2 Minute Ableton Tip #5: New Way to Save on CPU! AfroDJMac

I just found a new way to save on CPU in Ableton Live!  If you have ever had problems with pops and clicks while triggering scenes, this 2 minute tip may be your solution! I've been struggling with a problem in my Ableton Live performance set.  Whenever I trigger a scene of clips, I get this popping/clicking sound.  It seems as my set has gotten more and more complicated, the problem has been worse and worse.  I noticed that when I remove virtual instruments and drum racks that things get Read more [...]

AfroDJMac - Singer/Songwriter, Producer, Live Electronic Musician

Ableton Live Pack #56: Vinyl Crackler AfroDJMac

Ableton Live comes with a cool little plug in called vinyl distortion.  It adds a layer of record player crackles and pops over any track it is inserted on.  This can be a great effect for adding a retro quality to your tracks. Recently, I was playing around with some live drum samples I set up in an instrument rack and I wanted to create the illusion that those samples came from an old record.  I placed the vinyl distortion plug in on the track, but it wasn't the effect I was looking for. Read more [...]

AfroDJMac - Singer/Songwriter, Producer, Live Electronic Musician

2 Min. Ableton Tip #4: Deja Delay AfroDJMac

Here's a quick two minute Ableton Live tip for creating an effect I like to call "Deja Delay."  Traditionally, a delay effect comes after the original signal is heard.  Deja Delay is a production technique that lets listeners hear the delay signal before the original.  It's similar in design to a reverse reverb effect, but the result is different thanks to the use of delay instead of reverb.  Check it out and give it a shot in your productions! httpvh://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TKlS_RCzXD4 Read more [...]

AfroDJMac - Singer/Songwriter, Producer, Live Electronic Musician

Free Ableton Pack 55: Monotron Mods AfroDJMac

An unexpected and cool result of releasing Ableton Instruments is that once in a while someone sends one to me.  I wanted to share a couple modifications on the Korg Monotron racks of the last few weeks... First Max Rieger from the band Die Selektion, wrote: Hi! I just checked out your Monotron Delay Emulation, which is pretty nice! I am a fan of spooky pads, so i made an edit of the instrument. I created a 10 voice pad based on your instrument and your samples. I didn't change many things, Read more [...]

AfroDJMac - Singer/Songwriter, Producer, Live Electronic Musician

Ableton Live AfroDJRack #54: Monotron Delay Emulation AfroDJMac

Last year Korg released the Monotron, a miniature analog synth that is no larger than a cassette tape.  You may remember the Ableton Instrument Pack I created from its samples.  This year Korg added to the Monotron line with the Korg Monotron Duo and Korg Monotron Delay.  At about $50 each, purchasing them is practically a no brainer. Today’s free Ableton Live Pack is an emulation of the Korg Monotron Delay.  It was made with samples from the original Korg Monotron and created in collaboration Read more [...]

AfroDJMac - Singer/Songwriter, Producer, Live Electronic Musician

2 Min. Ableton Tip #3: Routing for Live Looping AfroDJMac

When I started using Ableton Live, one of the first things I wanted to learn how to do was live, on the fly looping.  The following video shows one way you can accomplish just that.  Because Ableton allows you to route any track to any other track, it is pretty easy to set up.  In the video example, I have a midi track with an instrument on it (PS that instrument will be available soon!).  The instrument is routed to four different audio tracks.  To do this, simply select the instrument track Read more [...]

AfroDJMac - Singer/Songwriter, Producer, Live Electronic Musician

Roland Juno 106 Ableton Live Pack AfroDJMac

  The JUNO-106 is one of the most loved and used synthesizers by professionals and hobbyists alike! -VintageSynth.com Famous for its analog warmth and diverse sound capabilities, the Roland Juno 106 is a classic polyphonic analog synthesizer.  The Juno 106 has been widely used on commercial recordings and is a highly sought after analog synth.   I was very excited to get my hands on the Roland Juno 106.  Instantly I was impressed by its warmth and character.  It Read more [...]

AfroDJMac - Singer/Songwriter, Producer, Live Electronic Musician

Musical Tribute to Jack Tramiel AfroDJMac

Below is a track I made a couple days ago as a tribute to the late Jack Tramiel, who founded Commodore. The track uses drum samples from the Commodore 64. Get the Ableton Live Drum rack with all these sounds here: Download the AfroDJMac BPB C64 Drums Project Read more [...]

AfroDJMac - Singer/Songwriter, Producer, Live Electronic Musician

2 Min. Ableton Tip #2: Quick Midi to Audio AfroDJMac

Here's a quick Ableton Live tip on how to rapidly get your Midi instruments to Audio clips.  Transferring Midi to audio has its benefits.  Audio usually requires less CPU.  You can warp audio.   Audio can be manipulated in many ways that are impossible with midi (i.e. reversing the signal to play it backwards, time stretching, etc.). All you need to do is freeze your midi track and drag the clips on to an audio track.  Quick and Easy.  Check out the video below for a demonstration. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=90UrwkETKck The Read more [...]

