Understanding Performance Mode in Alchemy

So, the performance mode in Alchemy is where it becomes a very unique instrument. Apart from being able to add your own audio, if you're working on a specific piece of music, you can make it really individual. You can create something that is not going to be heard by anyone else by taking a snippet of, perhaps, something within the track, such as a vocal recording, and bringing it into Alchemy.

This allows you to affect that audio, making it very unique to both your track and yourself, thus creating a unique sound of yourself.

Working with Snapshots

I brought in this snippet we've looked at before. This performance mode features snapshots of various modulations of parameters that you can use.

Saving Snapshots

1. Raw Sound Check: Let me just turn this down for a second to check what we've got here.
2. Saving Settings: I want to save the current sound that we're hearing. All the parameters should be set the way I want. I'll save this into:
   • Snapshot 1
   • Snapshot 2: Adjust filter down a little.

Modulation Routing

To set these parameters to the control sections, do the following:

• Highlight the parameter by pressing it (highlight it in blue).
• You can set modulation routing by going to the Perform section and pressing Control 1. Now, Control 1 is affecting the cutoff filter.

Modulating Parameters

• Cutoff Filter: Drop the depth down from high to low.
• Filter Resonance: Call up Control 2 to affect resonance on filter one.

Now, we can save the sound as Snapshot 2 which will have a slightly different sound from Snapshot 1.

Adding Effects

• Now let's move on to Snapshot 3. We'll add modulation on the effects:
  • Turn up the delay.
  • Set the delay rate to a 16th note, then speed it up to an eighth note.

Setting Control Parameters

• For Control 3, set the delay mix and bring it down to where needed.
• Ensure that the parameters for Control 4 are also adjusted as discussed.

Managing Modulation Targets

• You can have up to 16 modulation targets in this instrument, though we're only using one right now.

Finalizing Snapshots

• Save the settings you've adjusted in Snapshot 4.
• As you play back the arrangement, ensure all necessary parameters are adjusted and saved in the snapshots.

Recording Automation

• You can record modulation as automation. To do this:
  • Arm your automation in touch mode.
  • Move the controls, switch back to read mode, and it's recording.

Conclusion

You can add any type of parameter to a control and set it to a snapshot. We have eight snapshots available. This creates something very unique and intrinsic to the track itself. It's not just pulling any old sample from a sample library; you're using something that has been recorded from within the track, thus giving it a very unique sound.

Next Topic: Ultrabeat and Virtual Drummer.