New Jack Swing
Genre: New Jack Swing · Tempo: 104 BPM · Time signature: 4/4 · Length: 16 steps · Style: Teddy Riley-style swung 16th drum machine groove
Open this pattern in the interactive Patchpad (with playback)
The pattern
| Instrument | Steps (1 = start of the bar) | Velocity | Timing and chance |
|---|
| hat-closed | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 | 42-70 | step 2: late by about 33% of a step; step 4: late by about 33% of a step; step 6: late by about 33% of a step; step 8: late by about 33% of a step; step 10: late by about 33% of a step; step 12: late by about 33% of a step; step 14: late by about 33% of a step; step 16: late by about 33% of a step |
| kick | 1, 7, 11, 16 | 90-115 | step 7: plays 90% of the time; step 16: plays 50% of the time |
| clap | 5, 13 | 95 | on the grid, always plays |
| snare | 5, 8, 13 | 40-127 | step 8: late by about 33% of a step, plays 50% of the time |
| hat-open | 15 | 70 | step 15: late by about 33% of a step, plays 60% of the time |
Digitakt II
Tracks
- T1: kick (808/909 style)
- T2: snare (gated, big)
- T3: clap (layer)
- T4: hat-closed
- T5: hat-open
Settings
- Swing: hat-closed (T4) on the "e" and "a" 16ths (steps 2, 4, 6...) at TRIG page 1 µtime +8, which is one-third of a step (a triplet-style swung 16th, the characteristic Riley feel).
- Snare (T2): AMP page DEC 45 and FX page REV 60 (short, big room) for the punchy gated snare; layer the clap (T3) on the same steps 5 and 13.
- Kick (T1): AMP page DEC 55; step 16 with PROB 50 as a pick-up.
- Hat-open (T5): step 15 at µtime +8, AMP page DEC 40.
Digitone II
Tracks
- T1: kick (ALGO 1, FM click-into-boom)
- T2: snare (ALGO 1, FDBK noise)
- T3: clap (FM noise + MOD retrigger)
- T4: hat-closed (FM noise)
- T5: hat-open (FM noise)
Settings
- Kick: SYN page 1 ALGO 1, MIX -64, RATIO C 0.50, RATIO A 1.00; SYN page 2 Operator A LEV 65, ATK 0, DEC 12, END 0 (a fast click that falls away, leaving the low carrier); LEV (B) 0. AMP page ATK 0, DEC 50, SUS 0, REL 10.
- Snare: SYN page 1 ALGO 1, MIX -64, RATIO C 2.00, RATIO A 5.00, FDBK 95; SYN page 2 Operators A & B LEV (A) 60, LEV (B) 0 (FDBK acts on operator A in ALGO 1, so LEV (A) has to be up for the noise to be heard). AMP page ATK 0, DEC 40, SUS 0. FLTR page 1 HP FREQ 40.
- Clap: same noisy ALGO 1 setup as the snare (FDBK 100, LEV (A) 60), AMP page DEC 40; MOD page 1 MODE ONE, WAVE Square, SPD 60, DEST AMP: Volume, DEP 50 to retrigger a few quick pulses inside one envelope for the clap splash.
- Hats: SYN page 1 ALGO 1, MIX -64, RATIO C 1.00, RATIO A 11.00, FDBK 110; SYN page 2 Operators A & B LEV (A) 90, LEV (B) 0; FLTR page 1 TYPE HP, FREQ 100. AMP page DEC 10 (closed); lock AMP page DEC to 45 on the open-hat steps. Off 16ths at TRIG page 1 µtime +8 for the swing.
Syntakt
Tracks
- T9: kick (BD CLASSIC)
- T10: snare (SD CLASSIC)
- T12: hats (HH BASIC)
- T1: clap (CP VINTAGE)
Settings
- Snare (T10, SD CLASSIC): SYN page SNAP 60, NDEC 45; AMP page REV 60 with DEC short for the gated feel.
- Kick (T9, BD CLASSIC): SYN page DEC 55, TRAN 40.
- Clap (T1, CP VINTAGE): SYN page DEC 55, layered on steps 5 and 13.
- Syntakt has only one Analog Cymbal voice (T12), so closed and open hat share it: use `HH BASIC` and lock SYN page DEC short for closed steps and long for open steps. Off 16ths at TRIG page µtime +8; open hat on step 15 with DEC 40.
Notes
Swung 16th hats (every second 16th late by about a third of a step), a loud, gated snare on 2 and 4 with a layered clap, and a light syncopated kick, at about 104 BPM (the sources give 100-112). Hat swing is entered as micro-timing, so it stays in the sequencer rather than in a global swing setting.
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