Thank you for this. I don’t see the samples in the folder after downloading, only the dt2prj files. Are they missing or am I doing something wrong? Thanks.
if you use a single sample -let’s say a C5- to be able to play a C6, you pitch shift the sample up an octave, which shifts the formants as well and changes the timbre, while also making it play twice as fast.
with a chromatic sample chain, you have a sample “per note”, so if the chromatic samplechain starts with a C5, a C6 is simply the 13th slice. same duration, same timbre, no pitch shift artifacts.
so essentially it lets you “imitate” a multisampled instrument.
because of the limitations of the target device (DT). no polyphony, no velocity layers etc, no proper crossfaded looping that allows separate start and loop sections, not even separate samples (hence the “chains”), no articulations etc.
For this week’s weeklybeats entry, I composed a piece on Digitakt II, only using PIANO CHAIN samplepack.
I first created a pattern, then captured 3 loops (low, middle, high notes). Then on another pattern I set these to loop indefinitely, created duplicates that are slowed down to half speed, and changed each of the tracks’ pitch subtly so they drift away from each other as time passes. Somewhat an imitation of the Steve Reich tape loops technique.
I’m sure I’m doing something wrong but Ive tried all three versions and no matter what I do I’m getting clicks between the notes. They only happen when I play notes in descending order, not ascending. Any idea why?
hello! you’re not doing anything wrong. Digitakt is a monophonic (per track) sampler so the moment you play another sample (especially something harmonically rich like piano, guitar etc) while another one is playing, there’s an instant jump in waveform (of audio). it’s even worse if the sample has stereo information (not one but 2 jumps in waveforms). without proper crossfade functionality (most DAW samplers have) it’s impossible to avoid clicks unless you explicitly “fade out” the previous sample or “fade in” the next one. this is the case with most of the hardware samplers.
one very primitive workaround to battle clicks in samplers would be to add a very very short “attack envelope” to your track so at least you avoid the drastic jump in waveforms and the next one starts from 0 amplitude at least.
Hmm yeah I understand one sample is cutting the other off, but why does it only happen when the notes are in descending order? It can be a multi semitone jump too as long as it’s going down. Up is no problem. Or if I sample one slice of the grid and sequence it normally its fine, no pops. Adjusting the attack doesn’t seem to help much in grid mode.
thank you bro and glad to see you around!