MIDI MuRF/Koushion Jam
Koushion-controlled Moog MIDI MuRF and Yamaha MO8 synced to Ableton’s clock with some additional synthage thrown in. Proof-of-concept, not a “serious” performance.
Learn more at www.experimentalsynth.com
Mike Tompkins DUBSTEP A Capella Remix
Mike Tompkins has ‘a little fun with a projector and Ableton Live, performing an a capella Skrillex Cinema & Santigold Disparate Youth remix.
DOWNLOAD THIS SONG FOR FREE! – http://miketompkins.bandcamp.com
Olympics and London – live projection mapping multimedia mashup
26 Video Live Projection Mapping Mashup
Using some of our favourite London musicians, films and TV shows.
“Today we released our new London themed projection mapping mashup,” says Evans-Roberts. “We used Ableton Live with Max for Live, and Akai APC40, Resolume Arena, MadMapper, two projectors and three laptops for the performance.”
You can download the mashup via Ithaca Audio on Facebook.
Check it out and let us know what you think of it!
Media Sources:
- Eurythmics – Winston’s diary (1984)
- Night and the City
- Mary Poppins – Stay awake
- Queen – A kind of magic
- Amy Winehouse – You know I’m no good
- The Who – Baba O’Riley
- Blur – Song 2
- Amy Winehouse – Stronger than me
- Jamiroquai – Deeper underground
- Dizzee Rascal – Fix up, look sharp
- Quincy Jones – It’s caper time (self preservations society)
- Adele – Rumor has it
- John Murphy – 28 days later
- Led Zepplin – Whole lotta love
- Faithless – Insomnia
- Florence & the Machine – You got the love
- The Clash – London calling
- Eastenders
- Queen – We are the champions
- Dizzee Rascal – Bonkers
- Klint – Diamond (Snatch)
- The Kinks – You really got me
- Are you being served
- Only fools and horses
- Queen – Another one bites the dust
- The Rolling Stones – Gimme Shelter
Sound Alchemy w/ Ableton Live: ‘The Singing Dunes’
More info: http://bit.ly/LIs3KB
Dubspot instructor, composer, and producer Raz Mesinai kicks off a brand new Ableton Live video tutorial series, focusing on creating Effect and Instrument Racks in Live based on natural sonic phenomena. In the first installment, Raz explains and demonstrates how to create an advanced Instrument Rack inspired by the Singing Dunes.
I heard about the Singing Dune phenomenon years ago from several friends, all from the Middle East. After searching online I found a few recordings, but none really clear enough to capture the experience. Later, I contacted Chris Watson (formerly of Cabaret Voltaire), who is now one of the most exquisite field recording artists I’ve ever come across. (I highly recommend his recordings on the UK-based Touch label). He told me that he had been trying to record the dunes but had had no luck as of yet (this may have changed since then). After more digging I eventually discovered this site which has some very good recordings of the phenomenon (http://www.fonik.dk/works/oman.html). I suggest you check them out prior to watching this tutorial, but use headphones or speakers with plenty of sub — you won’t hear a thing on your laptop speakers.
From there I set off to experiment in a little sound alchemy. Using Operator and Analog, I first focused on the main elements of the ‘landscape’ where this is taking place. There is a base drone, representing the dune, a layer of noise, representing the sand moving, and modulation as a way to make the sand ‘blow’ in the wind at different rates.
From there I looked for a story to latch onto. The story is based off of the description that Marco Polo wrote down in the 13th century during a stay in the Gobi Desert. He described this phenomenon as being the voices of evil spirits which “at times filled the air with the sounds of all kinds of instruments, and also the drums of clashing arms.” This image of Marco Polo, perhaps sleeping in a tent in the desert, suddenly being woken up by these strange sounds, which to him were completely mysterious as his quote suggests, conjures two things for me. Firstly, it allows a lot of freedom for me to conceptualize this Instrument Rack, and secondly, it affirms my beliefs that bad things happen when white people go to the desert.
The intention of this tutorial is not to imitate the Singing Dune phenomenon, rather, it is to use these sounds from the earth as a source of inspiration, allowing me to conceptualize a soundscape that goes with an imaginary story that is seen through sound.
Getting Started with The Beatdown
Getting started with The Beatdown guides you through the basic operations of the this new virtual DRUM MACHINE for Ableton Live.
DROP THE BEAT >>>
The Beatdown includes 10 meticulously sampled kits, all included in one Ableton Live drum rack. It’s unique design allows you to mix and match sounds from each kit on the fly. The Beatdown is designed to be instantly playable as soon as you load it onto a track. It’s thunderous kick drums and beefy snares will give you maximum impact on the dance floor.
