Ableton Operator Tutorial. Welcome to our Ableton Operator Tutorial This is not an academic guide, it is an evening project to get to grips with the synth quickly. We’ll make some Operator presets along the way to show it’s features. And I will give some free presets away and deconstruct them to understand sound design with Operator. Learn in depth on how to create a pad with Ableton's Operator plugin!
In the first installment of Techno Fundamentals, electronic musician and Dubspot Instructor John Selway explains and shows you how to create interesting, deep, and lush bass sounds with Ableton Live‘s versatile software instrument Operator. In part two John looks at the “one note lead” idea using Ableton Live‘s Analog instrument. Commonly used in techno and other styles of electronic dance music where melody takes a backseat to rhythm, the “one note lead” is a simple yet very effective composition technique.
I first thought to call this series “Techno Basics”, as I am showing some simple ways to get started with making beats and doing sound design for techno. But even just a few basic elements quickly develop into complex textures and open the door to bigger production concepts. Also, I’m keeping an ear to the past, taking techniques and sounds I’ve worked with in the late 80′s and 90′s and bringing them up to date with the modern tools in Ableton Live. I think it’s a great way to learn about techno production, having some perspective on where it all comes from. So “Fundamentals” refers to the musical and production techniques as well as the past of techno and how it relates to current music.
In this first tutorial, I’m introducing the idea that a single element can sound like more than it is, and that small changes can get a big result. Now I’m not specifically referring to “minimal”, but the idea that less is more applies. Making the most out of a few elements is always a great way to go. Lately I’ve been diving into early to mid 90′s techno styles again, the era of techno where I got my start and that I know very well, and which is what gave me the idea to use FM synthesis with Operator as an example for the tutorial. Much early techno uses FM sounds, tracks by Detroit pioneers such as Derrick May (Rhythim is Rhythim’s “Sinister“) and Juan Aitkins (Model 500′s “The Chase“) feature FM synths prominently – excepting the drums which are almost invariably Roland TR-909, TR-808 or other similar machines of the time. Also in the early to mid-90′s, artists like Cajmere (aka Green Velvet) used the distinctive FM tones almost exclusively for bass and lead sounds in classic tracks such as “Conniption” which the sound in my tutorial is partially inspired by.
Operator is one of my favorite devices in Live, it’s made FM synthesis more approachable and useful for me. My example in the video is to start with the most basic sound that Operator makes, the default with a single sine wave, and show how quickly it can evolve into something complex and dynamic. Also, without going into too much detail about exactly how FM works, it gives some experience into that kind of synthesis just by playing around and hearing the distinctive quality that happens when one oscillator is modulated by another at very high frequency.
A lot of the life in the sound I create in the video comes from the real time control of the Operator parameters. I’m showing how a sound evolves in a musical way, and choosing how and when subtle or extreme changes happen is where the magic is. A simple yet energetic beat and one interesting, dynamic sound, playing together in an undeniable groove, are enough to capture imaginations and move bodies. In the next installment there will be more of a focus on arranging, using the evolving sound to shape and build out a track.
- John Selway, Electronic Music Producer & Dubspot Instructor
Starting October 24, November 12, December 4 in New York
and the week of DECEMBER 4th ONLINE!
Start dates and information about payment plans can be found here.
If you have questions, please call 877.DUBSPOT or send us a message.
Ableton Free Mac
The flagship of our music training, with every Ableton Live course offered at the school. After completing this program, you will leave with 4 completed tracks (EP), a remix entered in an active contest, a scored commercial to widen your scope, and the Dubspot Producer’s Certificate in Ableton Live.
