Ableton Forum

If you're looking for some sequences, Live's arp is always a good place to start looking.
But after a while, you feel that you have gotten the most out of it.
If you really feel that way, then read on....

Tip 1:

One of my favorite MIDI chains is a chord- + arp- + velocity plugin.
Because it will give you virtually unlimited sequences that are easy to record.

- First start with the chord plugin. Set the transpose of 3 "shift" parameters to different values. And set the velocity of one of those shifts to 1%.

- Dont change anything to the arp.

- Set the velocity plugin to gate mode.
This will stop the note that is at the velocity of 1%.
Giving you a new sequence to work with.
You can get virtually unlimited sequences if you try different combinations of Live's MIDI plugins.
And especially if you change the arp modes.

This trick works great for creating new arped patches and recording new sequences.

Tip 2:

Here's another little tip.

When you use the method described above, you remove a note from the sequence.
But when using mono synths that have a glide parameter, you can use it to add a note.
Just set the "Gate" parameter on the arp above "100 %".

This way, the velocity of the "muted" note is disregarded. So it will sound at the same velocity of the first note played.
Play with the glide settings of your synth to shape the result.

Enjoy

- Bjorn

Hey neat, gonna play around with that.

Lives Arp is great, especially playing around with offset and retrigger/repeats can get you a ton of great atypical arp patterns, with your little trick it just got way more versatile.

This may really be cheating, but I used to use this idea a lot...but stick a scale MIDI plug inbetween the chord and arp, and then pick your scale, and you will automatically be in the right key no matter what.

Just trying to add something.

anti-banausic wrote:This may really be cheating, but I used to use this idea a lot...but stick a scale MIDI plug inbetween the chord and arp, and then pick your scale, and you will automatically be in the right key no matter what.

Just trying to add something.

My philosophy is.. if it gets the job done, do it

anti-banausic wrote:This may really be cheating, but I used to use this idea a lot...but stick a scale MIDI plug inbetween the chord and arp, and then pick your scale, and you will automatically be in the right key no matter what.

Just trying to add something.

I stick it after the arp to keep it in key. Because the arp can transpose notes too.
The scale plugin rocks!!

nice, cool tutorial

You can randomize the whole thing... http://www.ableton.com/forum/viewtopic. ... +generator

(you can use less devices if you want too, it's a bit of a redundant rack there)

I'd highly recommend using the Random plugin on drum sequencers (Either Impulse or NI Battery, or such like).

Fill it up with lots of weird samples and let the random fire them off randomly. IDM sweetness.

Hi,

You mentioned a scale midi plugin. What is that and where can I get it?

Thanks;
J.

anti-banausic wrote:This may really be cheating, but I used to use this idea a lot...but stick a scale MIDI plug inbetween the chord and arp, and then pick your scale, and you will automatically be in the right key no matter what.

Just trying to add something.

It's one of Lives standard midi plugins, root around the live devices, it's in there.

Here's another little tip.

When you use the method described above, you remove a note from the sequence.
But when using mono synths that have a glide parameter, you can use it to add a note.
Just set the "Gate" parameter on the arp above "100 %".

This way, the velocity of the "muted" note is disregarded. So it will sound at the same velocity of the first note played.
Play with the glide settings of your synth to shape the result.

I've been using this technique with a Random plug-in and the IAC driver to generate video and lighting sequences. It comes up with some incredible patterns that are always synched and beatmatched to the audio.

It's fun just to have a beer or two and sit and watch what it comes up with!

The velocity/gate thing is cool, thx h2k. yes and then scale after the chord. Here's what I like to do, my secret trick known only to the internet:

pitch->chord->scale->velocity->arp->scale-optional

remote control pitch, scale(s) base note, arp hold, arp style (be careful with chord trigger, though, it can be hard on CPU), and arp rate. (if you've got the knobs or automation clips, seems like altering velocity % on the chord notes would be cool too)

feed some notes into it, twist that pitch-- oh baby.

(this is one reason why selecting presets (scale, chords) via MIDI would be very nice.)

oh, yeh, hambone1 is there with the random, that can go after pitch, also.

hoffman2k wrote: Tip 2:

Here's another little tip.

When you use the method described above, you remove a note from the sequence.
But when using mono synths that have a glide parameter, you can use it to add a note.
Just set the "Gate" parameter on the arp above "100 %".

This way, the velocity of the "muted" note is disregarded. So it will sound at the same velocity of the first note played.
Play with the glide settings of your synth to shape the result.

Thanks for the tips and tricks. I can't get this to work using simpler as the monophonic synth. Does the arp or the synth add the muted note? are you able to give more details?

Thanks

great advice!