Reader JL writes:

The current states of Reaktor sequencers is rather confusing: some output MIDI, some don’t, some output both note and CC data etc.  A “Reaktor sequencers demystified” article would be welcome, and might encourage more builders to do more development in this area.

An excellent idea. JL mentioned that he liked the factory SQ8 sequencer’s random playback modes, but wished that it sent MIDI instead of just gate signals. The SQ8 is a percussion sequencer with 8 rhythm channels and variable loop length as well as shuffle.

John Fisher (ricemutt) from bagger288 is the latest to be infected – erm, inspired – by Peter Dines’ sequencer parts for Reaktor. His hybrid ensemble is full of all sorts of different bits put together, some borrowed, some concocted from scratch. And, of course, that was the idea with the sequencers – to encourage people to steal stuff and make something new that we hadn’t thought of. What’s especially great about this to me is that the results can sound entirely different.

John wrote me:

I love your tutorials for reaktor, and the example ensembles.  great stuff!

I stole your sequencer and put it into a hybrid FM/additive/subtractive type synth I built in reaktor:

in addition to the synth, there’s also a distortion effect, rev6, and a custom granular effect I built, so it’s kind of an all-in-one drone synth…

please mention that the synth is much lower on CPU if you simply remove the reverb/fx modules.

I guess other info is easily seen from all the comments in there, I used a few other people’s modules.  The "FX" instrument has an A and a B panel, where you can edit the granular effects.  I made that instrument as well and am proud of how it turned out (did you check out the "rissets" preset in the fx?)

thanks for the sequencers to steal

you probably noticed that I modded the sequencer in the sequencer page to also have "gate" sequencers where there is only on/off instead of minimum to maximum fader

It’s really good stuff, and inspires me to combine some macros in new ways.

Have at it and see what you think:

ricemuttHybrid-sep08 [zipped Reaktor ensemble]

(I expect when it’s ready, it can migrate over to the NI User Library)

Wait – want more? John talks more about how he uses unique approaches to tuning (see our previous round-up) to get these distinctive sounds:

my "god chord" blogs where I explain how to use just intonation or equal temperament.

http://craprex.com/RexBlog/author/baggervance/

you probably noticed how I use ratios to define the pitches of the oscillators in my synth.  In fact, I do this with all of my synths and use just intonation a lot in my music.  This would help people understand the "wtf" about using ratios in music.

Via a story summing up what we’ve been doing with Reaktor over on CDMusic:

Joys of Reaktor: How to Build Sequenced Instruments, Free Goodies, and a New Lazyfish Creation Teaser

The Massive synth fits into Kore 2 and the Kore controller like a hand in a glove. Well, maybe more like a fist in a glove. It’s a combination of sound quality and tactile control that, in my humble opinion, moves plugin synthesis out of the shadows of hardware VAs and into the limelight.

One of the most instantly gratifying things you can do with this combo is to control sequenced Massive patches, manipulating the macro controls in the Massive synth. This can create entire song arrangements on the fly - dropping elements in and out and crossfading rhythms. There are a few tips and tricks that will help you get the most out of this dynamic duo and that’s what I cover in this screencast. Ed.: And as I will cover later today, you can control those macro knobs easily not only with the Kore controller but, as of 2.0.4 and later of the Kore software, any MIDI controller. -PK

Sequenced NI Massive patches in Kore 2 from Create Digital Media on Vimeo.

Here’s the Koresound I used in the screencast, with the Kore 2 controllers mapped to Massive’s macro controls.

In French cooking, there’s a sauce base called a roux (pronounced “roo”) that is the foundation of bechamel and other sauces. This is a sequencer macro that is the equivalent for programming sequenced instruments in Reaktor - you can take it in any direction from here. In its most basic form it can send velocity information to trigger percussion, or modulate instrument parameters like cutoff and resonance. With a few simple changes it becomes a pitch sequencer, suitable for use in something like the Frankenloop device.