Blackbox Track from Scratch // Weird Workflow but Still Great for Certain Things

The 1010 music black box workflow can be a little funky sometimes especially when it comes to its sequencer. Now, I'm no pro, but some things aren't as self-explanatory as I'd like. Outside of that though.. I think the black box is an incredibly powerful live set companion to anyone looking to play a Dawless show
Thanks again Tracklib! Get 15 records from Tracklib to sample for free with this link - www.tracklib.c...
And i sampled this track - www.tracklib.c...
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00:00 Bringing It Back
00:56 Tracklib Beat Feature
03:37 My Sample
01:55 Tracklib Promo Code
04:41 Sampling Into BlackBox
08:32 Chop Idea 1
13:04 Chop Idea 2 (Way Better)
15:52 Drum Buss Slamming!
18:09 Baseline Time
21:24 Lost In The Sauce
22:30 Blackbox Slept On?
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#Dawless #BlackBox #Sampler

[@J_Carter]

Dude, thank you *so much* for narrating your entire process--first ideas, left turns, doubts, confusion, mistakes, bumpin' break thrus. I learn a ton from watching you create.

[@rattlededge-somemikeratled1630]

... the black & blue together, with their multiple stereo outputs, i find to be the most useful two devices that have emerged from the suffocating morass of the music tech industry in the last few years.

[@tyroneshoelacez3498]

Add Lemonade and it’s even more amazing!

[@veltenhill]

Always glad to see some 1010music Blackbox content: I think I've settled on it as my primary hardware sampler.

[@duncan-rmi]

I use one of mine primarily for instrument multisamples, having finally worked out how to convert an existing multisample library into what the BB can read. it's very good for stuff like mellotron samples, & I've filled mine from my own m400 so I don't have to schlepp the latter any more. 🙂

[@DetroitMicroSound]

I think I'm finally about to give in to 1010music, and add the Blackbox to my studio. Granular!!!!! Btw, great track coming together, there.

[@daveschroeter]

I've watched the intro so much the sounds played in my head

[@gonemad83]

woah, you threw me. intro had no sound and i thought something was up with my computer 😂 thanks for the video, informative, entertaining and inspiring as always 🤟

[@RickyTinez]

hahaha i know my bad! no clue what happened

[@els1f]

This is such an amazing time to make music! There are an overwhelming amount of instruments that can single handedly do EVERYTHING 🙌♥️ that kinda makes it a hard time to make a decision though 😋

[@GG-zv9ku]

Weird intro lack sound

[@chinor3999]

I just stick to my DAW like some kind of degenerate millennial

[@RickyTinez]

@@GG-zv9ku whoa good catch!

[@RickyTinez]

seriously, what's even more amazing is i end up making the same-ish type of track on every device and no device makes me a "better" musician. Honestly just pick your poison haha

[@JerryGartnerPersonal]

@@chinor3999 bb is really just a DAW in a box.

[@AndyD2011]

Love this, the weekend ain’t the weekend without a new Ricky video. I got lost in this too, forgot it was a tutorial, just got into that groove and been dancing round the room! 🔥 🔥 👏👏👏👍

[@prvlnrzrlv4797]

2:45 “Who in some cases might not even be alive anymore…Which is really cool…”

[@myblueextremes1526]

Great to see you getting the BB out again. In some ways It's limited in it's feature set but I find it to be an awesome starting point for ideas. As for the live set problem you mention, I've been tempted to get a second one and use it as '2nd deck', maybe run two of them into an octatrack and you've got a live sequencing powerhouse and effects.

[@RickyTinez]

toooootally. i've done a video in the past where i just record my 2-4 bar loops into it and get "ready" for a show by just jamming... finding something cool.. can grabbing it and playing it out later!

