Captain Pikant posts
Posts: 318
Files: 1023
Status Update
Hello everyone! We wanted to say "thank you" to all of you :) To be honest we were a little overwhelmed by the support that followed the release of the "1000 Days of Patterns" video. We're so happy to hear that it actually helped a lot of people.Right now we're in the midst of filming the next video - the review of the Donner B1 mono bass synth (there will be a few things in there you haven't seen in other reviews). After that's done we will focus more on Patreon content - like putting the finishing touches on th...
1000 Days of Drum Patterns
Hello everyone! In our newest video I show a few things I've learned from transcribing drum beats for the last few years. As you know I honestly think it's a great way to improve your own drum patterns, so I can wholeheartedly recommend doing this yourself :)
Stu Phillips - Knight Rider (Drum Pattern No. 78)
Well... this started as a joke, but it's actually a pretty good drum pattern. Plus I'm a sucker for classic 80s TV show intros. I simplified it a little and adapted it for drum machines with individual + total accent like the TR-909 or RD-9, but you can of course also use velocities to achieve the same effect. Watch out for this in one of the next videos :)Difficulty rating: 🐇🐇Listen to the original 🎧
Massive Attack - Teardrop (Drum Pattern No. 77)
Here's one of my all time favourites. So simple, yet so effective - it only uses 8 steps! We're going to reference it in one of the next videos to make a point about simple drum patterns. Did you ever notice the fancy delay on the Rimshot during the break? The shaker varies a lot during the later part of the song which you could imitate by using an LFO or parameter automation. I did a quick LinnDrum-based rendition of the pattern as a sound sample. Hey, this is pattern number 77 and it has a BPM of 77. What a weird coincidence.Difficult...
Pattern Poll
Hello everyone! Welcome to our second pattern poll. All the entries consist of your recommendations. Which of these drum patterns would you like to see a transcription of? Cast your vote until the end of the year :)For a better overview here's a list of all entries with links to YouTube: Autechre - Flutter Autechre - Tewe Berlin - Take My Breath Away Björk - Army of Me Enigma - Sadeness (Part I) Goldie - Inner City Life Happy Mondays - Step On Justice - Waters of Nazareth Kyle Hall - Damn! I'm Feelin Real Close Moby - Go Orbital - Halc...
Submit your entries for the next drum pattern poll
Here's how to do it: Until the 16th of December add a comment with one single suggestion:Artist Name - Track Title(optionally add a link to a YouTube video of the song)This could be any of your favourite tracks, a beat you think everyone could learn something from (maybe also a candidate for "Drum Patterns Explained") or just an Aphex Twin song if you feel the need to torture me.
Drum Machines and Synths through various audio interfaces
We've recently been on the quest for a portable second audio interface that doesn't break the bank. We narrowed it down to 3 choices ranging from 80$ to 300$. Since we put a lot of time into comparing these, we thought we'd make a short video about it and share our findings with you :)These audio interfaces each have bigger siblings with nearly identical performance, so there are more options in case you require more inputs.We've attached the recordings featured in the video as uncompressed WAV files in a ZIP archive.
Prince - When Doves Cry (Drum Pattern No. 76)
Who could say no to a classic Prince Linn LM-1 pattern? This was the second runner up to our first ever drum pattern poll. Stay tuned, we'll collect your suggestions for the next poll soon :)I have to admit it took me a while to find that damn Tambourine 😆 It's tuned very high so you don't necessarily recognize it as an individual instrument, but more as a crispy texture accenting the other sounds.Difficulty rating: 🐇Listen to the original 🎧
Quick poll: Should we get a Roland T-8? (Review + Cheat Sheet)
We originally weren't considering buying a Roland T-8, but people keep asking us about that little box. It's your turn to decide: Should we spend the money and make a review plus Cheat Sheet or should we invest our time elsewhere? We'll do it if at least two thirds of the votes say so.
Sound Recipe: 303 Acid
We thought we'd try something new :) Following our How to 303 on a Syntakt video we made this handy condensed overview we call a "sound recipe". Think of this as part of a larger music production cookbook. This one-page recipe describes how to get closer to that 303 acid sound - on any synth that offers the necessary features.Hope you like it, let us know what you think!Keep in mind that depending on your synth or sequencer, some of the things described may already happen automatically. Regarding step 10 (accents): Check if your syn...
