Create multitrack synth patterns in the LXR-02. Demo and tutorial

video upload by Richard DeHove

"Last time we looked at programming synth sounds on the LXR. This time we take a synth-heavy custom kit of four synth sounds and two drum sounds and team it up with the Midicake Arp. The Arp plays the four synth channels. Later we feed all four synths tracks into the LXR in one pass over 64 steps. While the Midicake is ideal for this you could use any sequencer or arp that can satisfy a few basic requirements: It needs to be able to send note information on different MIDI channels and be able to act as the Midi clock master - pretty basic powers. One tiny caution if you're going to use a Keystep-37: When you press the stop button for the arp or sequencer it sends a value '0' on Midi CC51 - which also happens to be the Midi command on the LXR for amp envelope decay on voice 1.

Feeding pattern data into the LXR is a good idea imo given how many options there are on the Midicake. One of the strengths of the Midicake is that it constantly saves its state as you work so there's no need to ever actively save anything. The downside is that there's no saved version to revert to in case you wander off on some promising but ultimately unsuccessful adventure. The lesson is to copy your patch to a new slot as you go. Same holds for the LXR - I've lost many interesting sounds in furious twiddles or too-confident "save kit" actions that turned out to be 'load kit' instead. Stay organized. For my honoured Patreon friends the LXR kit used here is available for download.

The synth sounds on the LXR are really starting to grow on me. They're pretty harsh and digital but respond well to effects. They're also not like your standard synth sounds so you tend to end up in odd places. It makes a good partner for the Midicake. Another obvious partner-candidate would be the Roland 4D. Not a fan of the superb blandness of Roland sounds but spec-wise it seems like a perfect fit. I only have one criticism of the Midicake Arp: They're now made in black and I've got a white one :/

As usual there is absolutely no extra effects, EQ, compression or alteration of the sound other than what you see.

0:00 Example arp
2:20 Drum pattern
2:45 Each synth sound
4:04 Midicake tracks demo
6:50 How to input data
10:02 LXR playback

Lots of downloads for supporters on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/richarddehove
Many thanks to my kind patrons who keep this channel ad-free
My website: https://richarddehove.com/"

Demo Tracks - Jupiter XIV

video upload by midicake

"A first Demo Track using the new Poly Meter feature of Midicake ARP.

Made using Kontakt sampler instruments in Ableton and 4 channels on Midicake ARP, all running at 7/1 steps per bar.

The new firmware, including the new polymeters) will be available soon!"

Multi Rhythmic Patches with Midicake ARP

video upload by midicake

"Using multiple arpeggios on different meters and sequence lengths can make for very interesting results.

In this video, I go through the parameter settings used to create a lazy but rhythmically complex patch. Its varying rhythms make the focal melody constantly shift between different arpeggios/instruments.

Let me know what you think in the comments."

Sound On Sound SynthFest UK Videos - 10/13/2023

video uploads by Sound On Sound magazine

Playlist:
SynthFest UK 2023 - Yamaha FGDP50 & 30 [uploaded yesterday]
SynthFest UK 2023 - Midicake Arp
SynthFest UK 2023 - Korg Wavestate SE & Opsix SE
SynthFest 2023 Korg Wavestate MK ii
SynthFest 2023 Expert Sleepers Cicely
SynthFest 2023 AMCS WW7
SynthFest 2023 DPW Design Mix
SynthFest UK - 1010 Music, Bluebox Eurorack

See the SynthFest UK label below for more.

Making Patches with Midicake ARP + Nord Lead A1

video upload by midicake

"Let's play around with ARP's parameters to build a patch that would form the basis of a new track. I'll talk through what I'm doing and you'll be able to hear and see the effects on each sequence as it builds.

It's good timing because the Synthfest show is fast approaching so we need some new and interesting patches to demonstrate ARP's features."

Machina Bristronica 2023

videos uploads by sonicstate

Playlist:
Bristronica 2023: DPW Design - Mix
Bristronica 2023: Bela - GLISS
Bristronica 2023: U-He - Civilisation - Wiretap - Sloopy
Bristronica 2023: Node Audio - Entonal Studio
Bristronica 2023: Enjoy Electronics - The Godfather
Bristronica 2023: Knobula - Pianophonic Sample and Wavetable module
Bristronica 2023: Vaski Embedded - VU and Oscilloscope Modules
Bristronica 2023: Sonocurrent - MT2D Dual Triode Distortion
Bristronica 2023: Kiviak Instruments - Wofi - SK1 Inspired
Bristronica 2023: Per-Sonal - Polynator - play TR8-S and Digitakt in Poly
Bristronica 2023: Georgie Ward Back From Dua Lipa World Tour
Bristronica 2023: Erica Synths - Bullfrog 1st Look
Bristronica 2023: Modular Perfection - Eurorack Cases
Bristronica 2023: Isotonik - Arpex Worlds 1st MPE Arpeggiator on Push 3
Bristronica 2023: Erica Synths - Hexinverter Mindphaser
Bristronica 2023 Bastl - tiny ARP
Bristronica 2023: OXI Instruments - OXI One - Coral
Bristronica 2023: Play All Day - Playfader
Bristronica 2023: Midicake - 4 Way ARP And Some
Bristronica 2023: Archaea - Exchange Motion Controller
Bristronica 2023: TipTop Audio - 1 Cable Art System
Bristronica 2023: UDO - Super Gemini News and Sounds
Bristronica 23: TINRS Brinta - Granular Sampler With a mesmerising display

