Tutorial 1
Drum Workout
Tutorial 1: Drum Workout Goal This is the first-time Perc8 tutorial. You will build a simple drum workout in four patterns, then arrange those patterns into a chain. You will learn: • how to choose engines • how to set the main sound controls • how to add steps • how to use PLK • how to copy patterns and make variations • how to build a chain Set Up Open Perc8 and go to the SYNTH tab. Stay in PATTERN scope to start. Set the tempo in the top transport to 128 BPM. Make sure pattern A is selected. The Main Areas Before you program anything, take one minute to learn the layout. • The voice row is the row of numbered slots at the top. Tap a slot to select a voice. • The step grid is where you place trigs. • The section tabs are TRG, ENG, FILT, EQ/DRV, ENV/FX, and LFO. • In PATTERN scope, PLK appears as an extra button. Use PLK when you want to record a different value on a step. • The scope bar at the bottom lets you switch between PATTERN, CHAIN, FX, and MASTER. Pattern A - The Foundation Voice 1 - Kick Tap slot [1]. Tap ENG. Set Engine: Carbon Kick Set the eight macro knobs exactly like this: • BODY +1 dB • PUNCH 12 semi • DECAY 40% • ATTACK 200 Hz • GRIT 6 dB • TONE 600 Hz • MOTION 10 ms • DYNAMICS 6 dB Now add the basic kick pattern: • long-press step 1 • long-press step 5 • long-press step 9 • long-press step 13 Tap EQ/DRV. In the DRV area set: • Drive Type: Tube • Amount: 20% Tap FILT. Set: • Type: SVF • Mode: LP • Cutoff: 200 Hz • Res: 10% • Env: +20% Tap ENV/FX. Set: • ENV DECAY 300 ms Voice 2 - Snare Tap slot [2]. Tap ENG. Set Engine: Carbon Snare Set: • TONE 2 k • DECAY 35% • BODY 55% • DRIVE 20% • WIRES 60% • WDECAY 150 ms • PITCH -5 semi • SHELL 55% Add steps: • step 5 • step 13 Tap EQ/DRV. Set: • Drive Type: Tube • Amount: 15% Voice 3 - Hat Tap slot [3]. Tap ENG. Set Engine: Carbon Hat Set: • TONE 8 k • DECAY 35% • ATTACK 50% • GRIME 10% • SHEEN 60% • GRAIN 1.0x • CENTER 0 semi • Q/COLOR 30% Add steps: • 3 • 7 • 11 • 15 Tap TRG. Set: • LEN 1/32 Voice 4 - Clap Tap slot [4]. Tap ENG. Set Engine: Carbon Clap Set: • TONE 2 k • DECAY 45% • FLAM 50% • RESONANCE 35% • TAIL 60% • ATTACK 30% • TUNE 0 semi • DIRT 10% Add steps: • 11 Pattern A should now sound like a clean basic workout groove. P-Locks: Add Variation Without Changing Every Step PLK records a value on the selected step. That changed value stays active until the next trig for that voice resets it. Kick p-lock: • Add steps 15 and 16 • Tap the PLK button. • tap step 16 on Voice 1 • go to ENG • change PUNCH from 12 semi to 16 semi • change GRIT from 6 dB to 9 dB Snare p-lock: • tap step 13 on Voice 2 • go to TRG • set VEL to 127 • set MTIME to +0.05 Hat p-lock: • tap step 15 on Voice 3 • go to TRG • set VEL to 90 Tap PLK again to leave record mode. Pattern B - Open The Hat Layer Duplicate A so you can build on it instead of starting over. Open the utility menu and choose Duplicate Pattern. Perc8 duplicates the current pattern to the next pattern and selects it, so B should now be selected. Keep Voice 1 and Voice 2 exactly as they are. Voice 3 - Hat Keep the same Carbon Hat settings. Add these extra steps to the existing hat pattern: • 1 • 5 • 9 • 13 Tap PLK. Set these hat accents: • step 1 VEL 95 • step 5 VEL 95 • step 9 VEL 95 • step 13 VEL 95 • step 3 VEL 65 • step 7 VEL 65 • step 11 VEL 65 • step 15 VEL 65 Tap PLK again. Voice 4 - Clap Keep the same Carbon Clap settings. Add one extra voice in B. Voice 5 - Tom Tap slot [5]. Tap ENG. Set Engine: Carbon Tom Set: • TONE 300 Hz • DECAY 40% • BODY 45% • DIRT 15% • RESON 35% • SWEEP 8 semi • TUNE 0 semi • ATTACK 10 ms Add steps: • 7 • 8 This pattern should feel busier than A. Pattern C - Add Motion Open the utility menu and choose Duplicate Pattern again. C should now be selected. Voice 1 - Kick Add one extra kick: • step 11 Voice 2 - Snare Leave the snare pattern as it is. Voice 3 - Hat Add the missing steps so the hat now plays on all 16 steps • Add step 2 • Tap PLK • Set velocity on step 2 to 50 • Tap COPY • Tap step 4 • Tap PASTE • Repeat for steps 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16 • Tap PLK again. Tap LFO. Select L1. Set: • Wave TRI • Target TONE • Rate 0.5 Hz • Depth 20% • Trig OFF • 1-Shot OFF This slowly moves the hat brightness and makes the loop feel less static. Voice 4 - Clap Leave the clap pattern as it is. Voice 5 - Tom Leave the tom pattern as it is. Pattern D - Breakdown Open the utility menu and choose Duplicate Pattern one more time. D should now be selected. This pattern is the sparse release, so remove material instead of rebuilding. Voice 1 - Kick Leave only: • 1 • 5 • 9 • 13 Voice 2 - Snare Leave only: • 13 Voice 3 - Hat Leave only: • 7 • 11 • 15 Voice 4 - Clap Clear the clap steps. Voice 5 - Tom Leave only: • 16 Voice 6 - Crash Tap slot [6]. Tap ENG. Set Engine: Carbon Crash Set: • TONE 7 k • DECAY 80% • ATTACK 40% • SHIMMR 45% • SUSTN 40% • WASH 15% • PITCH 0 semi • SHAPE 50% Add step: • 1 In TRG, set • VEL 60 • LEN 1/4 Make A Chain Now turn the four patterns into a simple arrangement. Enable CHAIN playback by tapping the PAT/CHN button in the top bar. Set chain mode to LOOP by tapping the wrench/utility button. Add seven slots. Configure them like this: • Slot 1: Pattern A • Slot 2: Pattern A • Slot 3: Pattern B • Slot 4: Pattern B • Slot 5: Pattern C • Slot 6: Pattern C • Slot 7: Pattern D If you want a pattern to play more than once in the chain, add it again as another slot. Press Play. You now have a full four-pattern drum workout: • A introduces the groove • B opens the hats and adds toms • C adds motion and energy • D strips the groove down for a breakdown What To Try Next • Raise GRIT on the kick if you want more aggression. • Lower HAT DECAY if the groove feels too busy. • Add one more PLK on the tom for a small fill in C. • In CHAIN, lock a slot if you want to stay on one section while you tweak it.