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Finding Your Voice

Think Outside The Box

As Reggie Watts once said, “Getting outside of the box is more than just getting out of a box and walking away”. To stand out in a remix competition, it would probably be worth your while trying to come up with something unique. Something that really puts your twist on the track you're remixing, while clearly retaining an element of vibe from the original. If you want to take the track in a totally different direction, perhaps it's worth considering using a breakdown section to re-state a major musical theme from the original. Then, when you bring the beats back in, to totally deconstruct the original (or break it down, paradoxically).

My Generation

Sometimes you may find yourself wishing you could create your own parts to augment the stems you've been given. Happily, there are apps out there in the iOS mutliverse which fit the bill rather handily. One of the best to come along recently is the rather excellent (and free) Auxy – a 4-part step sequencer for iPad. With Auxy one can generate drums, bass and 2 polyphonic synth parts in real time, and export the results to other apps afterwards. You may change the key globally and all sequenced notes will shift automatically – perfect for the beginner, or indeed anyone who wishes to avoid the nightmarish horror of clashing notes. However, as of the current version (2.0.3), Auxy does not output perfectly synchronised loops – you'll need to export to another app which can trim your audio to fit the tempo you’re working at.

Another app definitely worthy of a mention here is Fugue Machine. Similar to Auxy in that it uses the familiar piano roll for the purposes of music sequencing, but with a huge twist – you can play the same sequence on 4 separate 'play heads' at different speeds, pitches and directions, change scale types, pitch and other parameters in real time, and output over MIDI to other apps too.

Other Apps

For sample manipulation purposes, you’ll surely want to check out Samplr, which allows one to manipulate and sequence audio in a rather unique and intuitive way. It's pretty much in a league of it's own and rather difficult to describe – check out the video at the link above.

Finally, in order to get your loops out of your iPad and into something else, Audiocopy is a must-have. It facilitates transferring audio between apps, uploading to Dropbox and most other destinations you may desire, in one self-explanatory package. It also features a very handy More Compatible Apps tab – which may keep you busy for quite some time...

A Little Goes A Long Way

Taking bits from the stems you've been given and mangling them up can really impress the original artist if it's done well. You may want to try the following:

* chop up vocal parts into little fragments and make alternative melodies out of them

* cut the supplied stems into shorter loops and filter them with a little LFO and sidechaining

* if a part isn't quite doing it for you, try reversing it and treating it as above

* double or halve the speed of supplied loops

* Incorporate samples sliced from the original drum parts into a different groove

* Extract the groove from the original beat and use different drum sounds

* Tease the listener by introducing melodic snippets gradually in a build up

* Try long feedback delays with short samples

* Use the gater and filter in the launchpad app to add rhythmical gravitas to pads and other melodic parts, record yourself doing it and re-import using Audiocopy

* Double or copy the original melody on a different instrument

* Use samples of the original track to make new melodies, or rearrange the chords into a different progression

* Re-sample whole sections (including bass) through fx and slice up the resulting blocks of audio

As always, if it sounds good – keep it! Record it to a new piece of audio, and save it. Once you have it in audio form, it's not going to get lost by tinkering with the settings to the point that you can't retrieve that magic moment.

Structural Integrity

Once you've got a few ideas going, it’s vital to get some sort of structure in place. If you're unsure of how to go about this, perhaps try emulating the structural layout of another artist you particularly like, by importing their track and building your arrangement around the waveform. DJ-friendly tracks tend to follow similar formulae. That's not to say that you should try copying them entirely of course. This is all about finding your voice, after all.

Try to arrange sections in distinct blocks, each with it’s own signature feel. If you can make the transition from one section to another quite different from the preceding one, it can add to the impact when the changes occur. At the same time, try to find at least a sliver of commonality between them, such that each ‘block’ of music is tied to the previous one in some fashion.

It‘s also be a good idea to start playing your work to other people. As with Fugue Machine, two heads are definitely better than one. In fact, why not collaborate? Who knows, together you might just make history..

For all the details on the Remix This competition head over to http://remixthis.launchpadforios.com 

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Making Your Mark on a Remix

Remixing a track is all about putting your stamp on things (especially if you intend to burn it to CD and post it to someone afterwards).

It is entirely possible to achieve by using only the sounds you are given, and contorting them into something unique. By cutting up elements of the original tune, manipulating their pitch and volume, applying FX and rearranging them in a DAW, delightfully peculiar results may begin to develop. For the technically unflappable, software such as FL Studio's Slicer and Ableton Live's recently overhauled Simpler can help make this cut-and-paste approach relatively fast and straightforward.

Musically Assured Deconstruction

However, a surprising amount of interest can be generated in Launchpad for iOS itself, by using interesting combinations of the built-in FX, and recording the results as loops. These can then be re-imported back into the session using the Audio Import function (available as an in-app purchase). If you know what tempo you are aiming for, try halving it beforehand. The time-stretching artifacts can add a really interesting dimension to the sounds you produce, especially when working with melodic or vocal loops.

It's also likely that most remixers will want to incorporate their own sounds in their productions. It is easy to do so in Launchpad for iOS, again with the Audio Import function - an in-depth examination of which can be found here.

Puzzle Pieces

Remixing doesn't have to be complicated. Developing a clear and logical structure to your tracks is of primary importance.

