Melody, chord, rhythm... 

​

Session settings- 24 bit 48 kHz for recording

We will focus on making a new song this time so we are taking the Guitar to the Studio. where

Giorgia Herbert plays us (D, Am/G, D, Am, C). We are going to use two cardioid microphones in an XY configuration which way we will create a stereo image and give it more interesting ground for a song. Cardioid Mics will also reduce reflections coming from the back of the mics what means clearer sound.-16 dB for a start would be a good point when the signal to noise ratio is just right.

Before we will start to build a song on the backbone we need to check that fundamental chords are not going out of time, the value of the amplitude on the beginning and at the end is low what will result in no clicks and no pops (adding fades).

If transients need to be placed in a more uniformed way (if they are out of time) to fit in the grid we need to involve a Flex Time function (Logic) or Beat-detective (Pro-Tools) and get the music working along the time grid, that means to get the downbeats to sync with the tempo, tempo click, etc. (easy /peasy), we can quantize the transients too to achieve that.

A simple musical idea can be mould into a song by altering and extending chord progressions into an arrangement. By placing  Tuner on the track I'm trying to find the scale the Guitar is oscillating on just in case my ears can't figure it out.

If something is against the time grid than I Quantise it, If I am pre downbeat zone then I'll zoom it, trim right so it would be really nice when it enters.

Specifying length values and aiming for perfection using midi notes and 1/16  Note quantisation.

Stems want to be exported to free Cpu from the high temperature but before converting or recording to the audio I'll bypass the effects and listen again...If it's good without the effects it will be fantastic with them.

A lot of listening is required, without looking at the arrangement I am aware of how this should sound.

I've spent some time checking different arrangements. Other pairs of magic ears were also very welcome to test that song before the mixing begins. I'm searching for negative opinions and then applying changes as the music need to get to the people at the end of it.

Premix 

(Preparation for mixing)

Sometimes as soon as I attempt to mix I can get very frustrated if Tracks are all over the mixer (don't know which fader to use, no sub-groups, tracks has an unknown name, and it sounds like a loop).

Then I'll get emotionally destroyed in the first round( I mean Intro) and my creative mood is gone.

So I start by listening to each track in SOLO mode and I should find what's where.

I name tracks, hide ones that don't need to be visible to get the job done quickly without looking on the huge template and unused Aux tracks, hiding tracks that don't participate in the bridge or verse is what makes mixing fun for me.

If stems are not greatest, I get rid of unwanted noise (like deep breaths or headphone spells)-gate the important stuff so it will let only good contestants in.

l like to mix in sections (first I mix the intro, then the bridge, then a verse, etc.), I got more tracks than if I would assigning just one track for one instrument. But the sections have their own vibe.

I Have my favourite effects ready on Auxiliary channels, mastering chain hangs Bypassed (EQ, Compressor, Limiter) waiting for the right time. All tracks are in phase.

All tracks have been named and assigned a colour code to the group and arrangement sections. All instruments have been given their own track in different sections of the song.

Another look into Ableton Live which is the next step to form ideas into real things.

I've added few bass lines and

make few variations of the beat, by duplicating rich pattern and taking out different parts of the sentence.
I've used a new Simpler for the first time and chopped the vocal.

Placed the slices into the drum rack so I could record live performance while triggering samples by the keyboard or drum pads to the beat loop (very creative and intuitive :)

I've added/assigned the plug-in location to the library and checked the presets of a few.

I did recognize different plug-ins icons (one with the little piano notes which are for the virtual instruments, the ones without the piano notes being an effect either processor. I've liked the workflow of the session view and the arrangement which works similarly. 

The next thing I've done was recording the live performance from clips I've created. Variations of the loops created a lot of movement which worked out in a nice way.

Also, automation parameters like filter frequency and resonance were written on the fly.

How Elastic Audio work in Ableton Live

I've opened one of the patch libraries to choose an audio file and looked at the 2 bar loop boundaries. Located the Cue point just underneath which allowed me to trigger the sample from the desired position. I've also got familiar with the end marker which allows me to stop the playback of the sample if I was not in the loop mode.

The warp function allowed me to line my transients with the time grid by warping-stretching the waveform when they were out of time. I've started from the first bar and fixed the second, right-clicked and used the "work from here straight" function- to have all the rest warped. Checked in a few important points like start, end and between.

I looked into the area of Algorithms and assign the Texture for my sample-

Beats- best for very transient music

Tones- it's for things like basslines, melodies

Texture- for longer, more sustain sounds

Re-Pitch- pitch linked to tempo

I've added more bottom end to the kick drum.

I've used audio effect- Auto filter to remove some of the low frequencies (hi-pass filter) and made some space for a new kick drum.

I've edited the volume of the new sample to put it on top of my loop isolating Hi-Hats and Snare Drum using Envelope editor.

The position of the clip was not fitting the groove so I had to adjust the start point.

By turning up the level to fit into the dynamics of the section I've achieved the desired effect- beat loop with more bottom end.

Processing the drums collectively.

I've selected the drum tracks, right-clicked and created a group that automagically created an aux track. I could control the volume of all the drums together and apply the processing to the group.

Wiring to a different Daw

How I used sounds from Ableton Live in Logic Pro X workstation

(Setting up ReWire).

From using 2 DAWS instead of just 1 I was getting much more possibilities and fun.

My goal was to use one of the pad sounds from Ableton and record it into Logic where our session started. I had to create an Aux track in Logic than assign the Input from Ableton Live mixL/R and that is how I was monitoring what's going on in Ableton. The next thing I've done was that I've created a new Midi track in Logic and assign Ableton Tracks 1 instrument so I could trigger sounds using midi information from Logic.

Then I've created a new Audio track and send the first aux by bus to it so I could record what I was hearing after I wrote my midi notes.

Secured by a metronome I am looking to use some effects creatively and move to a new world of music.

Creating Chords and arpeggios using Arpeggiator and Chord functions can be very useful. Check out the Holly Scale preset pack if You're after a nice and full sound.

Play any chord with just one finger.
 

(Ableton Live)

Shift as many

semitones

You want to play

Chords no one ever

heard. 

Add the arpeggios when Your Chords sound steady.

Sweet Swap

It's easy to create the is also  Drum Rack.

Filling it with the right sounds is also great.

But to make live sweeter "hot swap" function can help customize the flavor of Your beats and melodies by swapping the kits or single hits on the fly (just klick that circle with two arrows below and choose a different kit from the library).