The first challenge of Loop’s Music-Making Weekend: Build your own Gizmophone. Get the details at the link below.
https://loop.ableton.com/loop-at-home/daily-challenge-gizmophone
Category: Ableton Live
The virtual version of the Ableton Loop Music Conference has begun.
Here is the welcome video.
Here is the latest info https://loop.ableton.com/loop-at-home/
Here is a link to the full program daily schedule. I annotated the image to selfishly show in Mountain Daylight Time 😉.
I find I’ve been spending more time making music and sound with my laptop while in isolation than with hardware. Of course I’m still making music and sound with my Elektron boxes, but I’m just noticing the laptop is getting more use in my day-to-day.
Perhaps it’s because I can just take it anywhere in the house and wherever I end up sitting becomes my creative space. While in the past I might have used my iPad for this sort of thing, I find I’m on my iPad more for reading books, blogs, news and connecting with people so the laptop seems like a break. Topsy-turvy times for sure but a good reminder of the the amazing sonic arsenal of tools that sits within most of our laptops.
As you’ve probably seen in recent posts I’ve been spending a lot of time with Ableton Live and Push 2 along with all of Live’s devices and instruments. Over the years though, I’ve created 100s of presets for some amazing virtual instruments.
So I’ve started a new project to dust off some original presets for Live and other commercial synths and get all the sounds out of the archives and back in play on my laptop.
I just restored my collection of original Zebra presets. Here is a short video from my Instagram of a sound that is quite Krell-like. I’m just holding a single key 😀.
Ableton just posted details of Online Version of Loop Summit for Music Makers on the Ableton Loop Facebook Group
We couldn’t hold our Loop Summit for Music Makers in person this April, so we’ve decided to bring a little of the Loop spirit to you, wherever you are.
On every day of the weekend, from April 24–26 the Loop website (https://loop.ableton.com/) will transform into a hub for music-making challenges, creative inspirations, and a few live-streams from some of our favorite artists.
Every morning at 11am CEST/5am EDT the Loop Team will share a dose of inspiration and a music-making challenge for the day, along with any instructions and materials you’ll need to take part.
Then, at 7pm CEST/1pm EDT we’ll broadcast live from an artist at home, for some insight into their creative worlds and technical setups:
Friday, April 24: Sebastian Mullaert
Saturday, April 25: Rachel K Collier
Sunday, April 26: Andrew Huang
If you miss any of the live broadcasts, they’ll remain available to view throughout the weekend on the Loop website.
Each day ends at 9pm CEST/ 3pm EDT with an invitation to join us on the digital dancefloor for a home-brewed club night with United We Stream, in support of some of our favorite Berlin club institutions.
We’ll be hosting a discussion throughout the weekend to share your process and swap results with fellow music-makers.
Use the hashtag #LoopAtHome and join us on the Loop website from 11am CEST on April 24 for a welcome from the Loop Team, and to start making some music together.
Facebook event is here: facebook.com/events/636369310546629/
Some weekend listening and patching ideas for for you. Pink Floyd is streaming full length concerts as part of the @YouTube Film Festival. Plus down below find a link to how to make “On The Run” with OSCiLLOT by Max for Cats.
Head over to the Pink Floyd channel on YouTube now for PULSE which is the first full performance available as part of the four week @YouTube Film Festival. Next Friday, at 5pm, Pink Floyd Live At Pompeii will be added to the Festival’s offerings. #StayHome
https://www.facebook.com/pinkfloyd/
Here is the first video “Pink Floyd – PULSE (Restored & Re-Edited 90 Minute Version)“.
Filmed live on 20 October 1994 at Earls Court, London, UK. Restored & re-edited in 2019 from the original tape masters.
In a related note… Watch This Cool Tutorial on How to Make Pink Floyd “On The Run” with M4L OSCiLOTT Modular
- 7:43 Time
- 14:23 The Great Gig In The Sky
- 19:34 Money
- 28:30 Us And Them
- 35:31 Any Colour You Like
- 38:48 Brain Damage
- 42:34 Eclipse
- 44:27 Sorrow
- 55:37 Keep Talking
- 1:03:13 High Hopes
- 1:11:20 Wish You Were Here
- 1:17:30 Comfortably Numb
More Links
- Facebook http://smarturl.it/PF_FB
- Twitter http://smarturl.it/PF_Twitter
- Instagram http://smarturl.it/PF_Instagram
- Spotify http://smarturl.it/PF_Spotify
- YouTube http://smarturl.it/PF_YT
- Apple http://smarturl.it/PF_Apple#PinkFloydFridays#StayHome#WithMe#PinkFloyd#Remastered#TheLaterYears#LaterYears#PULSE
- Pink Floyd’s ‘The Later Years’ box set https://pinkfloyd.lnk.to/TheLaterYears
A quick post to share a video of a new original preset that’s in progress on the most amazing @Ableton #Wavetable#synth. This one is inspired by Kraftwerk and it called “Numbers” 😀. #SaturdayNightSoundDesign.
