ILIO
Ethno Techno and Groove Control™
Organization of Sequences and Sampler Programs
The following is a fairly detailed explanation of Ethno Techno’s organization, especially with regard to Groove Control. Read this if you have already loaded some Groove Control sequences and sampler programs and still have questions about how the library is organized, or how to best use Groove Control.
Groove Control, Your Sampler, and Your Sequencer
Groove Control, which was co-developed by ILIO and Spectrasonics, is a way to control the tempo, feel, pattern and mix of a groove using your existing sampler and sequencer. It requires that you have a Groove Control (GC) program loaded into your sampler (found on the Sampler CD-ROMs), and the corresponding sequence loaded into your sequencer (found on this Data Disc). When the sequence plays the GC program on your sampler, it recreates the original groove while allowing you to control the speed, feel, mix, and so on, using your sequencer’s built-in features. If you haven’t figured it out already, Groove Control transforms Ethno Techno from a finite library of fixed grooves to an endless well of millions of groove possibilities!
Groove Control 101
Let’s recap the basics very briefly, before going on. The three easy steps to using Groove Control are:
1) Find the Groove you wish to use. Use the enclosed MVP Sample Finder on this disc to audition grooves. Make note of the groove’s tempo and name.
2) Load the Groove Control (GC) program off the Sampler CD-ROM into your sampler.
3) Load the Groove Control sequence off this Data Disc into your sequencer. When first working with Ethno Techno, we recommend you locate the folder on this disc that corresponds to your sequencer of choice (Cakewalk, Cubase, Logic, Performer, Vision). Then copy that folder to your computer’s hard disc so you don’t have to load this CD-ROM every time you want to use Ethno Techno.
Note: If you don’t have one of these sequencers, import the enclosed MIDI files. If you use a hardware sequencer, consult the enclosed "Hardware Sequencers READ ME."
Remember: Every Groove Control Program on the Sampler CD-ROM has a corresponding GC Sequence on this Data Disc!
The Three Types of Grooves on Ethno Techno
Ethno Techno Grooves are divided into three types:
1) The Mixes are the original mixes of Bashiri’s live recordings.
2) The Elements are the individual live tracks that make up the Mixes.
3) The Remixes were created by Eric Persing, using various combinations of processed sounds and rhythmic parts from the original performances. These are specially identified with the characters, ReMix, Rmix or RMx in the program name or sequence track name.
On Sample CD-ROM discs A and B, most of the original grooves, whether Mixes, Elements or Remixes are provided as both standard loops (same as your average loop library) and as Groove Control versions. However there are minor exceptions to this rule.
When all of the Elements tracks are played in unison, they sound very much like the Mixes, for the most part. So, many of the Groove Control versions of loops only contain Elements tracks and no Mix tracks, mostly to avoid being redundant. In a few cases, the Mixes sound significantly different from the combinations of Elements. When so, we provide Groove Control versions of the Mixes in addition to the Elements.
The Remixes have no direct relationship to either Mixes or Elements. Remixes are presented as a group of tracks that are variations of each other, and not necessarily meant to be played in unison (though many can be, of course). Most all of these variations are presented in Groove Control versions.
Incidentally, you’ll find a few other loops that were not Groove Control processed because they were either non-rhythmic, like the small random bells and washes, or melodic parts like some of the Kora (Cora) tracks.
Ethno Techno on Your Sampler
When you load a Groove Control Volume or Bank (identified with the characters, GC in the volume name) of a Mix into your sampler, you’ll find that your sampler loads all of the Elements programs (patches/presets) that make up that mix. Each of these should be assigned to a different MIDI channel. This happens automatically in most cases, though you may have to assign MIDI channels to programs manually, depending on your sampler. The same is true for GC Remixes – each variation is assigned a unique MIDI channel. These MIDI channel assignments correspond to a sequence track in the GC sequence. When in doubt about MIDI channel assignments, cross-reference the GC program name on your sampler with the sequence track on your sequencer and make sure they are assigned to the same MIDI channel. Again, on your sampler, every GC program’s MIDI channel relates to a MIDI track in the corresponding Sequence file.
Ethno Techno on Your Sequencer
When you load a Sequence file into your sequencer, you’ll see individual sequence tracks, each corresponding to a GC program on your sampler. Depending on the Groove, and whether it is a Mix, a group of Elements, or a Remix, certain tracks may be muted when you first load them up. This was done by our programmers at ILIO to ensure that when you first play the sequence, it sounds pretty much like the original groove. Muted tracks might be intros, outros, alternate elements, mix variations or fills. All you have to do to check them out is to simply unmute or solo them.
What is MIDI Mix Setup?
Every Groove Control sequence has a MIDI Mix Setup Track (or tracks, if you’re a Performer user) that contains all of the Volume and Panning information necessary to create the proper mix levels for the individual programs on your sampler. It appears at the top of the list of tracks in your sequence, or in Performer’s case, above each individual sequence track. This helps to recreate the original mix when playing all of the Elements tracks at the same time. When unmuted in your sequencer, it sends volume and pan commands to your sampler, setting the proper mix levels at your sampler’s outputs when played from the beginning of the sequence. When muted, it has no effect.
Using Groove Control in Your Music
The best way to integrate a GC groove into your music is to start with your own song sequence file, save it, and leave it open. Then locate and open one of Ethno Techno’s GC sequence files. Now try playing the various tracks in the GC sequence. (If it doesn’t sound right, consult the Troubleshooting section in your Ethno Techno booklet.) Once you’ve decided which tracks you want to use, copy them from the GC sequence to your own song sequence. This way the GC sequence adapts itself to your particular settings and preferences, like MIDI port assignments. But more importantly, now the groove automatically locks to your song’s tempo, and you can begin using your sequencer’s features to tweak it as much as you like, or not.
In Conclusion
Once you master Groove Control (this should take around 5 minutes), you’ll find that we’ve provided the fastest, most productive and inspiring way to use drum loops, ever. As soon as you pull the shrink-wrap off the package, put the disc in the drive and load a groove, you’re making serious music. No time stretching, beat munging, slicing, dicing or genetic mutilation required. So enjoy! And congratulate yourself on purchasing one of the most advanced, dynamic and flexible groove libraries you can buy. Of course, there’s much more where this came from!
-Your Friends at ILIO
More Groove Control info, FAQs and tips and tricks can be found at:
Copyright 2000, ILIO Entertainments
Groove Control™ is a trademark of ILIO and Spectrasonics.