Ableton Live field recorder

Apply envelopes and effects to ambient sounds to create “music”

Start with the sound of an orchestra warming up, traffic, sea lions, or any field recording – then apply global envelopes to shape the sound over time.

updated 4/19/2015

Screen Shot 2015-04-19 at 9.39.41 PM

Based on a tutorial by Sonic Academy: https://reactivemusic.net/?p=2431

Local file is in Ableton teaching examples: dummy clips band recorder 11-08b (under dummy clips example project) This version uses ambient traffic sounds.

A version with a high-school band horsing around is in: dummy clips band recorder3z

The actual set will be posted here – eventually…

Rough description:

This project is an effects processor made with dummy clips – it has a simple hip-hop drum track.

instructions:

  • press ‘p’ to shut off speakers in dummy clip audio tracks (to prevent feedback in recording)
  • press cmd-comma (for config) to turn input device on
  • arm the “field recording” track and record a clip
  • press cmd-comma  (for config) and turn off input device to prevent feedback during playback)
  • press p to turn back on speakers in dummy clip tracks (so you can hear playback)
  • double click the new recorded clip, highlight section you want to keep and do crop clips.
  • press warp
  • <ctrl>click on the clip name and choose: slice to new MIDI track
  • Select bars or half notes
  • Select: Slice to single sample (Live 8)
  • A new track will get created with all the midi slices.
  • In the sampler device, select the zone tab, click on a slice and the press <ctrl>a to select all slices
  • Then in the Sample tab, turn on looping with one of the ->-> thing buttons under sustain mode.
  • disable (mute) the original field recording track
  • route the audio of new midi sliced track to the beat enveloper track – you’ll be playing this track with a Midi keyboard.
  • As long as you keep the field recordings and Midi slices out of the first row, you can start the music by doing a scene launch in the first row.
  • launchpad can be used to trigger the dummy clips

(edit) you may want to just delete the example clip that slice to midi makes because it will totally screw everything when you try to play it.

sound effects from here http://www.pachd.com/sounds.html