Handy Ableton Tip – Change a Macro Name After It’s Been Mapped.

Problem:
You may have noticed that after you map a macro knob to another macro, you can then no longer rename it either by clicking on it and pressing [CMD-R (mac) / CTRL-R (windows)] or by right-clicking it and selecting “rename” — the context menu option disappears for that macro =(
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Solution?
As long as you have at least one unmapped macro in the rack, click on an unmapped macro. Then press “Tab” until the macro whose name you want to change is highlighted.
You are free to rename it as you like now…sweet!
If the macro it is nested to is currently unnamed, its name will reflect the new change as well.

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I went a long time working in Ableton before realizing you can do this, so maybe it slipped under some other radars as well, so i figured i’d pass it along as a quick tip. If you make your own Racks all the time like me being able to rename a macro after it has been mapped if desired is quite useful.

That’s all for today… more heady packs in development.

Peace!

Updated set of free special racks to economize cpu: “The Enablerz”

“The Enablerz”

The Enablerz browser image
What they are:  An Ableton Live rack (one each for effects in audio tracks, effects in return tracks, midi effects, and midi instruments)  used to temporarily disable devices without deleting them, thereby freeing up some ever-precious CPU.

Features:  Frees up CPU of contained racks. Click-free realtime operation (feel free to enable/disable while audio is routing through). Input Trim & Output Gains.The Enablerz - Track

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Limitization – 3 free Limiter Devices for Ableton Live 9

Francis Preve ( http://www.francispreve.com/ ) posted something which inspired me to make Glue Compressor- and Saturator- based limiter device presets using their clipper functions. I went ahead and made them as one-knob fx as there weren’t too many parameters to deal with. I also decided to make a device similar to the performodule “hybrid” compressors which can be used to compare between the 3 limiter possibilities (calibrated with matching settings) in one device rack, which is a real time-saver. That one also has control over fine-tuning parameters for fully robust usage.

How to use: place one of these devices as the final device on a master track for a final master. Turn up the “push” knob to the desired setting (maximum is +9db). Try to boost it while avoiding any unpleasant distortion. The final output will not exceed 0db.
I would describe the GluLimiter as rich, the SatuLimiter as meaty, and Ableton’s Limiter as straightforward.
For the Try Limiter: Set the push knob as above. Try the 3 limiter choices and decide which one fits the piece most appropriately. Try different settings for attack and release (including auto-release if desired), and you can set the final output from -.5 to -.2 db. One workflow method is to turn push all the way up so the effect is extreme, set attack and release where they feel the most natural and dynamic, and then turn push back down to the ideal value. Then choose the limiter type that has the favorite character at those settings.
(turning the “chooz” knob during playback can cause an unwanted temporary peak. If that happens hit “shift-spacebar” twice to reset your peak meters)

Get the single-knob GluLimiter:
CLICK HERE

Get the single-knob SatuLimiter:
CLICK HERE

Get the triple-auditioning Try Limiter:
CLICK HERE

Performodule Fx

~`~

 

PerforModule – uno Freqification Series – six free Ableton Live 9 single-knob effects

Did you know that Ableton’s “Frequency Shifter” effect can be used to simulate a few different types of effects such as phaser, flanger and tremolo?

Here are 6 different effect racks each set to something different that can be achieved with the frequency shifter device, each handily set to have just a single macro control. Continue reading

Magical Gate: an input-receptive Gate device for Ableton 9 + Max For Live

Magical Gate

— A gate with soul.

Magical Gate

“Magical Gate” is a gate effect with a magical touch — it moves according to the input signal. It doesn’t cut off sounds as linearly as a normal gate.

It’s organic. Kinda like it’s alive or something. It is more reactive and sensitive to the host material. It’s less cold and digital and robotic and linear than most gates.
…You could say it has a soul. Continue reading

PerforModule – uno Glitchification series: 9 free Ableton Live 9 single-knob glitch effects

 New PerforModule one-knobbies! GLi+tChH c-C-r>.’|)razZy_y !

These are relatively simple rhythmically-based one-knob effects, designed primarily for live performance, each based on a built-in ableton effect or two.
Individually, they are very simple and easy to understand. They are optimized to be grouped into your own more complex multi-effects to map to midi controllers, with each knob having one specific function. Continue reading

How to Organize User & Plugin Presets Like a Boss in Ableton Live Using the Hidden Architecture

Problem: Hot-swapping… have to navigate to all these different folders. Wah! So annoying. End up neglecting certain folders of presets due to their unfortunate locations. Presets get sad and lonely, and begin to wither.

Solution:
Ableton 9 has a built-in secret “Folder Architecture”. Fiddling around with how things appear in the browser i discovered that if you make a folder with the same name as one of the built-in categories (for instance: “Amp Simulation”) in your User Library Presets folders, any presets in that folder will appear in the respective folder of the same name in the “Categories” pane of the browser (instrument, drum, audio effect, or midi effect racks). Customizing this way provides more unified access to all factory and user-created content in the same location, which makes my life easier. If i want an amp coloration effect preset, for instance, i have one single folder i can open up where i see all user AND factory presets (and even vst and max for live presets) all in one nice list together, easy to hot-swap and preview amongst. How to do this? Simply save files in your user library, organized however you like, but in folders with specific names. That’s all! The text has to be verbatim. There are only certain folder names you can use, which i figured out with experimentation.  Continue reading

Vocoverb: Reverb using Live 9’s “Vocoder” Effect.

Vocoverb

— Cavernous Digital Sand.

Vocoverb Icon by Bird McElroy

Did you know you could make a reverb-type effect with ableton’s “vocoder” effect?

Vocoverb is a reverb effect that is made using 2 instances of ableton’s vocoder effect, providing a very unique reverb to add to your production palette.


Download the FREE Vocoverb Effect Rack for Ableton 9 -> CLICK HERE

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