Modulate This! - News, Tips and Links for Electronic Musicians and Producers

Ableton's Summer of Sampler offer: Buy Live 8 and Get Sampler Free + New Sampler Move + Free Samplification Audio Pack for Sampler

I Love Sampler!
I’m a huge fan of of Sampler, Ableton’s advance sampling instrument.  I was recently corresponding with an artist who was considering Live and I wrote this about it:

“Ableton Sampler breaks with the classic sampler metaphor and supports a more immediate and "organic" workflow than other hardware or software samplers. This workflow is well suited to turning found sound into musical instruments. If you add Sampler to a rack in Live you can then easily assign 8 performance knobs to just about any parameter within Sampler.”

Sampler is simply a fantastic tool for helping you make your tracks more creative and unique. For sound designers it’s interface makes for rapid tweaking.

I just received some info from Ableton marketing.

Promotion
”Every customer who buys Ableton Live 8 before August 31st will get Sampler, Ableton's advanced sampling instrument, absolutely free. Sampler, worth 99 EUR/129 USD, combines traditional sampling features with advanced sound design functions.“

Details: http://www.ableton.com/summer-of-sampler

New Movie
Ableton has also produced a new move “Making sounds with Sampler"—which shows “how Sampler transforms a single piano note into an organic, modulating synth bass”. Watch on YouTube.

Free audio pack for Sampler
”Samplification All Sampler owners, old and new, can also download the free Samplification audio package, which offers Construction Kits, Live Sets with drum clips, new Instrument Racks, new lessons, and sounds from Puremagnetik, Cycling '74 and Sonarte's Sound Objects Lite collection. Samplification is a Live Pack—450 MB download, 950 MB installed and requires Sampler and Live 8.0.4 or higher.”

Samplification is available here: http://www.ableton.com/samplification

3rd Party Tutorials:
I also want to mention that there are some nice video tutorials out there to help you learn Sampler.

• Nick’s Tutorials: Sound Design and Creative Audio Manipulation in Ableton Live
• www.musicsoftwaretraining.com: Sampler Mini-pack

Mark Mosher
http://www.modulatethis.com
http://www.markmoshermusic.com
http://www.twitter.com/markmosher

My Studio Setup: 1 Laptop/3 Configurations + Akai APC40 Eye Candy

Revised 7-3-2009, changes are in red.

For over two years I've been completely laptop based and loving it. Here are some notes on the three configurations I run with my latpop.

First, I'm running an HP DV6500T running Vista, Ableton Live 8 Suite, and various vsts (Alchemy,Sylenth1,NI Massive/Absynth 4,Gladiator 2,Dimension Pro, Morphine...)

I run in one of the following states:

1 - Laptop Only - Laptop alone with Ableton Live +  VSTs. I use the qwerty keyboard and touch pad and do composition and sound-design on the go (or from the couch).

2 - Laptop + Korg Nano - Sometimes I want more control or want to user velocity sensitive keys when I'm on the go. I then add a Korg nanoKey or nanoKontrol to config #1.

3 - Laptop Docked - Last year, my awesome wife and kids re-vamped my studio space as a birthday gift. Besides painting and swanky new furniture, they created stand to hold all my gear by cleverly using the old Ultimate Support Apex column I used to gig with and attached two permanent shelves (painted black and attached with brackets). Shelves are  15 3/4"x 47 3/4" and I believe were from home depot. The footprint for this rig is 26" wide from the wall to the outside edge of the bottom shelf, and 47 3/4" wide. Underneath all this is a dock with tons of USB ports that all the gear plugs in to. The laptop is sitting on a mesh filing box turned upside-down that I picked up from Target (see last picture in post). This setup is pictured below. All I have to do is plug the laptop into the doc and the following comes online:

• HP Notebook Quickdock
• External Monitor - Samsung SyncMaster 930b
• Novation Nio USB sound card
• M-Audio Studiophile SP-5B reference monitors
• Bamboo Touch Pad
• Wireless Logitech diNovo Edge keyboard with built-in touch pad
• Akai APC40
• Novation Remote SL 25
• M-Audio Trigger Finger (Still lovin it after all these years. After touch on drum pads and seamless integration with Ableton drum racks are great).
• Rode NT-1A on an a broadcaster's boom which is fed into Behringer UB802 Eurorack which is routed to the Nio. I mostly use this for voice overs, recording voice related samples, and vocoding. I also record video tutorials through this mic.
• Sometimes a Korg TR via USB is added to the mix when I want that "triton" sound or want to play a controller with more keys on it.