The way most packs in Launchpad for iOS are constructed promotes this ethos. However, even with a maximum of 8 Loops or samples available at any one time, it can still get quite messy without a little due care and attention. Getting the 'pieces of the puzzle' to fit may be quite daunting at first. So always resolve to keep your Launchpad sets structured in a logical fashion.

Keep drums on channel 1, percussion on channel 2, Bass on channel 3. Try, with the remaining channels, to keep lower pitched loops to the left, and higher pitched elements to the right. After all, a piano keyboard works this way. Sculpting your Launchpad sets in the same fashion will help you to bring clarity to your mind, and your mixes will tend to make musical sense more easily.

You may also find that loops sound great on their own, but 'clash' when played together. Try and see if you can come up with combinations of 4 or 5 loops which work well together, using Edit Pads to rearrange the samples. Switching between contrasting sections helps bring punch and dynamism to your mixes, and can be done instantly with a swipe of the finger.

Of course, it might also help if your loops are in the same key! If you're unsure about keys, apps like Mixed in Key, although not infallible, may be of some assistance to you.

Spatial Awareness

Space is at the heart of everything. Without a backdrop of space, the forms may get lost and instead of music, you'll end up with the audio equivalent of dozens of graffiti signatures daubed on top of one another.

Try conjuring some musical space in the following ways:

a) Silence is Golden

Punctuating pure silence with sharp noises is a great way of grabbing attention. The original mix in the Remix This contest has a lot of spacey, floaty noises in it. Why not stand out by building sections with some extreme dynamics? Leaving even a fraction of a second of silence can be a very effective technique, especially if it's preceded and followed by something really loud.

b) Ethereal Reverberations

Reverb can give a sense of depth and space in an entirely different way. A nice splash of reverb may evoke the feeling of depth, as if floating in space. Lush pads can evoke a sense of being suspended underwater, or wrapped in an auditory blanket. To suddenly transition from b) to a) can only add to the attention-grabbing effect.

c) Subtle Realism

Everyone's iPad or iPhone has a rather sensitive microphone built-in. Why not record some subtle background noise and re-import it as a loop into your session? The discreet use of record crackle, tape hiss, the distant sound of children playing, rainfall, or any other natural noise can have a profound effect if used really subtly. Try sections with the noise, and sections without. The effect can be quite striking, especially in more minimal genres. You'd be surprised how often this is done in modern music without being consciously noticed.

Give yourself a Break

Don't forget to give yourself some space too! It's all too easy to get 'stuck in a groove' when working on a mix. Clear your mind by getting out and about in the real world. Perhaps take your iDevice with you, and record some cheeky samples while you're at it?

Until next time...

Find our more about our current remix competition here 

http://remixthis.launchpadforios.com

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Introduction to Remixing

What exactly is a remix?

Almost all modern recorded music is made in a process where the different parts of the song or tune are combined together in a certain way, and the finished track is thereby referred to as a 'mix'. A remix is an alternative version, built using elements of the original and, more often than not, with new sounds added by the remixer.

Some remixes can be as simple as an extended version, for the benefit of a DJ who might want a longer version of a song so he can get to the club toilet and back in time. But ordinarily, a remix refers to an alternative take on a tune, usually (but not always) made by another producer. Elements of the track are recombined and something new is made out of them. The remix can range from a subtly different take on the original, perhaps with slightly different beats and bass line, to a track so radically different it's barely recognisable at all.

Stand out from the Crowd

Great remixes tend to retain key elements of the original, but have the remixer's signature sound running through them. Everyone has their own particular style, even those who are just starting to experiment with music. The more you experiment, the more refined your own unique style will become.

Anyone can produce a remix. You don't need to be cocooned within a forest of nobs, buttons and flashing lights. These days all that is really required is a computer of some kind, the right software and a little know-how...

Where to start?

Obviously, it would be useful if you had some sounds to play with. Happily, there are companies out there whose whole purpose in life is to provide producers and remixers with a selection of high quality samples and loops. Services such as Loopmasters are a great resource for all things sample-related, and cater for practically any style you can imagine. Most modern DAWs also contain vast sample libraries of their own. However, the learning curve of these apps can be quite steep for those just starting out in the remix business.

Novation's Launchpad for iOS is both a great app for the beginner, and a useful tool in it's own right for the seasoned producer. This week, we’re giving away a free remix pack. Get your copy from the in-app store, and start remixing today.

Speed is of the Essence

Every musical genre has it's own tempo range. The tempo (time in Italian) refers to the speed of the tune. In electronic music, that speed is always denoted in beats per minute (bpm). When producing a remix, it definitely helps to work at a tempo which closely matches that of the original. Having said that, it is possible, in theory, to remix any style of track into any other genre. Apps such as Launchpad for iOS allow for this by what is known as Time-stretching.

Time-stretching is a way of changing the speed of a piece of audio, without necessarily changing the pitch. Launchpad for iOS works this way – you can load each session at any tempo from 60-240 bpm, and the pitch of its samples will remain constant. Since July 2015, the app also allows for automatic half-time and double-time tempos – that is, if you change the speed of a session to twice or half that of the original, the harmonic content should remain at the original tempo – useful for remixing from Hip Hop to Drum & Bass, for example.

