Video

It really depends what you want to do for drums and synths. If you want to program your own drum patterns, then your best bet will be a groove box. However, if you want to generate new ideas for drum patterns and make breaks that are a little more "out there" , or you just don't want to program, you'll find ARP very interesting. The same is true for Synths, ARP is brilliant for generating ideas. You're not starting with a blank canvas, it can give you inspiration. If you'd rather record your own patterns a step sequencer would be a better starting option but then you don't have the ability to modulate and evolve those patterns the way ARP can. Regarding specific drum machines, each have different MIDI Mappings. So matching ARP's note output to the sample pads needs a bit of setup, but the same could be said of any sequencer. So like I say it depends what you want to achieve and how you want to make music. I hope that helps.

@@midicakemidi Wow, thank you for the fast response! That's exactly what I'd like to use it for, more of a generative idea machine. My initial thought was that I could send midi notes from a selected kit on the MPS10 to ARP, and then sample something I like back into the pad so I have a funky bassline/ melodic rythm/ drum break/ or whatever, that can be triggered on the pad in a more performance/live type of setting. I've watched some of you're other videos so I have a very generalized idea of ARPs capabilities with a synth or groovebox. I guess I wasn't sure if Arp needed the device to have a built in sequencer to send program changes, or if it just needed the midi notes from the device and it does the rest of the heavy lifting on its own. Forgive my ignorance if what I'm saying doesn't make sense. Korg has a midi implementation chart that could help clear the air: www.korg.com/us/support/download/manual/0/929/5113/ I honestly don't know what any of this means (besides that the chart looks very small and limited compared to others I googled) , but since this thing has a ton of percussive kits/ scalable instruments/ loops/ cc parameters, and onboard effect presets, I'm wondering what these two are capable of together, without having to immediately go out and get a synth to accompany them.

@@seanzies ARP only uses MIDI input to set it's global chord/scale (i.e. the pool of notes from which ARP builds it's sequences). ARP has it's own Note and Chord buttons that can be used for this purpose (in PLAY Mode) so it doesn't need input. It will output sequences that you can capture in a groovebox, or simply play synths and drum pads live. The groovebox's MIDI charts will cover all it's pads, and that's all you need. The key is configuring ARP to play exactly those MIDI notes, which is easy to set up.

@@midicakemidi that's fantastic news. thanks so much for this information 🙏

There's some discussion on this topic on the Elektronauts forum. www.elektronauts.com/t/midicake-arp/177927/40 From my perspective, ARP and NDLR are quite different devices. Although you can achieve similar results with both, they are each quite complex and have a different workflow. NDLR is a great device, I have one and have explored it a lot. It has a 7 chord interval system that I found very intuitive and rewarding but a little limiting. ARP doesn't limit you when it comes to chord selection, it's easy to create almost any chord progression, including custom chords and scales. The freedom to explore is pretty much unlimited (within western music scales at least). The other key difference is that ARP will track your incoming MIDI notes and create sequences that follow along. It uses this "note set" as a pool of notes from which all tracks build their sequences. In this way it makes a great accompaniment to keyboard playing. NDLR uses an external keyboard only to trigger the 7 chords of its currently selected key/scale. As shown in this video, ARP's superpower is in modulating the parameters of its sequence engine. You can create sequences that are virtually impossible using other methods but importantly, it's not random, you don't lose your lovely melodies and it is always repeatable. ARPs is also in active development. As I say in this video: czcams.com/video/q2QPXWnFLh4/video.htmlsi=VK_RU0YRke4pxzap, ARP is a passion project and was built as a platform to develop new and innovative ideas. There's a long roadmap for firmware updates that are free to existing owners. The last update, V5, for example, extended the timing functionality to cover Poly Meters (timings that MIDI devices normally cannot achieve). V6 is due for imminent release and brings some amazing new features such as Chops, Ratchets and Modulatable Pattern Sequencing. I think Conductive Labs said they will not be providing future updates for NDLR. I hope that helps.

@@midicakemidi It does, thanks for all the details and agree with you on the NDLR limitations listed above (the fix chords interval but mostly the limited firmware/features updates perspectives from Conductive Labs). Even tho I'm an avid user of the device, I'll definitely look up for this lovely ARP.

That's awesome to hear!