This was made entirely with Push 2 without using a mouse. As I’m using Push I incorporate the touch strip, velocity and pressure into this sound.
In a related note I’m slowly working my way towards a whole pack of Wavetable presets so subscribe to be notified of my progress along with other Modulate This! posts.
I’m a big fan of the new Launchpads and just saw that Novation just tweeted “Enrique takes you through everything you need to know about Custom Modes using Launchpad X and Novation Components >>>” https://youtu.be/eUJ2WnlC_WU
The methods shown in the video also apply to the Launchpad Pro [MK3] and Launchpad Mini [MK3].
With Launchpad Pro [MK3], Launchpad Mini [MK3] and Launchpad X, we’ve created Custom Modes, a feature that allows you to design custom layouts for whatever your specific setup demands. Custom Modes can be used to bring to life software and hardware (or a mixture of both), by providing a blank canvas for you to build unique control layouts. In this video, Enrique takes you through everything you need to know about Custom Modes using Launchpad X and Novation Components.
More Links on Custom Modes
- Discover more about Launchpad [MK3] Custom Modes: https://novationmusic.com/en/news/launchpad-custom-modes
- Check out the Launchpad range: https://novationmusic.com/launch
- Connect with Novation:
Ableton Loop is a summit for music makers. I was all set and super excited to go to my first Loop in Berlin this year. Of course that isn’t going to happen as the IRL event was postponed to 2021.
So today I was quite exited to learn that Ableton is planning on an online version of this year’s event!!!
With Loop delayed until 2021, we’ll bring a bit of that community to you at home. We’re planning three days of curated live streams and daily music-making challenges, as well as a place to discuss the process of making music and share results. Save the dates: April 24-26. More info is coming soon.
https://www.ableton.com/en/blog/ideas-offers-making-music-home/
More Links
In collaboration with Max for Cats and Sonic Bloom, we’ve made the Stray Cats Collection, a free Pack of Max for Live devices. (Note: this Pack requires Max for Live, which is included in Live Suite or available for purchase for Live Standard.)
https://www.ableton.com/en/blog/ideas-offers-making-music-home/
More Links from Sonic Bloom and Max for Cats
We’ve reduced the price on all editions of Live by 30%. This offer includes new licenses as well as upgrades. Log in to see your available upgrades.
https://www.ableton.com/en/blog/ideas-offers-making-music-home/
Ableton released a new Live Pack called Spectral Textures.
The Spectral Textures Pack is now free. New sounds can bring new ideas, so we’ll be offering more free sounds soon.
https://www.ableton.com/en/blog/ideas-offers-making-music-home/
You can download the pack here https://www.ableton.com/en/packs/spectral-textures.
One part field recordings and one part additive synthesis, Spectral Textures is a unique instrument that blends together two distinct worlds of sound to create vibrant atmospheres, textures and progressions…
The majority of Spectral Textures’ presets consist of two sound elements – spectral samples created with a digital additive synthesizer and field recordings – in combination with effects…
Sourced from an abandoned garden center in eastern Germany, an assortment of unique field recordings infuse many of Spectral Textures with a vibrant, real-world timbres. The site’s dilapidated greenhouse and a variety of scattered metal, wood and glass objects found there provided some truly fascinating sound sources…
https://www.ableton.com/en/packs/spectral-textures/
UNTIL 8th APRIL ASTEROIDS IS FREE TO DOWNLOAD. It’S yours forever so don’t delay in adding it to your account.
Asteroids is a MaxforLive Generative Sequencer that can be used on it’s own or integrated with Ableton Live supported controllers.
https://isotonikstudios.com/
Designed and created by Ableton Certified Trainer Mark Towers the device takes it’s inspiration from the hours spent spinning the Circular Dial and hitting the boost button to avoid the oncoming space rocks, then layering them into oblivion!
Here is the product page https://isotonikstudios.com/product/asteroids/.
Asteroids works in standalone mode or can be controlled directly by the Ableton PUSH & Push TWO or Novation LaunchPad & LaunchPad PRO!
Here is the intro video.
The Full Lineup
Here are links to the full lineup of Isotonik Studios Arcade Series sequencers.
- Arcade Series One which includes Asteroids, Polypin, Tetriq, Pong Deluxe
- Arcade Series Returns which includes Arkanoid, Frogger, Ghosts, and Space Invaders
- Arcade Series Ultimate which includes all of the sequencers in One and Returns
In Use
In a related note, I host the Rocky Mountain Synthesizers Meetup which held it’s 7th anniversary part at Tilt Arcade in Louisville, CO. This event included arcade inspired performances. I reached out to Isotonik Studios and they were kind enough to give me a copy of Arcade Series Ultimate which I used at the event. Here is a 5 minute video of my set.
These sequencers are super fun and inspiring so I definitely recommend you give Asteroids a try.
Learn more here https://isotonikstudios.com/product/asteroids/.
