How does DrumComputer remix work? (What’s a programmed fill?)

garden

I was wondering if anyone here has a good idea of what exactly the “remix” function of Sugar Bytes’ DrumComputer actually does.

I’ve observed that if I control the remix with a CC, setting it to a specific value reproduces specific results. So unless I’m mistaken, it’s not just a constrained randomness. It appears to be more like a predefined slicing of the current pattern.

What I haven’t done yet is determine if the remix acts differently when you create different patterns. If it’s the same, or even very similar, then it’s likely that each remix value is basically hardwired.

Or is it fact an algorithm?

I ask because I’m interested in fills.

Lumbeat’s fills are great. Their developer has said something to the effect that they’re the result of analysis and knowledge of actual drumming technique. But they’re still programmatic… they still result from some set of rules applied to the running pattern.

Octachron’s “smart randomization” provides a glimpse of an interesting approach, though it does take some effort to tweak into submission.

DrumPerfect’s fills are… interesting, and while the app itself is famously user-hostile, it’s where I learned the combination of velocity and probability programming I now employ elsewhere to generate variation.

So anyway. I think you get the idea. Two related questions. How does SB generate fills, and how might one generate fills in general? (And I do mean generate… my curiosity here is specific to automation, not performance.)

Thanks as always for any thoughts on this.

bleep

It’s quite well explained in the Autofill/Remix section of the manual.

https://downloads.sugar-bytes.de/manuals/DrumComputer.pdf

Lorichs

The fill feature is really cool.
Since DC is quite heavy on the cpu I wonder if it could be recreated in drambo in some way.

garden

@bleep said:
It’s quite well explained in the Autofill/Remix section of the manual.

https://downloads.sugar-bytes.de/manuals/DrumComputer.pdf

… from the manual:

The Remix Feature is a one touch fill maker. Activate the Remix control temporarily to mutate the current pattern. 16 remix figures are available:
1-8 creates small rolls over 2-3 drum sounds, each figure addressing another group of engines.
9-14 will assign existing patterns to different engines.
15&16 creates pure 16th rolls and fires these across the engines.
Additionally, random pitch bends, send fx- and filter sweeps will be generated.

Hm. I guess? I’ll have to build myself some variant examples to make sure I understand these completely and correctly.

128BPM

Great topic, Thanks for bringing it up👍

garden

Ok, this morning I took the trouble to send a CC to the remix and observe the specific results:

1-6: triplets, always of the form 1-2-2, in ascending combinations, 2-3-3, 3-4-4, 4-5-5, etc.
7: 16ths: 1-1, 2-2, 3-3, 4-4, 5-5, 6-6, 7-7, 8-8
8: 16ths: 2-2, 3-3, 2-2, 3-3, 4-4, 5-5, 4-4, 5-5
9: play your programmed pattern, each instrument rotated forward by 7 (or backward by 1, if you prefer). So every drum 1 hit plays drum 8, every drum 2 hit plays drums 1, 3 plays 2, etc.
10: same as 9, but rotation is forward by 6 (backwards by 2).
11: same, rotated forward by 5 (backwards by 3).
12: same, rotated forward by 4.
13: forward by 3.
14: forward by 2.
15: 16ths, every instrument in succession.
16: 16ths, first four instruments in succession.

None of these look interesting on their own, but the sweep across modes during a performance is what generates what sounds like dynamic fill.

kirmesteggno

@Lorichs said:

The fill feature is really cool.
Since DC is quite heavy on the cpu I wonder if it could be recreated in drambo in some way.

I record my drums from DC in AUM and then import the recorded tracks into flexi samplers in Drambo standalone and trigger the bars I want with notes in Drambos step sequencer.

The way Drambo works makes it hard to use multi out drum plugins with the sequencer. But you can use samples, either sample chains where you can trigger the individual transients per note or evenly sliced up tracks where you trigger beats or bars. This way you still have the flexibility of the arranger/clip matrix that you'll lose when you're routing a drum rack from the main Drambo mixer into individual channels.