warping in ableton

cranky bollix

i need to get a few tracks warped for use in tracktor 2 as its not picking them up properly and i cant beatgrid them properly, so im gonna try do it in ableton.

only the thing is that ive tried it before a couple of times and have given up as i found it very frustrating.but now that i have some time on my hands im gonna give it another go.

so - can anyone give me any tips of an easy way warping for an ableton beginner, any links to tutorials etc. would be greatly appreciated.

cheers

brianc27

im not sure if a warped track in ableton will transfer to traktor as warped, i dont use ableton but would have thought a warped track will only be that when played through ableton, whats the problem with traktor 2 (i assume its traktor pro 2???)

rcaz

Find the down beat you want to call the 'start', put a marker on it, delete all the ones before it (Usually Ableton has a guess at where they might be and gets it wrong, from my limited experience anyway), then right/command click that warp marker you put in yourself and select "warp from here"... Works for me (and I've only been mixing in Ableton since last week so maybe there are way better ways - probably ).

But I don't think warping it in Ableton will do anything? It's still just an audio file that Ableton recognises as 'warped', right?

cranky bollix

brianc27 wrote: »

im not sure if a warped track in ableton will transfer to traktor as warped, i dont use ableton but would have thought a warped track will only be that when played through ableton, whats the problem with traktor 2 (i assume its traktor pro 2???)

I had just assumed for some strange reason (or maybe I read it somewhere) that you could export tracks from ableton in their warped state.Could be completely wrong though.

I upgraded from traktor 3 to traktor pro 2 recently, and Ive found that a lot of the tracks are a bit all over the place ie. the beat grids are dodgy etc.

I dont have a proper external sound card at the minute and so Im mixing mainly by sight and memory - if that makes any sense, so its important to have the tracks bang on so that they will sync properly

cranky bollix

El Pr0n wrote: »

Find the down beat you want to call the 'start', put a marker on it, delete all the ones before it (Usually Ableton has a guess at where they might be and gets it wrong, from my limited experience anyway), then right/command click that warp marker you put in yourself and select "warp from here"... Works for me (and I've only been mixing in Ableton since last week so maybe there are way better ways - probably ).

But I don't think warping it in Ableton will do anything? It's still just an audio file that Ableton recognises as 'warped', right?

cheers, ill give that a go.the main problem is that some of the tracks are bad vinyl rips so id say id have to warp nearly every point manually

ThirdMan

cranky bollix wrote: »

I had just assumed for some strange reason (or maybe I read it somewhere) that you could export tracks from ableton in their warped state.

You can. StevenJames.com does gridding and warping services. If a track will not grid, he will warp it first (at an additional cost) and then grid it.

I was looking to get some funk tracks gridded, but he warned me that they might lose their swing when warped, so I decided against it. That wouldn't be a problem with most EDM though.

To the OP, if you have a lot of tracks to do I'd consider the website above, or someone similar. It's pricey for one or two, but make a bulk order an it gets cheaper

cranky bollix

ThirdMan wrote: »

You can. StevenJames.com does gridding and warping services. If a track will not grid, he will warp it first (at an additional cost) and then grid it.

I was looking to get some funk tracks gridded, but he warned me that they might lose their swing when warped, so I decided against it. That wouldn't be a problem with most EDM though.

To the OP, if you have a lot of tracks to do I'd consider the website above, or someone similar. It's pricey for one or two, but make a bulk order an it gets cheaper

cheers for the heads up.i have a few to do, but id prefer to learn to do it myself as i have a bit of time on my hands, couldnt be arsed paying for it either.

so any good tutorial links on warping or tips out there

ThirdMan

I've spent more time warping/gridding in the past 4 years than I have playing music. I reached breaking point 2 weeks ago. Finally bought myself a set of turntables. So much happier. It's not even a vinyl v digital thing. It's a having fun v stressing over pointless **** thing.

Anyway, enough of my life story. I know there's two decent PDF's on warping and gridding doing the rounds. I'll have a look for them and send you the links.

