Masterclass with Dan Stesco : Arpeggiators 1

Author : Dan Stesco

Kromeheaven is very proud to bring you an exclusive article for your Korg Krome, written by our friend Dan Stesco ! In this article, Dan explains us what arpeggiators are and how to use them in your krome, taking a single example.

After reading this, you will be able to make great combinations, using this fabulous function...and share them with us !

Enjoy !

Cyph

Understanding Arpeggiator

Basic "the arpeggiators" is a function that automatically generate arpeggio. Being based on the polyphonic structure, they can generate a variety of phrase or chords transformation.

Fortunately, the Korg Voice Team has push to the limit the arpeggio exploitation and dual arpeggiators become close to a groove box.

                                            Arpeggiator GUI on krome

Arpeggiators play notes on steps. The number of notes from a step depends on how many dots that are added on the step line and how many notes are playing on chords.

In this way, using one single arp pattern in combi mod, we can play two different timbre at the same time. (bass and guitar for example)

Try yourself!

Make a split, bass with guitar and run the arp pattern 666-Brs.Balcan Riff for timbre 1 and 2. The lower note from the chord will play the bass line and upper notes from the chord will play the guitar chords.

Another important aspect : the arp pattern can cover a large area of keyboards using the octave ability.

                                     Arp pattern under Krome Editor

In the combi with multi split mod, the arp pattern can follow a scale with 4 or more consecutive timbre. Also, the octave ability can make arp pattern to come with delay.

For example if the timbre is limited by Key zone on the 4'th upper octave, the arp pattern with 1/16 time signature and 16 steps lenght which is selected to play 4 octaves will be active after 3 measures.

If the timbre is selected on lower zone the arp pattern will play once at 4 measures.

                Arp pattern Brs Balcan Riff but with acoustic bass and accordion !

The Arp Pattern can emulate the Wave Sequence:

Each step have velocity adjustment. So a timbre with fixed velocity can be played by the single step. 4 different steps can alternate 4 different timbre with same note.

Other Velocity Trick

In the same arp pattern we can hide two different loops for two different timbres.
For example two different bass pattern in the same arp.

Try to make the arp pattern with 16 steps. Use all steps for 1/16 bass pattern and set the velocity 100 for steps 2,4,6,8,10,12,14,16. Now set the velocity 110 for steps 1,3,5,7,9,11,13,15. Make a combi with two bass split and separate by velocity; Timbre 1 bottom 00 top 127 Timbre 2 bottom 110 top 127.
Playing the Timbre 1 range, the Pattern will be 1/16 notes and for Timbre 2 range the pattern will be 1/8 notes.

So more tricks can be discovered using the unimaginable Arp possibility.
Making new attempts we can find a various application of arpeggiators. Is not a simple machine that only play a few notes.

Good luck,
Dan