Glitch IDM Folktronic with DP

[canvasilence]

Does anyone here have experience creating those minimalist IDM or intricate percussion patterns in glitch or folktronica?

I am pretty well experienced in recording live tracks, doing some synth work, and making standard 4/4 beats, but have no idea how to programs those beautiful intricate glitchy downtempo sounds.

Any ideas?

[jmguru]

I use reaktor quite a bit. Sometimes I lay down a simple beat (with Model12 ,even! ) and use the drum editor to move stuff around, add tiny 1/32, 1/64 notes, etc. Then I'll print that loop and feed it into a reaktor ensemble like L3 or Random Step Shifter. Thats just one way.

[Persiflage]

I've found that using the plain old DP 4.6 drum editor with iDrum works just fine for intricate programming. iDrum is great for triggering samples, but is limited to 4/4, with a max resolution of 64th notes. Since DP can be in any time signature you want, I don't bother with iDrum's onboard step sequencer (even though its nice). 7/4 is a good IDM time signature... Venetian Snares uses it a good deal.
For "glitch" sounds, try setting several disimilar sounds on the same choke group, and sequencing them in rapid succesion. This creates a rapid timbre change that is commonly assotiated with the genre. Also, experiment with loading rough sounding synth samples intro your drum sampler along with traditional drum sounds. Sequencing a noisily patched synth with a similar rhythm as your drums has a similar effect.
Often times, effects are the key to getting that "glitch" or "IDM" sound. Try ring modulation, bit reduction, or granular effects. Even the most simple 4 on the floor beat sounds like glitch when reduced to 4 bits. Macmusic.org has a whole slew of good AU plugin effects that can be downloaded for free.
At the heart of these genres is the process of experimentation. I recommend downloading a bunch of plugins and playing around with them. Familiarize yourself with different effects and sequencing techniques and you'll start recognizing them when you listen to electronic music.

[Tripi]

A good starting point for working on glitch ideas is to try using Buffer Override from Destroy FX.
http://destroyfx.smartelectronix.com/

The idea is that you run something like a beat pattern, or anything really, and find the settings that give you good sharp audio fragments to work with. Then print it, and slice it into a kajillion samples. Sometimes I use these samples directly in DP's sequencer, and sometimes I make a Kontakt instrument out of them. Working with MIDI in DP is just fine for glitchy stuff. I find that going crazy with the spine tool in the conductor track, bouncing, and stretching is a great way to come up with new sounds. Another good tool is to sequence some 'simple' percussion from the glitch samples, and then start scaling the MIDI region. If you scale something small enough, or odd enough, it will certainly start getting that idm vibe.

tripi

[David Polich]

Glitch is one of my favorite styles. I'm one of the programmers who does sound design for Yamaha and Korg, and I contributed some glitch stuff to the Motif XS and also the Korg Radias factory sets.

One of the common "themes" running through glitch is that the percussive elements are sharp, small, and often high-pitched. Think of it this way - like geiger counter blips and burbles, but set into patterns. Or tapping on a turntable needle, but in a rhythmic fashion.

You can turn almost any sampled drum kit into a "glitch" kit by simply pitching all the elements up to ridiculous extremes (or down to ridiculous extremes, if you want to do down-tempo).

There are specific "glitch" sound libraries out there. Check out "Konkrete Drums2" and "Abstract Breaks" from Sonic Couture, a website that is a goldmine of stuff for glitch, IDM, and assorted other electronica styles:

http://www.soniccouture.com

Google "Glitch sample libraries" and you'll find more.