Kick Lab 03 · 15 min
Pattern Lab
Program a 16-step kick pattern, set individual velocity, change swing and compare genre-informed starting points.
Controlled experiment
Change one cause. Hear the result.
Before moving a control, predict what will change. Use the play controls to compare at a comfortable level.
Audio starts only when you press a play button.
Select a step, then change its velocity. Press Space on a focused step to toggle it.
Move one control and listen for the relationship.
Attention guide
Listen for these three things.
- 1The pull into beat one
- 2What empty steps let the bass do
- 3Whether ghost hits feel lighter or merely quieter
Guided practice
Three experiments worth doing.
Do them in order. Reveal “What to notice” only after you have described the result in your own words.
- 01
Remove one certainty
Load Four on the floor and remove the third main hit.
What to notice
One missing anchor changes the phrase and may demand a shorter, clearer kick.
- 02
Velocity as phrasing
Select a step and compare velocities 45, 85 and 120.
What to notice
Velocity should create hierarchy; random variation can weaken the pulse.
- 03
Swing with restraint
Load Garage and move Swing from 50% to 60%.
What to notice
Swing changes relationships between steps; too much can make the kick late rather than fluid.
Check your model
Why can a denser kick pattern require a shorter tail?
Choose the answer that explains the cause, not merely the symptom.
Close the loop
Can you explain the result without the controls?
If you can name the cause, the audible change and the musical tradeoff, the concept is ready to transfer into your own session.