Can the Deluge do Prog Rock?

Can the Deluge do Prog Rock?
Today I'm following up the MPC Prog Rock video with the same task on the Deluge! Recreating the drum and bass part from the guitar solo section of Rush's "Tom Sawyer" seems to be a good way to test out the odd time signature capabilities of most gear, and the Deluge easily passes...after a little math! What gear should I try this on next? Let me know in a comment below, and enjoy the video :)
GEAR IN THIS VIDEO
Synthstrom Deluge (not an affiliate link): t.ly/3irr
Zoom Livetrak L-12 (audio recorder): amzn.to/3wH7Cg5
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[@ywenp]

I think I mentioned it on the MPC video, but it really helps with the Deluge to use a muted note row (either in synth or kit mode) on which you put "dummy" notes to indicate the beginning of each bar. You start with just one page (with default 16th zoom), resize it however you want, put a note on the first column, and go shift+click knob several times, and there you have as many bars as you want with this note lit at the beginning of each bar.

[@FreeBeat]

That's such a good tip and I KEEP forgetting to do it haha. Thanks for watching!

[@duncan-rmi]

top tip. I hope they stick to their guns & make a mk2 with no screen too.

[@monsterlogostudios]

Hell yes. Glad to see this unofficial “series” coming to fruition. I’ve had great luck with odd meter composition on the deluge. It’s this type of flexibility that puts it head and shoulders above the OP-1 in my world.

[@FreeBeat]

Yeah, it's the most flexible hardware I've ever used, at least when it comes to working in the sequencer. Thanks for watching!

[@hermask815]

So cool , we get the answer in the first 15 seconds. The opposite of clickbait.

[@FreeBeat]

Haha yeah, the Deluge is just that good!

[@aptudo]

I loved watching this and truly admire your ability to hear beats and effortlessly put them on the grid. The Deluge gets a hard time from people for the UI, but you've only had this thing 5 months and your muscle memory is clearly doing all the heavy lifting. I really want one.

[@FreeBeat]

Thanks haha, I really appreciate it! Something about seeing the drum part laid out in front of me just makes sense in my head.

[@DaveCaseyin3D]

This is great! I’d like to echo the request for snapping to other time signatures. A long time ago, I tried inputting Tubular Bells, which is alternating 7/8 and 9/8. I had to do more and more math each time I scrolled.

[@FreeBeat]

That seems like a tonnnnn of math lol. Thanks for watching!

[@MaurizioDelmonte]

Thanks for this! Well done and very inspiring :)

[@fullspecwarrior]

This looks way more complicated than the MPC One but was very cool to watch, thanks

[@FreeBeat]

Yeah haha, it makes a lot more sense for me, but like I say in the video, I totally get how it might be overcomplicated to others. Thanks for watching!

[@coltranius]

I’ve not looked at the Deluge much, but when you zoomed and scrolled through the beat you were making my mind was blown

[@FreeBeat]

Yeah the zoom feature, and how it scales with just about EVERYTHING on the Deluge, is one of its best features in my opinion. So much power, and you can absolutely fly around your tracks with ease. Thanks for watching :)

[@DavidDeLuge]

The Deluge is king 🤴

[@FreeBeat]

Indeed!

[@returnofthegoth2220]

I really admire how well you know this song. True dedication!

[@FreeBeat]

Haha yeah, a lot of Rush's catalogue is ingrained in my memory, at least for drums, bass, and keys. Thanks for watching!

[@jantuitman]

I think really long phrases on the Deluge work particularly well for progrock like genres. When I compose on the Deluge one way of working is to make all kinds of short phrases for the rhythm and base instruments and then putting huuge long melody phrases on top of them in arranger view. That makes it easy to tell a “story” (have a developing line) in the melody.

[@FreeBeat]

Totally, it also makes it quite easy to go back and add variation if you want. The arranger view is so powerful! Thanks for watching :)

[@rayderrich]

I find this video informative, entertaining and G.A.S. inducing, so mission accomplished. Great job!

[@FreeBeat]

Maybe I'll have to add "G.A.S. inducing" to my outro hahaha. Thanks for watching!

[@shualiko]

Absolutely great video series 🔥🔥🔥

[@FreeBeat]

Thanks so much!

[@the.infinitesimal]

Awesome! Thanks to you. I desperately want a Deluge, and I understand there are better devices for synths and sounds, but I will be the limitation instead of the device for a while.

[@FreeBeat]

Yeah, the Deluge has a lifetime of learning within it haha. It can actually sound pretty darn good with some time and effort tweaking the synth engines too. Thanks for watching!