TWEAK OUT >>>
The Beatdown is designed to be playable right out of the box, but if you want to get deeper into sound design then that’s when it’s power is unleashed. At the twist of a knob, you can manipulate each sound’s most useful parameters like pitch, decay and FX. The tweakability of The Beatdown is unrivaled, allowing you to sculpt entirely new drum sounds.
TAKE CONTROL >>>
The Beatdown includes a free Max for Live Step Sequencer for Launchpad and APC40. This custom device frees you from the mouse and gives you hands-on control like never before. Program beats and note velocities with ease while saving and recalling patterns in realtime. It also features realtime looping, FX and groove manipulation for killer live performances.
Get The Beatdown NOW at http://sonicfaction.com/Beatdown.html
Tutorial: How to Chop Vocal Melodies in Ableton Live
Time for another Ableton tutorial on this sunny Sunday morning, check it out – details can be found below:
http://ohdratdigital.com This week we’re looking at how you can get started chopping vocal melody lines in Ableton Live to get sounds great for that UK Garage, Future Garage, Dubstep sound. Think Todd Edwards, Sunship, et al. Let us know what you think!
Checking out some Kawai K3 patches and sounds of the Yamaha DX-7 MK1
“Just messing around with Kawai K3 patches, selecting some parameters, controlling with the main wheel, sequenced by Ableton w reverb/delay.”
“Just running through some sounds, messing around. Ableton sequencing midi, ableton reverb/delay on the synths”
Free Ableton Pack – Tape Hiss Vinyl Crackle
Free Ableton Live AfroDJRack #60: Tape Hiss and Vinyl Crackle. This package contains 16 samples of tape hiss and vinyl crackle noises, a drum rack that allows you to effect them and put them together rhythmically, as well as an instrument rack that makes any synth sound as if it were sampled from tape or vinyl. Tape hiss from old cassette tapes and Tascam 8 track. Vinyl crackles from different records of varying quality. Super useful 
Download @ http://bit.ly/freesynth60
After busting out my old Ka-Boom Box, and dusting off what remains of my cassette tape collection, I started sampling empty sections of the tapes. While I was at it, I took out some vinyl records of varying condition, sampled those, and grabbed a few minutes of tape noise from my Tascam Reel to Reel (the bad boy used on the Super Tape Drums Ableton Pack). I’ve used those samples to create a pretty excellent Ableton Live Pack for you all!
Experience the power of The Beatdown in action!
Introducing The Beatdown, the latest virtual instrument from Sonic Faction.
“The Beatdown is an amazing versatile DRUM MACHINE for Ableton Live! We crafted The Beatdown from the ground up, giving users superior sound quality and unprecedented control. We started by sampling the Elektron Machine Drum and rebuilding it inside of Ableton, staying true to the instrument’s unique design. Inspired by the flexibility of our new instrument, we then added 6 additional drum kits that cover all of the most popular dance music genres. It’s styles range from Analog Hip Hop madness, to fresh House beats, to viscous Dubstep wobbles and Experimental glitches. The result is a slamming drum machine that will have you dropping next level beats instantly.”
DROP THE BEAT -The Beatdown includes 10 meticulously sampled and sculpted drum kits. It’s unique design allows you to mix and match kits on the fly. Designed to be instantly playable
TWEAK OUT -Tweakability of The Beatdown is unrivaled, allowing you to create entirely new drum sounds. At the twist of a knob, you can manipulate each sound’s most useful parameters like pitch, decay and FX.
FULL CONTROL -The Beatdown includes a free Max for Live Step Sequencer for Launchpad and APC40. This custom device frees you from the mouse and gives you hands-on control like never before.
Available NOW at http://sonicfaction.com
Time for a new free Ableton Rack – SynthPad Tape
Free Ableton Instrument #59: SynthPad Tape. This is an Ableton Live Instrument Rack created by sampling Big Robot Studio’s SynthPad app. The Sample was originally recorded to my Tascam Reel To Reel Machine, which gives it some analog warmth, and then it was collected into an Ableton Instrument. From there it is coupled with a dirty sine wave synth and plenty of effects. Enjoy!
Download @ http://bit.ly/freesynth59
Here’s what AfroDJMac has to tell us about his new rack:
“My main goal was to create an imperfect instrument, that is still completely usable, but has some character. The sample I chose isn’t the cleanest one, but it sounds nice looped. I added some super subtle modulation to the pitch to make it sound a bit more like an analog synth. These days, music is so perfectly in tune that it can take away from the character of the instruments. I think it is worth playing around with the tuning of your soft synths to emulate the subtle intonation imperfections found in real instruments and hardware synths. It gives the music a more “alive” feeling and can add tremendous character and charm. So this particular synth is not perfectly in tune but it won’t clash with instruments that are. Also, pulling the sample from the tape machine adds some warmth to the sound as well.”
DATAMASKIN
