the beginner’s guide to live <

it’s undoubtedly a less flexible system than
a modulation matrix, it does make the synth
less intimidating for novices. Operator also
has just four operators compared to the six
used by most FM soft synths.
Despite its relatively simple design,
Operator still isn’t quite as intuitive as
a virtual analog synth, so to learn more
about programming it check out Getting
to grips with Operator on p38, Smooth
Operator on p94, and Creating a waveshape
with Operator’s additive synthesis on p141.
Operator is included with Live Suite, and is
£59 for Standard and Intro users.
you drop an audio file onto a MIDI track – this
is a great way to quickly turn samples into
playable instruments.
Simpler enables a single sample to be
played chromatically up and down the
keyboard, repitching it as it does so – ie,
speeding the sample up for higher notes and
slowing it down for lower ones. A resonant
multimode filter is provided, as are looping
capability with crossfade; dedicated volume,
filter and pitch envelopes; an LFO; a choice of
one of four types of ‘Excitator’ (Bow,
Hammer, Bouncing Hammer, and Plectrum),
a Damper (which reduces the decay time
of the strings’ vibration), the String itself,
‘Termination’ (modelling the interaction
between fret, finger and string), a Body
(Piano, Guitar, Violin or Generic), and a
Pickup mic with variable positioning. The
instrument also has a secondary global
settings and resonant filter page, the latter
featuring ten modes, including low-pass,

SAMPLER
While Simpler makes light work of basic
sample playback and triggering, Sampler
offers many more features, including
ping-pong looping, reverse mode, flexible
envelopes, a choice of filter modes, a
waveshaper, adjustable pitchbend range,
more modulation sources, and the ability to
load multiple samples and split them into
key and velocity zones. These capabilities portamento and glide modes; and the ability high-pass, band-pass, notch and formant,
make it a powerful tool for sound design, and to ‘spread’ samples, doubling and detuning as well as dedicated envelope and LFO
because you can drag and drop clips directly them for stereo width. modulation sources.
into it from Live’s audio tracks, it also makes The R button at the bottom right-hand Unfortunately Tension isn’t the most
resampling incredibly quick and painless. To corner of the interface tells Simpler to intuitive of synths, involving a fair bit of trial
learn more about Sampler, check out Sound retrigger voices rather than creating an and error to get to grips with. A good way to
design with Sampler on p40. additional voice when a note that’s already find out what it’s capable of is to check out
Sampler is included with Live Suite, and playing is played again – handy for patches the included presets, which will give you
costs £59 for Standard and Intro users. with long release times, when you want a some clues as to how it can be employed to
more defined sound. create string, guitar and mallet sounds. The
presets also include some more abstract
SIMPLER patches, such as pads, evolving ambient
This basic, no-frills sampler is a fundamental TENSION sounds and FX, which use extreme settings
component of Live, and in fact, you might Live’s dedicated string synth, Tension to create rather severe noises of the kind
have even used it without realising it, as it’s generates its sounds by physically modelling that you’ll either love or hate.
used for playback
of sliced clips
generated by Live’s
Slice to New MIDI
Track function
(see p20) as part
of an Instrument
Rack, and is only
revealed when the
Rack’s Show/Hide
Devices button is
clicked. Live will
also automatically
create a Simpler
instrument when

ABLETON LIVE: THE ULTIMATE GUIDE 2015 / 35