Tuesday, December 8, 2015

Beat Assembler 48

This experiment took me a while to complete and it made me scratch my head pretty hard a couple of times. I wanted a drum machine in Kontakt, that wouldn't be bound to 4/4 signature and standard time grid. Also I wanted to break with table based patterns and have visual presentation more like in a DAW.
Beat Assembler does that and more. It's a drum machine with sequencer, which can generate automatic program according to preset scheme and set of parameters. It creates a master pattern which then is being fit into a time-frame, matching current tempo and time signature. The pattern can be quantized to defined grid, which can use a range of unusual note fractions, like 1/5 or 6/11, everything being visualized on the fly. The machine also lets you define time signature manually, so you're not limited to 4/4 in standalone mode, furthermore allowing some irrational settings like 4/3 or 5/7. So, if you like to experiment with strange percussion patterns, you may enjoy this one.

Additional features include:
  • four voice groups with automated distribution, where you can set effects and modulation parameters for each group;
  • manual sequence editor, so you can move notes around the grid; 
  • note recorder, so you can play a pattern by keyboard and then quantize it inside out.
Here's a video, where I'm trying out the machine:


Beat Assembler is free to get and play with. It requires full version of Native Instruments Kontakt 4 or newer. Download it HERE. 6 MB, RAR archive. Have fun!

If you like the idea, I have made paid, expanded version of the machine, named Beat Assembler XT, you can read about it here.

Concerning the midi export as requested in the comment, Kontakt 4 can't write midi files. But it does output midi! All you need to do is to go to 'options > engine > send midi to outside world' and make sure 'script generated notes' option is selected. Now, if your DAW supports it, you can patch Kontakt's midi output to a midi track and start recording right away. Beat Assembler XT does export midi clips via drag'n'drop mechanism in Kontakt 5.


7 comments:

  1. Man, this is AWESOME! Thank you so much for this amazing gift! Regarding your plans for a paid version, would it be possible to implement MIDI export for the beats we assemble? it would be perfect! Thanks for your time and ingenuity!

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  2. Thanks for the quick reply regarding MIDI export! Cheers, mate!

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  3. This about three issues you must think of as soon as getting this earbuds tend to be convenience, correct songs duplication in addition to solitude.

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  4. I like so much any instrument that create caos in randoom way....Fantastic!!!

    ReplyDelete