Conditional Breakbeats with rytm in 1 bar

Concept:
The Elekton Sequencer which allow more variety in pattens beyond just percentages with the NGI, FST, PRE et al conditions.
The basic idea is from a drum patten or score calculate percentages and combinations of hits then create a conitonally based 1 bar patten.
The randomisation provide a quick way to create variations in the style of particular breakbeats.
The aim is not to duplicate but to have a basis for variations.
Just studying breakbeats like this can be helpful in creating your own.
It also adds to working out various techniques with the Elektron sequencer and related features.

Examples (Source: Breakbeat Bible by Mike Adamo)
C = closed hihat , O = open hihat, S = snare, K = kick

Runnin - The Pharcyde - J Dilla

94bpm
C,3,5,7,9,11,13,15 @ 100%
S 5,13 @ 100
K 1@87, 2@12, 3@38, 6@25 8@50 9@37 10@75 12@87, 16@37
A straight forward percentage patten. With an all percentage track there is the slight chance that there can be no hits or all hits.
Note: Percentage as calculated. These will need to be rounded to Elektron values.

Example 8 bars:
Kit: HEYBELI (Default)

God made me funky - Headhunters - Mike Clark

94bpm
C 1,3,5,7,9 @100,11@75,13@100, 14@75, 15@75
O 11@_NEI (not neighbour)
S 5,13 @ 100
K 1@100, 8@100, 16@_1ST (not first)

The hats need to be neighbour tracks and will alternate randomly
The kick on 16 does not occur on the first bar and _1ST handles this. For more random have 16@87%

Example 8 bars:
Kit: BLKWAK (Default)

Funky Drummer - James Brown - Clyde Stubblefield

101bpm
C 1,2,3,4, 5 @100, 6@2:2, 8@75, 9,10,11,12,13@100,14@8:8,15,16@100
O 8@_NEI, 14@_NEI
S 5@100, 8@100,
K 1@100, 3@300, 6@8:8, 9@3:3, 11@100, 14@100, 16@8:8

This is a very simplified version of the patten as there is a lot more hat work.
The A:B provides fixed variations and _NEI provides hits for the open HH on 14 for all bars not 8:8.
More variation can be done with using percentages instead of A:B.

Example 8 bars:
Kit: CLASSIXI (Default)

Amen Brother - The Winstons - Gregory C. Coleman

129bpm
C 1.3.5.7.9, 11 @75, 13@PRE, 15@100
O 11@_NEI
Cy 13@_NEI
Note: NEI/_NEI ignore previous NEI/_NEI so The O and CY hits are based on 13 conditional of C.

S 2@25,5,8,10@100, 13@50, 15@_PRE,16@PRE
Note: PRE/_PRE ignore previous PRE/_PRE so 15 and 16 are based on 13 conditional

K 1@75, 3@o, 4@_PRE, 11@100, 12@50
3 should be the default o - an unevaluated always
Hit 4 based on the occurance of 1 as 3 is not evaluated.

Example 8 bars:
Kit: BOGOMIPS (Default)

Apache - Michael Viner’s Incredible Bongo Band - Jim Gordon

bpm116
C 1,3,5,7,9,11,13,15 @ 100
S 5,10,13,16 @ 100
K 3@75, 111@100

A repetitive four bar patten with scope for added probabilities.

Soul Pride - James Brown - Clyde Subblefield

bpm 121
C 1@100, 3@66, 5@100, 7@100, 9@100, 11@50, 13@100, 15@50
S 2@50, 4@33, 5@78, 6@16, 8@78, 10@100, 11@66, 12@50, 14@50, 15@6100, 16@50
K 1@50, 3@78, 7@33, 9@50, 11@50, 13@50, 15@50

Alternative

C 1@50, 3,5,7,9,11,13 13@1:2, 15@1:2
S 5,8,10@100, 11@2:2, 12@ 2:2,14@2:2, 15@100, 16@2:2
K 1@1:2, 3@100, 7@2:2, 9@2:2, 11@1:2, 13@2:2, 12@2:2

An approximation of 8 bars. The alternating bars can be represented as overall percentages or as A:B given the regularity.
This patten gives you an added appreciation of Stubblefield in case more was needed.

