I would love to see more pre-fader listen features in gear to cue up or compose new patterns in headphones before cutting them into the mix, so all the patterns are not needed to be ready-made in advance, can safely improvise live with the buffer of don’t mix it in until you like the sound. Like having a DJ cue+mix section built into each music device for their internal parts to cue and mix and route to effects in a live performance context.
Yeah project switching is amazing, i like to change and keep the tempo from the first project and then up or down the tempo to reach the tempo of the new one!
Although not really designed for live performance, the Ableton Move would actually fit these criteria. Instant project transitions can be tricky though (they should really fix that) and overall, I would consider the Ableton Push 3 standalone the more suited live performer.
If you present your sets as if you're a DJ and play the tracks in a 12 inch fashion, you can move in and out of elements to get the listener off the clock.
Since I don't perform live, I don't have a need for instant project switching, but the rest are really important for studio composing too. Important enough that I can't really see myself ever again using a workflow which doesn't have good clip/scene launching. My workflow is: - Get a song idea in my head - Tap the tempo in, then hit 'record' and start humming/beatboxing the idea in a linear way, splitting it into scenes real-time during recording. This should be _at least_ a minute long before it repeats. - Load up some synths or kits and start translating what I hummed into actual midi notes, spread across several parallel tracks in several sequential scenes - Load up more instruments and jam along with what I have so far, live-recording any good bits, to flesh out the song. Also, experiment with different clip combinations, and build out a longer song structure. - Tweak effects and levels and other fine-tuning - Perform the song into an arranger - Tweak the arrangement further, to make the song flow better... maybe performing some extra automations and builds and breaks and stuff - Wait a day or two - Listen with fresh ears, and fix any problems I notice, and also try to listen in a variety of environments to spot mixing problems - Adjust anything which needs changes - Finally, render it to a stereo .wav and export it for transcoding, upload, etc Unfortunately, most music hardware is incapable of doing large portions of this workflow. So if I don't want a computer involved, there aren't many hardware options... pretty much just Force or Deluge.
Great video! In the end where you’re talking about resetting parameters this reminded me of the func-no feature on Elektron boxes where you can mess with all the settings then instantly restore it. Is this kind of what you meant by that?
I think he more means of reloading the project (thus resetting whatever tweaks you did), or when selecting a new project to transition to another song, all the tweaks get reset to whatever is saved in that project as default. So I don't think it's really resetting current project, but not taking along the tweaks to the new project.
Thanks for the knowledge, always appreciated! I've been composing a lot on the mc101 and now I'm scratching my head about how I could perform this on a live set. The 101 is dope but there could be some minor improvements, although it feels like they've given up on that thing 😢 But hey Roland, if you're watching it would be nice if we could have more patterns per track, as they get filled up pretty fast, and have access to more notes on the drum track. Have you ever tried to play on the drum track with a controller? If you switch octaves, you get access to more sounds, although it's a general midi kind of thing. Don't know if it's a bug or something. Imagine if you would have access to it via the box itself, you could put all your samples on the drum track! That would be sick to have. Oh, and maybe fix the arpegiator so the input notes would be quantized, like on the s1 for example 🥹
Could you do the project switching with akai force or mpc? I think the answer is no due to how it completely goes dark when loading a new project. Correct? Or could u accomplish your live sets w two akai force?
I tried using the drums in my tracks to sequence a roland T-8. The notes the circuit sends on Drum 1-4 are in the 60s (61-65 I think), and the T-8 uses notes in the 30s (should start at C2 per spec). Have you found this in anything?
I think it fits, even the DT1. It’s more sophisticated than the Circuit Rhythm, but you got to stay in the same project cause project switching isn’t instantaneous. But you can have multiple banks of patterns and can fill all sample slots to get you enough variation for a live set.
Sorry but can I ask a question about your setup? I have the same dual circuit setup but have an issue with volume. The Rhythm is quieter than Tracks, but also I take both into an audio interface, both have very low gain. Even if I max it out in the DAW it isn’t enough. What do you connect them to and do you have this issue?
Haven't owned the Circuits in a while but if I recall all of the tracks in both boxes have their own individual volume. Did you check to see if those are turned down?
Amazing video, keep up the good work! Thank you for sharing your knowlegde!
people pay money for courses on this and Gabe just took time out of his day to drop knowledge for free. Mad respect.
I really appreciate your content, Gabe. It's super interesting to hear your takes and approach to music production. Thanks a lot.
I would love to see more pre-fader listen features in gear to cue up or compose new patterns in headphones before cutting them into the mix, so all the patterns are not needed to be ready-made in advance, can safely improvise live with the buffer of don’t mix it in until you like the sound. Like having a DJ cue+mix section built into each music device for their internal parts to cue and mix and route to effects in a live performance context.
