Use new MIDI probability for varied beats

It’s never been easier to add a bit of variation to your patterns now that Live 11 has Probability

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For this walkthrough we’re going to use Ableton Live 11’s new MIDI probability feature to turn a stale-feeling techno beat into one that feels human and alive. Load up Ableton’s 909 drum kit and program a pattern that is going to be a familiar starting point for a techno track.

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We have placed kick hits on every downbeat, closed cymbal hits on every offbeat and snare hits on the two and four. To give it a bit of swing we’ve added an offbeat snare head at the end of four.

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Currently the probability for all of the drum hits is at 100%, meaning that they will play every single time the pattern is repeated. Using the new probability functionality means every single note can have its own likelihood of being played, thus making it easy to make a familiar pattern feel much more fluid and lifelike.

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We want to keep our first kick hit on the downbeat present, so we keep the probability for it at 100%. For the other three kick notes, we drag the probability down to 85%. This function is a quick way to vary your sequences, bringing Ableton’s MIDI programming closer to the spec of hardware like Elektron gear.

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We’ve reduced the percentage of the last snare hit to 50%, so it will only be triggered half the time. Similarly, we’ve made the Closed Hi-Hat trigger at 70%. Now, playing back the beat will reveal a much more interesting and dynamic pattern, allowing your track to feel less static throughout the arrangement.

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Probability can be assigned to melodic MIDI parts as well; the possibilities are really endless so experiment with your own instruments to see what works best for you. And don’t feel the need to be extreme – even just a touch of probability will make a boring rhythm feel exciting.