separate to give each instrument its own track.

When you first start out you will be on one sequence and one track. When you finish putting all the sound where you want you go to the pencil icon, then hit explode. All your instruments will end up on separate tracks. Track one will automatically mute.

You will have one sequence and many tracks.

Danny Scott wrote:Come to think if it, if it's in one long sequence, can't I just delete parts that I don't need during the sequence instead of muting them?

Yeah sometimes it's easier / less confusing to delete parts.

I just find it easier to do it DAW style which is one long sequence on a timeline. In a Daw, I don't have separate sessions for a bridge, chorus, intro, etc.

I like to see the evolution of the entire timeline on the screen as it scrolls.

CharlesRandolph wrote:

Danny Scott wrote:Yeah Ill,

That's how I need to do it, like in a DAW fashion.

Yeas, I would like all of the instruments on separate tracks for pricice control of panning, fx, compression, etc. Is that what exploding is?

Come to think if it, if it's in one long sequence, can't I just delete parts that I don't need during the sequence instead of muting them?

Is there any reason you would not want to work with separate sequences, then combine them in song mode as one long sequence? That way it's easier to edit a particular section of the song.

I see what you mean. If you want to see it like that then you don't explode your track. You stay on one track. That would be the DAW style you're talking about.

Danny Scott wrote:I just find it easier to do it DAW style which is one long sequence on a timeline. In a Daw, I don't have separate sessions for a bridge, chorus, intro, etc.

I like to see the evolution of the entire timeline on the screen as it scrolls.

CharlesRandolph wrote:
That's how I need to do it, like in a DAW fashion.

Yeas, I would like all of the instruments on separate tracks for pricice control of panning, fx, compression, etc. Is that what exploding is?

Come to think if it, if it's in one long sequence, can't I just delete parts that I don't need during the sequence instead of muting them?

No, actually DAW style is seeing all of the midi ticks along one time line but having each instrument assigned to a buss (Fader), giving control over volume, panning, etc.



[quote="Danoc"]I see what you mean. If you want to see it like that then you don't explode your track. You stay on one track. That would be the DAW style you're talking about.

[quote="Danny Scott"]I just find it easier to do it DAW style which is one long sequence on a timeline. In a Daw, I don't have separate sessions for a bridge, chorus, intro, etc.

I like to see the evolution of the entire timeline on the screen as it scrolls.

[quote="CharlesRandolph"]

That's how I need to do it, like in a DAW fashion.

That's what it will be. Just as you described. You will see every midi note that you played. Each note in midi will have its own mix fader, EFX Insert, mute, pan and solo. Now if you're playing and use the midi keyboard that's a different story. Haven't done that.

This is what it looks like for each pad that has a sound. As you can see each fader is is different cause the pads are different.

Danny Scott wrote:No, actually DAW style is seeing all of the midi ticks along one time line but having each instrument assigned to a buss (Fader), giving control over volume, panning, etc.

That's how I need to do it, like in a DAW fashion.

This is how the time line will look with multiple midi notes on one sequence and one track.

I also came from the DAW world (Logic Pro) before I bought an MPC. Create one sequence with multiple tracks. Each track has it's own sound. Just like it was written earlier.

Trk1 Kick
Trk2 Snare
Trk3 Hats
Trk4 Ohat
Trk5 Bass
Trk6 Rhodes
Trk7 Synth
Trk8 Strings
Trk9...

You can either mute tracks, or just remove midi notes from the tracks to bring in or take out the instruments as you wish.

Most often I'll use separate sequences for the various song parts:
Sq1 Intro
Sq2 Verse 1
Sq3 Bridge
Sq4 Hook
Sq5 Verse 2
Sq6 Bridge 2
Sq7 Hook
Sq8 Outro

I string them together in song mode. When I'm cool with how it's sounding, I'll convert to one sequence to either export, or continue with additional editing. If you use this approach, the order of the tracks MUST match between all sequences.

You can also just compose in one sequence to start. No need to use Song mode really. I just do because it's easier for me think about DAW song structure. Think of it like an elaborate "marker" approach. lol

Eyalc wrote:I also came from the DAW world (Logic Pro) before I bought an MPC. Create one sequence with multiple tracks. Each track has it's own sound. Just like it was written earlier.

Trk1 Kick
Trk2 Snare
Trk3 Hats
Trk4 Ohat
Trk5 Bass
Trk6 Rhodes
Trk7 Synth
Trk8 Strings
Trk9...

You can either mute tracks, or just remove midi notes from the tracks to bring in or take out the instruments as you wish.

Most often I'll use separate sequences for the various song parts:
Sq1 Intro
Sq2 Verse 1
Sq3 Bridge
Sq4 Hook
Sq5 Verse 2
Sq6 Bridge 2
Sq7 Hook
Sq8 Outro

I string them together in song mode. When I'm cool with how it's sounding, I'll convert to one sequence to either export, or continue with additional editing. If you use this approach, the order of the tracks MUST match between all sequences.

You can also just compose in one sequence to start. No need to use Song mode really. I just do because it's easier for me think about DAW song structure. Think of it like an elaborate "marker" approach. lol

I also do separate sequences as well. Makes it easier to input tempo change, time signature change, as well as key signatures changes.

I use to use this method on the 2000XL and within the sequence there separate tracks. I would put it in song mode ot was so easy.

Eyalc wrote:I also came from the DAW world (Logic Pro) before I bought an MPC. Create one sequence with multiple tracks. Each track has it's own sound. Just like it was written earlier.

Trk1 Kick
Trk2 Snare
Trk3 Hats
Trk4 Ohat
Trk5 Bass
Trk6 Rhodes
Trk7 Synth
Trk8 Strings
Trk9...

Great info guys and thanks for the pics!

So obviously I will have an option at first, to place every single drum and instrument on it's on track, DAW style.

I'm just about ready to buy it.

I do plan on using an external Keyboard. Have to see how that pans out.

Danny Scott wrote:Yeah Ill,

That's how I need to do it, like in a DAW fashion.

Yeas, I would like all of the instruments on separate tracks for pricice control of panning, fx, compression, etc. Is that what exploding is?

Come to think if it, if it's in one long sequence, can't I just delete parts that I don't need during the sequence instead of muting them?

What up Danny,

You can control the panning and fx in Program. There you can control how each pad will sound off.

Exactly like Danoc said, Exploding tracks is when you create a single sequence on a single track. Then afterward, Explode will place every part in its own track automatically. Helps turn ideas quickly into full blown tracks instantly.

I was also thinking that you can create a single 4 bar measure sequence at full throttle, copy as many sequences you need, delete the parts, then chain them up to be recorded into a single sequence.