Irrational Delay 1.0, by RemoDeVico, is an innovative audio manipulation tool that offers a fresh take on echo treatments in Ableton Live. Designed as a Max4Live audio effect device, Irrational Delay disrupts the status quo of conventional echo behavior by applying 'irrational' time divisions, thus creating unique rhythmic echoes capable of sparking aural intrigue.
You can download Irrational Delay 1.0 for free from the author's website, enabling you to experience its inventive approach to time-based effects first-hand without financial commitment. In the spirit of community, you might consider supporting RemoDeVico's music as an appreciation for his contribution to the digital music sphere.
To utilize Irrational Delay, one needs Ableton Live 10.1 (or higher) and Max 8.0.4 (or higher). Once downloaded and installed, the device loads into a slot on Ableton's audio effects rack in the same manner as any other third-party Max4Live device, without requiring additional setup.
The device's interface is instantly recognizable, maintaining a visual coherence with Ableton's native audio effects. Herein lie its controls: a delay time dial that welcomes unconventional inputs, a feedback controller to handle echo repetitions' 'hang time' in the mix, and a mix dial for blending the original signal and the effected output. These fundamentals are complemented by a resizable interface and tooltip descriptions contributing to user-friendly experience.
What distinguishes Irrational Delay is its non-standard time divisions. The device eschews the standard musical divisions conventionally tied to the host track's tempo - such as quarter notes or sixteenth notes - and instead embraces 'irrational' ratios like 7/13 or 11/8. By doing so, it generates off-kilter delays that push boundaries and challenge expectations.
Usage scenarios for Irrational Delay are as varied as your creativity allows. Skew the rhythm of percussive elements or stretch melodic phrases into dizzying, delayed trails. As you delve deeper, you may find yourself using the device for more than merely delay. With the right settings, it can venture into the realms of spatial echo chambers, rhythmic chopping, pitched feedback loops, and more. The potential for experimentation and the discovery of new sonic territories is endless.
Nevertheless, given the experimental nature of the device, Irrational Delay may not instantly fit into every production context. It demands an open mind and courage to explore off the beaten track.
Irrational Delay 1.0 is an undeniably creative tool, reminding us that sometimes the most impactful effects are borne out of the most irrational ideas. While it's not your everyday delay device, its novel approach will pique the interests of sound designers and producers partial to breaking the norm and keen on injecting their compositions with unexpected rhythmic patterns.
Further details about the device, including a more in-depth view of its capabilities and a space for user rating and reviews, can be found at https://maxforlive.com/library/device/10953/irrational-delay. As Irrational Delay continues to reach new users, we look forward to the innovative creations born out of its irrational but inspirational underpinnings.
Example Usage
Laying the Groundwork with Irrational Delay 1.0
As you begin to explore the world of audio effects in Ableton Live, you'll find that delays are crucial tools for creating space, depth, and rhythmic complexity in your music. The Irrational Delay 1.0 Max4Live device, designed by RemoDeVico, offers a unique take on the classic delay effect, utilizing unconventional timing to spark creativity in your compositions. Here's how you can get started with it:
- Installation: First, download Irrational Delay 1.0 for free from RemoDeVico's website and locate the downloaded .amxd file. Then, simply drag it into an audio track or a MIDI track with an instrument in your Ableton Live set.
- Initial Sound Test: Once you've dropped the device onto your track, start with a simple loop or a one-shot sample and listen to how it interacts with the delay. You might initially hear a pattern that seems off-kilter compared to standard delay plugins. This is because Irrational Delay works with non-standard time divisions, giving your sound a unique syncopated feel.
- Adjusting Delay Time: Experiment by slowly twisting the 'Time' knob. Notice how the delay timings do not conform to typical musically even beats or subdivisions. This can inject a refreshing sense of unpredictability into your music, often sparking new ideas.
- Feedback and Mix: Play around with the 'Feedback' control to extend the decay of the delays, creating a denser texture. Use the 'Mix' knob to blend the delayed signal with the original, finding a balance that complements your track.
- Syncing with Your Track: Despite its irregular nature, you can still synchronize the delay to fit within the context of your music. Try playing with the time settings while your track is running and listen for sweet spots where the irrational rhythm seems to lock in with your track's groove.
- Save Preset: Once you find a setting you like, don't forget to save it as a preset. Right-click on the device's title bar and select 'Save Preset As...' to store your custom settings for future use.
Remember, the beauty of Max4Live devices like Irrational Delay 1.0 lies in their ability to take you outside your creative comfort zone. Embrace the unconventional timing to inspire new rhythmic ideas and soundscapes in your music. Happy experimenting!