Before you begin your remix, you should choose a speed which corresponds to the genre you are aiming for:

dub/reggae: 60-90 bpm

hip hop: 80-105 bpm

downtempo/chillout: 70-110 bpm

deep house: 120-125 bpm

house: 120-130 bpm

progressive/electro: 125-135 bpm

trance: 130-135 bpm

dubstep: 130-145 bpm

techno: 130-150 bpm

hard house: 145-150 bpm

trap: 135-145 bpm

jungle: 155-180 bpm

drum and bass: 165-185 bpm

hardcore/gabber: 160-200 bpm

And so it begins

The key to beginning a great remix is to concentrate on loops that really interest you personally. If a particular sample doesn't sound so good to your ears, there's no reason why you should use it. Find loops that really speak to you, and build your mix around them. Some remixes use only the vocal, and discard all the other original elements in favour of a completely new backing.

Perhaps there is something about a particular sound that grabs you, but not nearly hard enough? By using FX, you can transform a relatively uninteresting sound into something completely mental (great if, for example, Dubstep happens to be your thing). It can be quite gratifying to take a disappointingly mild sound and contort it into something really crazy for your own amusement.

That's really what remixing is all about, primarily – especially at this stage. Don't worry about whether anyone else is into what you are doing or not. Have as much fun as you possibly can. Remember, music is the universal language. If it turns you on, there's a very good chance it'll speak to others too.

We will return next week with a slightly more in-depth look into the art of remixing.

On details of the ‘Remix This’ competition on Launchpad for iOS head over to http://remixthis.launchpadforios.com 

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FX Secrets Part 4: Stop Something...

Simply put, Stopper FX is Launchpad for iOS's answer to the Swiss Army Knife. The app ships with 2 Stopper FX presets included, a handy low-pass filter sweep (down to 0Hz and back), and a vinyl-style spin-down and release. These are both quite handy utilities in their own right, but they really are (terrible pun alert) just scratching the surface...

If you choose to unlock the Stopper FX in the in-app store, you may be pleasantly surprised by how versatile a effect it actually is. It features 4 basic modes: low-pass and hi-pass filter, vinyl, and volume. All 4 modes have variable start and stop times, ranging from instantaneous to four bars long.

As with other FX in Launchpad for iOS, multiple Stopper FX may be used simultaneously across different channels, with different modes being employed on each instance if desired. Let's open it up and have a look...

Scratching the surface

If Hip-hop is your thing (or Techno for that matter), then this will definitely interest you. Using Vinyl mode, you can perform some pretty convincing scratch manoeuvres using Stopper FX. Great fun can be had with up 2 or 3 Stopper FX set to vinyl mode, with differing start/stop times. For Hip-hop trickery, try assigning these FX to only the mids (usually found on channels 4-7) so you still have beats to 'scratch' against.

For extra authentic turntablism, try combining your scratch effects with a Gater or two, and you can emulate fader manipulation at the same time. You'll sound like Cut Chemist (or Jeff Mills) in no time.

Sidechain compression

A lot of electronic dance music these days features sidechain compression (otherwise known as 'pumping'). Maybe not all of your loops do. Well, now they can. Simply assign a Stopper to one of your FX slots and use the 'Sidechain' preset (from the list on the right of the Edit FX screen) which is a volume Stopper with a 1-beat start and stop time. Then de-select the first 2 or 3 channels (depending on whether or not you want to 'pump' the bassline too). Then tap along in time with the beat for on-demand pumpy goodness.

Smooth operator

Using combinations of Filter Stopper FX you can transition between loops in novel and interesting ways. For example: Open Edit FX and create 2 Stopper FX, one with the 'Slow Lows' preset, and an adjacent one set to 'Slow Highs'. Have both apply only to the first 3 channels. Close Edit FX and set a whole row of loops going by swiping across the screen.

If you then hold down the Lo-pass stopper for 4 bars, then briefly tap the Hi-pass Stopper, something interesting will occur. The beats and bass will filter down to nothing, and then sweep back in from the top down 4 bars later as the hi-pass filter takes over. At the point that the transition occurs, you have an opportunity to discreetly change the beats and bassline and propel the mix forward in a really cool way. It works just as effectively going with the high-pass Stopper first, of course.

Cut it Out

Sometimes during a live performance you may wish to simply stop some loops in the middle of a bar, rather than on the first beat. All of stoppers modes can be utilised in this way, from quickly 'spinning back' the beats using the short-duration Vinyl mode, to instantly muting selected channels with volume mode at the shortest setting. Use a delay or filter at the same time can to spice up the mix still further.

Prior Planning Promotes Perfect Performance

As we mentioned before, multiple Stopper FX can be used at once, if they are assigned to non-conflicting channels. It is good practice to align your Stopper FX with the Launchpad grid in a way that is intuitive to you.

You may, for example, wish to place a spin-back Vinyl Stopper FX underneath the first channel to kill the beats, and 2 or 3 scratch stoppers of differing lengths underneath the mids (as described above) as part of a Hip-hop session. You could place an instant volume Stopper FX underneath each channel to make a kill-switch for that channel. You could modify your 'kill-switches' so that they instantly mute any number of loops of your choosing, but then take a bar to 'spin' back up again by putting them in vinyl or filter mode, and giving the release a bit of time.

Stopper FX in Launchapd for iOS is a remarkably handy tool. Other than getting stones out of horses hooves*, the only real limit is your imagination!

* unless you can get a groove going that's so irresistible, the horse  dances sufficiently hard to dislodge the stone.

