# The Scaler Forum Band Project

**URL:** <https://forum.scalermusic.com/t/the-scaler-forum-band-project/6793>\
**Category:** Scaler 2 General Discussion\
**Created:** [April 1, 2021, 12:22am UTC](https://forum.scalermusic.com/t/the-scaler-forum-band-project/6793 "2021-04-01T00:22:52Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 20\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Bernd](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex012/user_avatar/forum.scalermusic.com/bernd/32/1320_2.png) [@Bernd](https://forum.scalermusic.com/u/Bernd)\
**Post date:** [April 1, 2021, 12:22am UTC](https://forum.scalermusic.com/t/the-scaler-forum-band-project/6793/1 "2021-04-01T00:22:52Z")

</div>

This discussion thread is to ideate and coordinate on the ambition to put together a music project based on using Scaler as the core tool. Part of the aspiration is to create Scaler showcases, the other to hone our Scaler skills and learn a thing or two by experimentation or from fellow “band members”. Anybody can join, of course 🙂

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![lelek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/919ad9/32.png) [@lelek](https://forum.scalermusic.com/u/lelek)\
**Post date:** [April 1, 2021, 12:49am UTC](https://forum.scalermusic.com/t/the-scaler-forum-band-project/6793/2 "2021-04-01T00:49:05Z")

</div>

Sign me in! 🙂

Can I safely assume that, to start, we should gather couple progression-melody combos?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Bernd](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex012/user_avatar/forum.scalermusic.com/bernd/32/1320_2.png) [@Bernd](https://forum.scalermusic.com/u/Bernd)\
**Post date:** [April 1, 2021, 4:17am UTC](https://forum.scalermusic.com/t/the-scaler-forum-band-project/6793/3 "2021-04-01T04:17:51Z")

</div>

I don’t know how the process works, I have never done anything like it 🙂 But starting with putting together some chord progression sounds Scaler-appropriate 😉

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![lelek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/919ad9/32.png) [@lelek](https://forum.scalermusic.com/u/lelek)\
**Post date:** [April 1, 2021, 12:46pm UTC](https://forum.scalermusic.com/t/the-scaler-forum-band-project/6793/4 "2021-04-01T12:46:14Z")

</div>

Well then. Without further ado, here comes melody number 01.  
16 bars full of cheesy stuff 🤣. Last bar is **definitely** to be reworked but I had no better idea at this time.  
The melody line is kind of for vocal so it’s simple and kept in one octave.

Attached midi file is Scaler’s own track so the lowest notes are chords.

Scaler settings:

- Eb Major scale
- Keyboard binding to section B
- Voice Grouping: Dynamic
- Instrument: Grand Piano

[Scaler Forum Band - attempt 01.mid](https://forum.scalermusic.com/uploads/short-url/p69xMo4I4z7gGLH2RVoHtqVEMd0.mid) (531 Bytes)

 ![Screen Shot 2021-04-01 at 2.09.17 PM](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex012/uploads/scalermusic/original/2X/3/38c2c0f3722ff15fedbeb716abe8fdc920e51ab3.jpeg)

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![jjfagot](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex012/user_avatar/forum.scalermusic.com/jjfagot/32/5698_2.png) [@jjfagot](https://forum.scalermusic.com/u/jjfagot)\
**Post date:** [April 1, 2021, 8:45pm UTC](https://forum.scalermusic.com/t/the-scaler-forum-band-project/6793/5 "2021-04-01T20:45:01Z")

</div>

I sign up, with my old metronome under my arm  
I download the file and I will do experiments

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![ClaudioPorcellana](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex012/user_avatar/forum.scalermusic.com/claudioporcellana/32/14242_2.png) [@ClaudioPorcellana](https://forum.scalermusic.com/u/ClaudioPorcellana)\
**Post date:** [April 1, 2021, 11:04pm UTC](https://forum.scalermusic.com/t/the-scaler-forum-band-project/6793/6 "2021-04-01T23:04:37Z")