For me this strategy is simple, elegant, has a small footprint yet is extremely powerful and flexible. With Ableton Live and VSTs accessible in every configuration I can jump in and out of projects in any configuration. I find the combination of the APC40, Remote SL and Trigger Finger to be perfect for just about everything I do.

The APC40 has made this a dream setup really and has almost completely eliminated mousing for me. I'll close with a few photos of the APC40  in my studio setup.

Just a fun shot in a dark room.

The  APC40, Remote SL 25, and a Trigger Finger fit perfectly on the bottom tier.

Using the APC40 as a Lite Brite - "M" plus pretty colors :^).

Picture of laptop docked.

Mark Mosher
http://www.modulatethis.com
http://www.markmoshermusic.com
http://www.twitter.com/markmosher

Video Tutorial: Ableton Live 8 + APC40 + Remote SL Controllerism

I’m the proud owner of the new Akai APC40. I’ve already integrated it into my workflow along with my Novation Remote SL. I’ve put together a video of how I’m using these controllers with Live 8.

Watch the video on YouTube:

This video is a step-by-step tutorial describing Ableton Live 8's new custom parameter mapping methodology. The video illustrates how to map select parameters from VST plug-ins into devices and then control these parameters via the Novation Remote SL and the new Akai APC40. The video also discusses how to add and access more than 8 parameters. Lastly, the video covers use of instrument racks and macro controls to map parameters from multiple devices to an 8 knob group.

Stay tuned for more posts on controllerism and the Akai APC40.

Mark Mosher
http://www.modulatethis.com
http://www.markmoshermusic.com
http://www.twitter.com/markmosher

Options.txt: Improved Wacom Tablet Support in Ableton Live 8.0.2 + Entering Text into Kore2 and other VSTs

Better Support For Wacom Tablets in Live 8.0.2
For the past year, I’ve been using a Wacom Bamboo tablet as an alternative input device for a mouse. It works well with VSTs. However, in Ableton Live, the pen stroke length to move a knob through it’s entire range of values is too short.

In the recently released Ableton Live 8.0.2 update, there is a new improvement:

“Added an option for the Options.txt file to support Wacom Tablets. Adding the line ”-AbsoluteMouseMode” into Options.txt file switches Live into absolute mouse position mode.”

I just installed 8.0.2 on Windows Vista (32) and I am happy to report that pen control is now MUCH better. It takes a much bigger stroke to move a knob through it’s entire range. Therefore, it is much easier to move the knob to the value you want.

Options.txt Parameters
In order to enable this feature you need to modify (or create if it doesn’t exist) a file called options.txt. Live reads the parameters within this file on startup. As the 8.0.2 description indicates, this file supports a new parameter “-AbsoluteMouseMode”. Adding the parameter adds the new Wacom support.

I want to also mention another parameter you may not be aware of,
“-_EnsureKeyMessagesForPlugins”. Add this parameter if some of your VSTs won’t accept keyboard input when hosted from Live. Native Instruments plugins such as Absynth and Kore2 come to mind.

Adding Parameters to Options.txt

1. Find/create options.txt
   The file resides in the preferences sub-folder:
   
   MAC: userxxx/library/preferences/ableton/live 8.x
   
   XP: C:\Documents and Settings\userxxx\Application
   Data\Ableton\Live 7.0.15\Preferences
   
   Vista: C:\Users\userxxx\AppData\Roaming\Ableton\Live 8.0.2\Preferences
2. Use a text editor to create or edit the file.
   
3. Save the file and restart Live

Links:

• Full list of Live 8.0.2 improvements and fixes
• Wacom Bamboo on Amazon.com - $62.31
• Post on Ableton forum about Wacom Tablets
• Post on NI forum about keyboard input

Mark Mosher
http://www.modulatethis.com
http://www.markmoshermusic.com
http://www.twitter.com/markmosher

Modulate This Takes A First Look at Max for Live

Last weekend I attended the Communikey Festival of Electronic Arts at the Atlas Center in Boulder, Colorado where I was lucky enough to be one of the first to see Max for Live in action. Cycling '74's Director of Engineering Darwin Grosse gave an hour and half seminar offering an preview of Max for Live. In this post I'll share my notes. Alas I only had my iPhone with me so some pics are low resolution.

