How to make a track in Tabletop, part 5

This post is part of a series on Tabletop for iOS.  Part one is here:

http://makemusicfreedom.blogspot.com/2013/06/how-to-make-track-in-tabletop.html

Adding effects to your instruments in Tabletop is easy.  Like adding an instrument or any other device, click the keyboard icon in the upper right corner.  From the device menu, select an effect device.  Drag it to the tabletop. 

 Now tap the wiring icon in the top right (it is next to the keyboard icon and looks like two circles with a squiggly line connecting them).  This will highlight all the inputs and outputs of the devices on the tabletop. 

Select the output arrow (pointing up) for the instrument device you want the effect applied to.  Drag the output arrow of the instrument to the input arrow (pointing down) of the effect.  In this example I have chosen the 'Filtr' effect to be applied to the 'RS3' synth.

 In the picture above, you can see the animation of a cable being dragged to connect the two devices.

Now the output of the 'RS3' is connected to the input of the 'Filtr', and the output of 'Filtr' is connected to one of the inputs on the mixer.  Play the 'RS3' and drag your finger across the display of the 'Filtr' effect.  You should hear your sound changing.  Cool.

In the next post, I will cover recording external instruments and vocals.  Then we will get to mix downs and more complex beats, songs and arrangements, how to perform or improvise live, and maybe the T-Pain effect.

This post is part of a series on Tabletop for iOS.  Part one is here:

http://makemusicfreedom.blogspot.com/2013/06/how-to-make-track-in-tabletop.html

How to make a track in Tabletop, part 3

Continued from part 2

I listen to the two tracks together, bringing the volume back up on the 'Gridlok' track.  I tap the keyboard icon in the top right to open the device menu.  I select the 'RS3', a keyboard synth/sequencer, another free device included with Tabletop.  I choose a new patch from the load menu (in the window in the middle of the keyboard) hit record and overdub a simple synth part.

I zoom out and tap the mixer, turn down the other tracks, and solo the 'RS3'.  I zoom out again and tap the session button and select share to soundcloud.

How to make a track in Tabletop, part 2

Building off of the beat I made on the 'gridlok', I will continue with the track.  Now I will tap the keyboard icon in the top right corner to open the device menu and drag the 'M8RX' tone matrix to the tabletop (as in the photo above).

The M8RX is a sequencer and sound module.  You can choose a sound patch, type of scale and key, and program tones on a grid.  The vertical axis represents pitch and the horizontal represents time.  Pushing play and tapping buttons on the grid is a good way to start.  

I picked the sound patch 'Rusty Bell'...

And the C pentatonic scale. 

I listened to the beat I made with 'Gridlok' and tapped the buttons on the M8RX grid to light them up and sound the tones.  I overdubbed a new instrumental part over the drum beat.  Then I zoomed out, tapped the mixer, and turned the 'Gridlok' track all the way down, isolating the M8RX.  I zoomed out again and tapped the session button.  I selected share on soundcloud and named the audio file and attached a picture.  

Here is the audio of the tone matrix pattern:  

https://soundcloud.com/zen_oasis/tabletop_ex1_tonematrix