Machinedrum Bass Generator turns an Elektron Machinedrum track into a dedicated melodic bassline and tonal synthesizer for monome norns.
Designed around the unofficial Machinedrum OS "X" tonal pitch system, every note step automatically transmits a scale-quantized CC to Synth Parameter 1 (PTCH) paired with a trigger note.
Author: HANJO – Tokyo, Japan 🇯🇵
- Lines Forum Thread: Machinedrum Bass Generator
E1: Select target Machinedrum track (1–16)E2: Select parameterE3: Change parameter valueK2: Play / StopK3: Regenerate bassline
K1+K2: Audition root + octave (use to calibrate pitch/tuning)K1+K3: Mutate current pattern onceK1+E2: Select step / preview pitch CC
-
Kit Setup: On your target MD track, choose a machine with pitch controls (e.g.,
GND-SN,TRX-B2) and set its tonality to TONAL (EDIT KIT > TUNING). -
MIDI Base Channel: Set the Machinedrum base channel to match the
MD base channelparam (default is1). Track$t$ listens for CC onbase + (t - 1) // 4. -
Calibrate:
- Hold
K1+K2to audition the root note and the octave above. - Adjust
tune: CC @ C2until the root pitch is in tune. - Adjust
CC steps per semitone(1or2) until the upper note lands cleanly one octave up.
- Hold
Captures a clean, un-randomized 16-step take straight into the Machinedrum sequencer:
- Press
K2to run ONE clean 16-step take. - Emits an optional rec-arm note, bar-aligned MIDI START, count-in bar(s), 16 steps, and MIDI STOP.
- Temporarily bypasses
PROB%andEVOLVE%during recording for a faithful print. - Prerequisites:
- MD: external clock + transport receive enabled.
- norns: set
CLOCK > MIDI clock outto the MD. - Select an empty 16-step pattern on the MD and arm REC (manually or via note mapped in
MAP EDITOR > CTRL).
- Sends coordinated MIDI CC (Synth Param 1 /
PTCH) and Note Trigger messages over USB/MIDI. - Target MD track and MIDI base channel fully configurable.
- monome norns (any model)
- Elektron Machinedrum (running unofficial OS "X" with tonal pitch enabled)
- USB-MIDI interface or direct MIDI connection between norns and Machinedrum
Install via Maiden:
;install [https://github.com/hanjo-synth/MDBass](https://github.com/hanjo-synth/MDBass)