Need some help with terms

Ape Escape · Post by **Ape Escape** » Mon Aug 02, 2010 12:56 pm

Hey, I'm new to sampling and I have been researching them for about 10 days or so. I need a good layman's explanation of what a pattern sequencer is, and what an isolator is. Thanks

novac · Post by **novac** » Mon Aug 02, 2010 7:09 pm

pattern sequencer is were you can enter notes in grid to be played back. like a piano roll on reason or some other daw. a isolater is a methed to pin point some thing like when EQing some thing. you can isolaet a freq and drop or boast a area.

X-Trade · Post by **X-Trade** » Mon Aug 02, 2010 9:17 pm

Mostly accurate novac.

An isolator is a kind of filter (in reference to the effects section on some KORG products) which is very narrow/harsh to bring out a very specific frequency band - for example to just bring out a snare drum or bassline.

A pattern sequencer does not have to be grid based, but generally they tend to be. DAWs often work with something different called a linear sequencer - similar to the main sequencer in KORG's workstations, where you can enter any note or controller change or whatever else at any position in the song.
Pattern sequencers conversely work on creating smaller sections or 'patterns' which loop, and often then you can string them together into a song. KORG workstations also have functionality to do this, as do some DAWs (like Ableton Live), but it is mainly the realm of the electribe series, as well as other drum machines and rhythm boxes. The 'hardware' sequencers in Reason are another good example of pattern sequencers.
For example you might make a pattern for your verse, and a pattern for your chorus, and then set the pattern for the verse to repeat four times, followed by the pattern for the chorus repeat six times, or whatever. It tends to be easier to work with because it breaks down the workflow somewhat, but it generally results in a more repetitive sound, depending on your pattern and such.

Ape Escape · Post by **Ape Escape** » Tue Aug 03, 2010 1:11 am

Oh ok. Let's say there is a riff you want to sample but there are drums and singing going on that you don't want in the sample. An isolator could, for example, allow you to sample just the riff?

X-Trade · Post by **X-Trade** » Tue Aug 03, 2010 9:35 am

Well, yes in theory.

It rarely works that way, although it does help to seperate out an instrument. In most full completed tracks there is a lot of overlap and especially things like solos or riffs can cover a wider range than a static filter would be able to cover. Drums are particularly difficult to avoid because a drum kit consists mainly of noise and covers a lot of the frequency spectrum.

It would work a bit better on a single drum loop for example - you want to bring out the snare or the kick. but even with complex software it is generally considered almost if not impossible to get individual instruments back out of a mix.