So much valuable info here, Gabe. Thanks for walking through it all!
Nice use of graphics! Well done 👍
I love to use the note repeat and pitch wheel on live sets on the Circuit Rhythm
Yeah project switching is amazing, i like to change and keep the tempo from the first project and then up or down the tempo to reach the tempo of the new one!
Same!
Although not really designed for live performance, the Ableton Move would actually fit these criteria. Instant project transitions can be tricky though (they should really fix that) and overall, I would consider the Ableton Push 3 standalone the more suited live performer.
If you present your sets as if you're a DJ and play the tracks in a 12 inch fashion, you can move in and out of elements to get the listener off the clock.
Since I don't perform live, I don't have a need for instant project switching, but the rest are really important for studio composing too. Important enough that I can't really see myself ever again using a workflow which doesn't have good clip/scene launching. My workflow is:
- Get a song idea in my head
- Tap the tempo in, then hit 'record' and start humming/beatboxing the idea in a linear way, splitting it into scenes real-time during recording. This should be _at least_ a minute long before it repeats.
- Load up some synths or kits and start translating what I hummed into actual midi notes, spread across several parallel tracks in several sequential scenes
- Load up more instruments and jam along with what I have so far, live-recording any good bits, to flesh out the song. Also, experiment with different clip combinations, and build out a longer song structure.
- Tweak effects and levels and other fine-tuning
- Perform the song into an arranger
- Tweak the arrangement further, to make the song flow better... maybe performing some extra automations and builds and breaks and stuff
- Wait a day or two
- Listen with fresh ears, and fix any problems I notice, and also try to listen in a variety of environments to spot mixing problems
- Adjust anything which needs changes
- Finally, render it to a stereo .wav and export it for transcoding, upload, etc
Unfortunately, most music hardware is incapable of doing large portions of this workflow. So if I don't want a computer involved, there aren't many hardware options... pretty much just Force or Deluge.
Very cool! Thanks
Great video! In the end where you’re talking about resetting parameters this reminded me of the func-no feature on Elektron boxes where you can mess with all the settings then instantly restore it. Is this kind of what you meant by that?
I think he more means of reloading the project (thus resetting whatever tweaks you did), or when selecting a new project to transition to another song, all the tweaks get reset to whatever is saved in that project as default. So I don't think it's really resetting current project, but not taking along the tweaks to the new project.
Thanks for the knowledge, always appreciated!
I've been composing a lot on the mc101 and now I'm scratching my head about how I could perform this on a live set. The 101 is dope but there could be some minor improvements, although it feels like they've given up on that thing 😢
But hey Roland, if you're watching it would be nice if we could have more patterns per track, as they get filled up pretty fast, and have access to more notes on the drum track.
Have you ever tried to play on the drum track with a controller? If you switch octaves, you get access to more sounds, although it's a general midi kind of thing. Don't know if it's a bug or something. Imagine if you would have access to it via the box itself, you could put all your samples on the drum track! That would be sick to have.
Oh, and maybe fix the arpegiator so the input notes would be quantized, like on the s1 for example 🥹
Could you do the project switching with akai force or mpc? I think the answer is no due to how it completely goes dark when loading a new project. Correct? Or could u accomplish your live sets w two akai force?
Hey Gabe great video. Did you manage to sort out the issue with the sync delay between Tracks and the Rhythm? (Or was it the other way around!)
He worked his way around it by letting the sounds of the Circuit Tracks trigger a tiny bit ahead of (Iie. claps). He showed it in another video.
@ cool, I thought maybe I missed out on a software update
I tried using the drums in my tracks to sequence a roland T-8. The notes the circuit sends on Drum 1-4 are in the 60s (61-65 I think), and the T-8 uses notes in the 30s (should start at C2 per spec). Have you found this in anything?
DDo you think Digitak 2 fits into this descripion, and if no, what dos it miss in your opinion?
I think it fits, even the DT1.
It’s more sophisticated than the Circuit Rhythm, but you got to stay in the same project cause project switching isn’t instantaneous. But you can have multiple banks of patterns and can fill all sample slots to get you enough variation for a live set.
Sorry but can I ask a question about your setup? I have the same dual circuit setup but have an issue with volume. The Rhythm is quieter than Tracks, but also I take both into an audio interface, both have very low gain. Even if I max it out in the DAW it isn’t enough. What do you connect them to and do you have this issue?
Haven't owned the Circuits in a while but if I recall all of the tracks in both boxes have their own individual volume. Did you check to see if those are turned down?
@ yes it’s still low output overall.
I don’t have issues if I set the gain of my audio interface inputs correctly.
I have a CR on the way
😎👍
R.I.P. MC-101...??
I've still got it! I've mostly been laser focused on the Circuit live set lately, but MC stuff will return eventually