Programming drums on a sequencer or DAW can feel like a chore. On a grid, loops can sound cold and robotic. But how do those electronic and hip-hop pioneers make their drums groove so well? When I started learning to play real drums, I realized there are three simple techniques that every grooving drum beat, whether made on a sampler, groovebox, or DAW, uses to feel more human. A great drum loop comes from rhythmic variation, human feel, and tasteful processing. In this post,

It’s been about two years since I last turned on the Novation Circuit Tracks. Back then, it was the main brain of my DAWless setup, and the first piece of Dawless gear I ever used. Over time, as my setup and workflow developed, I shifted away from it, until it's been relegated to sitting on the shelf for the last 2 years. Recently, I decided to dust it off and see if it still holds up in 2025… or if time (and technology) has left it behind. Come to find out...

I’ve been performing live with the SP404 MK2 since it released in 2021, and over the years I’ve gone through multiple versions of my live set. But now, after five major firmware updates, the SP404 MK2 offers a ton of new flexibility for live performance. My upcoming live set is entirely ambient, which required a different approach: drones, loops, irregular time signatures, and a mix of live playing and triggered textures.