How To Embed Chord Track Metadata Into Audioloops In PreSonus Studio One 4

Since it’s introduction in Studio One Version 4 - I’ve been trying my best to make use of the Chord Track wherever I can. Although I must admit that with the exception of using “Import Song Data” features, (chord track information on Audio Events will come in when using Import Song Data) this is usually on a song by song basis. ie: I use it in certain songs as a production tool - but it’s not yet 100% engrained into my workflow. I also haven’t seen any Soundset’s that make use of this feature - (yet).

Then one day it dawned on me - “Wouldn’t it be nice if I could export all my Audioloops with the Chord Track metadata already having been detected… There MUST be a way to do this!”

This would save me the step of having to detect chords (and verify they’re all correct in the Editor) if I wanted to use the chord track in my production workflow. Also, depending on how I have the tracks in my Studio One Song setup, those Audioloops could potentially “auto-conform” to my Chord Track (in my source Song) when dragged in. ie: if I had some blank tracks setup in a template for dragging in Audioloops - and they were set to follow the Chord Track.

furthermore, my guess is that we will eventually be able to audition Audioloops in the Studio One Browser against our Chord Track in our Studio One Song. IMHO - This seems like the next logical step to take. That being said, I’m simply hypothesizing here, so don’t quote me on this.. (Although it would be pretty cool).

However if that DOES end up happening, I thought to myself - wouldn’t it be nice to “future proof” all my Audioloops I’ve been creating by embedding the Chord Track data into them before exporting. In addition, this could also prove to be useful in the meantime for my own productions. But all of that depends on whether or not this is even possible!

Well the short answer is, Yes - it is..

In this video I demonstrate how to export Audioloops with Embedded Chord Track Metadata In PreSonus Studio One.

And as always, if you enjoy this content, please - Share, Subscribe, and hit that like button. :)

Cheers, Marcus

Studio One 4 - Two Chord Track Tips You May Not Know

The Chord Track in Studio One Version 4 has really changed the way in which it’s possible to work in a DAW. I know that it has opened up many new creative possibilities in my own personal workflow, which were simply not achievable before.

That being said, it does take a bit of getting used to, because it’s not just a set of Markers for adding Chord Data, but rather a Dynamic tool that can non-destructively change your entire song with a single click.

If you’re interested in learning more about The Chord Track, here are 3 different tutorials that I’ve done in the past covering some of the creative possibilities:

1. Producing With The Chord Track In Studio One 4 - Working With Instrument Tracks

2. Tip - How To Render Chord Track Changes Into Instrument Parts (MIDI Events) In Studio One 4

3. How To Create Instant 808 Bass Lines Using The Chord Track In Studio One 4

Now If you’ve spent any time using The Chord Track - one of the areas that may be familiar, is using both Instrument Parts & Audio Events to “extract” or “detect” chord information - which can then be added to the main Global Chord Track. It’s also worth pointing out that once you have this information, it can be applied in various different ways to Audio Tracks & Instrument Tracks alike.

But did you know that there are some simple shortcuts that can be used to help speed up the process?

In this video I demonstrate a couple miscellaneous tips that can be used when working with The Chord Track in Studio One Version 4 with both Audio Events, and Instrument Parts (MIDI Events).

And as always, if you enjoy this content, please - Share, Subscribe, and hit that like button. :)

Cheers, Marcus

How To Create Instant 808 Bass Lines Using The Chord Track In Studio One 4

First off, let me start off by saying that I’m a huge fan of MUSIC. And to me it doesn’t matter what the genre is, because I’ll listen to anything as long as it has some substance or something that moves me in a certain way. Now having said that, I’ll also add that my taste’s are constantly evolving, and I think that’s a good thing.

Over the last 2 years or so, I’ve spent a great deal of time showing my son lot’s of different types of music, and as you would imagine - he does the same with me. Now just to add a bit of context here, my son is 13 years old, and needless to say is pretty heavy into trap music, so I find that a lot of our long car rides are spent with him showing me music that (to be completely honest) I would have never heard had it not been for him. For this, I’m grateful because I will always love being shown a cool new track regardless of the genre.

Well, even though this may have not always been the case, it turns out that now I really like certain elements of trap. Furthermore, it would also seem that this is apparent for the rest of the world as the fusion of Top 40 charts meshes with certain stylistic elements in trap as well. Just listen to some of the current tracks that are sitting on the charts and I’m sure you’d agree. Case in point - the 808 Bass Line.

First off - full disclaimer here, I am not (nor would I consider myself) a “beat-maker” or someone who specializes in this specific genre by any means…

(**Side-note - If you are interested in those genres, and you work in Studio One, you should definetly check out a couple of my good friends channels Craftmaster Productions & KsndDEF.)