[@NickMariette]

@@RickyTinez I’d love to see a video of building a whole track, not just a 2 or 4 bar loop. I do this a lot. Lots of hot loops, no full tracks - other than recorded jams which are fun but mostly not publishable material

[@locotek]

This tune is an absolute gem! Great stuff

[@viennabonaparte]

The tracker is the dirtywave m8, its also really powerful and fun! Great vid!

[@huntersandell859]

He said it wasn’t the tracker m8!

[@DaveSmithHayes]

I think he was talking about LSDj

[@GeorgeL909]

could also be a nanoloop! what a mystery!

[@heavysystemsinc.]

@@DaveSmithHayes He's talking about the SmplTrek by SonicWave, just announced a couple days ago.

[@thebeetlejoose]

NerdSEQ Portable

[@fetterssv]

I love my 1010 Bitbox Micro in eurorack. I'm planning to add their Lemondrop granular synth as a standalone instrument rather than a granular module, it's that well-thought out and capable on its own with any midi controller.

[@BUDGIEBEAT]

Ricky, I put the kettle on, to watch a quick review, forgot to engage the whistle, kettle almost went dry, you drew me in and what a trip it was. gotta get myself a BB or 2! you got a relaxed and engaging style - thankyou, B

[@RickyTinez]

haha! Careful!!! I've done that before too just jamming away

[@mattierenton701]

Your passion just shines through and you make it look SO EASY, very cool little device looks super fun and I'm very tempted to get one !!!

[@sixdonuts]

Wow - great track! I love my Black Box. Looks like you were having fun which is the whole point!

[@Zpro20]

Damn you didn’t eject the sd card, i’ve never had the balls to do that respect ✊. Also I totally agree the Blackbox is incredible piece of hardware. It’s workflow is so open ended that you don’t really know what you’re doing at the beginning but then you realize you can do basically anything, in any way you want and it’s awesome.

[@DawlessHouseMusic]

Keep House Alive! My BB is one of my favorite things. I've been in a MPC One phase but I actually always look to the BB first.

[@RickyTinez]

Bro, with that name alone i instantly subscribed haha! Can't wait to check out what you're working with!

[@duncan-rmi]

I don't use the presets during a live set or a long improv session, except for an initial setup- "fetch me some of the things I might use & put them here, here & here" sort of thing. I discovered that you can quickly reload samples into the pads while the thing's running, & working like that allows a set to develop & evolve, rather than stop-start or relying on another bit of gear to lay down some covering fire while you reload, so to speak. of course, I have three BBs anyway, & the bluebox recorder which is excellent. 😀

[@zeitgeist909]

Ricky - theres no audio on the intro buddy.

[@RickyTinez]

oops! oh well, as long as there's audio for the rest hahah. thanks for the heads up

[@spliffsoldier]

Never realized how much I enjoyed the intro till the video

[@the.secret.transmission]

It's great watching you walk through using these products

[@VIRALBEATS360]

I was wondering when you were going to take this out again, with the update... Such a fun piece of gear. I am still blown away by its sound. Great work!

[@Joel-re1jz]

The sound is so much clearer and crisp than any other gear I have. Even higher end audio interfaces.

[@justinjones2595]

Yes! More Blackbox vids

[@justinjones2595]

@@Joel-re1jz noticed that too with mine. It Must be the converters or something

[@RickyTinez]

yea something happened with this thing where it really did get way better. the functionality is great. Sure i wish it had more modulation sources or env->filter would be the ONE that i really want.. but honestly it does so much at this point that i don't even mind..

[@NickMariette]

@@RickyTinez you can use saw (or is it reverse saw, can never remember) LFO with beat sync to emulate env->filter. This can work nicely. You can use this thing like a synth! The resonance really helps take a sample a lot further too. Some people are doing this with single cycle samples, and I’ve done fun flanger type effects on things like hats using the same samples and sequences twice with one just slightly detuned or with a tiny amount of LFO on pitch. Then just resample to save the slot back. So much you can do if you use it creatively.

[@dolo747]

I use the blackbox more than my mpcx. i love it. I wish I had it when i first started making music in 98

[@jadilkeas]

Love to see you vibe, sounds amazing!!