AfroDJMac - Singer/Songwriter, Producer, Live Electronic Musician

Ableton AfroDJRack #53: Filter Housing and Space Delay AfroDJMac

  Filter Housing and Triple Space Delay Project Above is a very handy Ableton Live Pack.  It consists of an instrument rack with 8 macros set up for an Auto Filter device. There is no instrument inside, but that's the point.  It allows you to drop any instrument into it and have control over just about every parameter you would want to control with Ableton's Auto Filter.  Very practical! The other component is called the Triple Space Delay.  It is based on the Roland Space Echo.  It Read more [...]

AfroDJMac - Singer/Songwriter, Producer, Live Electronic Musician

2 Minute Ableton Tip #1: Remap Dangerous Controls AfroDJMac

I decided to start a little series of quick tips for Ableton Live, called the Two Minute Ableton Tip.  In this regularly updated series, I will share some advice and techniques I have picked up along the way.  They will deal with live performance, production, workflow techniques... pretty much whatever comes up!  Since I started making Free Ableton Live Packs, I have received a lot of questions about all kinds of things.  The Two Minute Ableton Tips will address those and whatever other useful Read more [...]

AfroDJMac - Singer/Songwriter, Producer, Live Electronic Musician

1 Year of Ableton Live Packs! AfroDJRack #52 “Korg-asbord” AfroDJMac

I am very excited to announce the 52nd free weekly AfroDJMac Ableton Live Pack: "Korg-asbord!" One year ago I decided to post an instrument rack I made with my laptop's microphone creating feedback with the internal speakers.  When I began, I had no idea I'd be doing this every week for an entire year!  So many people have been downloading the instruments and effects I have created, and I've gotten to know a lot of people I would have never met.  I have been floored by the tracks people have created Read more [...]

AfroDJMac - Singer/Songwriter, Producer, Live Electronic Musician

Ableton Live Pack #51: Commodore 64 Drums AfroDJMac

Continuing in the study of unusual percussion sounds with Ableton Live, I recently consulted Tomislav from Bedroom Producer's Blog.  Tomislav has utilized his Commodore 64's famous SID chip to produce a collection of 8 bit samples that are sure to take you back to sitting on the living room carpet trying to save various princesses from an assortment of comical evil-doers.  For this week's free Ableton Live Pack, I've used his drum samples.  These are some fun and nostalgia-inducing samples, that Read more [...]

AfroDJMac - Singer/Songwriter, Producer, Live Electronic Musician

Ableton Live AfroDJRack #50: Unusual Percussion 2 AfroDJMac

This week's free Ableton Live AfroDJRack is a continuation in the my study in unusual percussion.  I've been looking for new ways to create percussion sounds and this download is the result.  This week I have a total of 309 different sounds for you to play around with.  More importantly, though, I show you the technique I used to quickly create loads of unique sounds.  If you missed part one, check it out here. I began this Ableton Live project by sampling some ordinary sounds.  I recorded Read more [...]

AfroDJMac - Singer/Songwriter, Producer, Live Electronic Musician

Free Ableton AfroDJRack #49: Hip to be Square AfroDJMac

This week's free Ableton Live Rack was created with my Moog Slim Phatty analog synthesizer.  It's simply an unfiltered square wave.  I think it's a good example of a nice pure sound coming out of the Slim Phatty, that gives you a good idea of what this synth sounds like.  The square wave is probably my favorite sounding wave just because it reminds me of old video games.  I gave the synth a bit of over drive on it's filter, and it makes for a thick and gritty square.  Inside Ableton, I set up Read more [...]

AfroDJMac - Singer/Songwriter, Producer, Live Electronic Musician

Big Phatty Ableton Live Pack AfroDJMac

The AfroDJMac Big Phatty Pack for Ableton Live is a collection of 33 different Instrument racks created from samples from my Moog Slim Phatty Analog Synthesizer.  I’ve devoted countless hours to chisel, sculpt, and sample interesting and diverse sounds directly from my Moog Slim Phatty.  I’ve spent even more time taking each sound and building them into the most expressive and diverse collection of sounds I have ever created.   If you have ever used and enjoyed any of my Ableton Live Racks, Read more [...]

AfroDJMac - Singer/Songwriter, Producer, Live Electronic Musician

Resampling Study in Ableton Live [AfroDJRack #48] AfroDJMac

As part of my column on SonicScoop.com, "Sound Smack with AfroDJMac," I've published the first article in a study of resampling in Ableton Live.  Resampling is a really powerful way to recycle sounds, instruments, and musical ideas into something entirely new.  So download the Ableton Live Set below, complete with two drum racks I resampled from chords I played with my Teenage Engineering OP-1 Rack, two slice to midi presets, and the sample audio files that include a rhythmic pattern made with Read more [...]