ARP is a fundamentally different workflow. Rather than step sequencing from a blank canvas or relying on an algorithmic approach, ARP starts making music as soon as you press play. You then modify the sequences by combining the parameters (musical building blocks). Then modulate those parameters to create complex and long-running musical melodies. It's not a random generator, the sequences are always repeatable. You also have complete freedom to explore chord progressions, plus conventional or customizable scales, all while the sequences continue to obey your rules; maintaining your musical idea but letting you change the mood of the music. It's not a step sequencer, it is a fast way to new music.

Thank you!

​@midicakemidi if possible, I think keeping this style as a visual motif for more shorts and even longer form videos would be a great marketing/branding move. I think people would definitely watch a 10-20 min live performance with this style of cinematography. feels very David lynch to me haha

@@midicakemidi this video was actually what converted me to a subscriber

That's great to hear! Cheers for the feedback.

Thank you for the support! We'll continue to develop ARP as a hardware sequencer, MIDI generator and arpeggiator because you can't beat the speed at which you can create and evolve your ideas when hands-on with hardware. 😊

@midicakemidi Absolutely!!! And I look forward to having one or maybe more. Have a great day!

I spy wabbit everywhere !

Yes 100%. All 4 tracks share the same note set (chord or scale) and you can shift the pitch of the sequences individually up and down the scale. You can also lock individual tracks to a specific note and/or chord/scale.

It does produce exciting results with very little effort. The range of possibilities and scope for experimentation are huge!

Thanks, This technique is a lot of fun when used with sliced samples. Make sure to set note and scale locks in ARP to ensure you send the right MIDI notes to your sampler. Have fun!

Looks really interesting and its organic playability would pair well with ARP's complex arpeggios. Worth looking into.

@@midicakemidiI’m getting a Tempera next month. If I keep it I’ll get an Arp to pair with it.

Haha, I see what you mean! 😊

Yes, the BS has a 4th channel. Press control, the it becomes a MIDI controller with the knobs sending CC and the pads sending notes. You can then assign these in Ableton and quickly switch channels on the Beatstep to alternate between sequencing and CC controlling. That's the only way I think. You can also assign ARP's macros to output CCs.

V6 Update coming soon!

Yes, Jay Hoskins, Red Means Recording, Adam Ware, Richard Dehove, Starsky Carr, Antoine Auzillaud to name a few, have all produced performance videos with ARP. I would like to see more but it has to be because the artist wants to, not because they are paid to. If you have any Artists in mind let me know I'll reach out. Cheers.

Yeah, I was there.

@@midicakemidi So had you had your own booth and we will still see an interview and presentation?

@@lummsmusik3219 Despite lots of interest in ARP, over 100 demos and overwhelmingly positive feedback, there was little to no attention to Midicake from the media. That's OK though, it was the first trip to Superbooth and this journey is about growing gently. :)

@@midicakemidi What a shame. But I think the ARP is a very special device and maybe not suitable for many current „trendy“ genres. This can change over time. Thanks for your replies 👍

Hi, Yes, the new firmware is coming very soon.

I'll suggest my hopeful timescales but never promise a specific date. Development is an uncertain business and I won't release anything until it's ready. Coming soon though! 😊

I'm sorry if you didn't like it. This was just a snippet from a 30 min weekend improv, just for fun. We went to the May fair :) What sort of content would you prefer? Perhaps I should put this purely creative stuff on another channel?

I use this software: github.com/kosua20/MIDIVisualizer. I then record MIDI data from ARP into Ableton and play it out via a LoopMIDI Virtual MIDI Port: www.tobias-erichsen.de/software/loopmidi.html, recording the screen. It's pretty easy to configure. I have a NDLR and it's a great device but there are many differences between it and ARP. I am of course biased but, I believe ARP offers more freedom to explore chords and sequences where NDLR is limited to 7 Chord Scales in a chosen key. ARP also tracks external keyboard playing so it can behave more like an accompaniment to a Keyboard or Chord sequencer. ARP is also under continual development. I love working on it and will continue to expand its capabilities. I don't believe Nopia is available yet? I hope that this information helps.

@@midicakemidi Yes, Wow : this information helps a lot. Thank you very much. Okay : "MIDIVisualizer"... I've not yet a NDLR neither a Midicake ARP. I'm looking for accompaniment and the ARP will do this very well, according to your answer. So, I think I'll go for this "accompanion" 👍👌

@@wernervannuffel2608 That's great! If you have any questions about ARP, feel free to join our forum www.midicake.com/forum or contact us via the website www.midicake.com/contact-us

@@midicakemidi Yes, I like to join that forum. This is a very friendly invitation. Thanks a lot. 🙂