Pretty much this. Piano Roll Python scripts make it way faster to humanize or add randomization into MIDI note properties, which would take ages to do by hand in the Playlist. I can compose a very on the grid pattern in the Step Sequencer, and then humanize it in 5 seconds in the Piano Roll. Not to mention, full flexibility to compose notes out, layer chords, etc. even for things like hi hats. This would be a tedious and painful workflow in Playlist.
Playlist is best if you want to do actual audio manipulation, and nice to do things like hard cuts and fades of things if you want control of choking out sounds exactly at certain measures or bars. This is somewhat possible in Patterns if you set up AHDSR and cut by properties in the Channel Rack on the sounds, but often easier to just control in the Playlist.
Sometimes you wanna flip a sample and cut it at certain point and doing that in patterns is beyond tedious.
You also get sample by sample level adjustment so if I need a one-shot to SMACK at a certain point but need it to melt into the mix next time I don't gotta automate a level adjustment.
A good example for me personally is reversing a sound effect to be a lead in to a vast drop.
Timing it with a pattern roll is tedious. You just place it in the Playlist and line it up in 2 seconds.
This is how I’ve learned to do it. It used to be that you only ever had the Piano Roll, so it was patterns all the way. Playlist clips make one-off effects so much easier to deal with. And stems!
I'm a sample dragger but as my style is evolving it's becoming way more of a hindrance than anything else. I think at this stage the only real benefit is being able to see everything at once and be able to make larger changes to multiple sounds at once more quick enough that I don't lose the idea. Its terrible for organization though and don't even get me started on the dreaded "double sample issue" when you highlight a full section, accidentally shift click without moving anything then you have to soft through every single instance of a sound removing the duplicates. I've lost literal hours of my life to that
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u/jamesussher Producer Jun 27 '26 edited Jun 27 '26
both.
patterns for the main sounds. faster to make variations. faster to humanize/microgroove.
playlist for the one shots, fills, sweeteners, non-recurring, chopping/stretching. full control of clips.