Week 5 Creative Computing - Isolation (MIDI Reggae Version)

Isolation MIDI Reggae Version MP3

I thought it would be interesting doing reggae as opposed to rock or something because it's got a really loose feel that is hard to emulate with MIDI. I used a large dynamic range in the hihat programming to emulate the heavy accenting of a real reggae drummer. I also allowed the notes to be not exactly on the beat with the kick and rim click landing slightly behind. I emulated strumming on the guitar which was also lagging behind the beat. I programmed the bass by ear, using a varying amount of swing in different parts of the groove. I noticed while programming that quantized rhythms did not sound at all right in the bass part due to the style's complex feel. I added a slide which does instantly make the part seem less synthetic as we are not used to hearing MIDI instruments imitate this technique.

Apart from all that, I think that Joy Division should have replaced Ian with a trombone player and kept playing their old stuff.....

Reference: Christian Haines. "Week 5 Creative Computing - MIDI Programming and Humanization." Lecture presented at the Electronic Music Unit, University of Adelaide, 26 August 2008.