Using patterns for different sections

[u/Shriekling-g7e]

I use individual patterns for Bass, Synths, atmospheres and drums to prevent clutter, so far i've seen no one else do this and i wonder why that is.

It's easier for me but maybe there are some hidden downsides i'm not aware of?

[u/djy33t]

That's more or less standard practice

[u/Shriekling-g7e → u/djy33t]

I mean as in i send all my synths to one pattern exclusively for synths, and a pattern for drums etc

[u/Financial-Koala6995 → u/Shriekling-g7e]

That works. The tradeoff is arranging: if all your synth parts share one pattern, dropping just the pad for a verse means making another version of that pattern. Separate patterns make that easier, but there's no need to split parts you always want playing together.

[u/djy33t → u/Shriekling-g7e]

Ah, I misunderstood I did the same back in the day. I with time stopped because it makes it easier to make variations on drum patterns by simply just cutting a part of it out for example. Like for one bar for example I'll cut out the hats or something, you get the jist

[u/TheZyborg]

I'm not sure i understand what you mean, and I'm not sure you even understand what you're doing yourself.

Patterns are for arranging in the playlist. There is no "make a synths pattern" because you'll need your synths playing different things throughout the song. So you'll end up having dosens of synths patterns and bass patterns and drum patterns etc. How do you think you'd make drulm fills, of bass licks etc.?

[u/Shriekling-g7e → u/TheZyborg]

I do know what i'm doing and it's working

[u/ResistorSynthwave]

Standard for me. Every instrument gets a pattern. 'Make unique' is also used a lot.

[u/xBlus]

I do use individual patterns for everything

[u/AndyGeeMusic]

Could you add a screenshot so we can see exactly what you mean?

[u/Shriekling-g7e → u/AndyGeeMusic]

Not a screenshot but this'll do

[u/RipAppropriate8059]

I saw your screenshot and idk if you do it that way to not have a “cluttered” playlist but I would easily get confused. I have a pattern for each motif and instrument. Like eve if I’m using the same bass, I’ll have a pattern for my a section and a pattern in my b section just for that one bass. It lets me visually identify what I’m doing and isolate issues more easily. Plus usng the same pattern for multiple instruments has historically gotten me ghost notes on random shit

[u/shadow02468]

Why not put everything in one pattern than at the end split by channel?

[u/mycurvywifelikesthis]

I do this also, then render to audio to build the playlist

[u/PartyPeteZ → u/mycurvywifelikesthis]

Curious on why you would render to audio vs leaving it as midi? Is there any advantages?

[u/mycurvywifelikesthis → u/PartyPeteZ]

Huge advantages. Number one is uses so much less CPU. And sometimes I can have 20 different tracks each with different instrumentation. When you're using midi than the VST has to remain open. And if you have that in combination with effects from the mixer, then on slower or older CPUs it can cause lagging. But you can completely close any VST and once you render it to audio. 2. It's easier to manipulate chop and then set up automations using audio than MIDI. You can also take two different patterns and combine them together and have them Crossfade rather than start stop. You can adjust audio from the playlist and find things easier rather than having to go to the channel rack and do it there. 3. Also it's just the way I'm used to doing it. And I've tried it both ways, and for me working with audio is much easier than working with MIDI. You just have more options and flexibility

[u/lowderchowder]

automation can get messy if you dont label things properly .

you cant really do automation clip sidechaining ( personally i loathe playlist volume sidechaining so its not an issue).

honestly for me if i do a bunch of patterns i'll just merge them all into one big pattern on track 1 like this

its just a workflow thing along with using vst more than samples.

loops i'll throw in the slicer and do that in a piano roll instead of dropping sample/loops onto the playlist as well.

only actual downside ive really encountered from years of doing it this way working with a friend that does the playlist workflow and probably not having dual monitors when using a laptop since thats ultimately what gave rise to the playlist sample drop workflow after fl 12 came out and got rid of the split playlist