Reduced Hits

In some cases there are hits cut out from the patten just for one bar notably the last bar. Is no negative A:B which play on all bars except the A:B. This would partially solve the issue as having that as a conditional precludes other conditional.

The 1 patten focus is not mandatory so a second patten could be used. This is not a fixed system and just a starting point so deviate away.

Other Electron machine can be used as well since the sequencer is the same. There would be some additional flexibility with the instruments which do not have fixed machines to tracks.

57 Likes

These are great! Thanks for sharing the info.

I have been on the fence about keeping my Rytm or not (I presently struggle with being creative with it).

I am going to keep it for now and study your techniques more. Thank you for your post!

All the best :heart:

2 Likes

Very nice work! Thanks for sharing.

1 Like

Tighten Up - Archie Bell and the Drells - Billy Butler

bpm133
C 1,3,5,7 @ 100, 9@75
R 8@100, 12@_NEI, 13@PRE, 16@100
O 1,5,9, 13 @ 100
S 2,5 @100, 6@75, 10@100, 13@75, 14@100
K 1,3,7 @100, 11@75, 15@_PRE

The variations are mainly due to the last bar of four.
The C,O,R can be any hat or ride sound.
Accents and other hit variations are not shown and up to the programmer.

4 Likes

Express Yourself - Charles Wright and the Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band - James Gordon

bpm:94
C 1@41, 2-8@100, 9,10@_FILL, 11@75, 12@89, 13-15@_FILL, 16@75
O 1@_NEI, 11@_NEI
R 9-16@FILL
S 2@13, 4@25, 5@59, 6@13, 7@41, 8@41, 9@FILL, 10@59, 11@FILL, 12@59, 13@75, 14@FILL, 15@13, 16@89
K 1@75, 2@25, 3@FIIL, 4@67, 5@25, 7@FILL, 8@41, 9@41, 10@41, 11@25, 12@50, 13@13, 14@50, 15@13

There are lots of probability in this patten. I did not see a structure that fit into Elektron conditionals.
The probability numbers are rounded to Electron conditional values.
Correction: The 8 bar was added in so FILL conditions added and percentages recalculated.
Many percentage unchanged because of previous rounding.

2 Likes

Use Me - Bill Withers - James Gadsen

bpm:78

H1a 10@4:4, 12@4:4, 14@4:4,
H1b 11@4:4, 13@4:4, 15@75 16@50
H1a and H1b are on the same track but with p-locked variations or sample changes.
Alternatively just use 25% instead of 4:4 for more variation.

C 1-9@100, 10-16@ _NEI

R 5@100, 8@100, 16@75
The score has a rim click but try snare, claps or anything.

K 1,2,6 @100, 8@25, 9@100, 10@50, 11@25, 12@100, 14@25, 15@50

The kit I use is from ‘Berlin Techno Template’ by M Brauer which sounds great but a bit different from the funk/soul sound of the original.

4 Likes

Come In Out of the Rain - Parliament - Ramon ‘Tiki’ Fulwood or Tyrone Lampkin

bpm: 84

C 1@75, (2)@50, (6)@100, 11@100, 13@100, (14)@75, (15)@)PRE, 16@PRE
0 3@100, 7@100,
R 5@100, 9@100
K 1@100, 10@100, 11@100, 16@100,

The C,O, R cold be any sounds which fit into the HiHat timbre.
The bracketed C are ghost notes.

2 Likes

As a fan of breakbeats and an owner of an AR this thread interests me

4 Likes

For real. I didn’t know beats could be notated in this way. I can’t wait to try some out once I get home. Thank you for collecting all these here!

3 Likes

Just gave your Dilla pattern a try on my Syntakt approximating some percentages. It’s super nice! I didn’t go through and loosen up the quantization yet but I feel it already.
This highlighted that I don’t play with the conditions nearly enough, and now I’m all about it.

And just added Amen. Not all % values are one to one between the ST and AR, but I’m enjoying trying these out nonetheless.
Should add that I’m not using NEI conditions properly yet. Do they need to be tracks that are literally neighbors on the machine? I’ll confess I’ve never used NEI conditions before!

5 Likes

Glad you tried some of the beats. They sound good.
The idea is that the score is a starting point to which you can charge and add depending on the hardware and your own ideas.

