Augmented reality DJ
How to set up your midi with the ardj system and ableton live, or any other DAW like logic, garageband, etc…
download for free at http://www.lipert.net/ardj Mac only.
Interesting post on the sequencer battle
Found an interesting post/article called the Sequencer wars, where the author had used Google trends over the past years to analyze which sequencers are gaining or loosing in market share. The result is shown in the graph below.
And the result shows that Ableton continues to grow as the most popular system going forward.
Losers:
Cubase started from a high in early 2004 and has seemingly experienced a steady decline ever since apart from a few short-lived spikes; most notably in late 2004 when the news graph shows that Steinberg announced an update to Cubase SX 3.0.1
(I initially thought this result was quite odd so I performed other searches based around the [Cubase ] search-word to see if there was a correlation… and there is! The search trends for Cubase SX and VST pretty much match the same downward trend as above.)
Cakewalk shows an even more dramatic fall. It starts from a higher spike than Cubase at the start of 2004, but ends lower than it did in the last quarter of 2006!
(Still a bit sceptical, I ran another for Cakewalk SONAR Although there’s been a more volatile ride, ithe graph shows a similar start and end-point as above.)
Winners:
Ableton on average, has experienced a steady rise in search volume all through the timeline, reflecting its new-kid-on-the-block rise into the mind-share of electronic musicians.
Flatlining:
Pro Tools does end at a slightly lower point than when the resultset began, but the trend-line itself is pretty much even when you look at the spikes it has seen. However, 2006 shows a fairly strong downward trend that is seemingly breaking-away from the rest of the line!
Read the full article here and some of the “conclusions” >>
Thanks to The Whippingpost for sharing
Pure analog
Here’s an analog synth jam inspired by late 70’s & early 80’s electro dance music.
via synthjunk:
Midi clock & sequencing from MPC. Doepfer providing cv/gate step sequencing.
TR707 trigger out controlling Mono/Poly arpeggiator.
All synth sounds are 100% analog. Recorded with Ableton Live.
Tom's 6 best Ableton Live tips
[vimeo http://vimeo.com/7955042]
- As well as using Time Commands in the main Arrangement view, you can use them in the MIDI Editor too! This is really handy for cutting out/adding in chunks of MIDI notes while preserving everything surrounding them.
- Need to free up lots of CPU? Select multiple Tracks, right click and choose “Freeze Track”, then go make a cup of tea. Live will Freeze each individual Track down into audio, removing the need to process any effects or instruments (don’t worry, you can always right click and unfreeze the track to go back to the original when you need to edit again).
- To give each one of your Chains an equal amount in the Chain Selector, drag each chains Zone out so it ranges 0-127, then right click and choose “Distribute Ranges Equally”.
- Turning on the MIDI Editor Preview also turns on a very easy to use step sequencer. Just push whatever note(s) you want on your MIDI keyboard (or virtual MIDI keyboard) and use the left and right arrow keys. If a note is held, when the key is pushed, it will insert a note.
- Holding down the command key lets you drag slopes that change the velocity of each note selected in the MIDI Editor.
- You can Freeze a track, duplicate it to a new audio Track by option + dragging, then unfreeze the original. This is really hand for doing a quick resample, just remember you can’t freeze a track if any of its effects have an active sidechain input!
- In Arrangement view, holding option + command and will let you scroll/pan left and right when you click anywhere in the Arrangement.
- If you are multi-track recording in Session view, make sure “Start Recording on Scene Launch” is selected in the Preferences (under Record / Warp / Launch). That way you just have to arm the right tracks and trigger a scene to start recording clips in all tracks.
- You’re not restricted to grouping tracks that are next to each other. Instead of shift, hold down the command key and click on the tracks you want, then push command + g. All the tracks will be put into a neat group for you.
- A few little extra assignable goodies pop up when you enter key/midi map mode (command + k and command + r). Turn the map modes on and look around, you can assign external events to move up and down Scenes, trigger the selected Scene, or even trigger the selected Clip in that Track.
Puremagnetik Waveframe
Waveframe is a an advanced wavetable synthesizer designed exclusively for the features of Ableton Live. Based on the Ensoniq Fizmo, Waveframe contains over 1700 wavetable samples, over 30 waveform Live Racks and a generous selection of performance patches.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DNOkM_eeyHo]
Ableton with microKORG session
A great loop recording session with microKORG XL and Ableton Live.
Getting to know the AKAI APC40
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.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QDpSQP-7JNQ&feature=player_embedded]
MOTU gives us VOLTA
Volta is the ground-breaking virtual instrument plug-in that lets you control modular synths and other CV-equipped gear from Digital Performer and other popular audio workstation software packages, such as Apple Logic Pro and Ableton Live.
The very first product of its kind, Volta has created quite a stir among analog synth enthusiasts since it was first announced a few months ago. Even if you’ve never used analog gear before, but coveted that analog sound, Volta could be just what you’ve been looking for.
Here are just a few examples of what you can do with Volta:
- Perform MIDI sequencing with external modular synths with sample-accurate precision (if your host sequencer supports sample-accurate MIDI).
- Automatically calibrate and tune oscillators with the click of a button.
- Use ramp automation in your host audio software to control filters, envelope generators, effects processors and other voltage-controlled external gear.
- Apply LFOs, step sequencers and pattern sequencers to CV inputs and tempo-sync them to your host software timeline.
Body language sound
Yet another weekend approaching fast 
On several blogs I have recently visited I have seen the question on how to create so called Body Language Sound which can be found e.g. with MANDY and similar artists – I am not sure I want to dig further in this, MANDY isn’t really my bag as frequent readers of my posts probably already have figured out, hehe
Anyhow I found this good tutorial on how to get to grips with BLS in Ableton. In this Ableton Live tutorial, DJ Gustavo Bravetti demonstrates how to create the sound of M.A.N.D.Y vs Booka Shade’s Body Language.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aBZal5xa0wc&feature=player_embedded]
Cheers all
The new Ableton Operator – keyboard blessing
Ableton has announced that when Live 8 ships there will be an also provide an update Ableton Operator. Ableton is calling it a “major overall”. Feeling the ill effects of software synth overload, you may have glazed over when Ableton announced it was making its own FM synth, exclusively for Live. Ableton has built an easy-to-use, great-sounding instrument that integrates classic analog and digital synth sounds with Live’s beat-synced and envelope-shaping powers. Finally, it’s Ableton software for keyboard players.
So what’s new?
- User Waveforms: Draw your own waveforms by adjusting the amplitudes of each oscillator’s harmonics. You can also edit the built-in waveforms. So, it’s like a mini-additive synth.
- Feedback is now available for all oscillators that are not being modulated by another oscillator. This should provide for some pretty interesting possibilities.
- New filter types: New ladder modes and SVF filters bring the total number of Operator’s filter types to fourteen.
- There is also a frequency response curve view in the filter display and an integrated waveshaper in the filter, featuring an adjustable drive amount and four curve shapes.
- The filter, LFO and pitch envelopes now feature adjustable slopes, like those found in Sampler.
- There’s a new MIDI modulation section in the global display, with multiple destination and amount settings for five MIDI control sources. We’ve also added new modulation options for the LFO and pitch envelope.
Watch video from Ableton:
DATAMASKIN