[@jimmy999S]

FYI guys, you can do a most of this stuff with Koala sampler. It's very cool IMO for it's price and it's available on both Android and iphone.

[@monotronfan1]

Yes and it keeps getting updated by the developer. I personally center my setup around samplr, which handles looping better. iOS has come a long way

[@jimmy999S]

@@monotronfan1 Yeah, sadly most decent music making apps aren't available on android.

[@BoringStranger]

Haha love that you sort of murdered your workflow with a 78mb and 6:00 min sample and didn't start the recording again. ❤

[@BoringStranger]

Also did you try the new firmware? It can make the sequencer have layers (like an A,B,C,D section). Pretty awesome. Imagine if they add parameter locking.. WHAAAAT

[@daneguitarist1]

heyyyyyyyyyyyyyooooooooo no intro music haha i thought i had my speakers on mute lol anyways, thanks for this, i have the eurorack version of the blackbox and very very very under use it

[@carstensorensen154]

Great video as usual! Have not used BB for a while but now feel inspired to take it on my trip abroad tomorrow ;-)

[@squoblat]

It would be immensely cool if you could run a series like this with the little sampler boxes. I'd like to see if you can get such a good groove on so easily with the circuit Rhythm. Edit: that fresh trim is looking tidy by the way

[@Bigger-Circuitry-Bigger-SOUND]

#DopeSession 👌, more like this please . Give some advice to 1010music to improve the step sequencer ( still no note repeat and no arpeggiator unfortunately ) .

[@DavidMorley]

It's a brilliant device. Use mine for live and it's stable and easy to interact with. Such a great unit.

[@daveyearp1499]

Don't normally comment but cheers for all the videos Ricky. Had the BB since it came out and it is still the best bit of kit I have, love it. Peace from Austria 👍

[@RickyTinez]

Davey i super appreciate you reaching out! What's your favorite thing to do with the BB? or you just use it alone?

[@daveyearp1499]

@@RickyTinez When I travel it is the one piece of gear I take along. At home it is really the heart of my set-up, which is of course always fluid. Currently have lots of fun with this running the Roland TR8s both into the lovely Xone 96, with effects on a newly acquired Alexander pedals 'Fever Pitch' ..just an awesome pedal you must have a look at this sometime Ricky. Cheers for the reply 👍

[@MrDarthSeriousmixes]

where's the intro asmr O.O?

[@g3cd]

I love the blackbox, but I only use it for sampling as I find the sequencing and song mode too confusing (and my fingers are too fat for the tiny sequencer settings), that's why I always use it with the Polyend Seq to trigger one of 16 tracks via MIDI. I might also try to pair it with a DJ Techtools Midi Fighter Twister to get a knob with 3 functions for every track. Still, even if you only use it as a sampler, the blackbox is one of the best gear out there for THE best price.

[@marquezvanroeschen5340]

funky jam. the beat is dope man!

[@Deathgazeroo]

Love your jacket dude! And your work!

[@ehnmusik]

love your vibe

[@dracul74]

I ask myself all the time if I need one, but have so many other tools that do similar things. Looks fun....

[@jlegitdjspider]

I agree black box is super underrated I definitely use mine as a brain in my setup

[@jreign]

I first heard about the blackbox from your vids. I just upgraded the blackbox with an internal 3000mah lipo battery yesterday(lasts 4 hours after charging). Helps my GAS for the M8!

[@FredAlert]

Hi! Im curious, was it hard to install? Any guides for the mod?

[@jreign]

@@FredAlert its pretty easy, took about 30mins to install. I didn't see any real guides, just the vid from 'greasy conversation', and the 1010music forum topics 'battery hack' pics. I used a slider switch for a low pro look instead. Probably the hardest part is cutting/drilling the case to fit the switch.