Get the Launchpad app https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/novation-launchpad/id584362474?mt=8

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FX Secrets Part 3

Launchpad for iOS's FX section has undergone a fairly radical overhaul since it's release. The addition of a gorgeous delay, flexible new stopper FX and fully customisable effects have only helped further cement it's position as one of the most popular music apps on iOS. In this installment of FX Secrets, we're going to examine the old stalwart of Launchpad for iOS, the mighty Stutter FX.

Anyone who's played with Launchpad for iOS for any length of time will be aware of the basic premise of Stutter: hold down any of the built-in presets and the whatever is currently being played is sampled and repeated in a DJ mixer-style burst of pulsating percussion.

Now, that's all very well in small doses. But we've all overdone it at a party in the small hours after a few too many. It's a great feeling when a groove really comes together - it can be considerably less so when it's being constantly interrupted by an impetuous Stutter jockey. Unlocking Stutter's full potential (should you choose to do so via Launchpad's in-app store) can make it considerably more valuable musical tool than you might think - here are a few simple hints to get you started.

The Beat Goes On

One of the most useful things that can be done with the customisable Stutter is to simply disengage the beat channels in some instances of the effect. This is achieved by selecting the effect in question in Edit FX, and utilising the yellow track buttons across the top. (You can swipe these buttons to toggle multiple channels quickly). 

Some timings tend to work better than others. For example, the ¾ length Stutter works extremely well as a way of embellishing bass lines in many genres of electronic music. If you cut the drums, and maybe channels 7+8 (if they contain useful cymbal crashes etc), the stutter fx will continue to pulse away while the rhythm of the melodic elements sparkle around it.

A Momentary Lapse in Rhythm

Another approach well worth trying is to have two copies of the same Stutter effect, one which applies only to the beats, and one only to the bass and harmonic content. This approach works very well as a way of performing fills and emphasising structural changes, allowing you to juggle the beats around without frying everyone's brain (too much).

If your head does get a little tired, try to remember what channels are effected at any time. Don't forget, above every channel to which an effect applies, a small red dot will appear when that effect is active.

Vox Pops

Vocals can be a lot of fun to play with in Stutter. It's worth arranging all the vocals on one channel, and making sure you have a Stutter or two to hand that applies to them, but not the beats and bass lines. It's a great way of 'grabbing' snippets out of vocal loops and re-arranging them on the fly, especially with short duration Stutter FX.

When Two or More are Gathered Together

Multiple Stutter FX may be engaged at the same time. If you really wanted to, you could in fact have a different Stutter effect on every single channel, and engage them all at the same time. However, just because you can, doesn’t mean that you should. It's an oft-repeated truism in music production: less is more.

If you hold down one Stutter, then engage another one with overlapping channel assignments, both will operate, but the overlapping channels will be 'grabbed' by the last Stutter. Any channels that do not overlap will continue to be effected by the first Stutter effect. It's button will turn orange until the other Stutter is released, at which point the loops grabbed by the second stutter will be re-effected by the first.

It's also worth knowing that if you hold down a Stutter, and then stop or change the loops which feed it, the effect will persist regardless. The change of loops will only become apparent when the stuttering ceases. With a little considered preparation, an unlocked stutter can help you deliver anything from subtle cross-rhythms and fills, to instant gut-wrenching, crowd pleasing breakdowns at the drop of a hat (especially when combined with a bit of clever delay trickery and filtering).

Shuffle over to the in-app store and check it out today.

https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/novation-launchpad/id584362474?mt=8

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FX Secrets: Part 2

In the last article we looked at that most ubiquitous and essential effect, the classic delay. We gave some insightful tips on how to use it in creative ways that may not be immediately obvious - if you missed it, have a peep here.

This time around we're going to examine another staple of the electronic music pantheon: the filter.

Autofilter Unleashed

The filter is another essential in any serious performer’s armoury. Indeed, you already have eight of them, since every channel in Launchpad for iOS has it's own dedicated filter built in. But lurking in the depths of the FX section is an even more powerful beast, just waiting to be unchained.

Unlocking Filter FX (should you choose to do so in the in-app store) adds a huge degree of tweakability to Launchpad for iOS. Filter type, LFO and frequency parameters can be adjusted, and as with all the other FX, filters may be latched or momentary, and can be applied to whatever channels you want. The built-in presets really only provide a glimpse of what's possible with this (rather gorgeous sounding) effect.

How it works

Touch anywhere in the left side of the circle to alter the LFO amount, anywhere on the right to adjust the frequency. The type of filter (HP/LP/BP) is changed with the little icons on the far right, the phase of the LFO with the controls on the far left, and the speed of the LFO below. For those who may not know, an LFO is a Low Frequency Oscillator, which in this case sweeps the frequency of the filter up and down with a Low frequency sine wave. Notice the x16 button to the right of the LFO, which when engaged multiplies its speed sixteen-fold, as you might expect. The LFO pattern takes hold as soon as the filter is engaged, rather than being synced to the start of the current bar, and it's maximum range is a whopping 32 bars. 

