Noah Pred uses Manifest Audio’s latest MIDI tools to improvise a techno sketch in real time—covering generative basslines, dynamic hi-hats, expressive chord mapping, and performance recording in Ableton.
Exploring Manifest Audio’s New MIDI Toolkit in a C Minor Techno Jam
In this recent livestream, Noah Pred dives into the newly released Manifest Audio MIDI tools—putting them through their paces in real-time as he sketches a techno-inspired sequence. Set at a locked-groove tempo of 133.33 BPM (a nod to classic techno vinyl), he layers drums, bass, pads, and melodic ornaments to demonstrate how these devices can shape workflow and flow.
Core MIDI Tools in Action
Hexaline – Rhythmic Baseline & Percussion Generation
- Noah layers sine-based Operator bass with 6-line Hexaline patterns—instantly generating hypnotic, chromatic bass sequences.
- He toggles Fill vs Rest modes, which either ensure every step plays or mute selected lanes, adjusting patterns with per-note length and probability to achieve techno groove.
- He iterates rapidly, creating different ½- and full-bar variations—highlighting the creative freedom and quick exploration Hexaline enables.
Layering Instruments via Octave Zones
- MIDI commands from the tool are routed through a rack segmented by octave ranges—each triggering unique instruments like Drift, Meld, and Collision.
- This mapping gives a single gesture multi-timbral depth, allowing for evolving expression simply by shifting pitch.
Percotop & Converser – Randomized Hi-Hats and Call & Response
- Percotop scatters hi-hat and rim patterns with random offsets and chance control—keeping percussion unpredictable yet grounded.
- Converser (and sibling tools with “Ukian” modes) alternates between drum slots using forward, reverse, and elliptical cycle modes—yielding organic call-and-response rhythmic flow.
Navigator – Mapping Melodic Density & Range
- Navigator offers a grid-based XY control (‘puck’) that intuitively shifts melodic density (x-axis) and pitch/velocity range (y-axis). Noah fine-tunes Detroit-style chord stabs by exploring this space.
- He adds live-strummed chord textures and subtle lead lines, aligning harmonics with the overall rhythmic context.
Swinger – Custom Rhythmic Groove Control
- Instead of fixed groove templates, Noah demonstrates using Swinger to apply dynamic, uneven swing—where each step has independent swing chance and deviation.
- He then extracts this custom groove and applies it globally, giving the rhythm a live, slightly off-kilter human feel.
From Sketch to Structure – Performance Capture
- After crafting drum, bass, pad, and lead layers, he records the entire session into Arrangement View—maintaining flow while capturing concrete compositional structure.
- His mixing and automation are light-touch, but the focus is on capturing raw creative intent, rather than polish.
Why This Livestream Works
- It showcases instant musical ideas—with tools that generate 90% of the way, while still giving room for hands-on editing.
- Generative tools like Hexaline, Converser, and Navigator provide gestural control with depth, marrying randomness and intention.
- The performance captures both demo and creative workflow—serving as both discovery session and real techno sketch.