[@JerryGartnerPersonal]

Always great content - thank you. Good tip on separating tracks. An easy way to bring parts in and out. A few things: I like the portability of the blackbox. I have a power bank that will run it for hours and hours. I can plug a (powered) mic into the bb and record straight into it. @Stimming_official does some creative things with this in live sets.

[@jamiemcintosh1234]

Another dope RT video

[@EarJuice]

I just got mine. Updated firmware and added a heap of my own loops onto sampler ready to go. But it's got some demo track and fast BPM. Do I have to start a new song and just not enter song mode to just start with fresh pads, the bpm I want and no sequences?

[@benhall2235]

Remember when apple devices had sd card readers included? Wild. My latest MacBook Pro (work not my own) just has a load of usbc ports. Adapters needed for everything other than the charger.

[@iamKiluka]

The weird gameboy with the tracker is the Dirtywave M8 :)

[@demolove2166]

Yo could you be thinking of the analogue pocket ?? Little gameboy shaped emulator that I believe comes with LSDJ preloaded onto it, pretty cool device ! P.S. I love the way you build these tracks up, always a blast to see the process. I’m sure you’ve said it before but is there somewhere you’re posting the final productions of these songs from the videos? Would love to hear how they end up

[@DoctorSoctopus]

Damn Ricky looking fresh!

[@loopman6466]

Hi Ricky, I would like your advice: for the same Blackbox features like the Looper or being able to be a main Midi/Usb HUB peripheral for all other machines connected to it, for a better Workflow, what do you think would be a good alternative to the Black Box? Thanks

[@isaacanthonydj4124]

100% about the rhodes with a bit of saturation/distortion!

[@synthexplained8575]

Dope Beat Ricky you convinced me not to sell the >Blackbox! :-)

[@user-yb5fx3dt6g]

Can you do a (video where you do a) track with this that records guitars for verse and chorus, uses the sequencer for the drum part, and then add a midi piano part?

[@bungeechord1]

Reminds me of Black Market by Weather Report

[@InitialDL84]

I actually bought the Blackbox back in 2020 during the height of the pandemic and played around with it, but something about it intimidates me. I think it's just that I'm so use to my DAW workflow and trying to transition into hardware, that it keeps me from using it. I do want to get into using it at some point with my Korg Minilogue XD!

[@RickyTinez]

when it comes to making the beginning of the song middle and end it can be a bit of a chore compared to a DAW. if you get the idea started in hardware and then use the DAW to its strengths you're golden!

[@kooljules]

What happened to your intro music? It’s muted

[@jolieuke]

Cool track ! I was about to dust off my BB so, here we go ! Thanks ! Looking forward for another Blackbox video ...

[@stevenlindstrom3050]

Owned one of these and returned it. The tiny screen made it very hard to edit sequences. If you’re not a sure handed player, this box makes the process of record / edit / tweak rather difficult. (It did for me anyway.) …When I checked into the user forums and people were talking about buying styluses to manage edits on the sequencer screen, I packed it up and shipped it.

[@tezeta3725]

I dont own it, but I've borrowed it from a buddy a few times and had the same problem. I did find that once I had a note placed it was actually very quick and intuitive to edit its position, length etc. with the knobs. I just wish there was a way to place notes in without the touchscreen.

[@stevenlindstrom3050]

@@tezeta3725 yeah the knobs are a preferred method for movement, but tedious in their own way. Just thought they should have had a much more straightforward method for placing notes in a sequence to begin with. The box *does* have 8 buttons…. Not exactly rocket science, right? But where I ended up is just that they made this for somebody other than me. Happy MPC One upgrader here. 👍

[@danielfeatherstone674]

does the Blackbox have bluetooth? What a simple self-powered speaker with an audio input? Any recommendations?