AfroDJMac - Singer/Songwriter, Producer, Live Electronic Musician

Free Weekly Ableton Rack #47: Unusual Percussion AfroDJMac

I've been on the hunt for some different drum sounds lately.  I haven't felt all that inspired by regular sounding kicks and snares.  The usual drum-machine suspects are currently sounding ordinary and all too familiar.  I want something that's different from the norm and inspiring.  It's not that I don't like these sounds, I guess I just need a little break from them...  So, I've started exploring things that are a bit different yet still have percussive qualities.  This feeling is part of Read more [...]

AfroDJMac - Singer/Songwriter, Producer, Live Electronic Musician

Ableton AfroDJRack #46: Master FX AfroDJMac

Sometimes it is the simple things in life that are the most gratifying.   Sometimes less really is more.  This week’s installment of my free weekly Ableton Live AfroDJRacks (a term coined by the good people at Ableton) is a fairly simple effects rack I have been using on my Master channel in my live performances.  Currently (and I say currently, because if the past is any indication, this will certainly evolve) my live set-up consists of Ableton Live, an Akai APC40, an Akai MPK mini or MPK Read more [...]

AfroDJMac - Singer/Songwriter, Producer, Live Electronic Musician

Ableton Live Pack #45: Casio MT-68 AfroDJMac

This week's free Ableton Live Pack comes from samples of an old Casio MT-68 keyboard sent to me by my lifelong friend Mike Longo.  Do yourself a favor and check Mike out on Facebook and keep an eye on what he is doing.  Below, he's given us a sample of what he's been working on lately, and I think it's some really cool stuff.  Mike has always been a musical inspiration to me (after all, he's the guy that taught me my first song on guitar, "Enter Sandman" by Metallica. #badass ) and I'm betting Read more [...]

AfroDJMac - Singer/Songwriter, Producer, Live Electronic Musician

Glitchy Moog Drums for Ableton Live AfroDJMac

If you are into glitched out drums, with deep bass and some awesome crackle, then I have some good news for you.  Over the past few months I have been working with Richard of Voltage Disciple to create a pretty sick Ableton Live Pack.  I created a load of percussion/drum sounds using my Moog Slim Phatty.  The Slim Phatty has such great sounds; super heavy bass and beautiful analog goodness are its defining characteristics.  I sent them over to Richard who began doing his dirty work, racking the Read more [...]

AfroDJMac - Singer/Songwriter, Producer, Live Electronic Musician

Justin Bieber Super Fun Ableton Pack AfroDJMac

Justin Bieber 'R' Us? Have you been to a toy store lately?  This holiday season I was shopping for an adorable little nephew (the same little guy responsible for the inspiration behind my Guitar Harmonics Synth Ableton Live Pack) when I came across the musical toy section of the store.  Right away I was struck by the ocean of Justin Bieber merchandise. Action figures, outfits for the action figures, microphones, posters, life-sized cardboard cutouts, you name it, it was all there.  After picking Read more [...]

AfroDJMac - Singer/Songwriter, Producer, Live Electronic Musician

Free Ableton Live Pack #43: Shaky Muted Dirty Trumpet AfroDJMac

A couple months ago I released the Dirty Trumpet rack, an Ableton Instrument created from samples of producer JM-DG’s old beat up trumpet.  In a world of pristine samples recorded on near perfect instruments in the most sterile studio environments, these trumpet samples were a breathe of fresh air with their warm, beat-up charm.  Many people sent along their own tracks using this unique sounding Ableton device. Recently Mr. JM-DG sent along another set of samples of the same trumpet, this Read more [...]

AfroDJMac - Singer/Songwriter, Producer, Live Electronic Musician

Internet Black Out AfroDJMac

This is worth a very serious look…. PROTECT IP / SOPA Breaks The Internet from Fight for the Future on Vimeo.

AfroDJMac - Singer/Songwriter, Producer, Live Electronic Musician

Ableton Live Pack 42: Snake Drum Synth AfroDJMac

My good friend Mike, singer/guitarist of NY rock band My Summer, has this cool percussive instrument that I believe is called a snake drum (at least that's what it says on the bottom of it).  Basically, it's a hollow wooden box with little cuts in the wood.  These cuts in the wood are struck with a mallet creating a musical tone.  It's a pretty simple idea that has probably been around for thousands of years and winds up sounding a lot like a marimba or wooden xylophone.  It is severely limited Read more [...]

AfroDJMac - Singer/Songwriter, Producer, Live Electronic Musician