Making A Song On The Dirtywave M8

The more I use the Dirtywave M8, the more I'm struck by how powerful it is, despite its extreme portability. If I ever do a "favorite gear of 2022" video, the M8 might be a serious contender! Here's a walkthrough of making a simple song on the M8, and as I mention in the video, let me know if there's anything I don't fully explain that you'd like to now more about. And if you're interested in the Dirtywave M8, there's a link below to M8 Headless, which is like a M8 without official hardware, that can be run off of a Teensy 4.1. Thanks so much for stopping by to watch and listen, and if you enjoy the video and haven't already, please consider liking and subscribing!
My Spotify: open.spotify.c...
M8 Headless: github.com/Dir...
You can find my twitter here: / joshmakemusic
​My Bandcamp here: joshismakingmu...
​And download my sample packs here: gumroad.com/jo...

[@brettgo1]

Instead of copying the entire phrase, you can clone into a new phrase with shift - option, then shift-edit

[@JoshIsMakingMusic]

Thank you for pointing that out! I've got so much to learn, it's exciting.

[@ZeOrtos]

superb ! a bit quick, but with several replays it helps a lot !! another one like this shortly ?

[@jkuebler89]

Dude so impressive how quickly and cohesively you came up with something that sounds so good and melodic. I messed around a little with M8 headless and I was lost lol when it came down to making anything sounding musical. Nice work, I hope you do more like this. Very informative!

[@erinzimmerman7953]

I'm already so excited about all the music you can make with this! 😍🤖🎶👾

[@Beetoe]

This a really excellent introduction to the M8, but... you're way too fast 🤣❤

[@JoshIsMakingMusic]

Sorry... I was having too much fun. 😂

[@Beetoe]

It seriously is an excellent introduction. I just picked up the M8 and hadn't used a tracker back from the Amiga days when I was a kid. I found this incredibly useful. Many many thanks@@JoshIsMakingMusic

[@theblankuser]

Trackers are hard af to learn but the most convenient formula to make complex music even with devices with very few buttons like this one

[@telantas]

That's a wonderful work-through. I feel like I understand this little box much bettwe now. I will sub.

[@theeltea]

Oh wow, you didn't make unga-bunga techno 4 or the floor. Props for that. Nice!

[@JoshIsMakingMusic]

Well, we'll have to see what the next song I make is. 😂 Thank you!

[@theeltea]

@@JoshIsMakingMusic I get asked about the Dirtywave a lot by my fellow musicians, while I won't be able to get my hands on one (war), I can't help but feel it's influencing the person who operates it towards a pretty chiptuney sound. Which isn't a bad thing. How do you feel about it, does it restrict or influence your creative freedom sonically?

[@JoshIsMakingMusic]

@@theeltea sorry I took so long replying to your comment. I don't know if I feel restricted by it so much as guided, if that makes sense. For instance, since the M8 makes it so easy to automate effects per step, I'm more likely to do a lot of per-step automation than if I were using a different groovebox. On the other hand, since each channel of the M8 is monophonic, I'm less likely to try and make pad sounds across multiple channels, and more likely to do a lot of arpeggiated patterns or countermelodies. But it's never 100%, there'll be tracks where I try to approach things differently. Each music making device is a tool that tries to accomplish its task in its own way, so even beyond limitations, there's just always a pressure to make certain kinds of music because the gear makes it easier.

[@theeltea]

@@JoshIsMakingMusic Awesome reply, very much appreciated and sums it up nicely. Thank you!

[@EdithFrost]

Hallelujah, this video made it all click for me!! I wasn’t quite getting it before as I have zero experience with any tracker, I only know linear multitracking & step sequencing. The manual left me pretty flummoxed & other videos I’ve seen as well, they all move so fast! But this f’n video led to the epiphany. It makes sense now. I really owe you one, man. ***Thank you***

[@JoshIsMakingMusic]

I'm so glad I could help!

[@SimpleHold]

Fun track and sounds, and good job showing how it’s all done. It’s quite an interesting piece of gear.

[@JoshIsMakingMusic]

Thanks! And yeah, it's fascinating. It feels like the aesthetic ideal of Little Sound DJ, lol.

[@fatbenjamin]

Excellent video. Thanks for helping me get my head around songs.

[@JoshIsMakingMusic]

My pleasure. Glad it was helpful!

[@jimmac]

Hopefully we’ll see more m8 vids? 😊

[@JoshIsMakingMusic]

You will... I'm writing out a review (now that I've had it for a while). 😁

[@Hexxedtone]

im deciding between this and the polyend tracker. any suggestions?

[@JoshIsMakingMusic]

I can't definitively speak to the Polyend tracker, but I think that it comes down to whether you want something easily portable, or a studio piece. The M8 is tiny and has its own synth engines so it can go everywhere and give you full functionality. The PT looks more comfortable to use in a studio for controlling external synths, since the screen is larger and there's more buttons/knobs. That said, I can only speak from impressions with the PT, but that's how it seemed to me and why I got the M8 (I already had a dedicated sequencer) and I have no regrets.

[@subzonepen]

Really nice starter tutorial. Just got my M8 and this has been very helpful. May I ask where I can pick up some sample packs? You showed a Future Bass pack, for example

[@JoshIsMakingMusic]

Thank you! And I think I found that one on a website called Cymatics. I often just Google "Free Sample Packs" or "Free [Genre] Sample Packs" if I've got something more specific in mind.

[@eeclarkutube]

FWIW....I believe the maker actually calls it the "EM 8" and not "mate"

[@JoshIsMakingMusic]

Thanks for pointing that out! Shame, I really liked calling it "mate." 😂

[@eeclarkutube]

@@JoshIsMakingMusic it’s all good. Over in Discord he said he doesn’t care either way really. 😃

[@1wildrogue]

Ah man, I really hope my m8 is going to ship soon. Great intro. It did clear a few things up for me!

[@JoshIsMakingMusic]

Thanks, I'm glad it was helpful! And wishing you a speedy M8 shipment!

[@JMX246]

Thanks for posting - just got a M8 headless going - learned a bunch from your video

[@el_dani]

Very cohesive video! yes you are fast but this gives us the gamey impression this device might lead into

[@grtchalmers]

Thanks. If I ever manage to get one of these I'm sure this video will prove invaluable for getting started

[@jasonfnorth]

Great vid! Just got my M8 and this helped. Rock on 🤘!

[@matthewwilson3673]

nice video, just got one from a trade, hoping to explore this more since it is very different from my polyend tracker in terms of getting to settings and instruments etc

[@CNTRRNDM]

Wow...that was fun!😁

[@JoshIsMakingMusic]

Thank you, glad you think so! 😁

[@nikolafeve]

Great video, thank you!

[@volsteh]

great walkthrough

[@JoshIsMakingMusic]

Thank you! 😁