[@artesneutrales6936]

Hello, I am interested in buying a Black Box Sampler Studio. Before that, I would like to know the maximum number of seconds I can upload a pre-made sample from Ableton. I want to include this machine in my live setup to play backing tracks of complete songs (5 minutes or more) and additionally play other live machines I have. Do you think the Black Box would work for this purpose? Is it possible for the sample track I upload to the Black Box to sync with my external Groove box and other machines? Thank you very much

[@DJHUNDEFRIEDHOF]

Super cool video! I love that instrument! Ive got it twice! Its perfect to create funny songs! Cheers DJ DOG CEMETERY

[@hypebeastdad]

I’m about to bring mine out

[@ericsena3238]

SPMk2 or Blackbox?

[@_B.C_]

What headphones are you using in this video. They look comfortable.

[@kevinclarke9406]

Firmware v3 just released. How about an updated Compact Creations?

[@bobclark5360]

Awesome video. Big help. I’m probably gonna make the plunge. But got a question. Can I set the Key and scale on BB. I’m not a musician and rely heavily on all the tools available. If I can do key and scale that would be awesome. Also is there a song mode in BB?

[@SLRPS]

Nice stuff 1010 really packs a ton of features into their stuff. You still have the squid salmple around? That unit has a great vibe.

[@ericdowning8705]

Great video, Ricky! Which would you consider for a sampler used for singer/songwriter solo and band usage for synth, beats, sounds in general, Blackbox, Roland SP 404 mkii, novation rhythm, or something else?

[@tsunamimae1965]

Dude it's not a witchcraft, it's multitrack :D they just invested money into buying session tapes, great move tbh.

[@Gainn]

I just want 1010music workflow on the MPC Live.. Then I'll be happy.. lol

[@marantz1]

I sold mine a long time ago. Actually trying to make full songs on it ended up being a nightmare.

[@RickyTinez]

yea i hit that roadblock all too often, which its great for starting tracks but not finishing

[@bboymac84]

You can download the loop you want in tracklib instead of downloading the whole sample

[@Lemon-qs1dl]

Hey man big fan nice video

[@bipedal_earth_roamer]

Is there no way to play a loop unquantized? It was night and day for me when I figured it out on my Digi devices.

[@kubidus]

😻😻😻😻😻

[@Steve-Tr1Bz]

Hey Ricky have you updated your Peak to 2.0 yet, can you do a video on the peak update

[@davidhelbich]

How long did you scroll through the sample? :) I would love the blackbox to let us tap somewhere for the ins and outs, instead of having to scroll through the samples for ages.

[@kimrobinson6838]

Hi so the sequences overlap as tracks when combined together to make a song?

[@nickskywalker2568]

Loving the vibe! I suck at making house, although that's the sound I' am after now. I feel like I need to build myself a library for good drum samples as it's the foundation. Any recommandation?

[@kaitsu9608]

I recommend 909 and 727 kits to start with. Household staples of house music.

[@nickskywalker2568]

@@kaitsu9608 Didnt know about the 727. Do you mix its sounds with the 909 ones? I always start with 909 and then that's it 😅

[@RickyTinez]

honestly that's the most important part of house is having good drum sounds. i wasted a LOT of time trying to make club music with hip-hop samples and was frustrated with why it never sounded like club music and way chill haha. Brawther has some on his patreon. and the Samples From Mars samples are great too

[@maquettemusic1623]

@@nickskywalker2568 727 is like a Top Kit, for high hats and percs. 909 is a more standard kit. Use whatever x0x you want in house, whatever sounds good to you, but try branch out and use homemade sounds rather than just samples.

[@kaitsu9608]

​@@nickskywalker2568 Yeah, mix it in. Its just percussion kit, but more organic sounds. I use samples from mars. Just 909 will be fine too :) 808 even. Roland kind of pioneered this :)

[@LoveMeBack]

It’s not so much slept on, but more about value. 700 bucks. I cant help but think why not get the MPC 1 for instance? I would love to have it but choices need to be made. But more important you missed a happy accident @17:56?

[@doordedeur]

It's all about 4 bar loops. How does the Blackbox compete with complete songs, like I use Cubase?