If you like you are reading please subscribe to Modulate This.

Overview of Cycling ‘74 Products
Darwin began the talk by describing Cycling '74's existing product line.

1. Max - a graphical programming environment that provides user interface, timing, communications, and MIDI support
2. MSP -for real-time audio synthesis and DSP
3. Jitter - for video and matrix data processing

Max for Live
First Darwin gave us an overview of what Max for Live does. Rather than type my notes I’ll share the concise description from Communikey seminar description:

Cycling '74 and Ableton announced Max for Live, the integration of Cycling '74's Max/MSP environment into Ableton Live. Available as an add-on product to Ableton's  newly announced Live 8, Max for Live permits users to create devices that extend  and customize Live by creating instruments, controllers, audio effects, and MIDI  processors.

Devices developed with Max for Live utilize the same features as those created by Ableton engineers. This includes UI controls, MIDI mapping, multiple undo, tempo-based effects, sample-accurate automation, and comprehensive file and preset management. Devices created in Max can be shared with Ableton's new web collaboration features. An innovative “preview mode” feature permits editing in Max  while devices continue to process audio and/or MIDI as if they were inside Live. When an edited device is saved, it updates in place inside Live's device view.

Something For Everyone with Ready Made Devices
While the primary audience of Max for Live is certainly Tweakers who want to extend Live, it’s worth mentioning that Max for Live will ship with ready mad devices. Darwin demoed:

1. Step Sequencer
 
“Play up to four concurrent sequences, each with up to 16 steps and each playing a different instrument. It also features adjustable step size and step probability, sequence shift buttons (up, down, left, right), a "random" mode and comprehensive real-time MIDI options.”

2. Buffer Shuffler
 
 "Shuffles incoming audio by buffering the audio, then replaying it in whatever order you've specified. Each channel of the stereo signal can be shuffled with different patterns (unlike Beat Repeat) and there is also a "dice" mode that randomizes the shuffle pattern at each bar crossing. Finally, a smoothing setting limits the amount of clicking at each transition point. Use sensibly to add subtle variations or go full-on to see where it takes you.”

3. Loop Shifter
“This instrument is essentially a creative loop playback device that generates some surprising and innovative results. If there was ever a "sound of Max," this device embodies it. It uses MIDI notes as triggers for playback states, each MIDI note representing one such "state": a combination of playback rate, loop points and filter settings. Although the Loop Shifter is a relatively simple device, these functions don't exist yet in any other commercial loop playback products.”

4. APC 40 Extension
Darwin didn’t demo this, but Max for Live will ship with an extension that “turns the APC40's button matrix into a hardware interface for programming MIDI sequences in Live. A mode switch on the APC takes you in and out of sequencer mode, where you can set and clear notes in a MIDI clip just as you would with an 808 or analog step sequencer.”

Live as a Real-Time Max Editing Platform
One of the downsides of working with Max Plugins is the workflow isn’t real-time. You have to edit, then compile, then preview as a VST. If something isn’t to your liking you repeat the process.

According to Darwin, Cycling ‘74 was looking for a platform that would support real-time workflow for device creation – which of course is why they partnered with Ableton.

So in Max for Live you simply click the edit button top on the top right hand side of a device and you enter the Max Editor. Close the editor and you are back in Live. In either mode, Lives audio engine doesn’t stop. The device actually operates while editing with no need for compilation! While demoing this feature he popped in and out of edit mode and built and played devices on the fly.

Ableton Live 8 Video Tutorial: How to Use the Step-Sequencer

One of the new features in Ableton Live 8 is the ability to step-sequence in the Midi Note Editor. This is covered only briefly on age 204 of the manual so I put together a 5 min. video tutorial to help you get your mind around how this feature works.

Update: I've gotten a lot of comments that people like this video but they feel this implementation leaves something to be desired. I want to mention that the upcoming add-on Max for Live has an "off the hook" step sequencer device. Check out more here.

I also want to point that that there is utility in the feature set shown here especially for step-sequencing chord structures.

Watch the video on YouTube.

See other Modulate This! articles, tutorials, and ideos on Ableton Live.

Mark Mosher
www.markmoshermusic.com
www.modulatethis.com
www.twitter.com/markmosher

Ableton Live 8, Ableton Suite, and Ableton Live LE Now Available + My Notes On Installation

Ableton Live 8 released April 2! Woo hoo! Links below. Existing users who got the “Thank You” letter in January – don’t forget to use your coupon on checkout.

