How to use SH4d and Circuit Tracks to create Berlin School music

I show how I used the Roland SH-4d desktop synthesizer and the Novation Circuit Tracks groove box (with a notable assist from the Roland SP-404 mkII sampler) to create a DAWless improvistaion in the Berlin School tradition. I explain my process in setting up the units, how I prepared musical material to improvise with, and how I eventually set about improvising with that material. I also discuss a little bit of thinking on how to improvise music in general.
Gear I used in making this video (as an Amazon Associate, I earn commission from qualifying purchases):
• Roland SH-4d - amzn.to/3IZVjCl
• Circuit Rhythm - amzn.to/3VVkBt9
• Roland SP404-mkII - amzn.to/43CYvNG
• Kirlin Stereo Audio Cable 1/4" 6 ft. - amzn.to/3PSprmT
• Tascam X8 audio recorder - amzn.to/3x8jdc0
• Axcessibles Portable DJ Table - amzn.to/3PQDh9w
• Rockville RSCSW Stand Scrim - amzn.to/3VFw6EM
• Gator X-Stand Bag - amzn.to/4aDazAF
• Rockville Battery Par 61 Light - amzn.to/3PKcnjx
Chapters:
00:22 Introduction
01:07 Connecting the devices
02:34 Thinking about how to improvise
03:23 Preparing the material
03:37 SH-4d pluck tones
05:38 SH-4d pad
06:42 SH-4d bass
09:52 Circuit Tracks drums
11:14 Circuit Tracks pad
11:47 Circuit Tracks lead
12:41 LFO to filter effects on SH-4d pad
14:13 LFO to filter effects on SH-4d bass
15:06 Overall form and scenes on the Circuit Tracks
16:26 Walkthrough of the improvised performance
30:10 Conclusion

[@namero999]

Fantastic, both the track and how you went through everything.. Nice tutorial

[@lectronin]

Thank you.

[@phuturemusic]

Compressors are so good 🙌

[@lectronin]

Agreed.

[@JohnMark61355]

Prepare for improvisation…love that! People laugh at me when I say I need to prepare to improvise.

[@lectronin]

Thank you. Honestly, you can't improvise without certain things being predetermined, even if the predetermination is as simple as, "There will be a beginning, a middle and an end. Listen and comment intelligently as you go, and when the end comes, make sure you end!" That could be the rules for a "free" improvisation. However, working with electronics, so many things need to be preset, ready to go, and you need to be able to access them so you can express an idea that enters your mind. You need to listen for happy accidents and respond in the moment. Thank you again for your comment, and I apologize if my response is too long, but I felt compelled to share (perhaps responding to the moment).

[@synthseeker]

Well done and great clear teaching. Bravo!

[@lectronin]

Thank you. I truly appreciate your encouragement.

[@grainyday]

Man , seriously, Thank you for those videos, sharing your experience, hints and such humble share. I really appreciate it. Such a gem . Your music is so relaxing but teaching is clear and logical. Please keep posting

[@lectronin]

Thank you. I truly appreciate your comment and encouragement.

Really great! I still haven't got an SH-4D yet. But I really thinking about getting it. I do have CT. My thought is to connect everything to my keystep pro and have that as a master.

[@lectronin]

Thank you. It seems the Keystep Pro will provide a better solution to sequencing the drums on the SH-4d.

[@psider3239]

Great stuff! I would love to see how you can explore the patterns in SH-4D to have variations of the same leads. The problem I have is that it changes all 4 tones. What if I want to change the variation of only 1 tone.

[@lectronin]

If by variations, you mean timbral (sound) variations, as opposed to melodic variations, I believe the unit does respond to MIDI PC. You could use a DAW, or other external MIDI device, to trigger these changes. However, the Circuit Tracks doesn't send MIDI PC per track (it uses it to call up projects, which ends up changing patterns when connected to the SH-4d, which can be extremely annoying).

[@SonicVibe]

nice earned a sub

[@lectronin]

Thanks for the sub!

[@fridmanator]

Love those videos you do! Is the SH-4D capable of receiving CC messages from the Circuit or anything external?

[@lectronin]

Thank you. Yes, it definitely receives CC from other gear. Check the manuals for the SH-4d, the Circuit Tracks, and/or any other gear you’re using. In the case of the SH-4d and the Circuit Tracks, the SH-4d can receive CC’s for things like filter cutoff, envelope parameters, etc., and the manual lists their assignment. On the Circuit Tracks side, you can create profiles that map the the rotaries as they’re assigned to the MIDI tracks. Therefore, you can assign a CC to the first rotary on MIDI 1, and as you move the first rotary knob, it’s value for the assigned CC will be transmitted to the SH-4d on the channel assigned to MIDI 1 on the Circuit Track’s setup panel.

[@ankur1283]

Nice concept and tutorial. Have you tried making SP 404 mark ii as master clock and sh-4 as follower. Could you please test and advise if it is workable for tempo sync?

[@lectronin]

I’ll think about it and see if I can give it a try.

[@timpigram6062]

Enjoyed that, thank you.

[@lectronin]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@chengxuyuanderprogrammiere4639]

that good looking pocket calculator is a mini sampler?

[@lectronin]

Yes it is. The Roland SP-404 is a compact, battery operated sampler. It also does sound generation and can work for DJing. In this video, I was running the sound through it for its excellent FX.

[@micaelarvidsson9034]

The sh-4d had several eq options on tone and output, while the circuit tracks has none. How well do these sound go together? Or do you need a eq mixer that eq the whole output?

[@lectronin]

How well the sounds go together is a matter of personal taste and perception. However, since the Circuit Tracks doesn't afford you the option of EQing per track (or even the entire unit) outside of a little LP/HP filtering. The sound will be a little more raw, like live musicians performing in a room. I find that somewhat desirable in performance. In production, if you have an idea you feel is worthy, you can record all 5 SH-4d parts into your DAW via USB. You can then record all your MIDI data from the Circuit Tracks into your DAW, or sample you Circuit Tracks Patterns in one at a time, and then reconstruct your performance in your DAW, where you can now use any software EQs or outboard EQs you have in your DAW or studio. Admittedly, it's a little tedious, but it's a tradeoff that comes with working DAWless.

[@micaelarvidsson9034]

When you change scenes om the circui tracks can those also automate pattern switch or program change on the sh-4d?

[@lectronin]

I believe selecting a new project in a pack sends out a program change from the Circuit Tracks. It's one of the ways it coordinates with its sibling, the Circuit Rhythm. I believe I disabled the program change send in Setup so I wouldn't have any unwanted Pattern showing up on the SH-4d. Now, it seems possible that you can plan for this in advance and coordinate your patterns on the SH-4d to be triggered by the corresponding Project on the Circuit Tracks.

[@dcarmich00]

Beautiful! What stands are you using for the SH4d?

[@lectronin]

Thank you for watching. I have a video about the stands here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/o3K1f5SAgL97ldU