A Guy Called Gerald - Voodoo Ray (Drum Pattern No. 75)
We couldn't leave you hanging! Here's the runner-up of the last pattern poll: A Guy Called Gerald's 808 classic "Voodoo Ray". This beat has a really nice polymeter feeling to it thanks to the odd Rimshot pattern that spans over two bars of a repeating Kick & Conga combo.Difficulty rating: 🐇Listen to the original 🎧
Charanjit Singh - Raga Bhairav (Drum Pattern No. 74)
Charanjit Singh could be called the Grandfather of Acid. This is the drum pattern of the opening track from his 1982 album "Ten Ragas to a Disco Beat". It's amazing that the origins of Acid can be found so early on the other side of the world :)Difficulty rating: 🐇Listen to the original 🎧
Project file from "How to 303 on a Syntakt"
Here's the Syntakt project file from the video. You can import it using the Elektron Transfer app. Remember to upgrade to firmware 1.10 because these patterns make use of the new portamento feature :) Pattern 1: The starting pattern with just the note values and a raw analog sawtooth oscillator. Ideal if you want to follow the steps in the video. Pattern 2: The finished pattern including slides and accents. Pattern 3: An alternate version with slightly different filter settings. This sounded better to us when using the distortion pedal. Pat...
How to 303 on a Syntakt
Hello everyone! In this video we cook up a classic 303 sound on the Syntakt. We also showcase the new portamento feature that was added in firmware 1.10. This guide is also helpful for most other synthesizers that support a few basic sound shaping parameters. We'll upload the Syntakt project file to Patreon in the next few days :)
Björk - Hunter (Drum Pattern No. 73)
This is my drum pattern transcription in the style of "Björk - Hunter".Update 2024/05/13: Part 4 reworked along with some minor adjustments in parts 2, 3 and 5.Update 2023/07/14: To accompany our Drum Patterns Explained episode on the songwe created an entirely new transcription that includes allpatterns. The difficulty rating has been increased to four bunnies (five if you use a drum machine without microtiming). We also added a lot of notes and an appendix with helpful information.In case you really want to follow the dark path and p...
Status Update
We're pretty happy the "Sequencer From Hell" video was so well received - it seems a lot of people are interested in it :) Among them were also Donner Music, who contacted us and asked if we'd like to review any of their products. We're particularly interested in their B1 analogue bass synthesizer, so there will be an honest review coming out on that after we're done with the videos we're working on right now. Leave us a comment with any questions you want answered in the review.The transcription of Björk's "...
The Big Drum Pattern Transcription Catalogue
To make browsing the transcriptions easier for you, we created this alphabetical catalogue with links to the individual posts. We'll update this list once a month.► How to read the drum pattern transcriptions► Empty drum pattern templates for your own transcriptions808 State - Pacific State (Original Extended Version)[092]A Guy Called Gerald - Voodoo Ray[075]Adamski - Killer[126]Afrika Bambaataa & The Soulsonic Force - Planet Rock[049]Air - Remember[120]Air - Talisman[052]Alexander Robotnick - Problèmes D'Amour[023]Aphex Twin - 1st...
Yellow Magic Orchestra - Behind the Mask (Drum Pattern No. 72)
Thanks Tomás for introducing us to Yellow Magic Orchestra! In case you've never heard of them: YMO could be described as the Japanese version of Kraftwerk. There might be a slight chance that we liked this song so much that we turned it into an end jam in one of the upcoming videos.Fun Fact: "Behind the Mask" began as an instrumental for a commercial and was later covered by both Michael Jackson and Eric Clapton. Yes, you should be heading to YouTube immediately for research purposes.Difficulty rating: 🐇Listen to the original ...
TD-3 / 303: The Sequencer From Hell
Hello everyone! This is a special release for us since it marks the first time we leave drum machine territory on our channel. We think you might enjoy this one regardless if you have a TD-3/303 or not ;)In "The Easy Way to Program a 303" segment I actually punched in random stuff just to see if we can get something interesting out of it. And I have to admit that despite of all my complaints on the sequencer, this yielded a good result. I'm still furious though because when I first rehearsed the scene without the camera rolling I go...
Using cutting edge technology
We thought you might like a glimpse of what's going on in Beatbunny studio right now :) The Intern and I are building a set that allows us to explain the mysteries of the 303 / TD-3 sequencer with lots of cardboard props.Back when we did the Audio Laboratory series we invested in a small cutting machine which allows us to precision cut all kinds of shapes out of regular cardboard stock. We still have to meticulously design them as vector graphics but the machine cuts them out faster and neater than we ever could.The moment it became clear w...
