User Tuned Analog Emulations using Ableton

jimi_t

Apologies for the slightly wordy title :rolleyes:

One of the first things you'll notice when using analog equipment is the inconsistency of it compared to digital gear - be it EQ, tube pre-amps or synthesisers. In many cases, this inconsistency and the many happy (and musical) errors resulting from it are what makes the kit so desirable in the first place. Similarly, when using samples of analog gear, the digital reproduction leaves the end-product lacking a certain je ne sais quoi.

Here are two nice videos using ableton (even if you use a different DAW, ableton is superb to use as an open-ended instrument in its own right - be it rewired or otherwise). The first shows how to make an organic sounding kick from Ableton's somewhat primative 'Operator' synth - quite easy to reproduce in your own synth of choice, Massive would be a good bet).

If you then did some random-automation of the saturation and maybe the volume envelope (i.e. route the necessary knobs to a CC producing random number generator in cSound or such and set a 10 step range +/-.5db) you're going to get a far more varied soundstage then the guy who is just using samples.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QFiuKTOCdFk

The next video goes to show how damn good a 303 emulation using simple tools can get. I personally use d16's Phosycon but, matched with a decent filter vst, this looks even more capable. That said, the TB-303 Sequencer is, in its own right, just as integral to the sound what with its accent slides and such.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=94fpI2FNmT0

May same a little basic compared with all the lofty talk of various mastering and production techniques from our resident studio denziens, but I feel that the Ableton-using electronic music side of the fence has been fairly under-represented as of late. Any other tips or tricks guys?

cornbb

jimi_t wrote: »

Apologies for the slightly wordy title :rolleyes:

One of the first things you'll notice when using analog equipment is the inconsistency of it compared to digital gear - be it EQ, tube pre-amps or synthesisers. In many cases, this inconsistency and the many happy (and musical) errors resulting from it are what makes the kit so desirable in the first place. Similarly, when using samples of analog gear, the digital reproduction leaves the end-product lacking a certain je ne sais quoi.

Here are two nice videos using ableton (even if you use a different DAW, ableton is superb to use as an open-ended instrument in its own right - be it rewired or otherwise). The first shows how to make an organic sounding kick from Ableton's somewhat primative 'Operator' synth - quite easy to reproduce in your own synth of choice, Massive would be a good bet).

If you then did some random-automation of the saturation and maybe the volume envelope (i.e. route the necessary knobs to a CC producing random number generator in cSound or such and set a 10 step range +/-.5db) you're going to get a far more varied soundstage then the guy who is just using samples.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QFiuKTOCdFk

Cool, nice tip. I've seen some software that includes "humanisers" which introduce subtle controlled variations to timings/velocities but doing it like this looks much more flexible.

The next video goes to show how damn good a 303 emulation using simple tools can get. I personally use d16's Phosycon but, matched with a decent filter vst, this looks even more capable. That said, the TB-303 Sequencer is, in its own right, just as integral to the sound what with its accent slides and such.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=94fpI2FNmT0

Jaysus that is impressive.. he's doing a better job of it than some of the VST 808 clones I've seen. Nice to be reminded that there's more to knob twiddling than meets the eye. Speaking of 808 clones, how did you get on with that x0xb0x build??

May same a little basic compared with all the lofty talk of various mastering and production techniques from our resident studio denziens, but I feel that the Ableton-using electronic music side of the fence has been fairly under-represented as of late. Any other tips or tricks guys?

I agree. Topics from all music technology walks of life are welcome and the forum will organically choose its own direction, but I'm a student of the school of spit-polish-and-stuff-held-together-with-bits-of-tape production myself!

Can't think of any good tips off the top of my head but I'll have a think about it.

studiorat

Very cool. I've seen some cool stuff done using that operator yoke.

Must try and use ableton more...

jtsuited

jimi_t wrote: »

May same a little basic compared with all the lofty talk of various mastering and production techniques from our resident studio denziens, but I feel that the Ableton-using electronic music side of the fence has been fairly under-represented as of late. Any other tips or tricks guys?

right since I'm probably one of the lofty talkers as well as the electronic fiddlers I'd like to second this motion of let's talk synths etc.!:D

first off, i moved away from ableton to Logic for production. I was using ableton and protools for a long time but then realised that logic kicks both their asses for most types of electronic music. For me anyways.

I'm a big believer in 'get in there, tweak, and make sounds nobody's ever done before'. Also I've noticed that much as it is a cliche to say, synth presets will get you nowhere.
Learn the fundamentals of subtractive synthesis. It's amazing what you can do with ANY software synth when you have a decent knowledge of synth programming.
Well at least learn how to make kicks, snares, hats, basslines, and leads from scratch. There's a lot of fun to be had by starting off with a sine tone but 20 minutes later having your own unique preset built.

synesthesia

Waow great topic : )

for TB 303 emulation I use AudioRealism bassline ! great !

For stuff a bit different but style analog-like, I'm a big fan of the Korg Legacy collection - you can use it standalone ...
... but the VST's with ableton kick ass, I actually owm the MS-20 midi controller, I can send my midi into the VST instru, and change the settings straight on the controller, absolutelly great, and great great sound.:D