Everything is under Control

With all that tweakabilty at your fingertips, there's an awful lot you can do to seriously enhance your performance. You can create highly LFO modulated band-pass filters which apply only to the mids and not the drums or vocals, by disengaging the relevant channels with the little yellow buttons across the top. You could add to that with a classic 'instant kick-lift' effect by turning the LFO right down and creating a static high-pass filter with a fairly low frequency setting. You may decide to filter only the beats or vocals, while applying the delay or gater to everything else. The creative possibilities can become quite mind-boggling.

But for maximum enjoyment, plug in a class-compliant Novation Launchpad (via the Apple Camera Connection Kit) and a whole new world of auditory gratification comes looming into view...

Get yourself Connected

With a Launchpad (S or later) plugged in, you can edit FX while triggering loops and effects simultaneously. All loops and effects are constantly at hand on the Launchpad grid, freeing you up to edit your FX whilst performing.This means that, for example, you could set up a static low-pass filter which is fully user controllable, and adjust the filter frequency while triggering loops and other effects at the same time. This technique works particularly well if you disengage a few channels on the filter (bassline and vocals, perhaps) and smoothly filter the rest of the tune down into the nether regions for a nice, deep breakdown. You could also achieve similar results with the filter LFO set to x16 too, but having the frequency control right at your fingertips may really give your performances the professional edge they deserve.You can change filter type mid-sweep, or adjust the LFO frequency on the fly while changing loops. You can even record yourself doing it and re-import the results back into your own sessions. Used properly, the filter can bring a huge amount to your sessions. Try it and see - the results might surprise you.

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Remix the lush textures of Lapalux's classic 'Moments' track on Launchpad for iOS. The first in a new Artist Series of soundpack s from legendary British electronic label Ninja Tune. Available now in the soundpack store.

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Remix the incredible 'Gunshotta' track by Machine Drum on Launchpad for iOS. The first in a new Artist Series of soundpacks from legendary British electronic label Ninja Tune. Available now in the soundpack store.

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FX Secrets Part1: Creative Mixing in Launchpad for iPad

Great sounding effects are vital in electronic music production. You can use them to transition smoothly between musical sections, add touches of rhythmic finesse, build immersive breakdowns, or even completely transform the character of your sound.

To that end, Launchpad for iOS's free FX are remarkably handy. They are packed with great sounding ready-to-use settings. However, while these standard FX settings are extremely entertaining, they get a whole lot more awesome when the ability to tweak them is fully unleashed...

Have it your way

If you decide to get the full FX by via Launchpad for iOS’s store, you can build your own custom FX templates. You can modify FX parameters, decide which channels each effect applies to, rearrange the whole 16-button FX layout, load and save FX presets, and give your performance the edge it deserves. In this article we'll look at Launchpad for iPad's newly expanded FX section in more detail, and begin exploring how to get the most out of it.

Without Delay

Few self-respecting electronic music-makers would leave the house without a delay. Widely regarded as perhaps the most important effect in electronic music history, with a decent delay you can do anything from adding subtle depth and nuance to your sound, to transforming a relatively sparse loop into an attention-grabbing sound vortex.

With the latter in mind, here's a simple delay trick to spice up any mix. Open 'Edit FX' and select the Delay FX. Now, select the 'Evolver' preset from the FX Presets browser on the right. Using the yellow channel numbers across the top, switch off channels 1 + 3, engage 'FX Latch', turn up the filter frequency a little, turn down feedback slightly, and enable the delay by pressing the red FX Pad so it turns green. [see below]

Now let’s go back to the performance grid by pressing the ‘Edit FX’ button again.

Now, try hitting a one shot sample pad and see what happens. Pretty cool, but it gets cooler. Because channels 1 + 3 are de-selected, any beats or basslines played will be unaffected by the delay, allowing the core of the tune to continue pumping while the delay floats gracefully about on top.

This long, high-feedback delay can be extremely useful in a wide range of genres; house, dubstep, drum & bass and most others can benefit from the sonic depth that they produce. However, for really musical results, a 'send and return' type of setup tends to work best of all...

Send and Return FX

Here's how to setup your Delay FX to mimic a send/return configuration. Return to the Edit FX Screen, select the Delay FX you just created, and save it as a preset by clicking the little '+' sign, and inputting some kind of humorous name.

Turn off Latch for this effect.

Now, select the delay in the FX slot to its immediate left, and load your newly-created preset into it. It will appear as a 'Custom' preset in the list on the right. Now, turn off ALL the channels for this delay, turn on 'Latch', and engage the delay by re-pressing it's red button.

If you followed all that, what you should now have is two identical delays, one of which is fed by everything but drums and bass on a momentary switch (send), and one which is fed by nothing at all, and is permanently switched on (return). Press the 'send' switch to feed the delay, and when the switch is released, the adjacent 'return' carries on the delay feedback signal. You may wish to leave channels 7 + 8 engaged on the 'return' delay, so that one-shot samples are always effected.

This is a great way of making your performances sound more musical and fluid. The ¾ timing of the delay introduces an interesting polyrhythmic effect, great on bursts of percussion, melody and sound fx. You may also notice that if you engage beat repeat or gater while feeding the delay, those effects are echoed as well. This is because the delay is the last effect in the chain. All 4 FX types may be used simultaneously to create some extremely weird and wonderful textures.

Total Recall with FX Groups

Once we've tailored our effects to our satisfaction, it would be nice if we could recall that FX setup in another session. This is where FX Groups come in. FX groups are a way of saving & recalling entire FX setups instantly. It works in exactly the same way as saving individual FX.

