Mastering chains – Arturia KeyStep Pro Keyboard with Advanced Sequencer and Arpeggiator User Manual

Page 132

6.4.1.2. Mastering Chains

Chain-making is the essential skill you need to master to create interesting arrangements.

When creating a song or a large-scale composition, you'll probably reach a point when you

have created several sequences in each track. You probably don't want all of them to play

simultaneously, but you may want to start with a sequence in Track 1 and repeat it twice,

after which a sequence in Track 2 will join in and play twice while a

different

sequence is

playing in Track1.

Something like this:

Track 1

Track 2

Track 3

Track 4

first sequence

second sequence

first sequence

second sequence

first sequence

second sequence

first sequence

second sequence

first sequence

second sequence

How do you create that kind of song structure?

The trick is to use an empty or 'dummy' Pattern to create silence in the Chain. For example,

just leave Pattern 16 of each track empty for that purpose. Fill Patterns 1 and 2 with

sequences, which are unique on each track.

Creating the Chain for Track 1 is easy. Hold down the Chain button and twice press Pattern

+ step 1 (which holds the first sequence), then twice press Pattern + step 2 (which holds the

second sequence), then press Pattern + step 16 (the dummy) three times to fill the remaining

empty parts of the Chain.

When creating the Chain for Track 2, we start with the dummy pattern twice:

Select Track 2. To enter two dummy patterns, hold down Chain and press Pattern + step 16

twice, then twice press Pattern + step 1, then twice press Pattern + Step 2, then press Pattern

+ step 16 once to complete the Chain with a dummy.

You've got the basic idea, we hope. Continue until you've programmed all four chains. This

is the result, with the pattern numbers for the respective tracks shown in square brackets:

Track 1

Track 2

Track 3

Track 4

first sequence [1]

dummy [16]

first sequence [1]

dummy [16]

second sequence [2]

first sequence [1]

dummy [16]

second sequence [2]

dummy [16]

first sequence [1]

dummy [16]

second sequence [2]

first sequence [1]

dummy [16]

second sequence [2]

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