Behringer TD-3 / Roland TB-303 Cheat Sheet
Here's our Cheat Sheet for one of the worst sequencers ever created: The Behringer TD-3 / Roland TB-303. With this you should be ready to face every obstacle this box throws at you ;) Behringer's manual is lacking to say the least, so among other sources I've also studied Roland's TB-303 manual from 1981 - which is truly horribly written but ultimately provided a lot of insight.You'll be happy to hear that we're currently filming an episode on the 303 sequencer visualizing the programming in detail :) If you want to see ...
Status Update
Well well well, a lot has been happening. Hell froze over... The Digitakt, Syntakt and Digitone now have a SONG MODE! The pattern button (the one with the three dots) has been repurposed for this. We're going full steam ahead on the next videos right now though, so it might take a while before I can update the Cheat Sheets. Björk - Hunter won the pattern poll. I'll start work on that today. Don't be sad if your favourite didn't win, there will be another poll soon :) The TD-3/TB-303 Cheat Sheet is almost ready! And we're wo...
James Brown - Funky Drummer (Drum Pattern No. 71)
Clyde Stubblefield's breakbeat from "Funky Drummer" is one of the classics, right up there with the Amen Break. Thanks to ThomMorrow for suggesting it! :)Of course it's been sampled countless times, but in my memory it will always be ingrained as the beat during Saturn Bomberman's Battle Menu :DDifficulty rating: 🐇🐇Listen to the original 🎧
19 more Captain Pikant Videos (Audio Laboratory)
Hello everyone! A fellow Patron of yours made us aware that the Audio Laboratory series we made for Thomann up until June might have flown a little under the radar :) So if you want an overdose of 19 more Captain Pikant videos where we explain various audio topics ranging from panning, reverb, compression and sidechaining to microphone polar patterns and dialogue editing then check out the Audio Laboratory playlist.We're very proud of these videos and they were a great opportunity for The Intern and me to experiment with a few new ideas and...
Roland TR-6S Review
Guess what's finally here :D After the recent 1.50 firmware update this actually feels like the perfect time for our TR-6S review. We already have over one year of experience with the machine, so after this review you'll have a very good idea of where its strengths and limitations lie. It's a longer video (also featuring the endless Phil Collins void for the first time), but we tried a more humourous approach to keep you entertained - hope you enjoy the additional nonsense ;)Also be sure to check out the TR-6S Cheat Sheet which we u...
Pattern Poll
Hello everyone! We've gathered your track recommendations and this time the following tracks are available for the poll:A Guy Called Gerald - Voodoo Raya-ha - The Living DaylightsBjörk - HunterHerbie Hancock - ChameleonLFO - FreakMuse - Stockholm SyndromePet Shop Boys & Liza Minnelli - Losing My MindPrince - When Doves CryTomaga - Intimate ImmensityWe've linked the music videos for every track. Heliosphan by Aphex Twin was disqualified since it was already part of 909 day ;)
Skinny Puppy - Smothered Hope (Drum Pattern No. 70)
Update 2024/06/03: Reworked transcription, new layoutTo conclude 909 day here's a Skinny Puppy track that makes extensive use of the TR-909. Have a great weekend :)Difficulty rating: 🐇🐇Listen to the original🎧
Thom Yorke - Cymbal Rush (Live 909 Version) (Drum Pattern No. 69)
Luckily for us Thom Yorke seems to have a knack for performing stripped down versions of his songs with the help of classic drum machines. In this live performance of "Cymbal Rush" from the Henry Rollins Show in 2006 it's the Roland TR-909.Difficulty rating: 🐇Listen to the original 🎧
Aphex Twin - Heliosphan (Drum Pattern No. 68)
Update 2023/11/17: Minor corrections (I missed a sextuplet Hi-Hat) and new sound examples.Happy 909 day everyone :) Here's another Aphex Twin classic from his "Selected Ambient Works 85–92" album. It uses Roland TR-909 sounds, albeit heavily processed. The slowed down version almost sounds like a modern trap beat, doesn't it?Difficulty rating: 🐇🐇Listen to the original 🎧
Your suggestions for the first pattern poll
Hello everyone! First things first: Yes, there will be a 909 day :) Because we're very busy producing the next videos we didn't have the time to reel in your suggestions - so you'll simply have to trust our choices ;) We do want to include you more in the process though, so we thought it would be fun to collect your pattern recommendations and have a poll on which transcription to do next. Leave a comment with your favourite pattern/song Leave a like on all patterns you want to see included in the pollNext week we'll pick the to...