Press the little plus sign to save the state of entire FX setup, and it can be recalled from any session. The FX setup of any particular session is automatically saved with that session, and can be reset from the Edit FX screen by hitting FX Groups / Original settings.

In our next instalment, we'll continue to explore Launchpad for iPad's FX section and offer a few more tips on how to derive maximum satisfaction from it. Until then, enjoy…

Get Launchpad for iOS here:

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/novation-launchpad/id584362474?mt=8

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Part 4 - How to get even more sounds into Launchpad for iPad

Making fresh new music requires constant inspiration. We’re frequently releasing new Soundpacks to help with this, and Launchpad now has over 40 soundpacks. However, if you crave even more new sounds, you might consider downloading from any number of great sample providers out there. Handily, Launchpad for iPad has a way to get these into the app and making new tunes quickly.

A World of New Sounds

One great provider of loops is British based label, Loopmasters. They offer a massive range of loops from many genres of electronic music, record labels, and even producers. Go to www.loopmasters.com , find a pack that suits your vibe, then download it to your Laptop.

Once you realise that you can find pretty much any sound you heart desires, you’ll be hooked. Your downloaded sample packs will come as a folder of sounds.

Once purchased, you’ll need to follow the same processes of Audio Import as discussed in our last two articles. Once imported to Launchpad, in the Your Samples tab, make sure you name them appropriately. Press little gear icon to add some category info & data. This will make them easier to find later on.

Try out new sound combinations

The great thing about samples and loops from the same samplepack is that they will likely have the same tempo (BPM) and key. This means they will work seamlessly together.

Tempo (BPM) is straightforward. If the BPM is similar, then start here and combine sounds. Launchpad will allow you to use any BPM loop, however the further you stray from the original BPM, the more artifacts you will hear from the time-stretching process.

When it comes to key, don’t worry too much about this. Your ears will tell you if something doesn’t sound right. However if a sample is labelled for example ‘A Minor’ or ‘Am’, then it will just work with other sounds and Loops with the same label. You can use this as a guide to fitting sounds together like a jigsaw puzzle.

Remember you can always preview your newly added  samples at any time when editing pads. Sometimes certain sound combinations may not sound good together, so use your ears to make sure your samples work well within the context of the session.

Build an arrangement of pads

So you’ve explored some combinations of sounds, and now it’s time to try and lay them out in some kind of order that makes it easier to make a performance. There are ways to arrange a session so that two samples that don’t sound great together can never be played at the same time.

As we’ve said previously, Launchpad’s strength is creating a layout or arrangement that allows any combination of pads to be used. Try to group sounds of similar type and instrumentation on the same vertical line or track to avoid them being played together. When you start layering loops you want to make sure there are at least all the elements of a section on one horizontal line. So that should be something like this; drums, percussion, bass, melodic, vocals, fx, hits, risers.

Get Creative with Triggering

Launchpad has 3 different triggering methods; One-shot, Retrigger and Loop. As a rule of thumb use loop on things like drums, bass and melodic parts. These are the parts of the track that you want to continue playing as a loop..

You can see on the pads exactly what trigger method is used for each sample. A circle indicates that the sample is being triggered as a loop. Whereas a line with ends will indicate a retrigger and just a straight horizontal line will indicate a one-shot. The difference between a one-shot and a retrigger is that a when you press a retrigger sample, the full sample will play regardless of whether you hold your finger on the pad. With a one-shot you need to hold your finger on the pad to hear the full sample.

There are different uses for each of these different triggering methods and obviously you should work out exactly how you want to use them, but pre-built sessions give you a good idea of how to use them.

Using pre-made samples and loops will give some great ideas on what exactly you will need to create in order to start making your own samples and loops from scratch. The best thing to remember is that playing Launchpad should be fun and intuitive, so when you make your own sessions or your own loops always bear that in mind.

Last in our Import Your Own Sounds series

In this four part series we’ve covered many ways you import your own sounds using Launchpad for iOS.  This will make your music sound unique and allow you to expand your iPad music making horizons. 

We’d like to leave you with this video from master performer M4sonic, showing whats possible with a grid, great sounds, free time and a good smattering of talent.

Get Launchpad for iOS on the apple app store here:

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/novation-launchpad/id584362474?mt=8

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Part 3: Reinvigorate Your Music on iPad

We’ve all been there, the tune you’re working on doesn’t go anywhere. All of a sudden you’ve lost the vibe. You know there are some great sounds, loops and ideas, but you just can’t seem to finish or move forward with the track.

Well, have you ever tried writing music on the train? or the bus? or have you ever given your mates a go at re-arranging your ideas? Launchpad for iPad can help you with all those things and a lot more.

The mobile aspect of Launchpad for iOS can be creatively liberating. Giving yourself a different view of the project, and the track in general. You can rearrange loops and sections on-the-fly making new arrangements which you may not have thought of in your laptop music software (DAW).

In this post we are going to show exactly how easy and beneficial it is to export musical ideas, ‘stems’ and sounds started on your Laptop (DAW). We’ll use Ableton Live as an example, but the same processes could be applied to any other music making software.

Get your sounds out of your Laptop

So first off let's talk about some best practices when exporting your own sounds for use on iPad.  This process is often called ‘Creating Stems’ by many profesionals. One of the most important things to remember is that effects such as reverb and delay need to be over before the sound loops. If they’re not, then when the loop starts again there will be a noticeable but audible artifact. The best way to avoid this is by looping the region on your laptop, then carefully listening to ensure the region loops correctly.