Midicake ARP - Tutorial 5 - Editing Sequence Parameters

video upload by midicake

Midicake ARP - Tutorials

"The goal of this series of videos is to introduce all of ARP's features and get you up and running quickly. In this video, we'll see how to access ARP’s parameters and how to change them to build sequences.

Please comment below on any specific topic you'd like us to cover in tutorials or our 'Exploring ARP' series. We'd love your suggestions.

Head to Midicake , where you can join our forum community and get your hands on your Midicake ARP.

Chapters

0:00 - Intro
0:21 - SET Mode
0:56 - Changing Values
1:45 - Multi Parameters
2:11 - Arpeggiator Channels
2:44 - Copying Parameters
3:06 - MIDI Channel
3:33 - Voice Mode
4:13 - Global Settings"

Perkons driven by the Midicake arpeggiator (no talk)

video upload by Richard DeHove

"Two examples of the Midicake Arp driving the Perkons drum machine. There's no patterns or steps programmed here, just MIDI triggers sent from the Arp. Each voice is on a different MIDI channel. Variations are created by a gentle modulation of the beats/bar parameter and the two modulations channels variously affecting velocity, groove length and the rhythm pattern length. Timings on individual parts have also been tweaked using the delay parameter. When you see the orange light on a channel it means that part is muted.
The Arp is of course blind to what might make a pleasing drum pattern so it's a little bit chaotic at times but overall I think it's an interesting end result. If the drums weren't the main focus of your performance, but you needed something that continually changed to the avoid simple continuous loops then this might be a good solution. By switching kits you can also create some interesting fills. And while it might all be a bit loose as a jam, it could easily be chopped up into something much more coherant. And a drum machine that was able to receive note information (like the LXR-02) would be even more interesting.
The Geiger Counter provides some grit and there's also a little Fabfilter Pro-R on the kick (which was taken as a separate out).
Anyway, just a little noodle for your consideration and amusement.

0:00 Noodle one
1:32 Noodle two

Lots of downloads for supporters on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/richarddehove
Many thanks to my kind patrons who keep this channel ad-free
My website: https://richarddehove.com/"

Getting started with the Midicake Arp

video upload by Richard DeHove

"It's described as a 4-part arpeggiator and is even just called 'Arp'. But I think it's better characterized as a 4-part algorithmic phrase sequencer. Because this isn't just a dedicated box with standard arps. It can create long chains of constantly changing sequences which are directly created from your live keyboard input - and it all stays in perfect sync. This half-hour video should at least give you a reasonable taste of what it can do, or if you're a new owner, be enough to get you started.

0:00 Intro demo tune
1:00 Hardware overview
2:40 Routing
3:21 Front panel
8:00 Banks and patterns
9:12 Bios and reset
9:50 Getting started
10:35 Arp settings
17:25 Constant sync
18:00 Top row settings
21:17 Tweakings fun
27:56 Outro tune

Lots of downloads for supporters on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/richarddehove
Many thanks to my kind patrons who keep this channel ad-free
My website: https://richarddehove.com/"

Midicake ARP - Tutorial 4 - Chords and Scales

video upload by midicake

Midicake ARP - Tutorials

"The goal of this series of videos is to introduce all of ARP's features and get you up and running quickly. In this video, we'll look at how to select and customize chords.

Please comment below on any specific topic you'd like us to cover in tutorials or our "Exploring ARP" series. We'd love your suggestions.

Head to https://www.midicake.com, where you can join our forum community and get your hands on your Midicake ARP.

00:00 - Intro
00:26 - Exploring Chords
01:43 - Assigning Chords
03:04 - Customizing Chords"

Arps and acid with Midicake ARP, Arturia Minifreak, TT-303, Dreadbox Erebus, Roland TR-06, Meris LVX

video upload by Jay Hosking

"A live, semi-improvised synthesizer jam performed entirely on hardware.

