Yes, it's another solid sample pack for the Analog Rytm drum machine! If you like your drums powerful, dirty, and raw, then this pack is for you. The Base Elements Sound Pack contains custom samples recorded from the Jomox Airbase 99, MBase 11, MBrane 11, and JaZBase 03 analog percussion synthesizers. Using a combination of analog engines and crunchy, lo-fi 6-bit samples, Jomox machines emulate the TR-909, TR-808, and also go much further into their own sonic territory!
Jomox drum modules are notorious for their unique, raw, and powerful character. The word is that the owner of Jomox once repaired TR-909 drum machines and got to know them inside and out, so you definitely get the TR-909 sound characterics in their products, with more tweakable parameters than the original machine. Think TR-909 with a twist! And now, with the Base Elements Sound Pack, these renowned sounds are available for use to the sequencer, filters, overdrive, compression, and effects of the Elektron Analog Rytm. An extremely powerful sonic combination! Check it out...
Sample chains are long samples that are made from a "chain" of shorter samples. The samples in the chain are selected by adjusting the start (STA) and end (END) parameters in the SAMPLE page. You can easily scroll through the chain until you find the sample you want to use.
This is an efficient way to select samples, but another benefit of using sample chains is that you can fit a larger amount of sample data into a project than if you simply used single one-shot samples. The Analog Rytm can load 128 samples per project: if some (or all) of these samples are sample chains, it can multiply the number of sounds readily available. For example, the new Analog Rytm: Acid Sound Pack utilizes sample chains, and therefore contains a total of 567 samples!
In the SAMPLE page, when you adjust the start (STA) and end (END) points, it can be helpful to know the numerical increments of where a sample begins and ends.
For example, if you have a sample chain with 24 slices (24 samples), then you move the STA and END in increments of 5. (In the Rytm, the STA/END parameters have a range of 120 increments, so 120 / 24 = 5).
In this case, to select the first sample in the chain, move STA to 0 and END to 5; to select the second sample, move STA to 5 and END to 10, and so on...
So, the number of slices in a sample chain (12, 15, 24, 30, 60, 120, etc.) determines the increments of the STA and END parameters. Just divide 120 by the number of slices in the chain to get the numerical increments. Alternatively, Elektronauts Forum user NickD has created an Analog Rytm sample slice calculator that shows these increments for you!
The Analog Rytm: Acid Sound Pack, contains sample chains with a variety of sample slices. The number of slices in a sample chain is shown in the file name. For example, "BD_12_CHAIN" has 12 slices (BD / Kick samples). "BASS_120_CMajSCALE" has 120 slices: 120 Bass samples of individual notes in the C-Major scale in 5 octaves with multiple accent values. (C major is a commonly used key signature with no flat or sharp notes, so it's easy and quick to make melodic bass lines with this chain!)
It's nice using sample chains with similar sounds grouped within them. It makes it fast and easy to create variations in kits or patterns just by scrolling through sounds in the chain. Good luck with it!
Good news! There's a new and simple way to load samples into the Analog Rytm!
SDS Drop is an app for Mac OS that enables one to easily and quickly drag and drop samples into the Rytm, directly to the pads. Made by Jacob Penca, the same person responsible for the excellent Strom sampler app for iOS. Using SDS Drop, I just made a new drum kit tonight in record time!
Worth checking out... life just got a little easier.
I've been getting excellent feedback from Analog Rytm users who purchased the Vermona DRM1 MKIII Sound Pack. I'm pleased that people are getting great results from it.
I also love hearing tunes that use the pack, because we get to hear the sounds in a variety of musical contexts and genres, which is always a nice surprise. Drums often form the backbone and character of a track, and certainly the Vermona DRM1 MKIII delivers this: the sounds are oozing with unique analog character.
