Cover Question - Karma

[beatlessDesign]

Hi Guys,

New to sound programming and setting up complex combi's... I'm looking to setup combi for Lionel Richie - Dancing on the Ceiling.

What I want to do is Create and Assign the intro synth arp to a single key and have the rest of the required sounds split and layered where needed while also sending a click track out of an aux output to our drummer.

I may need to change slots in setlist as I change sounds as the song goes on and still want the click to stay synced and the arp too.

I'm fairly sure this is possible but not too sure where to start?? If anyone can give me some pointers it would be great, will have to do similar for a few songs.

Thanks in advance.

[QuiRobinez]

there are multiple ways to solve this, but i would choose the most easy one for live performances.

I would only use 1 combi, in that combi i would use:
- a wav file with the intro that i recorded at home or in the studio and that is bound to the C1 key
- a split keyboard setup with all the sounds i need in their own keyboard zones or layered on top of eachother so that i can use the mute or solo buttons to use them
- in the global menu i would use the mute mode:live setting so that the sounds are muted by the mute button and don't consume polyphony when they are muted.

Combining wav files with the sounds in your combi is a real big plus of the kronos, you can activate them with your keyboard, your nanopad (trigger) or even with KARMA notes (for instance Loops). Also backing or lead vocals in sync, Sound effects, it's all possible in your combi by using the wav files you've prepared upfront.

And the best part: it's really easy to setup

The alternatives are:
- creating KARMA patterns with the KARMA software
- using RPPR patterns

There are lot's of examples of this on my youtube channel, also there are several tutorials explaining how to setup backing tracks or using samples and how to setup split keyboard combis.

some examples:
Using vocals in sync with a combi (mashup Jessy J and Britney Spears):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aaRwiPfSeto

Using loops and effects in a combi (karma activates the hihat loop):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oqYw0aFNzr0

tutorial: How to create your first combi:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7frcN8ASFk0

tutorial: Using backing tracks
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=edzVvnGccgc

[beatlessDesign]

that sounds good but I a 61 note Kronos and I don't think I'll have enough real estate for all the layers and splits in one combi so will prob need more than one.

Also if I just create a one bar WAV of the section i want can I then have it loop untill I hit C1 again??

[BobTheDog]

Better still create a wav of everything and sit back and have a beer.

[HardSync]

As Qui said, there are indeed many options. Qui's combi method is a good choice if your band is going to any kind of improvisation on the song - for example, extend the length or ending of the song and jam it so that people can dance for a longer time. (You're still going to have to deal with the key change a little more than halfway through in this particular song though, which means you'll need a second arp wav or whatever you end up using).

If, however, your band is always going to play this song the same way every time - no deviations, ever - then creating a full sequence (song) is another option. The first advantage here is that you don't need to worry about the click track & the arps going out of sync -- they will always be in sync and you only have to worry about the rest of the band getting out sync with the entire sequence*. Nor do you need to worry about triggering the arp and shutting it off or about the key change, since these are already pre-programmed by you. Another advantage to using a sequenced song is that you can still use the Set List functionality to switch between tracks / sounds whilst the sequence continues to play, allowing you to set up the various timbres needed throughout on separate tracks, some layered, some not.

*(If the band happens to get out of sync with the sequence it is generally catastrophic and embarrassing).

As Qui noted in his post, you can also use RPPR without actually creating a full sequence or starting the sequencer. RPPR does have a shutoff key (C2), and you would need to devote two additional keys at the bottom end of the keyboard to trigger the two arp patterns -- leaving you the first playable note at D#2. A possible problem with the RPPR shutoff key is that it shuts off ALL patterns that are playing, if you have more than one pattern playing at a time that is.

If you go the sample / wav route in a combi, my preferred method for shutting off a looped sample at will is to create is a drum program using your sample(s). This way, you can use the Exclusive Group (Exclusive Assign) parameter to designate any key you want as a shutoff key (see pg 794 in the Parameter Guide) using any short drum sample that is silenced by having it's level turned down to -99. This technique is done in conjunction with the Hold parameter in a program by the way.

Similar to that, perhaps an easier way for many is to create a multisample with, in your case, two samples assigned to keys, with no other samples assigned to any other keys. First sample on C2, second sample on C#2. Save the mulitsample, etc., etc. Next, create a mono program so that only one key can play at a time. Turn on the Hold function for the range of the two samples. D2 will become the shutoff key. Put this into a combi, and limit the keyboard zone accordingly.

You could also try doing the arp with the Polysix arppegiator, but you would need more than one key or set up an on-screen pad to play the desired chord to create the pattern. It syncs to the tempo, andt he Polysix arp can switched on/off with any AMS Source, including I believe a key on the keyboard if you use Note Number as the AMS source. Not sure how well that work though in practice. I'd go with one SW1 or SW2, personally.

[xp50player]

Make one-finger arp sound with AL1 using step seq. Enable sustain pedal for that part only, in Combi.