Important note: Midicake sent me over the ARP for free. I rarely get free gear, though I'm very grateful when it happens. There was no expectation for me to put it in a video, and no request from Midicake other than to share my thoughts with them. That said, I really enjoyed using it and I'll be keeping it around, as it strikes a nice balance between the "plug-and-pretty" of the NDLR and the "depth and detail" of a traditional sequencer. I've still got plenty to explore with it. Thanks, Chris!

I started with the ARP, because I wanted to see what it could do. I didn't want to overload the table at first, so I took out the Minifreak, which has voices to spare. Very quickly I was creating arpeggios and sequencing lines I really liked, and easily able to customize the lines to what I was looking for, from rhythms to polymetrics to inversions etc. I started with just standard major and minor chords, but it was extremely easy to customize the chords on the eight chord buttons once I wanted some 7ths and 6ths. And to have a chord sequencer built in was extremely helpful, as it reduced the amount of gear I needed on the table.

Once I had the bones of the song structure, I filled out some more parts, with Erebus on bass and the TR-06 on drums. Finally, I felt it needed something a little gnarlier around the interlude, and luckily I'd just picked up the awesome 303 clone from Cyclone Analogic. Once that was in place, it was just a matter of shaping the song through performance parameters. The final result is pretty cool, and adds some tones, timbres, and textures I haven't been getting as much these days.

Thanks for listening.

Midicake ARP - most sequencing (i.e. for Minifreak and Erebus)
Arturia Minifreak - three synth lines
Dreadbox Erebus - bass synth
Cyclone Analogic Bass Bot TT-303 - acid bass (using its own sequence)
Meris LVX - drive and delay for TT-303
Kenton MIDI Thru - MIDI splitter/thru box"

Midicake ARP Firmware Updates are here again! DRONES AND DRUMS.

video upload by midicake

"The latest firmware for Midicake ARP includes another heap of exciting new features to help you create impressive and inspiring musical melodies and rhythms.

In this video, we run through the highlights. Enjoy! :)

Available to download now at https://midicake.com/downloads

00:00 Intro
00:32 DRONE mode
01:40 New Modulation Shapes
03:08 Modulation Toggle
03:38 Multi Menu display
03:58 Pitch Filter
05:50 Note Lock
07:00 Scale Lock
10:05 Stop Button Behaviour
11:00 Bug Fixes and Conclusion"

Midicake ARP - Tutorial 3 - Playing ARP

video upload by midicake

Midicake ARP - Tutorials

"The goal of this series of videos is to introduce all of ARP's features and get you up and running quickly. In this video, we'll look at Playing ARP and connecting MIDI devices."

Metis - Ambient Synth Jam (not just a pretty ARP)

video upload by midicake

"I was messing about with a new feature, just developed for ARP (Pitch Filter), and it evolved into this. I've also included some instructions on how it was all assembled.

Having fun with ARP :)"

Driving Native Instruments Massive.

Arp for Arp's Sake

video upload by midicake

"A semi-improvised composition using Midicake ARP, Waldorf Rocket and Behringer DD100 Delay.

I just wanted to stick to a basic arpeggio and see what could be done with subtle variations on a theme.

The change to Gmajor was a happy accident, I was going to head to DSus2 throughout, but hey, some you win."

Midicake ARP - Tutorial 2 - Basic Operation and Features

video upload by midicake

Midicake ARP - Tutorials

"The goal of this series of videos is to introduce all of ARP's features and get you up and running quickly. In this video, I’ll highlight each of the features and how to navigate the controls.

Contents
00:00 - Welcome
00:16 - Layout and Controls
00:38 - Playing Notes and Chords
01:08 - Play & Stop
01:51 - Arpeggiator Controls
02:14 - Custom Chords and Scales
02:50 - Sequencing Chords
03:15 - Editing Parameters
04:13 - Loading Patches
05:10 - Assigning Macros to Parameters
05:32 - Support for MIDI Controllers
05:54 - MIDI Connections"

"Lanky Nerd Reveals All" (about Midicake) 😲❗

video upload by midicake

"'The inside scoop. Midicake ARP maker, reveals the gritty details of ARP's journey from humble beginnings to MIDI Sequencer notoriety!'

I chat about ARP, why it exists and why it's my life now. :)

Just a bit of fun. Enjoy!"

Midicake ARP - Tutorial 1 - Introduction to ARP

video upload by midicake

Midicake ARP - Tutorials

"Welcome to our tutorial series for ARP from Midicake.

The goal of this series of videos is to introduce all of ARPs features and get you up and running quickly and we'll be publishing the entire series over a number of weeks."

DRONE mode for ARP - Coming soon!

video upload by midicake

"The all-new DRONE mode, coming soon! :)"

An ambient exploration of the Midicake ARP and Analog Heat MKII+FX

video upload by astrophage