How to make a track in Tabletop, part 4 (including thirdparty 'Tabletop Ready' devices and the in app device store)

After using the three main software instruments that come free with Tabletop, I went to the device store and saw the Akai iMPC.  I'd heard good things about it and the specs looked great, and at $6.99, it was cheaper than any other MPC.

The iMPC comes with 1200+ samples, plus you can load your own and record your own in app.  It is a stand alone app, as well as, a Tabletop Ready app.  http://retronyms.com/devices.html

The iMPC is fairly user friendly.  You don't have to access a menu to change drum kits, just turn the jog wheel.  The pads can be individually selected and edited.  I choose the 'Kalimba' kit.

It feels like an MPC and I can work quickly and intuitively on it.  Sampling is simple, changing pitch, etc.  It works well with many external controllers and there a a few specifically made for it.  (I will get into the Akai iMPC in a future column, covering stand alone, controllers, performance, and other features.)

I hit play, access the mixer from the Tabletop, turn up the other tracks and hit record.  I tap out a pattern on the virtual pads on my touchscreen.  I zoom out, solo the iMPC on the mixer, zoom out, select the session menu, and upload to soundcloud. 

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

Get some recording software

If you just want to go ahead and get started, search for a free d.a.w. for your os.

D.A.W. stands for digital audio workstation, a kind of program that acts as a virtual music studio, able to record instruments and voices, blend them together, add creative effects, and much more.  A couple of good d.a.w. programs for different operating systems:

freeware

Audacity for Mac and Windows

Audiostar for iOS

Songwriter's Pad Recording Studio for iOS

Free unlimited trial

Reaper for Mac and Windows

I know a lot of people that started with Audacity and some of them still use it all the time. Reaper has a ton of features and is a very widely used, even in the professional world.  If you own a Mac made in the last ten years you probably have Garage Band already installed (most iPad owners do, too).  I will cover these audio production applications and many more in future posts.

A good place to start

If you already have a computer, tablet, or smartphone, 440software is a great place to look for free music production applications and plug-ins.  You can search by type of device and operating system (computer or phone, winows or mac os), type of software (recording, musical instrument, effects), and whether the software costs money or is free.