Your First Beat

The fastest way to learn the workflow is to build some music! This quick-start guide walks through a simple drum pattern plus one melodic layer, using nothing but the gamepad. If a term here is unfamiliar, Tracker Basics covers it.

A brand-new project starts empty on the Song screen at row 00. If you're just trying out ElkTracker, No license is needed for any of this. Only saving requires activation (see Installation & Activation).

1. Build a drum kit

1. From the Song screen, cursor on row 00, channel 1. Tap A in the empty cell to insert chain 00, then press R (Dive) to jump into it.
2. You're now on the Chain screen, slot 0, all empty. Tap A the slot to insert phrase 00, then R (Dive) into it.
3. You're on the Phrase screen, 16 empty steps. Move the cursor to step 00's NOT column and tap A. This inserts C-4 (MIDI 60, the editor's starting note) and automatically fills in instrument 00 too.
4. With the cursor still on step 00's INSTR column, press R (Dive) to open Instrument 00.
5. The cursor lands on the TYPE field. Hold A and press → repeatedly until it reads DRUM .
6. You'll see 8 pad rows, C-4 through G-4. Move to the C-4 row and press R (or A-tap) to open the sample browser. Use ↑↓ to find a kick sample, R to preview it, A to load it onto the pad. Repeat on the E-4 row with a hi-hat or snare sample.
7. Press L (Back) to return to the Phrase screen. Your kick note from step 3 is already sitting on step 00.

2. Write the beat

You now have a 16-step phrase and a drum kit on instrument 00. Enter notes on the NOT column: Tap A on an empty step to insert whatever note you last used, then nudge it with A+←→ (±1 semitone) if you need a different one.

A simple four-on-the-floor with off-beat hats:

The beat stripe (a subtle background tint every 4th row) marks 00 04 08 0C at a glance. Since every step already has instrument 00 filled in from step 3 above, you only need to touch the NOT column.

3. Hear it

Press L (Back) twice to return to the Song screen (Phrase → Chain → Song). Press Start and playback begins from the cursor row and loops, since it's the only content in the song so far.

4. Add a melodic layer

1. Move the cursor to row 00, channel 2. Double-tap A quickly.
2. This finds the next unused chain automatically and fills it in, rather than reusing chain 00. A status message confirms which slot it picked (chain 01). Dive into it with R.
3. On the empty Chain 01, double-tap A on slot 0 the same way to grab the next unused phrase. Dive R into it.
4. On the new Phrase, enter a note on step 00's NOT column (A-tap, then nudge with A+↑↓ for octave jumps or A+←→ for semitones. Try C-3 for a bass note). Move to the INSTR column of that same step and double-tap A again to grab the next unused instrument (01). Dive (R) into it.
5. On Instrument 01, hold A and press → once on the TYPE field to change it from Sampler to Sub. Sub is a basic 3-oscillator synth. The default saw wave is audible, but feel free to play with the parameters here by moving the cursor to them, holding A and pressing ↑↓ for large increments, ←→ for small increments. The info bar at the bottom will describe each parameter's function as yu move the cursor to it.
6. Press L (Back) three times to return to the Song screen. Press Start. Both channels now play together, each advancing through their own chain independently.

5. Save it

Saving needs an activated license. Hold Select and press ← twice to reach the Project screen, move down to NAME to rename your project (A+←→ moves the cursor, A+↑↓ cycles characters), then down to SAVE and press A.

From here, Screens covers every screen in full, and Phrase FX Commands covers everything you can do to make a beat more interesting than four quarter notes.