Ableton has just extended the free trial the Live 10 Suite free from 30 to 90 days (including the ability to save and export). So whether you are running Live Intro or Standard and were curious about awesome synths like Wavetable or Operator or Max for Live devices – or you are new to Live – here is a chance to put it all through some paces and make some art while you are isolated.
Visit https://www.ableton.com/en/trial/ to learn more.
Ableton suite includes:
– 13 Instruments to try (including Wavetable, Operator, Sampler, Analog and more)
– 56 Effects for processing audio and MIDI (including Echo, Pedal, Beat Repeat, Amp, Vocoder, Glue and lots more)
– Instant mappings so you can use Live with your keyboards or controller.
– Max for Live so you have access to a range of instruments, effects and customizations created by the Live community.
If you would like to compare editions swing by https://www.ableton.com/en/live/compare-editions/.
And speaking of Live Suite, I’m a huge fan of Wavetable. Here is a video one of my many original presets I’ve cooked up for it.
Here is another video of an original preset called “Dark Star”.
I’m considering releasing some of these presets in a pack so if you want to be notified subscribe to future posts via email.
This video is made up of some GoPro footage from Rocky Mountain Synthesizer Meetup #74 – “Special Event: Beat Cypher Halloween Collaboration + Intro to SP-404”.
I’m performing two songs from my album I Hear Your Signals https://markmosher.bandcamp.com/album/i-hear-your-signals.
First up is “I Can See Them” performed on Percussa AudioCubes and Ableton Live.
This is followed by “Resolute” on keys, Novation LaunchPad X with AudioCubes providing interactive lighting via automation from Live dummy clips.
This event was a collaboration with madelife in Boulder, CO who hosts a monthly madelife BEAT CYPHERS. Event link https://www.meetup.com/Rocky-Mountain-Synth/events/264878800/.
I Hear Your Signals is album #2 in a series of alien invasion concept albums containing original electronica, dark ambient, and experimental tracks. This second album in the series, released in 2010, is a retelling of Album #1 – but – from the alien point of view inverted emotional curves!
Heads up, Ableton just released a free set of Max for Live devices called CV Tools. In this post I’ll offer some info on overview videos, a summary mind map I made to give you a one-page perspective on all this, links to a collection of videos just released on Moog’s Demo Library YouTube Channel, and lastly a link for more info and how to get CV Tools.
Overview
Now you can control your modular and CV-based gear with Ableton Live 10 Suite. And because you own Ableton Live 10 and Max for Live, CV Tools is free for you.
CV Tools is a Pack of 10 devices that allows you to send and modulate control voltage between your modular setup and Ableton Live using a compatible dc-coupled audio interface.
Plus, the included Rotating Rhythm Generator and CV Utility devices give you modular-style workflows inside Live or with a hardware setup that doesn’t use CV-based equipment.
Mind Map Summary of CV Tools
I used mindmeister to create a summary mind map. It’s a rather large map so you may want to click here to view the interactive mind map version. You can see more of my public mind maps here BTW https://www.mindmeister.com/users/channel/103187.
Moog Demo Videos
To see CV tools in action and learn more about how to use them swing by the Moog Demo Library Channel on YouTube. Bonus to see these tools in action with Push 2.
More Info and Download Link for CV Tools
You will need to be running the free Live 10.1 update or above to use it. Download CV Tools from the Packs page or find it in your Live Browser under Available Packs.
Download CV Tools and get more info here
https://www.ableton.com/en/packs/cv-tools/.
Max for Live is an incredibly helpful solution that allows you to further customize and extend Ableton Live. While you can use it as a development tool, many people I’ve bumped into don’t realize it’s also extremely useful to artists who don’t develop.
For example, I’ve been using it for years now to use Ableton Live itself more like a modular and to extend Live through both free and commercial Max for Live devices from Ableton and third parties.
As Max for Live is a bit misunderstood so I wanted to spread the word about a video I discovered via Darwin’s Grosse’s “All Things Modular” Blog, It’s ELPHNT‘s YouTube channel and the videos covers about all sorts of use cases for non-developers.
It’s called called “What Is MaxForLive… And Why Aren’t You Using It Yet!?” and offers a great overview in just under 8 minutes. In the video he touches on:
- What is Max for Live
- How should use it
- How to set it up
A Few Ways I’ve Used Max for Live with Free Devices
More by ELPHNT
Check out https://elphnt.io/ for tutorials and Live Packs.
In a somewhat related not both ELPHNT and I collaborated with Brian Funk on his The Round Wavetable Ableton Live Pack – 32 Free Wavetable Presets From 7 Producers.
Max for Live Links
- Official Max for Live site – https://www.ableton.com/en/live/max-for-live/
- Ableton’s Pack Store for Max for Live – https://www.ableton.com/en/packs/#?item_type=max_for_live
- An online library of Max for Live Devices – http://maxforlive.com/
Some of my Fav Commercial Max for Live Companies
- Isotonic Studios – https://isotonikstudios.com/
- K-Devices – https://k-devices.com/product-category/m4l/
- Max for Cats – http://maxforcats.com/