</div>

Rather than dropping another of my test I’ll try to explain a workflow and a possible request to DEVs for an improvement

I composed a song yesterday: guitar and hammond, each with its Scaler (same series of chords, different patterns)

After having configured the guitar, I noticed that Hammond chords were sometimes dissonant compared to the guitar chords, so I used for the 1st time the Circle of fifths

here is the picture with routings

 ![Cattura](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex012/uploads/scalermusic/original/2X/4/4608f00cc39ef915d7704ff849964297775a2610.jpeg)

The first chord sounded fine, so I started to edit the second one  
to do that I put in loop the first 2 chords

 ![First 2 chords](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex012/uploads/scalermusic/original/2X/a/ac58ba0c6fe7ecb2fd9c4d34ff8ff82a28944321.jpeg)

I clicked the space-bar to start the loop, then I used my ear and Scaler suggestions (amazing feature WOW) to find a proper 2nd chord

Then I repeated the same for the other dissonant chords, each time increasing the loop by one bar

 ![First 3 chords](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex012/uploads/scalermusic/original/2X/3/398087ae5ebc5d2ae530430965275c7341f7a6c3.jpeg) ![First 4 chords](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex012/uploads/scalermusic/original/2X/e/e4fbc7e8a22742091e902e3864519cd5bd50c714.jpeg)

Using my ear and Scaler’s suggestions I was able to fix all dissonant chords

The workflow can be improved anyway, as explained [here](https://forum.scalermusic.com/t/instant-change-of-chord-sound-in-the-circle-of-fifths/6813)

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![TMacD](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex012/user_avatar/forum.scalermusic.com/tmacd/32/6358_2.png) [@TMacD](https://forum.scalermusic.com/u/TMacD)\
**Post date:** [April 2, 2021, 1:28am UTC](https://forum.scalermusic.com/t/the-scaler-forum-band-project/6793/7 "2021-04-02T01:28:24Z")

</div>

Are witnessing a thread hijack in real time? 🙂

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![ClaudioPorcellana](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex012/user_avatar/forum.scalermusic.com/claudioporcellana/32/14242_2.png) [@ClaudioPorcellana](https://forum.scalermusic.com/u/ClaudioPorcellana)\
**Post date:** [April 2, 2021, 9:24am UTC](https://forum.scalermusic.com/t/the-scaler-forum-band-project/6793/8 "2021-04-02T09:24:22Z")

</div>

Why?  
@Bernd wants we share our workflows…

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![lelek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/919ad9/32.png) [@lelek](https://forum.scalermusic.com/u/lelek)\
**Post date:** [April 2, 2021, 12:33pm UTC](https://forum.scalermusic.com/t/the-scaler-forum-band-project/6793/9 "2021-04-02T12:33:49Z")

</div>

> [@jjfagot](#):
>
> I download the file and I will do experiments

Great! I’m so curious to see (well, hear) how various people will approach the tune. Keeping fingers crossed. 🙂 Currently I’m trying to feed triads from Scaler into UJAM Sparkle for some pop-rock rhythm guitar.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Bernd](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex012/user_avatar/forum.scalermusic.com/bernd/32/1320_2.png) [@Bernd](https://forum.scalermusic.com/u/Bernd)\
**Post date:** [April 2, 2021, 5:31pm UTC](https://forum.scalermusic.com/t/the-scaler-forum-band-project/6793/12 "2021-04-02T17:31:23Z")

</div>

Beautiful melody! I feel like an idiot, because I just copied the raw midi over into my DAW, and played it, and thought “wow, super avantgarde!” (my positive spin on dissonance 😉 And then I reread your “Scaler Settings” information and configured Scaler accordingly, and voila, beautiful! Here’s my first take on building on this…  
[https://soundcloud.com/user-938271334/scaler-forum-band-take-1](https://soundcloud.com/user-938271334/scaler-forum-band-take-1)