I've always been a big fan of Depeche Mode, so I was pleased to hear this cover of the song "Wrong" from Franck Superbaby, done all on Elektron gear. On the Analog Rytm, he uses a demo pattern from the Vermona DRM1 MKIII Sound Pack. Waiting to hear "Master and Servant" next! Anyway, sounds great, check it out:
If you make some tunes with an Elastic Membrane sound pack, let me know... I'd love to hear it!
Send a link or sound file to: info@elastic-membrane.com and I'll feature it on the blog or feature it in a upcoming mix, etc.
Like the other Elektron machines, the Analog Rytm has a ton of shortcut button press combinations to save time and improve workflow. Elektronaut "DC astro" has compiled a Quick Guide for the Analog Rytm on the Elektron Elektronauts forum. (Elektronauts is a forum with loads of user tips and information about Elektron gear and other music making gear.) The Quick Guide is essential: it will make your time spent with the Rytm so much better!
For anyone still undecided about getting an Analog Four, Analog Keys, or Analog Rytm, Overbridge should be the push they need. Overbridge will completely integrate the newest Elektron machines with your computer via the USB port, bridging the gap between hardware and software. Elektron is releasing a public beta version of the software, and you can sign up to participate in the process at the Elektron site.
Some of the Overbridge features listed so far:
Stream multitrack audio
Ability to sync Elektron sequencers to your DAW
Edit parameters on the machines via plugins
Sequencing and automation
Ability to connect multiple machines
Ability to use an Elektron machine as an audio interface via the audio IN/OUT
OSX and Windows support
VSTi versions of the machines (Audio Units coming soon)
And some of the features coming in the future:
Sample management for Analog Rytm
Analog audio processing
Total recall of machine states within a DAW
Librarian for sound and patch management
Pattern and song editing
Read that list a few times... and think of the possibilities. Mind-boggling!
This is a potential game-changer and a massive leap forward for Elektron. If users prefer the workflow of software and VSTs, this is now an option via Overbridge. But in addition, users will have all the benefits of hardware machines and can detach from the computer at any time. The best of both worlds? Time will tell. How do you plan on using Overbridge? How will it affect your workflow?
But another pressing question remains: Will Elektron soon be offering their coffee cups for sale? Coffee and music making go hand in hand...
What happens when you cross-breed two of the finest analog drum machines on the market today?
An analog mutation, that's what happens. Theresults of this experiment can be seen in the latest Analog Rytm sound pack: Vermona DRM1 MKIII. Take the pristine analog tones from the Vermona DRM1 MKIII and add them to the power and flexibility of the Elektron Analog Rytm, and you have a recipe for some serious analog punch!
The DRM1 MKIII is an analog drum synthesizer that makes a wide variety of analog synthesized percussive sounds. It can get deep overdriven 808 or 909 style kick drums... punchy, noisy snares and claps... organic toms, congas, clave, rims, snaps... metallic hi-hats from outer space... and lots of other alien noises. It even makes bird chirping sounds! The DRM1 is full of knobs and it can take a fair bit of tweaking to get the sounds you want out of it, but the process is rewarding.
Now put those sounds into the Elektron Analog Rytm drum machine and you're in a whole different dimension. The Rytm has excellent analog synthesis, and it also shines as a sample player and sample manipulator. It's a very playable machine with a superb sequencer and drum pads. When you load samples into it, you get to process them with real analog filters, overdrive, and compression, bringing a whole new flavor to the samples!
For the Analog Rytm DRM1 MKIII sound pack, 16 drum kits were carefully crafted from the DRM1 and loaded into the Analog Rytm for further processing and sequencing. Two of the kits were modeled as close as possible to TR-808 sounds doing close A/B comparisons. The DRM1 gets incredibly close to TR-808 sounds (especially the kick) but also has its own unique flavor. In addition there are also kits that approach 909, CR-78, and SP-1200 territory, as well as a host of others.
The pack also has 32 sequenced patterns in a variety of styles, perfect for jamming or as starting points for unique grooves or beats. The kits each have performance and scene modes to tweak and morph the samples in real time, leading to endless sonic surprises! Check the audio demos and explore a world of analog mutations.
