Reggae Rockers / Steppers
Genre: Reggae / Dub · Tempo: 80 BPM · Time signature: 4/4 · Length: 16 steps · Style: Sly-and-Robbie-era rockers and steppers
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, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15 | 45-70 | on the grid, always plays |
| kick | 1, 5, 9, 13 | 100-110 | on the grid, always plays |
| snare | 5, 13 | 92-95 | on the grid, always plays |
| perc1 | 8, 14 | 30-35 | step 8: plays 50% of the time; step 14: plays 40% of the time |
| rim | 9 | 70 | step 9: plays 60% of the time |
| hat-open | 16 | 60 | step 16: plays 50% of the time |
Digitakt II
Tracks
- T1: kick
- T2: snare
- T3: rim
- T4: hat-closed
- T5: hat-open
- T6: perc1
Settings
- Kick (T1): AMP page DEC 70, SRC TUNE lowered by a few semitones for a round dub-friendly thump; steps 1, 5, 9, 13 (every quarter).
- Snare (T2): steps 5 and 13, FX page REV 40; a tight, dry-ish crack.
- Hat-closed (T4): steady 8ths with the offbeats accented (VEL 70 on 3, 7, 11, 15 against 45 on the beat).
- Rim (T3) on step 9, PROB 60, and hat-open (T5) on step 16, PROB 50, for the occasional turnaround touch.
Digitone II
Tracks
- T1: kick (ALGO 1, round low carrier)
- T2: snare (ALGO 1, FDBK noise, roomy)
- T3: rim (ALGO 1 plain carrier)
- 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 35, ATK 0, DEC 8, END 0 (a fast click that falls away, leaving the low carrier); LEV (B) 0. AMP page ATK 0, DEC 75, SUS 0, REL 10.
- Snare: SYN page 1 ALGO 1, MIX -64, RATIO C 2.00, RATIO A 5.00, FDBK 80; 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 30.
- Rim: SYN page 1 ALGO 1, MIX -64, RATIO C 4.00, RATIO A 1.00; SYN page 2 Operators A & B LEV (A) 0, LEV (B) 0 (plain carrier). AMP page DEC 14, SUS 0.
- 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 12 (closed); lock AMP page DEC to 45 on the open-hat steps.
Syntakt
Tracks
- T9: kick (BD SILKY)
- T10: snare (SD NATURAL)
- T11: rim (RS CLASSIC)
- T12: hats (HH BASIC)
Settings
- Kick (T9, BD SILKY): SYN page DEC 75, DUST 20; every quarter note.
- Snare (T10, SD NATURAL): SYN page BAL 60, NDEC 45; AMP page REV 40.
- Rim (T11, RS CLASSIC): step 9, TRIG page PROB 60.
- 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. Offbeat 8ths accented; open hat step 16 with DEC 55.
Notes
The straight-four 'rockers/steppers' variant of reggae (kick on every quarter, snare on 2 and 4, steady 8th hats) at about 80 BPM, the more forward counterpart to this library's one-drop dub pattern. The sources agree on the every-quarter kick; where drummers put the snare varies, so treat 2 and 4 as the standard version.
Patchpad is a free reference of drum patterns and synth patches written for real hardware: Digitakt II, Digitone II, Syntakt, Novation Summit, Arturia MiniFreak, Dreadbox Typhon and ASM Hydrasynth Desktop.