Oh, Those Were The Days...
From the original Analog Industries archive. Some links and images from that era no longer resolve.
Adium Chat Transcript, July 7th, 2009:
8:25:38 PM Chris Randall: What do you think about “Tattoo” for a name?
8:25:46 PM Adam Schabtach: Oh, that’s not bad.
8:25:56 PM Chris Randall: You know how I like my double entendré.
8:26:20 PM Adam Schabtach: Just as long as you don’t put any photos of your own hide in the About box.
Little did we know that six months (!) later, we’d never want to hear a drum sound again for the rest of our days. But lo, and hark, Tattoo is done. Finished. Tested and working in all hosts. We just need a bit of time to get our shit together viz. the installers and manual and such, but it won’t be long.
10 comments
Congratulations! I'm sure your hard work will pay off.
When the dust has settled, you could post an alternative GUI based on your hide!
Awesome!
Can I ask how people plan on using Tattoo? Suppose I'm using Live and I'd normally use drum racks, and suppose I'm creating a 3-minute composition rather than doing anything live or improvised.
Would I create various patterns with Tattoo's sequencer, then use some kind of automation (or MIDI message) from the sequencer to switch patterns? Or would it be better to freeze each pattern to an audio track after I'm happy with it? Can I put some kind of clip into Live's sequencer that says "tell Tattoo to play pattern A x times"? Or am I going about it entirely the wrong way?
Just confused since I've never dealt with a plug-in with its own sequencer before. (I watched the multi-output demo and that makes sense, but I'm more wondering how to deal with switching drum patterns and fills than dealing with the audio.)
I am planning to use it a) for what it is, a drum machine (I like the fact that it's got dedicated voices, as opposed to one-for-all OSCs), b) for quickly sketching rhythms, c) inspiration and improvisation (random!) and d) to drive my Battery 3. I'm especially looking forward to using the randomization features on the Konkrete libraries by Soniccouture in Battery.
Does anyone know if it's possible to quickly export a sequencer pattern as a midi (or audio) file? Sorry if it's been asked before.
Does this mean it's nothing but ambient drone or Bobby McFerrin style acapella records from now on?
@Michael Moncur: I didn't design the thing so I could be wrong. But I suspect it works like other VST drum machines work (specifically Microtonic). Tattoo has that "Pattern Control" section with what looks to be 16 patterns. Again, assuming it works like other drum machines I've used in Live, you can 'configure' the plug-in so that this pattern changing is automated. Basically, put the VST in the track, hit "configure" on the little Ableton X/Y plug-in GUI, and click a pattern number. You see a slider for "Pattern" on the little GUI. When you create a clip (what do they call them, dummy clips?) you can automate this so just like you'd automate a filter cutoff or anything else. It's as fun as can be. Try this out with a demo of Microtonic or some other drum machine if you're impatient.
Chris, if this isn't the way you're implementing this, please do correct me.
As for your original question, I for one plan on pretty much replacing every software rhythm machine I have with Tattoo, and maybe even hold off on springing for a Machinedrum for a while. It really seems to be a well-designed and thorough little piece of software. It's sequencer is far better than Microtonics, and its UI is far better than 99% of Reaktor's ensembles. The multiple outs are the awesomest part.
Chris and Adam -
Congratulations. This is really the drum synth of my dreams.
I'm looking forward to it.
@Michael: Each preset has 16 patterns; you can switch them via MIDI note (C3 - D#4) or via the host automation as MrBiggs described.
@ariston: There is no export of sequences. You can record its output to a MIDI channel, of course.
-CR
Anyone else here planning on getting a tattoo tattoo?
THX,
Jason // Chicago
Welcome to my life, tattoo
I'm a man now, thanks to you
I expect I'll regret you
But the skin graft man won't get you
You'll be there when I die
Tattoo
Woot! Nice work!
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