[@gonzalozech]

Hello Ricky, I'm quite curious about the Bluetooth headphones you are using. When plugged in, headphones usually sound much better than when used wireless, is the practicity worth it compared to the sound quality or are these so good that the difference is not big enough? As far as I know, Bluetooth can only transmit at 320 kb/s, but it might vary depending on the codec.

[@RickyTinez]

So these headphones are NOT bluetooth! they have a transmitter that is lossless audio and super low latency! I've been in LOVE with them lately, you can check them at my link here aiaiai.audio/rickytinez I also did a video on them here as well. -kzbin.info/www/bejne/Z4Coc4GQfN93la8&ab_channel=RickyTinez

[@gonzalozech]

@@RickyTinez Thank you, I didn't have a clue that this existed!

[@meinemudda3095]

0:20 Do you mean lsdj for the gameboy Or nitrotracker for nintendo Ds Or the instrument NerdseQ Or the sequencer RK8 Or the raspberry pi pocket /pocketpi with milkytracker Efflux would also work

[@KordTaylor]

Thanks so much Ricky. My son is trying to sort a drum machine. While I know difficult, it would be great for you to do an overview of the pad programming vs grid and synth vs samples scenarios. And YES PLEASE. Do a Bluebox for track playback video. I think it’s stellar for that and would love to hear your thoughts. Also a bb w/Novation pad control if you haven’t done that already. Thank you. ❤️

[@PCoyte]

I'd like to try using this for stems live instead of a computer (as you mention at the end) together with a modular set up. I know it can record CV data but do you know if it can it playback midi files too?

[@atomicstack]

Yup, it supports playback of MIDI files. While on the piano roll, it's listed as "Import" in the Edit menu. Page 72 of the manual has the relevant info.

[@carlos_martinezzz]

I would recommend the bitbox MK2 or micro. I have one for my modular and it is very versatile. You can use it to multisample plugins or other synths, as a playback device, drum machine or warp samples.

[@PCoyte]

@@atomicstack that’s great. It seems like the best laptop replacement for live performance. Only worry is load time between tracks

[@PCoyte]

@@carlos_martinezzz that would be perfect too but I like the portability of the Blackbox plus I could easily use it in non modular set ups

[@techsture]

No audio on the intro... ?!? I literally paused the video and thought my system was screwed up for a minute. LOL

[@RickyTinez]

myyy baaaddd hahah

[@bufu7763]

For years I had no idea this was a standalone device. I always thought it was a eurorack module so I just ignored it

[@j4nv]

2:38 ... "in collaboration with the original artist who in some cases may not be alive anymore, which is really cool" ... oh no... 😂 (I know, I took it out of context)

[@stevekirkby6570]

TrakLib - always good to pay back to artists who may be dead. Yup.

[@kookiespace]

haha did you fuck up the audio in your intro? :') also wow those trippy visuals are so weird. I guess it's the way the LED screen works? Anyway I gotta check out this update. Looks like they fixed a lot of complaints people have made (including myself lol)

[@tb80038]

It may be different in person but this seems so tedious. I feel like I'd throw it across the room in 15 mins. Chop 2 is a groooooooove btw

[@nicks.8003]

No sane person has that few of files in their downloads folder. #worriedaboutyou

[@pauldablue]

- All the gear, no idea

[@landonh3535]

The big question is what is this M8 alternative you are talking about? haha.

[@RickyTinez]

I found it! It's called the analogue pocket- www.analogue.co/pocket

[@landonh3535]

@@RickyTinez Rad, thank you! I think we are about to see an explosion in the fully portable music production market.

[@segfault-berlin]

God ricky's videos have just gotten depressingly formulaic

[@RickyTinez]

What would you like to see L Brown? i'm open to suggestions :) Thanks for sticking around!

[@kh485]

All this tech and money to make a track that could be produced on a 90s groove box. Just like a Roland MC 505.