Reasonfreaks

[monib]

I know this has been asked a couple of times. I thought I should post something about this. I got these from Power Tools for Reason 2.5 (Kurt Kurasaki), so I thought I should share this with you guys/gals (if any).

There are two ways to create arpeggiators in Reason. The first way is harder but I've had excellent results with it.

Both can be downloaded from:
http://www.public.asu.edu/~mahmed3/Arp.rns
http://www.public.asu.edu/~mahmed3/Arp2.rns

Technique 1:
1. Create a Subtractor (or any other synth/sampler), create two Matrix units, and one CV Merger/Splitter. Create the latter three devices (Matrix and CV Merger/Splitter) without automatic rewiring.
2. Connect the devices as shown in Arp.rns. Set the CV knobs on the back of the splitter/merger to maximum.
3. *Important* Set you Octave down to 0 for your Oscillator.
4. The first matrix is where you program your keys, and the second Matrix is where you program the actual arpeggiator (ie. Minor C, etc). You should program your second Matrix in the 1st Octave, to make the math easier, if needed (See step 7).
5. Play the sequence.
6. Add delays and reverbs for ambience.

The next method is easier, but the results are not as good as Technique 1:
1. Create a Subtractor, and a Matrix (don't wire this automatically).
2. Connect the devices as shown in Arp2.rns. Set the CV knobs on the back of the splitter/merger to maximum. Make sure to set the "Pitch CV" control knob in the back of the unit to a low value.
3. Hit play, and play some keys on your midi keyboard. Or program some long notes into the sequencer for the Subtractor.

The second way is more picky about what type of sounds you use. But Try them both and let me know.

Happy Arpeggiating.

And BTW vote in the pole, and if you get a chance, let me know how you used these techniques.

*Sorry about typos.*

[bastard_son]

just a quick addition: if you've got Reason 3.0 and thus the combinator, you can make cv's go into a combi-knob and then program that knob to control the pitch via the device tuning instead of pitch (octave and semitone settings instead of direct pitch). That way it'll always be in tune.

ok, I'm not sure that was a good explanation.... : the trick is to use the combinators programmer to access the octave and semitone settings, rather than to use the pitch-in on the back of the sub.

[monib]

Can you post a rns?

[bastard_son]

sure,

Here's an example of three different (always-in-tune) arps:

linky (sorry Reason 3.0 only)

Actually there's just two ideas;
arp 1:
The combinator does the tuning. Keep in mind that any cv and synth can be used on this. I just choose the malström, because it has such nicely shaped mods. You could even use those on other devices in a similar manner. Go nuts on this. It's easy to lose control.
arp 2:
This one uses delays to fake the arp. All 3 subtractors are triggered simultainously, but with different pitches. You could use the rv-7000 on delay setting instead of the dll-1 delays to get funky rhythms with this.
arp 3:
one nn-xt replaces three subs, but otherwise it's the same as arp2. The nn-xt has more than one output you know.

[monib]

Well now people have 5 ideas to work with.... Hopefully someone else will take a look at speak up...

[viba]

good posts guys

[mokum]

Im working on it! I had a look at the 3 rns files...

So, here it goes:

Monib Technique 1:
Okay, I*m following your steps:
-at Nr.4: Hmmmm, I know nothing about chords/notes on the piano (a C Minor???) but thats okay, you dont have to follow a specific path as long as it sounds good...

-at Nr.7 I had to blink a few times, but I figured it out after a while (At least I THINK I did)... C-2=0, C-1=12, C0=24, C1=36 etc ... you add the two first notes that play at the same time on both Matrices (cuz thats what the CV splitter/merger does) and you get 96 which corresponds with C6, so thats the Octave in which your Arp will play... Would you lower the *keys* of the 1st matrix to, lets say C2, you*ll get 84 which issss... C5....

Monib Technique 2:
No problems setting this up... And I like this one cuz I can use the Keyboard for playing... very nice!

Bastard Technique 1:
Hmmm, Im still a little unfamiliar with the Combi
You set the Oct Min: 5 and Max: 1 and Semi Min: 0 and Max: 7 .... How does this communicate with the Malstrom?....I see the Malstrom Oct/Semi randomly changing, or not? How do I control the Note sequence??...