The neighbour track which has the conditional is before the track with the NEI or _NEI depending on the most recently evaluated condition.
If track 1 has conditional such X% the track 2 can have NEI or _NEI.

The Rytm has the extra consideration that tracks 3&4, 7&8, 9@10 11@12 share voices.
The right hand or higher numbered track will mute the lower track if played together.
Track 4 will mute track 3 if played together for example.

If track 3 had a conditional trig such as 50% on trig 5 and track 4 had NEI also on trig 5 then only the sound on trig 4 will be heard as if track 3 is triggered as 4 cuts out 3 as they share the same voice.
[ For Rytm completeness as it may not affect the A4]

I would experiment with some pattens to get familiar with the trigs.

4 Likes

Thanks

1 Like

Here Comes the Meterman - The Meters - Joseph ‘Zigaboo’ Modeliste

Interpretation of the main groove
bpm91

R1 1,9 @ 100
R2 3,5,7,11,13,15 @100
S 2@50, 3@50, 8@50, 13,15@100
K 1@100, 4@100, 6@100, 9,10,@100, 12@100, 13@50, 14@50, 15@50

Approximation of an approximation of the first four bars of the break

R1 1@50, 7@50, 8@25, 14@25, 16@25
R2 1@50, 2@25, 3@25, 5@25, 6@25, 7@25, 8@25, 9@50, 11@100, 14@25, 15@25
S 1@25, 2@50, 3@25, 5@50,6@75, 8@25, 9@50, 11@75, 12@50,13@25, 14@50, 15@25, 16@25
K 1@75, 2@25, 4@75, 5@25, 6@50, 7@25, 8@75, 10@100, 11@50, 12@25, 13@50, 14@50, 15@25, 16@50
Cr 1@1st

R1, R2 - Ride sounds
S - Snare
K - Kick
Cr - Crash

The actual break hits has a percentage chance of each of the sounds or nearly all of the trigs.
An option would be to fill in a selection of trigs for the machines and then dial in a probability value on the trig page. out.
To make the patten more steady one of the tracks could have most hits at 100%
Adamo in his writeup of the break notes his work is an approximation with ‘a lot of unaccountable sounds’.

2 Likes

Fool in the Rain - Led Zeppelin - John Bonham

bpm 198
Scale setting 12/16 @ 1/2 in NORM mode
First 4 bars
Crash 1@1st
OH 3@_1st
CH 1@_1st, 4@100, 5@75, 8@25, 9@75, 10@100, 11@25
SD 5@1:4, 7@3:4, 8@2:4, 10@4:4
BD 1@100, 3@100, 6@75, 7@25, 12@100

The fill is from bar 8 but for variety I made it a fill.
LT 9@FIL, 10@FIL
RS 11@FIL, 12@FIL
SD2 3-8@FIL

An experiment in extending the 1 bar breakbeats idea into rock and roll and using a non 4/4 scale.

OH - Open Hat

CH - Closed Hat
SD - Snare Drum
BD - Base Drum
LT - Low tom
RS - Rim Shot
SD2- Alternate snare hit
The actual sounds are your choice.

3 Likes

Oh dope! So it could work like a choke for example, or good for layering up sounds. Thanks!

1 Like

thanks for the info! very helpfull!!! :elan: :elmm:

1 Like

Do the Funky Penguin - Rufus Thomas - Al Jackson Jr, Willie Hall or Bobby Hunt

101bpm
H1 1,2,5,7@ 100, 9,11,13@ 75, 15@25
H2 9,11,13,15@ _NEI
S 2@25, 5@100, 10@75, 12@4:4, 13@75. 14@4:4. 15@4:4, 15@50
(Alternatives; 4 :4 could be 25 or FILL)
K 1@100, 3@50, 4@_PRE, 8@100, 11@100
(For variety have 8 or 11 @ 75)

For the name at least!

Drum are from processed from Conant Garden Maschine project.

3 Likes

Good stuff! Adding this to my RYTM app

3 Likes

This is a really cool way to notate fairly complex rhythmic ideas, will try all of these out when my Rytm Mk2 arrives.

Also @tladb, it would be cool if you inserted audio snippets for each beat example to show what kit you were using and how the final pattern will play out over 8 or so bars.

1 Like

Audio Snippets - good idea

2 Likes