#launchpadforios

[aneekt]

Dulcimer / auto harp working with @mazoulew for our collaborative for @wearenovation #novation #musicproducer @artistplug #launchpadforios #launchpad (at Harringay)

[appmauluis5-blog]

En camino... #aftereffects #flstudio #launchpadforios #halloween

[future-urban-collective-blog]

Grime beat instrumental (taster) #HipHopBeats #HipHopInstrumentals http://fucmedia.com/grime-beat-instrumental-taster-hiphopbeats-hiphopinstrumentals/

[launchpadforios]

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 

[aneekt]

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My dank new #vapourwave sample pack for #novation #launchpadforios too hot to handle, too cold to hold.

[aneekt]

#vaporwave #polyop #launchpadforios #wearenovation #novation

[launchpadforios]

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

[launchpadforios]

Journey into the magical realms of Minneapolis funk #Launchpadforios @wearenovation

[launchpadforios]

Our new Liquid Trap Soundpack is out now #Launchpadforios @wearenovation

[launchpadforios]

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Come and join the community.

[launchpadforios]

Detroit Techno Soundpack for Launchpad

Cowbells and toms abound in this unique homage to Detroit, the birthplace of Techno.

In 1980s Detroit, the 'Belleville Three' — Juan Atkins, Derrick May and Kevin Saunderson — gave collective birth to a glorious child known as 'Techno'. Hailed as the next big thing, this new musical style quickly became the life and soul of parties around the world. Over time, Techno has morphed, grown and split to form the founding seeds of other genres across electronic music. Many have forgotten the origins of Techno, but we have not.

Detroit Techno is a homage to the roots of electronic music; a tribute to where things began. You'll find this soundpack infused with minimal beats, funky basslines, deep lush pads, and plenty of cowbell — everything you need to experience the genesis of Techno first-hand.

Get Launchpad for iOS here: bit.ly/LP-App

[launchpadforios]

Take a trip back to the future. Just remember to bring your aviators.

The 1980s was a period of incredible change here on planet Earth. The Walkman revolutionised portable music. VHS won the war against Betamax. Humankind fought armies of giant laser-wielding robot dinosaurs. (Ok, so maybe not the last one.) This classic era, when combined with today's modern production techniques, packs one hell of a punch.

Using vintage synthesisers and original drum machines, 80s Future Retro boasts a professional, studio-quality sound that teleports you back to the glory days of neon. Powerful drums drive the mix with classic 80s rhythms. Bright pads and synth hooks build and combine to create a lush fabric of melody, while cutting FX and retro one-shots build atmosphere and tension.

Get ready for the future.