ThirdMan

Okay, here's the beatgridding tutorial.

http://www.traktorbible.com/en/tutorial2.aspx

There's a few more on the bottom left of the screen dealing with other topics.

cranky bollix

ThirdMan wrote: »

I've spent more time warping/gridding in the past 4 years than I have playing music. I reached breaking point 2 weeks ago. Finally bought myself a set of turntables. So much happier. It's not even a vinyl v digital thing. It's a having fun v stressing over pointless **** thing.

Anyway, enough of my life story. I know there's two decent PDF's on warping and gridding doing the rounds. I'll have a look for them and send you the links.

i hear ya.i have decks up in the attic, no room for them right now, havent touched them in years.i just find it handy to mess around on the laptop with headphones on, without pissing off everyone else in the gaf by banging out techno all day over speakers

ThirdMan

Here's the warping tutorial. This is fairly old at this stage. I think he uses version 6, but the principles remain the same.

http://www.knockingsoul.ca/01/wp-content/uploads/2008/06/vinkalmann_warping_guide.pdf

ThirdMan

cranky bollix wrote: »

i hear ya.i have decks up in the attic, no room for them right now, havent touched them in years.i just find it handy to mess around on the laptop with headphones on, without pissing off everyone else in the gaf by banging out techno all day over speakers

Ah yeah, I understand. Plus digital is great for getting your hands on music. I was buying a few vinyls yesterday. Spent what little cash I had, which amounted to three records, and that's it for a fortnight.

Nostalgia is one thing, being broke is another.

cranky bollix

ThirdMan wrote: »

Here's the warping tutorial. This is fairly old at this stage. I think he uses version 6, but the principles remain the same.

http://www.knockingsoul.ca/01/wp-content/uploads/2008/06/vinkalmann_warping_guide.pdf

that looks the job.

cheers thirdman

ThirdMan

cranky bollix wrote: »

that looks the job.

cheers thirdman

You're welcome. Hope it helps.

cranky bollix

ThirdMan wrote: »

Ah yeah, I understand. Plus digital is great for getting your hands on music. I was buying a few vinyls yesterday. Spent what little cash I had, which amounted to three records, and that's it for a fortnight.

Nostalgia is one thing, being broke is another.

thats another reason.the amount of money i used to waste on dodgy records is ridiculous (but still good fun)

I still buy vinyl today but rarely, and i would have listened to the track heaps of times on mp3 before buying

electrogrimey

Here are a few methods I use for warping:

1) Warp from Here

Click on the first marker, hit cmd+A, and then delete. That selects all warp markers and deletes them. Set a warp marker at the actual first beat, there should be a transient there, delete the other warp marker, and hit warp from here. You can also try "warp from here - straight", or if you have an idea of the bpm, set the master BPM to that, let's say it's 128, and then try "warp from here - start at 128"

2) Set the BPM

If, from Traktor, or looking on Chemical Records or whatever, you know the BPM, then this normally works. Do the same as above with setting the first marker and deleting the rest. Click on the first marker, and type the BPM into the BPM field. It should be pretty good.

3) Manually

Again, set the first beat and delete the rest. Now flick forward about 32 bars in, find an easily noticeable beat, usually at the end of a breakdown, and drop a marker there and drag it to where it should be. Repeat that every 32 bars or so, listening back with the metronome, until the whole thing sounds good.

cranky bollix

electrogrimey wrote: »

Here are a few methods I use for warping:

1) Warp from Here

Click on the first marker, hit cmd+A, and then delete. That selects all warp markers and deletes them. Set a warp marker at the actual first beat, there should be a transient there, delete the other warp marker, and hit warp from here. You can also try "warp from here - straight", or if you have an idea of the bpm, set the master BPM to that, let's say it's 128, and then try "warp from here - start at 128"

2) Set the BPM

If, from Traktor, or looking on Chemical Records or whatever, you know the BPM, then this normally works. Do the same as above with setting the first marker and deleting the rest. Click on the first marker, and type the BPM into the BPM field. It should be pretty good.

3) Manually

Again, set the first beat and delete the rest. Now flick forward about 32 bars in, find an easily noticeable beat, usually at the end of a breakdown, and drop a marker there and drag it to where it should be. Repeat that every 32 bars or so, listening back with the metronome, until the whole thing sounds good.

cheers grimey, ill give that ago