Exporting loops using Ableton Live

Ableton Live lets you export audio files easily. First, make a selection around the region you want to export in the arrange view, then go to the Export Audio/Video options under File - click the Render as Loop option and ensure you’re rendering the correct track. Keep in mind, your files must be rendered as either an AIFF or a WAV to work in Launchpad.

Get your sounds into Launchpad with Audio Import

You will need a feature called Audio Import to get your sounds into Launchpad. If you haven’t got this already, it can be easily downloaded from the store inside of Launchpad for iPad. Then, read last week’s post on the various ways you can use Audio Import. You could also follow the built-in tutorial within the app by hitting the i icon when in the Your Samples tab of the Edit menu.

Organise Your Samples

There are a few things to consider when importing your own audio into Launchpad. Naming your files is totally up to you, but one to do in Launchpad is to give files a unique and descriptive name. For example, a name relating to the track and then the type of sample it is like drums, bass, pad or melodic etc. This makes it easy to identify exactly what your files are when you come back to them at a later date.

To get to your imported files, go to the Your Samples tab of Launchpad. If you hit the small gear icon you can now rename and categorise your samples. You can also change the adjust the volume of your samples, this is useful when you know that your sample is too quiet or too loud in comparison to the others.

Now try attaching categorising your samples. This helps when you’re using search. It is also worth noting that you cannot change the category of sounds included within the app or official Soundpacks. No matter how you categorise your imported samples, they will always show up in the Your Samples tab. You can also re-categorise or delete any of your samples by hitting the little pencil icon on the top right hand side of the menu.

A Fresh Start

So you’re now ready to start jamming with your own sounds in Launchpad. Try experimenting by using your own sounds mixed with the samples included within the app. Remember not everything in a session should be a loop; one-shots and retriggers are incredibly useful to build tension which can then help you flow into other loops within your session.

Try taking your iPad out on the bus or train with you, take it to a friends house and let them jam on your session. This should be a good test of how well set up your session is. If a friend can make music and have fun with it, then it is obviously well organised. You could even let your nearest and dearest have go if you’re brave enough.

[launchpadforios]

Part 2: Import your own sounds into Launchpad for iPad

Logic, Ableton and FL Studio are all powerful music production tools. However, the initial complexity of these tools can be daunting, which often throttles the creative music-making vibe. Launchpad for iOS was designed to allow a fun and intuitive way to begin making music, without getting bogged down by feature-rich, complex music-making software.

However, If you’re willing to delve a little deeper, Launchpad for iOS has some cool advanced features. One such feature is Audio Import, which can be used to bring external sounds into Launchpad, giving your sounds or laptop-based projects a whole new lease of life.

Import your own sounds

Audio Import is an In-App Purchase that costs £4.99 / $6.99. It allows you to import audio from your computer or laptop into Launchpad for iPad. This is a perfect way to free yourself from the routine of your DAW environment and then perform, effect and alter your sounds within Launchpad. You can even work on your own sounds and performances on the go.

There are three primary ways Audio Import can be used: Dropbox, Audiocopy and Airdrop. To access your audio samples, press the Your Samples tab (the little head icon in the bottom-right corner of the Edit Pads screen). Now hit the + icon and choose your desired way to import audio files.

The app contains a tutorial that explains exactly how to set-up and use Audio Import. If you hit the ‘i’ icon in the Your Samples tab, the tutorial will show you how to set up all three Audio Import tools. Prior to importing, check that all your samples are well-named and in either AIFF or WAV format.

Import using Dropbox

When using Dropbox, you’ll need to link Launchpad to your Dropbox account. The tutorial shows you how to do this. Once completed, create BPM folders for your samples within the Launchpad folder. This is crucial to allow access to your samples within Launchpad.

Dropbox makes importing multiple files really easy. Once you’ve navigated to the Your Samples within the BPM folder, prior to selecting any samples, note the Import All option at the top right hand side of the menu – this is a useful way to import all files within the folder for use in your current session.

Import using Audiocopy

Audiocopy works in two unique ways. Choosing Audiocopy as your Audio Import method opens the Audiocopy browser, where all your Audiocopy files are stored. From here you can import your sounds into Launchpad. Audiocopy is also an app itself, and can be used instead of opening the Audiocopy browser. Opening it will show any sounds you have available. From here, just select the file you want to import. You’ll then be taken back to Launchpad app, into the Import File Settings screen.

For the next step, you’ll need to enter some information to help Launchpad import the sounds. You’ll need to know either the BPM or length in beats for each file. Launchpad will automatically find the BPM if it has the length in beats, and vice versa. After you’ve entered the relevant settings, hit import. Your file will show up in the Your Samples tab, just like when using Dropbox.

Import using Airdrop (Mac only)

Airdrop is a new and very convenient way to share files between your iPad and your Mac. Airdrop uses bluetooth, and requires an iPad 4, an iPad Mini and upwards. You’ll also need a Mac running OSX 10.10 Yosemite. Once your iPad and Mac are paired, open the folder on your Mac that contains the samples you wish to import.