I upgraded from 7 to 8 last night and while I was at it upgraded to Live 8 Suite (download edition) as the upgrade offer was just too good to pass up.

Download was for suite was 390M. I waited till later in the day so the download only took 10 minutes. I backed up then installed. Installation ran without a hitch. I installed into my existing library. One improvement on the installer is that it now automatically updates previously installed Live Packs if you install into the same library. This is a real time saver.

I already owned Ableton Sampler and Operator and they upgraded automatically.

I loaded up the set for my singles and they ran as expected.

So far so good. I know what I’m doing this weekend!!!

Here are some links on Ableton Live 8.

• Upgrade to Ableton Live
• Akai APC40 Overview, Links, Videos, Availability and Price For The New Dedicated Ableton Live Controller
• Meet the New Ableton Operator - Watch These Videos
• What’s New in Ableton Live 8 Videos
• Modulate This! Articles, Tutorials, and Videos on Ableton Live

Mark Mosher

www.markmoshermusic.com
www.modulatethis.com
www.twitter.com/markmosher

Ableton Live Commercial Video Tutorial Roundup

Looking for full-on commercial video tutorial courses on Ableton Live?

Here is a list of some I’ve found. For most courses lists, I’ve only seen the free demo movies for each course. In each case I thought the presenter was knowledgeable, they were good teachers, and the videos had professional production.

In the case of Nick Maxwell's tutorials, I have access to all the movies and can say they are really great if you want to go beyond using Live as a DAW and actually use Live, Simpler, Sampler, and instrument/drum racks as an "instrument".

I’ve broken my list down into two categories 1) How to Use Ableton Live and 2) Sound Design with Ableton Live. Note: I’ve revised this article to contain a third category called 3) Ableton Live Technique. This category is for miscellaneous videos to help you take your Ableton chops to the next level that are not specifically targeted at sound design.

To help you pick the tutorial that is right for you I’ve provided some high-level info for each course. Checkout the free videos, and course listings using links below.

Add your finds to this roundup by commenting on this post.

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1) HOW TO USE ABLETON LIVE

Live Explained Volume 1
http://www.grooveboxmusic.com/str/live-explained-vol-1.html
Author: Craig McCullough
Level: Beginner/Intermediate
For: Those new to Ableton Live who want an introduction to all of Live’s core features
Tutorials & Run Time: 20 Tutorials / Over 3.5 Hours
Live Version Used: Live 7
Format & Price:  : Digital Download + Disc $54.99, Digital Download $49.99, 30-day Online Pass $17.99, Membership

Live Explained Volume 2
http://www.grooveboxmusic.com/str/live-explained-vol-2.html
Author: Craig McCullough
Level: Intermediate/Advanced
For: Picks up where Volume left off and covers more advanced features of Ableton Live.
Tutorials & Run Time: 20 Tutorials / Over 3.5 Hours
Live Version Used: Live 7
Format & Price:  Digital Download + Disc $54.99, Digital Download $49.99, 30-day Online Pass $17.99, Membership

VTC Ableton Live 6 Tutorial
http://www.computer-training-software.com/ableton-live-6.htm

Author: Steven Smith
Level: Beginner
For: Those new to Ableton Live who want an introduction to all of Live’s core features
Tutorials & Run Time: 96 Lessons, 8 Hours
Live Version Used: Live 6
Format & Price:  Disc $99.95
Released: 2007-12-13

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2) SOUND DESIGN WITH ABLETON LIVE

Sound Design in Ableton Live
http://nickstutorials.com/sdacam.php

Author: Nick Maxwell
Level: Intermediate/Advanced
For: Those who want to learn radical techniques for creating everything from hard-hitting drums to complex atmospheres. Gain the knowledge to create unique, complex sounds!
Tutorials & Run Time: 5 Hours 
Live Version Used: Live 7
Format & Price:  Digital download or streaming video. For $7 you can get 1 and a half hours of the videos, (Developing a Sound Design Philosophy, Atmospheric Fly-by, Designing a Drum Kit, and Slicing Melodic Sounds). You will be given the option to purchase the remaining sound design videos for the $30 difference, as well as the option to upgrade to the full Megapack (both "Sound Design" and "Sampling and Slicing") for the $42.99 difference.