What’s Included:
- Ableton Live Level 1: Shake Hands with Live
- Ableton Live Level 2: Completing Your First Track
- Ableton Live Level 3: Production Essentials
- Ableton Live Level 4: Sound Design & Instrumentation
- Ableton Live Level 5: Advanced Composition & Production
- Ableton Live Level 6: Taking Your EP Global
This program is about learning Ableton Live by going through the entire process of being an artist, by developing your own sound through a series of sketches and experimentation. You will also learn the ins and outs of this powerful software through a series of exercises designed to help you master the steps involved in producing your own music. After a level of getting familiar with the tools that Ableton has to offer, you will then develop your sonic ideas into full length songs – one per level. You will be exposed to a variety of approaches to arrangement and composition, storytelling techniques, ways of creating tension and drama in your music. At the end of the day, it is the sum total of your choices as an artist that define your sound, and levels 2 – 6 will give you the experience of actually completing tracks to add to your portfolio.
NYC
- Ableton Live Core & Advanced: 6 levels
- Dubspot’s complete Ableton course load
- 132 hours of hands-on instruction
- Additional instructor-supervised lab hours
ONLINE
- Ableton Live Core & Advanced: 6 levels
- Dubspot’s complete Ableton course load
- 60-80 hours of high quality videos
- 3 hours of instructor-led chat sessions per week
- Direct video & audio feedback from instructors
Ableton Live is a digital audio workstation, which is also known as a digital audio workstation (aka DAW).
This workstation allows the musicians to create and to mix music tracks by using various tools and sounds.
It has been around since 2001, and Ableton has used revolutionary interfaces to help and manage the audio workflow, unlike other DAW applications.
What Are Ableton Plugins?
Plugins are additional software components and help to enhance or add to the functionality of the application.
When it comes to Ableton, the plugins help to add instrumentation or effects.
Do You Need Plugins For Ableton?
Ableton Free Version
Ableton has quite a lot of useful features for your music projects.
This fact may make you wonder, then, whether you need plugins in the first place.
It all depends on what types of music projects you are working on and what sounds work for you.
Ableton is already packed with plenty of features and has sound generating tools, for example, wavetable, echo, and drum bass.
Ableton Operator Free Alternative
Digital musicians can use these for creating perfecting sounds for music projects.
4 Best Free Ableton Plugins
If you are still looking to improve the features of the Ableton which you are currently using, or add to its functionality, then you can undoubtedly go for plugins.
The best way to start is to go for free Ableton plugins, and that way, you can know whether you want to spend money and buy a plugin for it or not.
There are some great free Ableton plugins available which you can choose from, as mentioned below.
Guitar Rig 5
This product is an instrumental VSY from Native Instruments.
It’s great for guitar studio and is suitable for all kinds of sounds such as metal, jazz, rock, and more.
There are two versions of this plugin; the Guitar Rig 5 is the free one while the Guitar Rig Pro is the full, paid version.
Check it out here.
Digital Suburban Dexed
This product is a freeware FM synthesizer that mirrors the classic Yamaha DX7, and it puts all the legendary functions and sounds of the original synthesizer in one deal.
It makes the traditional six operators FM synthesis easier for understanding and for programming more than it was ever with the hardware.
This feature is ideal for percussive sounds like mallets and ties and has a great free synth VST and is suitable for aggressive, distortedbasses.
Check it out here.
DiscoDSP OB-Xd
The Oberheim OB-X is one of the most popular instruments in analog synth history.
It’s entirely free and allows the user to access the brilliant sound of the OB-Xd right in your DAW.
It is a great new addition for your plugin folder for enveloping analog pads and for searing leads and deep basses.
Check it out here.
TAL Noisemaker
This noisemaker synth proves that VSTs do not need to be complicated to work well on a track.
It is quite a straightforward synth and has a sturdy, compact, and sound, along with a lightweight interface.
It T5is equipped with a visual editor, which are unique and handy onboard effects, which also includes TAL’s and bit crushers‘ emulation of the Juno chorus effect.
Operator Ableton Free Download
Check it out here.
Conclusion
There is no need to get pricey gear for making a track, which sounds good.
With plenty of these synth plugins, it proves that there are a lot of tools, which are capable of producing brilliant music, which looks great even on a tight budget.
Everything is available, whether you want deep sound design tools or classic vintage tones.
All you need is to choose an excellent synth to get started, and the list above should inspire you and help you!
Comments are closed.