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5. Granular processing of real-time audio

1

Load a sample or recording onto an audio track. Depending on your global preferences, it will import warped or unwarped. If warping is off, turn it on and select Tones as your Warp Mode. This will now apply granular processing in order to stretch the audio when you increase the Segment BPM.

2

Tones mode’s Seg. BPM and Grain Size can be adjusted – and if you switch on Clip Envelopes, you can even automate the Grain Size as part of your clip’s behaviour or in the arrangement timeline.

3

Switching the Warp Mode to Texture introduces even more complexity to the granular behaviour. You now have control over Grain Size and Flux, the second of which randomises the first. What’s more, both parameters can be automated via Clip Envelopes for precise control over the results.

4

Another granular process often found in synths and effects is ‘slicing’ of the output, often at audio rate. For some plugins, this is simply square wave LFO amplitude modulation. Ableton’s Auto Pan device functions monophonically when its Phase parameter is set to 0º , replicating this effect.

5

To recreate slicing you need a pulse waveform, which isn’t available as an LFO mode. Fortunately, the Shape parameter at 100% will morph any waveform to a square-like shape. The Random waveform delivers extremely chaotic effects with Shape at 100%, while the Rate has a maximum setting of 90Hz.

6

You can incorporate delay effects, either before or after the Auto Pan (or both), then use a Max for Live device to modulate its parameters. Alternately, group these devices into a Rack and assign multiple effect parameters to a few Macros, then automate the Macro knobs using Clip Envelopes.