OscarUnderdog Drops the Beat with Nine Sequencing Styles

OscarUnderdog starts this journey by putting sequencing at the front and center of electronic music creation. He kicks things off with a nod to the old-school using the x0x step sequencer. This trusty tool lets you assign sounds across a grid of steps like a game of musical Battleship. It’s especially handy for percussion and rhythmical synths. Stepping it up a notch, he touches on the 303-style sequencing, adding pitch to the mix for those iconic acid sounds. Oscar explains how these classic methods are visually arresting, especially if you’re rolling with hardware, and how they translate into modern digital formats.

The video dives deep into the world of complex rhythms with polymeters and Euclidian sequences, which Oscar clearly loves. Polymeters, he explains, break the monotony of regular loops, creating a swirling, unpredictable groove like tossing a pizza dough in slow-mo. Euclidian sequencers, on the other hand, divide your bars into unequal, yet satisfying chunks, giving your tracks that dynamic hop. The visual and numerical play with Euclidean patterns is like musical Sudoku, delivering groovy percussive lines that keep your head nodding. Whether you’re a complete newbie or a seasoned pro, these techniques can breathe fresh life into your sequences.

Oscar moves into the realm of modulation sequencing, a staple for the synth geeks out there. It’s like turning your music into a living thing, with each step influencing parameters like filter cutoff or effect levels. Oscar gives props to the Eurorack aficionados, hinting at the hands-on joy of twist-and-tweak. But fear not, digital producers – Oscar has tips to bring this organic feel to software-based setups too. The beauty of modulation sequencing is its ability to create dynamic shifts and textures that are ever-evolving, adding a layer of unpredictability that can transform any track.

Oscar hits the stage with generative sequencing, a style that values randomness and rules over structured perfection. Here, it’s all about setting parameters and letting the sequencer find its groove. Oscar highlights the charm of leaving things to chance, akin to freestyle jazz improv where chaos breeds creativity. Using tools like Fossion, he demonstrates how even random 303-styled patterns can yield surprising results. While it’s not his usual cup of tea, Oscar acknowledges the potential for happy accidents that can spark new ideas and unexpected directions.