I added a Scaler bass line (Funk 1)  
 ![image](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex012/images/transparent.png)

The drums are NI Maschine’s “909 Fat Bloke Kit”. And then used the same notes & settings from your original piano piece to feed a vox pad with more sustain one octave up (used Falcon 2 for that, but you could substitute with Scaler’s internal “Choir” sound)

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Bernd](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex012/user_avatar/forum.scalermusic.com/bernd/32/1320_2.png) [@Bernd](https://forum.scalermusic.com/u/Bernd)\
**Post date:** [April 2, 2021, 5:36pm UTC](https://forum.scalermusic.com/t/the-scaler-forum-band-project/6793/13 "2021-04-02T17:36:34Z")

</div>

If you use Scaler’s internal “Choir” for the background pad, it seems to sound best 4 octaves up…

 ![image](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex012/uploads/scalermusic/original/2X/b/bc2dfeb55989cfa95b978b13770b2c2356f5448a.jpeg)

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![ClaudioPorcellana](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex012/user_avatar/forum.scalermusic.com/claudioporcellana/32/14242_2.png) [@ClaudioPorcellana](https://forum.scalermusic.com/u/ClaudioPorcellana)\
**Post date:** [April 2, 2021, 6:28pm UTC](https://forum.scalermusic.com/t/the-scaler-forum-band-project/6793/14 "2021-04-02T18:28:53Z")

</div>

For the sake of @LivingEdge_Studios sanity, I moved the alien part of my workflow in the [proper section](https://forum.scalermusic.com/t/instant-change-of-chord-sound-in-the-circle-of-fifths/6813) of the forum  
🤪 🤣 👀

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![lelek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/919ad9/32.png) [@lelek](https://forum.scalermusic.com/u/lelek)\
**Post date:** [April 2, 2021, 7:40pm UTC](https://forum.scalermusic.com/t/the-scaler-forum-band-project/6793/15 "2021-04-02T19:40:08Z")

</div>

> [@Bernd](#):
>
> Here’s my first take on building on this…

Darn it, you’re fast! I’m still in the woods 🙂  
I love how dreamy you’ve made the tune. Are you planning to change the piano into a synth? 🙂

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Bernd](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex012/user_avatar/forum.scalermusic.com/bernd/32/1320_2.png) [@Bernd](https://forum.scalermusic.com/u/Bernd)\
**Post date:** [April 2, 2021, 9:49pm UTC](https://forum.scalermusic.com/t/the-scaler-forum-band-project/6793/16 "2021-04-02T21:49:42Z")

</div>

I wasn’t planning to swap out the piano, I actually quite like it. Originally I did play with a bunch of different synth leads for the melody, but in the end it seemed to sound best with piano. Meanwhile I have also added a Scaler guitar (sound + expressions), but it doesn’t quite sound right. It’s starting to get too busy. And even now listening to it again on another PC, the sound mixing is horrible, bass way too dominant :-o

Here’s the alternative part with guitar (faded piano into background).  
[https://soundcloud.com/user-938271334/scaler-forum-band-take-2](https://soundcloud.com/user-938271334/scaler-forum-band-take-2)

And here’s how it looks in the DAW (Bitwig)…

 ![image](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex012/uploads/scalermusic/original/2X/8/8df2c98d7bb8fe319ea08aedc2e042430b3dcfea.png)

The Scaler guitar part looks like this:  
 ![image](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex012/images/transparent.png)  
You can play around and vary the expressions.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Bernd](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex012/user_avatar/forum.scalermusic.com/bernd/32/1320_2.png) [@Bernd](https://forum.scalermusic.com/u/Bernd)\
**Post date:** [April 2, 2021, 10:05pm UTC](https://forum.scalermusic.com/t/the-scaler-forum-band-project/6793/17 "2021-04-02T22:05:28Z")

