Two bars is available for making and hearing different clave patterns within this sequencer. Navigate using your computer’s keyboard or click directly onto circular pulse grids to edit the rhythms. Performance settings are separated from the editing controls, allowing you to change the feel of the entire ensemble at will while also tweaking each hit individually.
To load an authentic pattern instantly, simply click on the reference fan at the top of the interface. Click Son or Rumba to load standard Cuban clave directions, or choose Bossa for a Brazilian guide pattern. This change all the accompanying instruments to support this style of music and resets the active layer.
How to Use the Clave Sequencer
The swap button in the controls panel allow you to change between three side and two side entrances. To choose your instrument layer, simply click on the Conga support, Bell guide or Clave sticks buttons. Edit pulses only in the active layer. All of the markers are visible at once. This lets you follow what is happening in the other two instruments that weave into the main clave without cluttering up the editing view.
The little nodes in the two rings can be tapped to edit the pattern. One ring is for a four-four bar of sixteen sixteenth notes. Tapping one node toggles it between accent, normal and no sound at all. The indicators within the rings for all the nodes on all the layers will adjust according to how strong they are current set.
Keyboard editing is also available at speedier rates. Keys 1-3 is used to pick between three layer levels: Low, Support Guide, and Sticks. Arrow keys cycle through each of the thirty-two pulses. Click a pulse with space or enter key to change the strength like you would with a mouse.
Once you click the launch ensemble orbit button, it begins the playback loop. It then set the audio to play at the same time on all three instruments in perfect synchronisation. When the sequence is playing the live light comes on. Clicking the same button again pauses and resumes the loop.
The partner weave slider controls how dense the guide instrument will be, with higher numbers adding more hits to the shaker or bell part. The lower layer of support follows suit and change according to the overall density. In this way, you can thicken up the groove or reduce it down to only the essential clave strokes.
An offbeat lean slider moves the hit ever so slightly behind (positive value) or ahead (negative value) the downbeat. A positive value gives it a laid back, behind-the-beat feeling while a negative value makes it seem more urgent and anticipatory. This slight change of timing brings a huge amount of character to what would of otherwise been a rigid sixteenth-note grid.
Instead, swap between Brazilian or Afro-Cuban timbres by altering the percussion room dropdown. With the former you have open congas, a metal bell, and wooden claves. These is replaced with the latter by a lower-pitched drum called the surdo, an ongoing shaker and rim clicks. The rhythm remains the same but sounds different than before.
Solo and mute buttons allow you to play back only the layers you want to hear. This means that when you mute a layer it remains on screen but will not be heard in the mix. If you need to hear just one part against the clave, you can solo that part. This will silence all other layers so you can listen to them together. This can help you test whether your new variation is working without the complete ensemble.
To pin the current orbit, you are saving a snapshot of what you have edited. It shows up in the background as a dotted ghost ring. Then you can edit the active pattern and it shows you what has changed. By clicking on the contrast button, you can compare both the pinned version and the current version. It lets you do A B comparison quickly and intuitivly.
Control the loop speed by adjusting the cycle tempo slider. This spans from a slow ballad tempo through to a fast dance tempo. The overall feel will be maintained across all tempi because the on beat and offbeat lean effect increases along with the speed. Remember to adjust the ensemble level slider so you can hear it comfortabley on your speakers/headphones.
Begin with a reference pattern and listen as the five strokes shape the phrase. With the sticks highlighted, internalize this grouping of three side and two side. Revert to the whole band and play with how closely the partner patterns are woven. Once you find a groove that suits your liking, pin it in place before you go getting too extreme with the accenting.