MAX FOR LIVE LIQUID RHYTHM SOFTWARE

Some aspects seem too complex while, perversely enough, others are too simplistic. With a current limitation to 4/4 time signatures and a tendency to crash occasionally, there’s scope for development. However, despite an earnest scientific approach, it isn’t yet the perfect all-rounder for generating MIDI drum loops. Its most interesting results come from the intelligent randomisation and humanisation tools. Patterns are easily arranged into longer structures and where Liquid Rhythm scores is by offering in-depth adjustment and easily generated variations. With one click you summon a kick pattern, with another a snare, then congas, shakers, hi-hats and so on until you have a complete rhythm section. Ultimately, when you get beyond the fancy terminology, Liquid Rhythm is broadly similar in concept to Apple Loops.

MAX FOR LIVE LIQUID RHYTHM SOFTWARE

I’d be hard pressed to name any software with such a mind-boggling catalogue of options for hurling notes around a bar. The remaining tools cover the manipulation of velocities and timings according to the colour-coding already described. This makes it particularly effective for fills, hi-hat patterns and all kinds of hand percussion.

When generating notes on multiple simultaneous tracks, ‘collaborate’ reduces clutter at a stroke by blocking the creation of strikes on the same beat. Until you master its juggling of notes and their timing, each press can lead to a wonderful accident or percussive havoc. The ‘Surprise Me!’ randomiser button is a powerful but simple operation involving four sliders and tick boxes. Alternatively, the audio export option will deliver loops either in complete mix format or split into tracks. Any kind of EQ or effect processing is therefore accomplished at DAW level by means of Liquid Rhythm’s 16 mono outputs or eight stereo outs. The mixer is a basic level-and-pan affair.

When loaded into Liquid Rhythm, a loop is split into individual instruments, ready for further tweaking. If the kick doesn’t sound quite right, there’s a straightforward mechanism to replace it - or any individual drum - with another from the (short) list, although there’s no equivalent means of replacing the entire kit. Fortunately, for when it all becomes rather mind-bendingly intimidating, there’s a button labelled ‘Surprise Me!’. Designed to generate drum patterns or complete rhythm tracks in MIDI format, Liquid Rhythm is a dense package of unfamiliar terminology, colour-coding and hierarchical beat grouping inspired by Jackendoff and Lerdahl’s Generative Theory of Tonal Music, the aim of which is to help you come up with fresh grooves for your music. Founded in 2010, WaveDNA are a Canadian company whose first product is Liquid Rhythm.

Max for live liquid rhythm