Part
Two: Anatomy of a Groove
Before we begin, we should take a closer look at the parts that make up a groove
and how they are selected in the groove picker. Also, if you're following along,
use the default file that automatically loads when you start Kinetic.
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As stated before, the groove picker has 4 banks with 16 pads in each - for a grand total of 64 grooves in all. Once a groove is selected, the panel will display which groove is either currently selected or playing for that matter between the brackets. In this case, Groove A4 was selected - you can also tell that A4 was selected by looking at the "A" bank button and number 4 pad and seeing that they are lit up. The transport controls above the pads are for controlling the playback of the selected groove. Don't confuse these with the transport controls in the Song Area. Those control the song and not |
the groove. The controls are standard and you shouldn't have a difficult time understanding them. The pull-down menu below the banks controls how a groove switches from one to another. Pulling this down you'll see that you have 4 options: Change Immediately, Change on Beat, Change on Measure, Change on Groove. These intervals effect how grooves play back from this panel and NOT the song panel. |
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To play (or audition) a groove: Select the groove by first selecting a bank button (A, B, C, D) and then clicking a numbered pad (1 - 16). Then press the green play button OR hit the space bar on your keyboard. While the groove is playing, switch to another groove within the bank by pressing a different number. How the groove changes from one to another is set by the drop-down menu. Experiment with the 4 different settings. You'll see how they work. But just in case you don't:
Change Immediately |
= changes groove immediately |
Change on Beat |
= changes groove on next beat |
Change on Measure |
= changes groove after current groove completes current measure |
Change on Groove |
= changes groove after current groove ends |
What's a Groove then? Glad you asked ;-) A groove is a collection of patterns, patches, and/or wav files stored into one of the banks in the groove picker. Let's see if we can make this a bit more clear...
Channels - Patches - Patterns: You have 16 channels and there can only be one voice per channel whether it be a synth patch or a wav file. Once a channel has been assigned a patch or wav file - it's there through the ENTIRE tune! In short - grooves DO NOT contain patch info nor can you assign patch changes. For now, it may help to think of the channels as immobile resources. Patterns are then fed into a channel and plays back using the set voice. Patterns are a collection of MIDI notes that are usually looped (also known as MIDI groove clips) and are then wired into a channel.
Each groove can have its own distinct patterns or it can share them - A groove, therefore, can have up to 16 of these patterns playing different voices or it can have as little as one voice. Wav files, on the other hand, do not need a pattern to play - they use the channel as a resource and will play from start to finish.
OK, so how do I tell what channels are set to what patch?
Take a look at the mixer panel below:
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This is a close-up view of the mixer with Groove A4 selected. When a groove is playing, you'll see the LED lights flash if a pattern is being sent to a particular channel. In the white area above the channel is the track name - the track name is set to the patch name it's set to. Remember, you get 16 voices - choose wisely little grasshopper ;-) The currently selected track is shown with a blueish- |
grey arrow. As shown above, track one is selected (or in focus) and we can now manipulate the controls if we wish. These are standard mixing board controls here - nothing too fancy - nothing to explain... |
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How do I see what pattern is being sent to a track? For this you'll have to take a look at the Pattern Area below:
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With a track selected, hit the Edit pattern button as shown on the left.
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