Processors

WHAT?

Processors are used in clips to change the way the whole track sounds, unlike effects where they come in afterwards. The way to tell a processor from an effect is that effects have a Dry and wet control where as processors don’t. Some examples of processors are Auto filter, Compressor and the EQs.

I have used a few processors in my track on of which is EQ eight this enables me to take out the frequencies in clip.I have taken the drum part of the track and used the processor to add gain to everything apart from the very high frequencies. This also gives the clip a more mastered feel which is what im looking for.  To do this i have turned down the high a frequencies a tad and turned the mid up a notch.

you can add an EQ by clicking on live devices and selecting the processor you wish to use and drag and drop it onto the channel you want below is the picture of the EQ i used.

As you can see i added gain to the mid band and decreased the high to block out the nasty frequencies.

WHY?

people use the EQ to master the track and also add gain to the track, you can sharpen up a instrument or bass by simply adding gain to certain frequencies.

WARPING

WHAT?

Warping is a technique that can be applied to audio clips only to sync them in time with the tempo of your project.

HOW?

Before warping an audio clip you must first drag a sample from the file browser, and drop it onto one of the slots on the session view .

double clicking the clip will bring up the clip view as seen below.

In the sample display they will be a warp button, but before turning this on its good to listen to your audio with the metronome on to make your own judgement on how the timing will need to be adjusted. The metronome is an audible beat which plays to the exact tempo of your set to help you keep time. The metronome on/off button is located in the top left of Ableton and will appear yellow when switched on, as can be seen below.

to begin warping, turn on the warp button in the sample display. Above the audio waveform in the clip view, several tempo markers will appear. The process of warping simply consists of changing the position of any of these markers according to the beat timing of your audio. To change the position of a single marker, simple double click it. If you do not double click it first, you will move all of the markers even if you just drag one. If matched correctly, this will change the timing of your audio to suit the tempo of the warp markers and your overall project.

Above is an example of a drum sample warped from the file browser.

I  warped the sample so it was bang on bar with the tempo.

WHY?

I use the warping tools basically to ensure my drumbeat is on bar and sound good and clear, warping is only good for some drum samples and maybe vocal if its recorded on a different tempo to what your working with,but you don’t need to warp on every sample because it might go better with the beat ( some audio clips warped may sound messy).