</div>

Meant to add that I like the original melody very much, in fact in the DAW I kept listening to it on loop for a couple of repetitions. But it sounds like it would be the chorus to the longer story. So we might need to weave some narrative around this central theme?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Bernd](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex012/user_avatar/forum.scalermusic.com/bernd/32/1320_2.png) [@Bernd](https://forum.scalermusic.com/u/Bernd)\
**Post date:** [April 2, 2021, 10:09pm UTC](https://forum.scalermusic.com/t/the-scaler-forum-band-project/6793/18 "2021-04-02T22:09:54Z")

</div>

For what it’s worth, I’ve added a workspace on [kompoz.com](http://kompoz.com), that might make it easier to share files/stems etc. [The Scaler Forum Band Dashboard](https://www.kompoz.com/music/collaboration/1113308)

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Bernd](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex012/user_avatar/forum.scalermusic.com/bernd/32/1320_2.png) [@Bernd](https://forum.scalermusic.com/u/Bernd)\
**Post date:** [April 2, 2021, 10:27pm UTC](https://forum.scalermusic.com/t/the-scaler-forum-band-project/6793/19 "2021-04-02T22:27:51Z")

</div>

I was thinking how we probably should keep the instruments to the Scaler internal ones, a) to make the project as portable across the Scaler community as possible, and b) to identify any missing sounds that the Scaler Dev team might want to add, like some percussive sounds?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![lelek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/919ad9/32.png) [@lelek](https://forum.scalermusic.com/u/lelek)\
**Post date:** [April 2, 2021, 11:36pm UTC](https://forum.scalermusic.com/t/the-scaler-forum-band-project/6793/20 "2021-04-02T23:36:05Z")

</div>

> [@Bernd](#):
>
> Here’s the alternative part with guitar (faded piano into background).

It’s soooo great - I love how chill it is. And yes, it does need some EQ-ing 😉 but let’s not be perfectionist right from the start. Mastering engineer will fix everything 🤣

> [@Bernd](#):
>
> But it sounds like it would be the chorus to the longer story. So we might need to weave some narrative around this central theme?

Definitely - a verse is a must 🙂 . I will try to draft something - Sunday evening I should be out Easter-foods-induced-coma 🙂 and ready for new challenges.

> [@Bernd](#):
>
> I’ve added a workspace on [kompoz.com](http://kompoz.com), that might make it easier to share files/stems etc

Signed up and uploaded my version 🙂

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![TMacD](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex012/user_avatar/forum.scalermusic.com/tmacd/32/6358_2.png) [@TMacD](https://forum.scalermusic.com/u/TMacD)\
**Post date:** [April 3, 2021, 12:40am UTC](https://forum.scalermusic.com/t/the-scaler-forum-band-project/6793/21 "2021-04-03T00:40:38Z")

</div>

Thanks Bernd, just registered. As we progress through different songs and albums 🙂 , it might be interesting to define some song types that target (and then are then constrained by) very specific feature sets of Scaler. That way, if and when people listen, they can get a feel of what it is they are listening to and how it relates to producing it with Scaler. As we know, cool sounding chords are but one of Scaler’s many talents.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Bernd](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex012/user_avatar/forum.scalermusic.com/bernd/32/1320_2.png) [@Bernd](https://forum.scalermusic.com/u/Bernd)\
**Post date:** [April 3, 2021, 3:59am UTC](https://forum.scalermusic.com/t/the-scaler-forum-band-project/6793/22 "2021-04-03T03:59:05Z")

</div>

Good point about focusing on the different Scaler features, as I can think of them being…

1. The library of chord progressions
2. The expressions (phrases etc)
3. The transition/modulation feature
4. The patterns matrix & key binding that allows recalling chords

Along those lines I was wondering if we best keep the compositional exchanges in Scaler format, e.g. the pattern matrix instead of MIDI files, or would that be too constraining? We wouldn’t expect to compose a whole song solely in Scaler, right?

[Next page](https://forum.scalermusic.com/t/the-scaler-forum-band-project/6793.md?page=2)
