Modulate This! - Electronic & Experimental Music Tech, Technique, & People

Video Demo: SlimPar 56 LED Light and Obey 3 Light Controller

On June 13th, I posted a review of the Slimpar56 and Obey 3 controllers. I had a few people ask me to follow up with a video showing the light in action. I added the video to the original post but wanted to do a separate post with the video for those that read Modulate This with a feed reader.

Watch embedded video.

Mark Mosher
www.MarkMosherMusic.com
www.ModulateThis.com

Designing Sound Blog + Jim Stout on Organic Sound Design with Alchemy & Open Labs NeKo

Just wanted to pass along a sound design resource - http://designingsound.org/. Below is a cool video tutorial post from this site featuring one of my favorite virtual instruments Camel Audio Alchemy. The video is also interesting to me because sound designer Jim Stout is running Alchemy via an Open Labs Neko and the video gives you a good sense of how this system works.

Watch the embedded video.

Mark Mosher
Electronic Musician, Boulder, CO
http://ww.modulatethis.com
http://MarkMosherMusic.com

u-he ACE Video Tutorial: Patch Cables 101

Click here to watch embedded video

I’ve been working a lot with u-he’s ACE modular synthesizer which recently released. It’s quite fantastic and made my recent Best of 2009 Electronic Music Tech list. ACE has a very nice clean and simple user interface where almost all programming is done on one page.

To program ACE you need to have a basic understanding of how the patch cable system works. To help you shorten your learning curve and to help you make more sense of the factory presets I developed the video above. It’s a step-by-step tutorial with a conceptual overview of patch cables and a walkthrough where I create two presets using patch cables.

Enjoy!

Links

• Official u-he ACE site
• Read other Modulate This! posts on ACE

Mark Mosher
Electronic Music Artist, Composer, Sound Designer
Louisville/Denver/Boulder

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

Download/Buy my album REBOOT on Bandcamp
Buy on iTunes

Sound Design with Gladiator 2: HCM Synthesis Explained

Update: checkout the discount link on the right side of the blog.

I started using Tone 2 Gladiator 1 a year ago and recently upgraded to Gladiator 2. Gladiator 1 & 2 are based on a new type of synthesis called Harmonic Content Morphing (HCM). HCM offers a clever way to generate wavetables with a massive variety of harmonic content that can be modified over time. Tone2’s approach with HCM is quite unique so I put together this video which offers a step-by-step explanation of what HCM synthesis is and how to use it. These techniques apply to both Gladiator 1 & 2.

Watch Video on YouTube:

If you like the sound of Gladiator 2 but find it too expensive, you should check out Firebird+. Firebird+ only has a fraction of the the editing capabilities but is still quite a capable instrument for the price.

Links:

• Other posts on Gladiator
• Hear Gladiator 2 on my single “Stealth". I created multiple custom presets for the lead arpeggiator sound and for many other tracks within this song.
• Modulate This Posts on Gladiator:
• My review of Gladiator 1
• How to open the editor interface
• Tone2 Page - Learn more about Gladiator 2
• Tone2 Page - What’s new in Gladiator 2

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

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 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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Thanks for Participating in "What Virtual Synths Do You Own?" Readers Poll

First off thanks to all who have taken the time to take the readers poll on what virtual synths you own. I’ll leave the poll up for a while to keep collecting data. I also appreciate all the comments and links to synths not in the list.

A couple of early observations after look at the results so far.

Sound Design:
When I think about producing presets it’s clear that offering presets in native formats for the more popular VSTs and Live Pack versions for these and less popular synths makes the most sense.

I’m psyched that so many of you who own Live also have Sampler and Operator. I wasn’t sure the ratio would be so high.

Kore2 is not as popular as might have thought. I only have the free player myself and since I own Live and Absynth 4 I don’t end up using it that much. I think Kore 2 has potential, and I may do something with it, but for now Live Packs and native presets seem the way to go.

I was happy to see Absynth 4 fair so well – I personally love it. Sylenth1 and Predator are neck and neck. Camel Audio’s Alchemy is only 15% but it’s new and relatively expensive.  I personally think this synth will grow in popularity. I would have predicted Morphine being this low. Being additive it’s rather specialized. I’ll most likely use it to generate waveforms that I’ll then take into Live Packs. Circle is no surprise either. While it’s interface is really innovative I think it’s pricey and a lot of people have subtractive covered.

Video Tutorials:
I’ve been doing some research on video tutorials and there are a lot of fine tutorials out there on Ableton Live (I’ll post a list in the near future). At this point I’m thinking I’ll do some general videos on “sound design” on the more popular synths in the poll plus Alchemy (as it kicks ass) and perhaps some free synths. I have a few ideas on how to structure tutorials in a way that will help you build up knowledge that is transportable between synths and will experiment with some ideas around this.

Thanks again!

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

Reader Poll: Which Virtual Instruments Do You Own?

In the coming months I’m planning on releasing FREE video tutorials on sound design with virtual instruments as well as FREE presets for virtual instruments. To help me pick which instruments to focus on please take a minute out of your day to take a poll.

• Click here to take the poll or use the poll widget in the right-hand side of this blog.
• Click here to see poll results.
• If there is a synth not in the list that you'd like me to consider, us the comment link in the footer of this post.

Thanks,

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

Video Tour of Image-Line's Gross Beat Plug-in

Last night I bought Image-Line's Morphine synth. As part of their holiday sale, I got their brand new plug-in Gross Beat for FREE ($99 value).

It's a great plug-in - so much so I stayed up way too late experimenting with it. To help you get your mind around the plug-in and jump start your use of it, I produced a video tour.

Links:

• Gross Beat Web Site (Download free trial, listen to samples...)
• New Image-Line customers use this link to get a discount on purchases over $99 - http://affiliate.image-line.com/CCFADC404

Mark Mosher
www.modulatethis.com
www.markmoshermusic.com