Ableton

Watch a Demonstration of Ableton Live 11’s Vinyl Synthesis Technology

Italian DJ/producer John Type has demonstrated Ableton Live 11 in a creative video.

Via vinyl synthesis, Type has innovated playing and sequencing a vinyl record like a synthesizer with the new features of Ableton Live 11. Vestax PDX-3000 and Technics SL-1210 turntables are impressively used to sync the beats of two distinctively different tracks to demonstrate the possibilities of vinyl synthesis. The Vestax PDX-3000 plays the melody of Daft Punk‘s 1995 single “Da Funk,” which morphs into the bass arpeggio of Donna Summer‘s 1978 classic “I Feel Love” because the analog pitch of the Technics SL-1210 changes the speed of the drums and Ableton Live 11 — via the Tempo Follower feature — stays in sync.

To pull off this impressive feat, a few pieces of hardware are required. Foremost, a turntable with MIDI pitch control — the Vestax Controller One / PDX-3000 or Reloop RP-8000 — is essential. An audio and MIDI interface is needed to connect the audio from the mixer and control the MIDI turntable. As well, a MIDI controller is key.

Ableton Live 10 Suite / 11 Standard requires MIDI Envelope, Utility, and Auto Filter plugins to allow for this work to occur. Plus, a vinyl with a synth tone in the locked groove — commonly found in Battle Breaks / DJ Tools is key to allowing this DJ skill to be performed.

The tools and skills he used in the demo are available for free on his website. Type has also included a detailed breakdown of how he accomplished this.

Watch the three-minute video above.

Follow John Type on Facebook, Instagram, SoundCloud, and Twitter.

Related Post: Watch a Demonstration of Ableton’s Link Technology

Ableton Live 10 Announced

Ableton Live 10

Ableton Live 10
Photo source: Ableton

Ableton has announced Live 10, the next version of its popular music production and performance software. A significant release, Live 10 introduces four new devices, workflow improvements, a redesigned sound library, and more.

The new devices are Wavetable, Echo, Drum Buss, and Pedal. Wavetable, Ableton’s new synth, is derived from analog synths and other instruments and sounds. It has the potential to compete with popular wavetable synths like Serum and Massive. Echo brings together the sound of classic analog and digital hardware delays in a single device, Drum Buss is a one-stop workstation for drums, and Pedal brings the sound of analog stomp boxes.

Live 10 offers a variety of workflow improvements for every stage of the creative process. They include an updated interface, a feature called Capture, which helps producers turn spontaneous ideas into music, the ability to edit multiple MIDI clips, and more.

The software also comes with a redesigned and reorganized sound library that includes new collections of packs.

Live 10 will be available in early 2018. In the meantime, Ableton is running a discount offer now until the release in which all Live 9 editions are 20% off. The purchase of any Live 9 edition automatically entitles customers to a free upgrade to its corresponding Live 10 edition upon release.

Learn more about Live 10 on Ableton’s website and watch the introduction video below.

Related: Watch a Demonstration of Ableton’s Link Technology

Watch a Demonstration of Ableton’s Link Technology

John Type Link

Italian DJ/producer John Type has demonstrated Ableton Link in a creative video.

Released nearly two years ago, Link is a wireless technology that keeps music devices in time over a local network. It enables DJs, producers, and musicians to sync together via Link-enabled DVS software such as Serato DJ and Ableton Live and DAWs like Ableton Live, Maschine, and Reason.

John mixes four tracks in the video, going back and forth from Serato DJ and Ableton Live. He drastically changes the tempos to show how Link keeps everything synced.

According to his website, he used cue point mapping and “miditablism” techniques in the demonstration. Miditablism is a style that combines classic turntablism with modern DJ tools.

The files he used in the demo are available for free on his website. He has also included a detailed breakdown of how he did it.

Watch the two-minute video above.

Related: Watch DJ Manwell, Stro Elliot and 14KT Perform With Serato DJ and Ableton Link

See What’s Inside Ableton’s Push Controller

What's Inside?

The crew behind the popular YouTube channel What’s Inside? have taken apart an Ableton Push controller to show its inner workings. They have been cutting random things open to show what’s inside for three years.

The Push, which is referred to as an “electronic music machine” in the video, is a MIDI controller designed to work with Ableton Live. Amazingly, the device still works after being stripped down to its core.

Watch the video above. Skip to the 2:44 mark to see the breakdown.

Related: Watch DJ Manwell, Stro Elliot and 14KT Perform With Serato DJ and Ableton Link

Watch DJ Manwell, Stro Elliot and 14KT Perform With Serato DJ and Ableton Link

Serato DJ

At the end of 2016, Serato set out to find three artists to demonstrate Ableton’s Link feature with Serato DJ. DJ Manwell and hip-hop producers Stro Elliot and 14KT answered the call and put together an impressive routine, which is now available to watch.

Ableton Link is a wireless technology that keeps devices in time over a local network, so artists can “forget the hassle of setting up and focus on playing music.” DJs, producers, and musicians can sync with each other via Link-enabled DVS software such as Serato DJ and Ableton Live and DAWs like Ableton Live, Maschine, and Reason.

To showcase the technology, Manwell used two Reloop turntables and the Pioneer DJ DJM-S9 mixer, Stro used Ableton Push 2, and 14KT used the Roland DJ-808 controller. They were given three rules: They had to perform linked together, use their own music, and make a tempo change in their set. The end result was a freestyle jam session over a hip-hop beat.

Watch the trio’s performance above and learn more about Ableton Link here.

Related: First Look: Serato DJ 1.9.6 Public Beta

First Look: Serato DJ 1.9.3 Public Beta

Serato DJ 1.9.3 Public Beta

DJcityTV’s Mojaxx has provided a first look at the public beta of Serato DJ 1.9.3, which was released on Wednesday. The update introduces support for Ableton Link, a technology that enables DJs to sync Serato DJ with Ableton Live and other Serato DJ setups over a local network. The beta also includes updates to the Serato DJ Sample Player and MIDI mapping, along with various bug fixes.

Related: Serato and Roland Announce New DJ-808 Controller

How to Make Acapella Edits for Your DJ Sets Using Ableton Live

Turntable Techniques

The first two episodes of DJcityTV and Beat Refinery‘s Turntable Techniques series focused on using acapella-in and acapella-out edits in your DJ sets. Now, DJcityTV and Beat Refinery have returned with a tutorial that explains how to make the edits using Ableton Live. Watch above to see Trayze, a Red Bull Thre3style USA Finalist, take you through the process.

Related: Using Acapella Edits to Enhance Your DJ Sets, Part 2

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