In this guide to Irrational Delay 1.0, we're going to explore a technique that can add a refreshing twist to your rhythmic elements. Suppose you have a drum loop you're working with in Ableton Live. You might typically reach for reverb or a standard delay to give the loop some space or echo, but today, we're going to employ Irrational Delay 1.0 to create complex, evolving textures that can bring new life to your beat.
Start by loading your desired drum loop into an audio track within Live. From there, drag and drop Irrational Delay 1.0 onto the same track. The loop will now route through the delay effect.
Firstly, adjust the 'Dry/Wet' parameter to around 50% to ensure a blend between the original signal and the effected signal. Now let's focus on the delay time settings. Instead of syncing the delay timing to the project's tempo, which is the typical initial approach, set the delay time manually. Aim for a value around 500ms for a starting point, but do not hesitate to try different settings as you listen to the loop. This will create a delay that isn't rhythmically tied to your grid, yielding more organic and unexpected results.
Next, engage some of the modulation features within Irrational Delay. Increase the 'Feedback' parameter to about 60% to allow the delays to build upon themselves, creating a dense texture. Then, use the 'Wobble' knob to introduce a subtle pitch modulation to the delay tails, providing a sense of movement.
Irrational Delay also offers 'Filter' controls that enable shaping of the effected signal. Consider rolling off high frequencies with the low-pass filter to soften the impact of the new delay textures and help them sit better within the context of the mix.
Experiment with the placement of the Delay in the signal chain by running it in parallel through a Return Track. This allows for the processing of the delay independently from the drum loop, offering even greater flexibility over the final sound. You could also apply additional effects post-delay for creative processing such as chorusing or bit reduction, which could compound the unique character of the delay.
As you tweak the settings in real-time, you'll start to notice the drum loop taking on a life of its own. The delays add a level of complexity and unpredictability to the loop, pushing boundaries of conventional rhythms.
Remember, exploration is key with devices like Irrational Delay. Each adjustment can significantly affect the outcome, and sometimes the most extraordinary sounds come from the most unexpected settings. So, dive in and see how Irrational Delay 1.0 can transform not just your drum loops, but any rhythmic element in your Ableton Live Sessions.
Further Thoughts
Irrational Delay 1.0 from RemoDeVico is a fascinating tool for creating unique echoes and time-based effects in your Ableton Live projects. One of the most creative ways to utilize this Max4Live device is in the context of crafting evolving soundscapes that react to the input material in unexpected ways.
Consider a scenario where you are working with a simple melodic line played by a soft synth. To breathe life into the melody and make it a central piece of an ambient track, here's how you can incorporate Irrational Delay:
- First echoes, as atmosphere creators: - Place the Irrational Delay 1.0 after your synth on the same track. - Set an initial long delay time to create a spacious atmosphere. This is not just your standard delay; by choosing non-standard delay times (like those not typically found on your run-of-the-mill delay units), you can immediately create a sense of ungroundedness and intrigue. - Automate the delay time to gradually shift, in a non-linear way, across a set bar length. This creates a shifting, organic texture rather than a predictable delay pattern. - Imagine the delay time as a trajectory path that smoothly jumps and falls, painting echoes across the stereo field.
- Feedback manipulation for dynamic textures: - The feedback control on Irrational Delay 1.0 is pivotal. Push it up until just before it self-oscillates to get dense, lush sound tails. - Now, add an LFO from Ableton's Max for Live MIDI Effects to modulate the feedback parameter. This will introduce an element of variation to the sound. The feedback will swell and recede, breathing life into the echoes. - Careful with the levels – as feedback increases, so does the output volume, which can quickly get out of hand.
- Reshaping the delay sound: - Run a spectral or parametric EQ after the Irrational Delay to sculpt the delayed signal. By cutting off the lows, you can ensure clarity in your mix while emphasizing the shimmering highs of the delay tail. - To further color the delay, experiment with placing a gentle saturation or a warm tape effect after the EQ, creating a vintage or worn-out echo character that contrasts with the pristine synth line.
- Creating rhythmic complexity: - Sync the delay time to Ableton’s tempo and set an irregular beat division. Since Irrational Delay 1.0 can handle timings that are not simple subdivisions, play around with dotted or triplet values, or even unquantized milliseconds for a freeform delay. - Record the output and cut/process the most interesting sections. You can re-sequence these segments to create a complementary rhythm track that sits below your main melody.
- Experimenting with spatial movement: - Assign a slow-moving LFO to pan the delayed signal left and right, thereby creating an immersive and evolving stereo landscape. - To juxtapose, you may try a fast-moving LFO to automate the pan setting, generating a disorienting yet captivating aural experience, especially when paired with the non-standard delay times.
Through these expert tips, Irrational Delay 1.0 becomes not only an echo device but a complex sound design tool driving the invention of ethereal textures and rhythms. This approach harnesses both the utility and the unpredictability of the device, allowing it to introduce a layer of sophistication to any music production setup in Ableton Live.