Track Walkthroughs

Part IV examines each track in detail. You’ll see how the concepts from Parts I-III come together in complete compositions.

🎧 Listen to the album on SoundCloud while you read. Hearing the music makes everything click.

How to Use This Section

Each track walkthrough covers:

Overview — Purpose in the album, key characteristics
Sound Design — The specific sounds and why they were chosen
Patterns — Drum, bass, and melodic patterns
Arrangement — Section-by-section breakdown
Hacker Challenges — Modifications for you to try

The Tracks

#	Track	BPM	Key	Focus
01	System Override	100	D min	Album opener, establishing the sound
02	Nerve Damage	105	E min	Industrial aggression, double-time kicks
03	Chrome Cathedral	98	A min	Atmosphere, space, reverb techniques
04	Skull Fracture	108	F min	Maximum aggression, hook sounds
05	Midnight Protocol	102	C min	Synthwave melody, arpeggios
06	Void Walker	95	B min	Slow power, half-time feel
07	Core Meltdown	106	G min	Album climax, combined techniques
08	Terminal Velocity	100	D min	Cinematic finale, return to origin

Suggested Reading Order

If you want to learn progressively:

Start with Track 01 (System Override) — the simplest structure
Then Track 03 (Chrome Cathedral) — introduces atmosphere
Then Track 05 (Midnight Protocol) — introduces melody focus
Then Track 07 (Core Meltdown) — combines everything

If you want specific techniques:

Double-time drums → Track 02 (Nerve Damage)
Atmospheric effects → Track 03 (Chrome Cathedral)
Hook/signature sounds → Track 04 (Skull Fracture)
Arpeggios → Track 05 (Midnight Protocol)
Half-time/slow power → Track 06 (Void Walker)
Ethereal leads → Track 07 (Core Meltdown)
Fade-out arrangement → Track 08 (Terminal Velocity)

Running the Code

Each track’s complete code is available as a .rb file:

Open Sonic Pi
Copy the track code into a buffer
Press Run (or Cmd+R / Alt+R)
Listen and follow along with the walkthrough

Experimentation Encouraged

As you read each walkthrough, try:

Changing one parameter — What happens if cutoff is 60 instead of 80?
Swapping patterns — What if Track 01’s drums used Track 02’s pattern?
Adjusting arrangement — What if the break was longer?
Combining elements — Can you merge ideas from different tracks?

The best way to learn is to break things, then fix them.

Let’s begin with the album opener: System Override.