Ableton Live 2: Sound Design

Week 1: "This Is a Journey Into Sound..."

The essentials: Loudness, Pitch and Timbre. An introduction to synthesised Sound Design on the Live devices Analog & Operator. We explore the scientific side of how sound is made with downloadable Ableton Live Projects. We look at ways that sound can be described and explore how a selection of sound waves can be created on Analog and Operator. To prepare for lesson 2 we also examine and discuss a selection of sounds in 3D and work through a musically relevant selection of volume envelope settings.

Week 2: Creating Movement (focusing on Subtractive Synthesis)

A detailed look at modulation, envelopes & LFO's across both Analog & Operator to add sonic movement to the concepts introduced in week 1. A selection of filters are introduced and patches are created - all in context with short musical examples.

Week 3: FM Synthesis (Frequency Modulation using Operator)

FM synthesis is demystified using the additional Operator algorithms across a range of tutorials. Example patches are created, fully in context with musical examples. Sounds you'll create include basses, leads, pads, electric pianos, bells, mallets, FX etc. You will create Instrument racks with macro MIDI mapping.

Week 4: Physical Modelling (Collision and Tension)

Collision and Tension are explored in detail. Metallic, woody and string like sounds as well as futuristic percussion instruments are created. Tension is used to process the audio signal for uniquely processed textures. Instrument and Effects Racks with Macro MIDI Mapping are created.

Week 5: World of Warp-craft

Advanced time and pitch-based audio manipulation techniques. Using the selection of warp modes available to create abstract and futuristic effects from existing audio material. Extreme timestretching, Resampling and further production techniques are explored.

Week 6: Sampling

When you can audio warp why use a sampler? Learn the strengths/weaknesses of the three choices available; Impulse, Simpler and Sampler. We look at multi-sampling, slicing, creating drums from every day sounds, layering techniques, looping short sections to create new textures and modulation routing. Demonstrations are created in context with full musical examples. Instrument Racks are created with Macro MIDI mapping.

Week 7: Creative Effects

Sound design using audio processing devices such as Vocoder, Erosion, Graindelay etc and traditional processes such as feedback and sidechaining. You will build a collection of unique and macro controllable Effect Racks with relevant musical examples.

Week 8: Sound Design at Work

Putting everything into context from a 'work' perspective. Includes tips on creating and selling a sound library from one of the leading sample CD providers. A comprehensive 'on the fly' example of scoring sound design to a hollywood movie trailer and several other challenging examples.