Easy Drum Pattern Variations

How to use the nudge function in FXpansion Geist or REAPER’s MIDI Editor actions to quickly and easily make multiple pattern variations.

TL;DR

• Geist is a drum sampler / sequencer
• In Geist’s pattern view, double click on the drum name to select all the notes
• Press the nudge button in the upper right corner
• You can nudge left and right by any amount of steps.

• Open a drum loop in the MIDI Editor, Make sure Snap is on and your Grid is set accordingly (in this example 1/16).
• Open the action list with “?” key, or Action menu, Show action list
• Look for the actions “Move notes right one grid unit” and ” Move notes left one grid unit” and assign to your keyboard.
• In the MIDI editor’s piano roll, right click on the note of the instrument you want to change.
• Nudge notes left and right to discover new patterns