ABLETON Wonder

Ableton Tuesday rookie, yes the second week (week 4 Blog 2)

Last week (week 3?) we learnt about programming simple drum patterns in Ableton. So later that week l was able to download a standard version Ableton Live 10. (Thanks Mum & Dad for your support) I think l downloaded Ableton on Saturday. Anyway it really was just in the nick of time, as today (Tuesday) we were studying how to create your own synthesizer sounds.

I grabbed some screen shots so l could start getting used to how to use the synthesizer section. (pic to the right)

(I did get a little frustrated when l needed to keep asking questions to the lecturer.)

The pic above is my first attempt ever at doing a song on Ableton. Just so excited to have the opportunity to learn different ways to create sounds for music. l will try to explain the signal flow.

The oscillator has 2 part functions, the first is wave patterns which there are 4. They are Wave, Saw, Square, and Noise. The second part is pitch which is frequency (keyboard).

The filter is the next inline in the signal flow from the oscillator. The filter can be used to cutoff unwanted frequency and resonate the ones you want. By emphasising the frequency eg. high and low band shift, you can hi-light a frequency or take it away by using different settings in the filter section. So now you are able to shape you frequency to your musical needs.

Next in line is Amplifier to raise or turn down volume. You can use EQ (modulator) which is the Envelope, and you can alter the response of the frequency by allowing you to Attack, Decay, Sustain or Release the frequency. You also have a Low Frequency Oscillator, it basically works the same as the Oscillator but it doesn't transmit any sounds, just the values of the envelope and the wave and speed of the frequency. (I think that is the way it goes).

Next Day - Up Early Wednesday Morning.

Last night before l went to bed l realised that l didn't have the software called Operator with my Standard version of Ableton. l did try to research if l was suppose to have the software included, but l found out that other people we asking the same question and l realised the answer was no. So l went to bed thinking about this new sound candy (Operator), l was exploring today in class on how l can create and reinforce sounds. l have so much to learn and quickly to catch up with todays technology with music. What can l say, but really excited on the potential of using it in future. It's a completely new world for me.

So l got up early Wednesday morning and went straight to the Ableton website, tracked down Operator in the 'add on' plugin section, paid for it, uploaded it, and l thought l better

see if the interface l am using is actually connected to the Ableton DAW, and it was not. l followed the tutorials on the right hand side of the window which explained everything you need to know about Ableton. (pic to the right of Ableton's tutorials)

Since l have now got the interface connected up correctly, l thought l better see if l can recorded some audio.

Pic of audio working below

So now it's time to have a trial run on the software l bought this morning. It's taken me a couple of hours just to get a little taste of Ableton. l did manage to get a small bass riff happening with a synthesizer sound playing the riff, but only in the background.

Pics Below

Great fun exploring Ableton.