The following tutorial has everything you need to know about using Airdrop with Launchpad:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xwSWiizYowY

Crucially, only Dropbox and Airdrop are capable of importing multiple files simultaneously; Audiocopy can only import one file at a time. However, the Audiocopy app can also record and edit audio – this gives you a quick way of singing an idea for use in Launchpad.

Your own personal sound library

Now that you have imported your own files into Launchpad, check they have imported correctly. Navigate to the browser, add the sounds to some pads, and play them in context with some similar content. If something seems amiss, or the sounds aren’t looping properly, then you can always use the in-built tutorials or youtube video tutorials to troubleshoot any problems.

Most importantly, when importing your own sounds, remember that Launchpad requires the exact BPM, or length in beats. When you’re using both Audiocopy and AirDrop, add the BPM to the file name to help Launchpad work out the beat length and BPM. We recommend starting with some pre-made samples produced by one of the many great online stores for buying audio loops and samples, such as Loopmasters.com.

Make your own music

There are also some great resources on-line to help you take your next steps. The highly active http://launchpad-pro.com community also has some great free downloadable content to help you get going straight away. Check out this performance to see what can be achieved and inspire you to give it a go.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gx9q3EVJEjs

Get Launchpad for iOS from the App Store here:

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/novation-launchpad/id584362474?mt=8

[launchpadforios]

We're proud to present our first ArtistPack from upcoming electronic producer FormantCell. Get it for Free now. @wearenovation

[launchpadforios]

Part1: Create your own remix with Launchpad for iPad

Creating a remix in Launchpad involves taking an existing session and mixing it with either your own sounds or sounds from soundpacks. But just like creating a remix for another artist there are a few things to remember. One of the most important things is to always start in a style or genre you like with material that you enjoy listening to -- there is no point in trying to remix with material you don’t like.

A good remix should have a decent mix of the original material and your own style/input. Adding something of yourself is very important; your own unique effects, sounds or themes will help.

Explore

First, find a soundpack or genre you like and then open the session. At this point it is best to start playing with the pads and the effects; this way you will intuitively work out which parts of the session you like and which parts you want to replace.

It is incredibly easy to change the samples and also how they are played back or looped, even while the pads are playing.

Press the EDIT PADS button on the right hand side to show the sound browser.

The sound browser helps you navigate through samples and soundpacks. For example, if you want to find a drum loop, press the Drum category to find all drum loops on your iPad. If you are working on a dubstep session, then you could search for ‘dubstep’.

Searching by BPM is a great way to find suitable loops. When you search by BPM, you will be shown any loops that are 2 BPM more or less than the search value. Start with the tempo of the session (found in the home screen) or something close to it to ensure that the new sounds you add will work within the context of the session. However you can still experiment using loops and sounds at other BPMs. If it doesn’t work, you can always replace it with the original sound, or with something more appropriate.

Pressing the Play icon next to a new sample when in the sound browser will audition the sample (at it’s original BPM).

Build your own favourite sounds library

The Favourites tab gives you quick access to your favourite loops. When you’ve found a loop you like, press its star icon to favorite it. The sample will now show up in the Favourites tab. You can easily add and remove samples from your favourites by toggling the star icon on and off.

Get creative with looping and triggering

Now that you know how to replace samples and loops, let’s explore how samples are played back or looped. There are three trigger modes -- One-shot, Loop and Retrigger -- and four sync modes, which determine when the pad will start and stop. It is worth noting that changing the sync modes of your pads can allow you to trigger your samples out of sync with the rest of the loops, so it is best to play your new samples alongside the session to see what trigger and sync modes work best for you.

Some best practices are to use One-shot and Retrigger modes on unsynced (Sync bar off) or shorter sounds such as a hits, risers and fx. Loop mode is generally used on drums, bass and melodic parts, with sync mode set to either 4 beats or 1 beat. It is worth keeping a close ear on what your samples are doing: for example, a long riser should probably be on a 4 beat sync so that when it drops it will be in sync with the rest of track.

You can also change the gain (volume) of each pad. Note that this is the gain of the pad -- not the sample -- so will be applied to any sample that is dropped onto the pad.

Have fun

Launchpad was designed to be intuitive and fun to use, pressing any pad should sound good and work with the other samples in the session. It is worth keeping this in mind when working on a remix. Always try to use appropriate sounds and organise your sessions so that sounds that you don’t want to be played together are on the same vertical line.

As you start to add your own samples, it is always good to play the sample within the session to make sure it fits the genre, key or timbre of the original.

You are the best judge of what works for you in your remix. Don’t be afraid to try things out, and don’t be afraid to make mistakes -- happy accidents can sometimes be the start of something special.

Get Launchpad for iOS here:

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/novation-launchpad/id584362474?mt=8

[launchpadforios]

Funky guitars, smooth baselines and plenty of vocoders. Our French House soundpack is available now on Launchpad for iOS @wearenovation

[launchpadforios]

Did you know you can search for loops by tempo on iPad? Press Edit Pads, then enter the BPM into the search bar. You'll be shown a filtered selection of loops + or - two Beats Per Minute (BPM) either side of your search.

[launchpadforios]

If you like our Chill Electronica Soundpack, we’d recommend listening to ethereal out electronic synthesiser maestro, Ulrich Schnauss.

http://www.discogs.com/artist/22152-Ulrich-Schnauss

Get Launchpad for iOS here: https://itunes.apple.com/en/app/garageband/id408709785?mt=8