Anything and everything about MIDI - arp, mapper, mangler, generator, chorder, controller, utility, fx etc.

[killmaster]

I see this was just released for Reason - looks like it's right up my alley :

https://www.reasonstudios.com/shop/rack ... odramatik/

I'm very curious to know more about this one. I see all the algorithms and wondering how much diversity it can achieve. I guess an infinite amount but somehow I often feel disappointed by generative algorithms making music and so feel hesitatn It does look very intriguing though!

I haven't used it in a long time but the J74 max for live suite of plugins did produce interesting diversity. (thought: Maybe I should retry to learn Rapid Composer. I found it difficult some years ago when I was trying to understand how it worked)

[David]

David,
I was very impressed with your Rapid Composer video!

Glad to hear it! I like the RC variations best, too:)

[simmo75]

I just picked up Numerology Pro and it’s an amazing tool and not in perpetual beta like another one I know.
So good! Highly recommend taking it for a test run.

[bharris22]

Mac only, though, correct ?

[David]

<snip>

(thought: Maybe I should retry to learn Rapid Composer. I found it difficult some years ago when I was trying to understand how it worked)

It CAN be difficult, but there's some easy paths in, I found. Those are exactly what my several RC YouTube videos hope to showcase, but there are others, too. Most of the RC videos I've seen, though, are pretty hard to follow esp. for newbs, IMO. It's been a long time since I've been able to play around with it, and I'm definitely not up to speed with what ver 4 offers yet, but I plan to do more videos when I do get up and running again:)

Also, I loved it and got a lot out of it without ever being at the level of many of the posters and demo'ers in the kvr forums for it; in fact I feel I never got beyond the most basic level. For me it was mostly just importing simple MIDI phrases, creating many bars worth of repeats of these, then applying different progressions to the whole, as well as different variations per individual bars, and sometimes inserting new phrases and rhythms from the preset styles and the many user-contributed phrases and rhythms. It definitely felt like a composing device just doing that, and not really very generative at all. Plus, of course, it's not at all like a step-sequencing device, running visual grid-based patterns in loops and with set lengths, and modulations from the same sort of devices, like Numerology or the Reason stuff. It's all done with piano roll tracks and bars, plus song divisions, like a DAW.

The main thing for me was that it worked best with simple and more traditional sound sources, like pianos and guitars, etc., and not so much with unique synthy sounds, which to me are all sort of sound-design as compositional devices in themselves, and less likely to be good showcases for the sort of MIDI I found RC to be all about at the most basic level.

But of course, that was just my not pushing RC to be more useful with synthy, bleepy, sustainy type of sounds, not because RC couldn't do that. I just got seduced by the power it had to make me feel like a virtuosic keys or plucked-strings or mallets performer!

[David]

Mac only, though, correct ?

Yup:(

[simmo75]

Mac only, though, correct ?

Sorry, I didn’t realize.

For all the Windows users in the thread, it’s terrible! Awful! You’re better off without it

[David]

Mac only, though, correct ?

Sorry, I didn’t realize.

For all the Windows users in the thread, it’s terrible! Awful! You’re better off without it

I wouldn't say it's exactly terrible, even to make PC users feel better about it. It's also GROANINGLY old; I think the current version's been out for like 15 years or more with no real updates, or something close…

Old doesn't mean bad, of course, but I certainly hope this gets a ver 6 while I'm still alive! It's undoubtedly powerful, but very complex (HUGE manual), and I've always found it difficult to get the most out of; and recently (last year anyway, it was very unstable as an AU MIDI FX in Logic.

[Musical Gym]

https://hgsounds.com seems to be ok now.

[Musical Gym]

https://www.reasonstudios.com/shop/rack ... odramatik/
Introduction price until April!"
I assume it means till the end of April, like April 30th.

Until April means through the end of March.

[David]

<snip>
I like the “midi manipulation” I believe is in the Composition tab. I understand that RC has more features but it is the midi Variations I see in the video that I am most interested in at least for the moment.

I do wonder what other plugin/stand-alone has as similar capability.
<snip>

Me, too! Haven't ever found anything even really similar.

Oh, too bad.

<snip>

I'll correct my earlier answer about plugins with similar variation-producing powers to those in RC:
I haven't found anything with very similar variations, but there are a few others that offer different yet still extensive variation powers using existing MIDI, such the HGSounds MIDI looper currently being discussed, and the reMIDI MIDI sampler, discussed here a few weeks ago.

I expect the original question was about getting some of the same effects in RC without having to wait for a sale or spend so much. Sorry, still "no" to that (hope I've missed something!). But these two other much less costly options are almost as powerful and lots of fun, plus much simpler and more real-time than RC. I find all three to be essentials, in MY MIDI-FX library, anyway:)

There's also ChordPotion, which is quite a powerful MIDI variations generator.

https://feelyoursound.com/chordpotion/

[David]

https://www.reasonstudios.com/shop/rack ... odramatik/
Introduction price until April!"
I assume it means till the end of April, like April 30th.

Until April means through the end of March.

Indeed it does, but if you scroll down a bit on the link, you see this:

DUE TO A "BANK ERROR IN YOUR FAVOUR" THE EXCEPTIONAL DISCOUNT PRICE HAS BEEN EXTENDED TO ALL CUSTOMERS FOR THE WHOLE OF APRIL!

[bharris22]

<snip>
I like the “midi manipulation” I believe is in the Composition tab. I understand that RC has more features but it is the midi Variations I see in the video that I am most interested in at least for the moment.

I do wonder what other plugin/stand-alone has as similar capability.
<snip>

Me, too! Haven't ever found anything even really similar.

Oh, too bad.

<snip>

I'll correct my earlier answer about plugins with similar variation-producing powers to those in RC:
I haven't found anything with very similar variations, but there are a few others that offer different yet still extensive variation powers using existing MIDI, such the HGSounds MIDI looper currently being discussed, and the reMIDI MIDI sampler, discussed here a few weeks ago.

I expect the original question was about getting some of the same effects in RC without having to wait for a sale or spend so much. Sorry, still "no" to that (hope I've missed something!). But these two other much less costly options are almost as powerful and lots of fun, plus much simpler and more real-time than RC. I find all three to be essentials, in MY MIDI-FX library, anyway:)

Melodya will get you much of the way there: https://www.musicdevelopments.com/melodya.html. Plus, IIRC, you can upgrade to RC at any time for the difference in price. Attila is very good about those things. Melodya does go on sale, as well.

[ThomasHelzle]

Interesting generative and microtonal tools in the browser:
https://isartum.net
https://isartum.net/apotome
https://vimeo.com/503451447

Can also send Midi from the browser to your DAW or hardware...

Cheers,

Tom

[Kalamata Kid]

NM