 
Sampling & Slicing with Ableton Live
http://nickstutorials.com/sas.php
Author: Nick Maxwell
Level: Intermediate/Advanced
For: A no-fluff series on creating sample-based music in Ableton Live. Learn essential tools and creative techniques with this series. Get up to speed in no time!
Tutorials & Run Time: 2 Hours
Live Version Used: Live 7
Format & Price:  Digital download or streaming video. Purchase this 2 hour video series now for $25 and start learning instantly. Save 20% on your purchase of both "Sampling and Slicing in Ableton Live" and "Sound Design and Creative Audio Manipulation" through this special package deal. Get both series for $49.99!

3) Ableton Live Technique

The Ultimate Ableton Tutorials 
http://www.musicsoftwaretraining.com/

Author: Jason Timothy
Level: Beginner/Intermediate/Advanced
An eclectic collection of tutorials on various Ableton Live topics. Easy to follow that even a complete beginner will be able to make great songs, remixes, mash-ups or DJ on Ableton very quickly! Offering

• Ultimate Ableton Collection #1 - $37(Download)/$59(DVD)
• Uiltimate Ableton Collection #2 - $37(Download)/$42(DVD)
• Advanced Warping Collection
• Ableton Mini-packs - $7:
• Drum kit's and Sample Mini-pack
• Drum Racks Mini-pack
• DJ Mini-pack 1 and 2
• Sampler Mini-pack
• Operator Mini-pack

Tutorials & Run Time: Varies depending on package 
Live Version Used: Live 7 & 8
Format & Price:  Digital download, DVD

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Add your finds to this roundup by commenting on this post.

Mark Mosher

www.markmoshermusic.com
www.modulatethis.com
www.twitter.com/markmosher

Video Tutorial: How To Use Ableton Live Racks To Create Multi-Sampled Instruments

Watch Video: How To Use Ableton Live Racks to Create Multi-Sampled Instruments

I’ve seen questions recently in Modulate This comments, and on the Ableton Live forum regarding the creation of multi-sampled instruments in Ableton Live. This video tutorial is  step-by-step how-to video that walks you through the creation of a velocity switched multi-sampled instrument using Ableton Live, Ableton Simpler, Instrument Racks, and Drum Racks.

Mark Mosher
www.modulatethis.com
www.markmoshermusic.com
www.twitter.com/markmosher

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Sonic State Behind the Scenes Video - Howard Jones, Robbie Bronnimann, and Laura Clapp On Tour in Australia

I found this series of vides via pedx1ng’s post on the Ableton Live forum, who found it on Matrixsynth. These videos by Sonic State cover Howard Jone's tour in Australia. I've re-blogged them here with annotation.

I've always liked Howard Jones's music and the fact that he's not all about nostalgia but is still writing and experimenting with technology in Live performance.

Also, my first exposure to Ableton Live was at a Howard Jones show back in the day of Ableton 3.0. Like now, he was using it to play scenes on the fly so he wasn’t locked into one arrangement for the whole song. After the show, I ran home and did some research and then bought Ableton Live 3.0 right away. Thanks Howard and Robbie and Ableton for changing the way I compose :^).

Video 1: In this first installment, Howard Jones has Robbie Bronnimmann leave a blizzard strewn UK and head for Australia and meet up with Laura Clapp in Adelaide Australia. He also talks about he now uses the Roland Fantom G8 to simplify his rig and work in a graphical way. He also discusses the polyphony and feel of the Fantom.

Video 2: In this video Howard Jones and Robbie Bronnimmann are in Perth Australia and explain the how they use Ableton Live, and bus powered devices (Motu audio interface, Novation Remote SL, Novation Nocturn) on their tour in Australia. Robbie describes who he uses Live to trigger sequences on-the-fly, do real-time FX processing on backing tracks and live vocals using built-in Ableton Live plugins.

Video 3: Howard Jones has Robbie Bronnimmann, Laura Clapp at sound check in Brisbane. A little taste of "Always Asking Questions". Laura discusses how shes uses TC-Helicon Voice Live and a Novation ReMote SL Compact to create harmonies and vocal effects on the fly. The also explains that he's his own warm-up band as he's doing a 30 minute acoustic set prior to the electronic trio taking the stage.

Links:

• Howard Jones Web Site
• Robbie Bronnimmann MySpace Page
• Laura Clap Official Web Site| Laura Clap's Blog

Mark Mosher
www.markmoshermusic.com
www.modulatethis.com
www.twitter.com/markmosher