Bastard Technique 2:
This I get: Delay... This is a clever find, simple yet effective... Good one BS!

Bastard Technique 3:
Yup, like nr.2 but with a NN-XT...

I gotta say, Im very proud of you gentlemen... Without you, where would we be??

[monib]

For technique 2, you don't have to really worry about it, just program you arpegiatted step, into the second matrix... That technical stuff, really means, that if it sounds right to you, you'll know. You can change the C-minor, to typical up and down notes etc.

[bastard_son]

Bastard Technique 1:
Hmmm, Im still a little unfamiliar with the Combi
You set the Oct Min: 5 and Max: 1 and Semi Min: 0 and Max: 7 .... How does this communicate with the Malstrom?....I see the Malstrom Oct/Semi randomly changing, or not? How do I control the Note sequence??...

It's not random at all, just slightly complex/chaotic.

You control the note sequence via the mods on the malström, then the combi 'translates' that shape into notes within the range specified.

ehhm.. the mod a is a 'ramp down' so it makes a cv-signal that goes from Max to Min every 4/4. On the combi I choose that Min is 5 and Max is 1. That way it'll reverse the signal, so when the cv is on full, the octave will be 1, and when the cv-signal is 0, it'll make the octave 5.

Now the tricky part (and reason why this might not be the best solution for advanced arps), is finding values where the notes fit harmonicly.

For instance, the semi-tune is skipping from 3 to 6 because of the mod-b shape. It's skipping from 50% to 100% of the range defined in the combinator. (it really should go to seven, odd numbers are bad)

You could say that the root note is transposed by 3 in this example. In the sequencer I had to play an A to make it fit when the other arps play C.

It gets complicated when running all these variables through the head. It's much better for special effects because it easily gets out of control.

For simple octave changes it works great. Try removing the semi-tune control.

-------

One of the major differences between the methods is how they act when you play your keyboard:

This combi-one will keep the arp synced to the track, so the high octaves always hit the same beat.(defined by mods rate)

The delay-method trickers a full arpeggio everytime you hit a key, which means that if you hit one note off the beat; ALL notes will be off-beat. (and you have to hear ALL of them before it stops! )

You can't jam with the double-matrix arps. The advantage is that by changing patterns you can create new combinations and save lots of time. For instance you could have a major and a minor arp, and be able to play every song in the world. Simply by selecting root-note on matrix 1 and chord on matrix 2.

You can't do that with 'my' arps, so I figure they work best with octave and fifth changes only, unless you want to automate the pitches as well to change between minor/major chords.

[lionz]

sure,

Here's an example of three different (always-in-tune) arps:

linky (sorry Reason 3.0 only)

Actually there's just two ideas;
arp 1:
The combinator does the tuning. Keep in mind that any cv and synth can be used on this. I just choose the malström, because it has such nicely shaped mods. You could even use those on other devices in a similar manner. Go nuts on this. It's easy to lose control.
arp 2:
This one uses delays to fake the arp. All 3 subtractors are triggered simultainously, but with different pitches. You could use the rv-7000 on delay setting instead of the dll-1 delays to get funky rhythms with this.
arp 3:
one nn-xt replaces three subs, but otherwise it's the same as arp2. The nn-xt has more than one output you know.

the link don't work
and how can ai progam rotary for Spider CV ???

[bastard_son]

the link don't work

It appears that all of Sitesled.com is down today. The link is good. Try again later.

and how can ai progam rotary for Spider CV ???

what ?? syntax error?? please rephrase your question?
The spider is just a connector for cv-signals. Anything that goes in comes out unchanged either split or merged. If you want to change a CV signal, you need to change it at it's source.

[joyrex]

that post was really gold, thank you

[bastard_son]

the link don't work

I just got a mail from sitesled: it should be back up again.

[seeford2]

what's a Arpeggiator?

[bastard_son]

what's a Arpeggiator?

an arpeggiator plays an arpeggio when you press just one key. An arpeggio is bunch of notes after each other. Usually a chord played one note at a time.