[@howardanderson3061]

Cool, I’m glad that you did the Tom Sawyer guitar solo for the purpose of comparing this (Deluge) workflow to the MPC-1. I like the classic left to Right sequencer with Deluge, it looks like a cool machine. Excellent idea to do, basically do an MPC vrs Deluge shoot out when it comes to Proggie odd time music! We saw the clear winner Lol

[@FreeBeat]

Yeah haha, if you're a visual person when it comes to sequences then the Deluge wins hands down. Thanks for watching as always!

[@highpaerbowlee]

brilliant!

[@FreeBeat]

Thanks so much!

[@wiegraf9009]

Currently struggling with some of this! It is a challenge with prog but even doing a 3/4 waltz is not trivial!

[@FreeBeat]

I know it helps some folks to keep a pen and paper nearby to map things out before doing the actual sequencing, maybe give that a try?

[@wiegraf9009]

@@FreeBeat Good idea thanks!

[@iosmusicman]

Informative and entertaining indeed 💽 cheers - Lee

[@FreeBeat]

Thanks so much!

[@SimpleHold]

Music is math, after all. I like how this one turned out, and since it’s a more comfortable workflow for you it makes it even better. Looking forward to the prog rock video with guitar, organ, bass, and drums. 😄

[@FreeBeat]

That would be pretty cool, doing a whole prog track. Maybe do a prog EP with each song being made on a different piece of gear!

[@gigamaxmusic]

Great series, what's next?

[@FreeBeat]

Not sure, what would you like to see?

[@hirudo881]

What if *I* cant do prog rock?

[@FreeBeat]

Listen to more Rush :D

[@BIG1TOWER]

This groove-box is awesome and better fit for me over the Mpc One

[@FreeBeat]

Same :)

[@jessehenderson3013]

Great video. I guess you could make your own metronome in this situation.

[@FreeBeat]

Yeah pretty easily. Someone else also said that having a blank row marked to indicate the start of each bar is a good idea, that's a good tip too. Thanks for watching!

[@loktar00]

What can't the Deluge do 😊

[@EverettVinzant]

Keep the attention of someone that prefers to use an MPC. 🤪

[@gigamaxmusic]

The deluge can't do a whole lot, It's a great sketchpad though.

[@listenanonymous]

I have found that for me the Deluge is very good for developing ideas and to somewhat work out arrangements but I do tend to eventually export, or rather record each instrument or drum part separately to a DAW, track by track, for adding additional guitars, bass, vocals or plug in processing, working towards a final mix and for mastering.

[@bartosz_xenon]

Sound good

[@martinklein9489]

it can't easily do complex wavetable digital synthesis ... that's why it has midi channels, so I just create two midi tracks, one for each of the two timbres on my hydrasynth deluxe and tadaaaa ... bass and lead on the hydra, drums on the deluge ... what more would you want? :)

[@johnnymidnight2982]

Prog with the Polyend Tracker or Squarp Hapax.

[@brutallyremastered4255]

Ha ha - never imagined hearing Neil Peart on the Deluge. Oresum.

[@FreeBeat]

Haha luckily the Tom Sawyer pattern is simple enough that sequencing it wasn't that bad. I can't imagine doing something like Bravado or Red Lenses on the Deluge though, way too much lol.

[@Necron90nine]

maysure

[@FreeBeat]

Thanks for watching :)

[@CmdrMic]

Dude, it's so great that some random anon gave you this, but seriously - too many vids on this thing, it's not something most of your P.O. using fan base is going to be shelling out for, much like the situation with the OP-1 (FYI, recently found out OP stands for Over-Priced🤣🤣🤣🤣😃.

[@FreeBeat]

Contrary to what you might think, this is not a PO exclusive channel haha. I mostly cover budget electronic music gear, but it is also about my personal journey. The Deluge happens to be one of my favorite devices I've ever owned, so I will not stop documenting it. I've made 19 videos with it since first getting it over 5 months ago, and as with the rest of my gear, it will stay in rotation. You don't complain when I use the MPC One, which only costs $100 less than the Deluge. I understand if you personally don't like it, and please feel free to skip any videos on the channel you're not on board with. I do upload every day after all :) Appreciate the comment as always!

[@wiggesobk]

Cool video. But the MPC was way faster 😁

[@FreeBeat]

I cut about 20 minutes out of the MPC video hahaha. The Deluge was wayyyyyy faster, and way less swearing on my part :D Thanks for watching!