But what I will say is that as a producer - I love pulling elements from different genres into my productions. I will also say that as someone who is very much set in my ways (which can limit you as a producer) - I find it both inspiring and refreshing to see the younger generation of beat-makers and producers working. It reminds me that I still have much to learn in terms of keeping a fresh perspective on things.

So now back to the point..

I was working with my son this past weekend and we were fleshing out a track, and he pulled up a nice 808 sample and loaded it into Sample One XT - and asked me what’s the best approach to use when adding in an 808 Bass Line? My answer to him, was something along the lines of: “Well, there’s really no “best approach” BUT - if you’re just trying to get something down quickly to keep a session moving, you can copy the kick drum MIDI (Note Data in Studio One terminology) over to your 808 track then edit a Bass Line by keeping the same basic rhythmic pattern & editing the midi notes”

His answer was “Hmmmm, I’d rather just play it in” and to be honest, I agree that this is the best overall approach. But going back to a point I make over and over, and what I said to him was: “well that’s true but - sometimes you might not have a controller! And you should be able to both perform & edit the MIDI in your DAW. Because both workflow’s are useful”

Needless to say, that experience was the source of inspiration behind today’s video. So I basically thought to myself, that there must be SOME type of way to streamline that work-flow - and the short answer is yes! There is! By using The Chord Track in Studio One 4.

In this video I demonstrate a workflow that can be used to generate instant 808 Bass Lines (Borrowed from The Kick Track's MIDI) using The Chord Track in Studio One Version 4.

And as always, if you enjoy this content, please - Share, Subscribe, and hit that like button. :)

Cheers, Marcus

Tip - How To Render Chord Track Changes Into Instrument Parts (MIDI Events) In Studio One 4

Working With The Chord Track

For those of you who may not be aware, The Chord Track is a really killer new feature that was added in Studio One 4. Essentially it allows users to "Map Out" their entire song as a harmonic roadmap - quite similar to what one would do with Markers or The Arranger Track. It then becomes a visual indication of the chord changes that make up your song.

But that's just the tip of the iceberg! Essentially, based on each tracks individual settings, it has the ability to non-destructively alter both Audio Tracks/Events & Instrument Parts in your whole entire song to play perfectly against your chords as defined in The Chord Track. There are obviously some limitations here based on the complexity of the chords being used, but in general it does a great job.

I recently did a video showing some basic work-flow concepts of working with The Chord Track, and how it can be used in a standard production workflow. Long story short, one of the comments that came up was, "How would one go about rendering the changes made by The Chord Track into the actual Instrument Parts?" The reason this question came up is because of the way The Chord Track was designed to work.

Non-Destructive vs Destructive

When working in a DAW, you will most likely hear the above 2 terms being thrown around when speaking to various different work-flows. Let me just get this out of the way and say that in my opinion, there is definitely room for both. As for their meaning, well that's pretty self explanatory.

Destructive would be anything where the results of a process (or action) are rendered into an actual file, where as the opposite can be said for non-destructive.

How This Relates To The Chord Track

According to PreSonus, The Chord Track was mainly designed (but not at all limited) for use in song writing / song production. Hence, their approach was to have the entire process be non-destructive as evident by the ability to toggle the Global "Follow" mode on or off as needed.

But let's break this down for a second. Once you have the results you're looking for, why leave this in a temporary state? If you're happy, then why not commit and render those changes into the file?

This was one of the things that entered my mind when working with The Chord Track, but all the usual approaches that I expected to "work" for rendering did not seem to do the trick. But - there is a way to do it!

In this video, I demonstrate how to go about rendering any changes that were made by The Chord Track into Instrument Parts (otherwise known as MIDI Events) In Studio One 4.

And as always, if you enjoy this content, please - Share, Subscribe, and hit that like button. :)

Cheers, Marcus

Producing With The Chord Track In Studio One 4 - Working With Instrument Tracks

Working With The Chord Track

When Studio One 4 was released, one of the main highlighted new features that was introduced was The Chord Track. Essentially acting as a Harmonic road-map to your Song - it allows Studio One users to do things that were not possible before in a DAW. Without getting into too much detail, let's just say it's pretty wild and opens up the door to new potential work-flow's when working in Studio One.

But quite often, with features such as this, there is a basic learning curve that one must go through in order to fully understand how (and potentially when) to use it. Having said this, I though it would be a good idea to do a simple video of how to incorporate The Chord Track into your workflow when fleshing out basic song ideas.

In this video, I demonstrate the basics in terms of how to go about using The Chord Track (on instrument tracks) in Studio One Version 4 while producing.

And as always, if you enjoy this content, please - Share, Subscribe, and hit that like button. :)

Cheers, Marcus