Forum Activity for @simon-unsigned

Scale of macro knobs in Ableton

DAW or Software Questions

Hi all - I've got a bit of a gripe with how the macro control works in Ableton. I've done some research and googling and as far as I can tell, I don't think it's fixable.

I've created an instrument group around some drum racks and have one rack dedicated to kick drums. The idea is to have a load of different kicks that I can easily select via a macro to audition while the track is playing. I know you can use hotswap for this, but I find that a bit clunky and want to use this rack as a default in my track starting template.

I know you can set the range of the macro to run from say 0 to 31 if I've got 32 kicks in a rack and you can use the mouse to dial through these with the macro and it will run through each one.

However, to keep my workflow as streamlined as possible, I'd like to be able to scroll through the kicks using the up/down arrow keys on the keyboard. But it seems that the resolution of the macro dial will always be 0 to 127 regardless of what the range is set to in the mapping. e.g. I have to click the up key around 4/5 times to move it up to the next value/kick.

Call me lazy, but I just want to hit the key once!

Does anyone know if this fixable or have another/better way to easily use a keyboard shortcut to get the same result - i.e. step through a selection of different kick drums to audition them while the track is playing.

Looks like the best way I can think of is to create a new sample folder of the kicks I'm using to scroll through and switch them using hot swap.

Drum Synth Plugins

DAW or Software Questions

Interesting question! I use both and I'd say don't have a preference, all depends on my mood and type of track I want to make. I'd say a drum synth is better for jamming quick ideas and also limiting your drum palette in a creative way. Samples are better in terms of options and endless variety

Complete beginners forum

DAW or Software Questions

I think I Rob use this one as well in a Webinar a while ago - but I've not used myself, but it looked pretty useful; https://www.wavesfactory.com/audio-plugins/trackspacer/

Seems to be some sort of multiband sidechain dynamic eq?

Editing and saving found sound audio files using Ableton

DAW or Software Questions

Hi Peter, from what you’ve said, it sounds like the easiest (maybe not the best!) approach would be to import your recordings onto a track in arrangement view and it into separate clips for each sound, then each clip can be dragged into a simpler, sampler or drum rack and edited there. Or just copy the clip onto a new audio track and edit there. All depends on what sort of editing the clip needs first on what the best option might be, simpler/sampler can do all the basics like start/end, loop points, fades etc but heavy audio processing is probably best done on a clip in its own track - you can then consolidate the clip and put it in a simpler later on.

Favourite Producers

General Producer Chat

One for me is Paranoid London - I just like their whole ethos as well as their production style - stripped back and no frills.

Creating drum fills

Member Content Requests

Thanks - I'll definitely look at those, cheers.

How to make rave sounds

Member Content Requests

Great tutorials - right up my street, thanks Rob - and +1 thumbs up to UNDRGRNDSOUNDS sample packs, I got a really good deal on a bundle and there’s loads of really useable stuff in there

Creating drum fills

Member Content Requests

Not sure if this a topic suitable for a tutorial, but I could really do with some help . There’s already lots of material to help with programming full drum loops but I can sometimes struggle to come up with nice little variations to make the loop more interesting and where I REALLY struggle is coming up with good fills for the end of 8/16/32 bar sections where I want to transition into a new section.

Thanks!

Post your questions here (start a topic in this category)

DAW or Software Questions

I can’t really comment on Logic as the last version I used was made by C-Lab! But I used to use Cubase and then got a version of Ableton Lite bundled with a controller but had never heard it and dismissed it as not a proper DAW, but the warp function made it really good for digital DJing and mashups with loops etc. Over time I got more used to Ableton and with version updates it become more than just a DAW in my mind and the Workflow in Cubase just seemed really restrictive - ok for working on a track isolation but the game changer was just how modular Ableton is.

So my recommendation would be 100% Ableton it’s simple and complex at the same time and just seems to grow with you as you use it more - but I know Logic is now closer to Ableton so I’m sure there are people who use both who can offer some impartial advice

Why do you make music?

General Producer Chat

Hi- thought it would be fun to kick off a thread to talk about why we make music! Sometimes it’s all too easy to get lost in the tech or trying to learn new stuff and you can forget why you do it in the first place. So it doesn’t hurt to remind ourselves from time to time how lucky we are to be able to do what we do.

For me, it all started with DJing, the buzz I got from watching a dance floor react to tracks I was choosing and playing was literally life changing. It then just seemed like a natural progression to make music for people to dance to, whether it’s simply a bootleg mash-up or original material. And I have to admit that I really like getting into the geeky/techy side of things as well, probably a bit too much as I can get a bit distracted and play around without actually being that productive.

And after years of off and on noodling around collecting loads of nearly or half finished tracks and with everything else that’s happened (and not happened!) in the last year and half I’m more motivated than ever to start actually finishing and releasing my music.


updated by @simon-unsigned: 12/28/21 03:45:29PM