ADD by LDM Design presents itself as an intriguing musical tool for those who desire to navigate the oscillating waves of generative music. Its unpredictable nature springs from its core concept of instability, distributing an ever-evolving rhythmic flow and making it a unique MIDI effect sequencer within Ableton Live's vast universe of sound.
At the heart of ADD resides eight note sequencers, each endowed with their unique parameters, which manifest the device's key feature - dynamic growth and reduction of sequence length. This distinctive facet, built on the idea of instability, breeds constantly morphing patterns of notes with modulated note parameters. The changes in sequence length also find resonance in the velocity level, note length, and MPE slide and pressure parameter values - a fact that could prove insightful to those who are attentive to the interplay of various note attributes.
Each sequencer in ADD by LDM Design is armed with controls for grow mode, step size, and minimum and maximum sequence length. Users can also adjust the growth amount, hold, and probability according to their creative flow. These individual controls are pivotal to the creation of the dynamic rhythmic patterns that the device so proudly boasts.
Beyond these note sequencer-specific controls, ADD offers a series of global controls that add more layers to its versatility. The option to set a swing amount brings a touch of subtle groove into the sequences, making it adaptable to different musical styles that favour offbeat rhythmical placements. Moreover, the pitches of the notes themselves can be customized using the built-in scale selection, offering a wider range of harmonic possibilities for composers and modern-day producers.
Maintaining a certain degree of stability while swimming in the realm of unpredictability, ADD provides the option to freeze specific sequences, preventing any changes to them. This feature could prove essential for those who want to maintain a certain rhythmic structure while still experimenting with others.
Whether it is for the explorers of the undefined sonic boundaries, or for composers seeking new rhythmic avenues, ADD by LDM Design offers a fresh and intriguing perspective on MIDI sequencing. Its unconventional rhythmic alterations elevate it beyond the realm of typical sequencers, making it a fitting test subject for those who are on a constant quest for sound discovery.
You can learn more about this unique sequencer and even give it a try by visiting the official page at Isotonik Studios or direct at the MaxforLive website. Keep in mind, though, the device carries a commercial license, indicating its professional usage and the value that it could bring to your Ableton Live environment.
No matter your approach towards music or level of expertise in Ableton Live, ADD by LDM Design could be the unpredictable, yet integral piece you need to reshape your MIDI sequencing spaces.
Example Usage
Imagine you're jamming at home with your Ableton Live setup, and you're looking for a way to inject some life into a monotonous drum pattern you've been tweaking. You've got a drum rack loaded up with some nice analog-sounding kicks, snares, and hi-hats but the groove is lacking.
After installing the ADD by LDM Design, you decide to give it a go. You drag the sequencer onto a new MIDI track and route the MIDI output to your drum rack.
First, you simply hit the play button to start a basic sequence. You notice that each of the 8 note sequencers begins to generate MIDI notes, launching a steady series of kicks with a straightforward, repeating rhythm.
Now it's time to make things interesting. You experiment with the 'sequence length' for the kick drum sequencer, setting the 'minimum' to 4 and the 'maximum' to 16 steps. For the 'growth amount', you opt for a subtle increase so your pattern slowly evolves.
Next, you choose the 'grow mode' for your snare and select a 'step size' of 2, which means the sequence will expand by two steps each cycle. Again, setting a range for the sequence length, but this time you make things a bit more wild by increasing the 'growth amount'.
For the hi-hats, you dial in some swing using the global controls to give them a groovier feel. Lastly, you don't want your snare to drift too far, so you freeze that sequence at an eight-step length, ensuring it provides a steady backbeat amidst the evolving rhythms.
As the sequence plays, you notice the kick pattern growing longer, then shorter, generating a living, breathing rhythm. Each pass through the sequence brings a new variation, keeping your ear engaged.
Satisfied with the base pattern, you decide to apply some dynamics to it. You adjust the note velocity parameters so that some kicks are louder, others are quieter, creating an organic feel. You even automate this to change over time—further enhancing the life-like quality of your drum groove.
You step back and listen, your head nodding to the unpredictably evolving groove. The ADD by LDM Design has transformed your static drum pattern into something dynamic and ever-changing, capturing the essence of live performance in your home studio.
Creating a Dynamic Drum Pattern with ADD by LDM Design
Let's dive into creating a dynamic drum pattern using ADD by LDM Design. This intermediate example will introduce instability and variation into a basic drum sequence to keep the rhythm feeling fresh and evolving over time.
First, make sure to have a drum rack loaded up with your favorite drum samples on a MIDI track in Ableton Live. We'll use ADD to manipulate the rhythm of a hi-hat pattern. Drag ADD by LDM Design onto the same track as your drum rack, immediately after it in the device chain.
Now let's set up our base sequence. We'll want to start with a simple eight-step pattern for our hi-hat. Set the 'Step Size' to 1/16th notes for a quick and crisp hi-hat rhythm. To start with stability, set the 'Minimum Sequence Length' and 'Maximum Sequence Length' both to 8.
Once you have the base pattern running, it's time to introduce some instability:
- Incrementally increase the 'Maximum Sequence Length' to let the sequence grow over time. For example, set it to 16 steps. This allows the sequencer to double its length, interjecting new variations into the pattern.
- Activate the 'Grow Mode' for your sequencer. Choose a mode that adds steps randomly or based on predetermined rules set within ADD. This will make the sequence unpredictable yet musically interesting.
- Under 'Growth Amount,' set a slow growth rate because you want to introduce changes subtly. A good start would be setting it to 1, so the sequence grows by one step each time it completes a cycle.
- Use the 'Probability' parameter to add more randomness to which steps are triggered. Set it to around 50% to have a balance between the original sequence and the new evolving steps.
- To give your sequence some groove, adjust the 'Swing' parameter. A slight swing of about 20% will give your hi-hat pattern a more human feel.
- Now, map the growth of the sequence to other parameters like velocity and note length. For velocity, map the sequence length to gradually increase the velocity as the sequence grows. This will make the dynamic of the sequence more pronounced as it evolves.
- Experiment with 'Hold' to elongate certain steps, which can create interesting syncopation within your drum pattern.
- If you find a particularly intriguing pattern, use the 'Freeze' function on that sequencer to hold it in place while the others continue to evolve.
Remember, you can always selectively reset the growth or shrink the sequence to its original length if you want to bring back the core rhythm for a particular section of your track. Simply adjust the 'Minimum Sequence Length' and 'Maximum Sequence Length' back to 8, or use the reset function within the device.
Through these steps, ADD by LDM Design transforms a static hi-hat sequence into a living, breathing element of your track. Each pass through the sequence is a little adventure, adding intrigue and preventing your listeners from getting too comfortable with any one rhythm. Enjoy the evolving patterns and the almost organic quality they add to your beat-making process!
Further Thoughts
To fully harness the creative potential of ADD by LDM Design within your Ableton Live sessions, consider crafting an organically evolving percussive pattern that operates at the intersection of rhythmic instability and melodic variation. Here's a deep dive into an advanced use case:
Begin by initializing ADD by LDM Design with a foundational rhythm. Set up the first sequencer to deliver a consistent kick drum pattern, setting the step size to quarter notes, with a minimum-maximum sequence length affixed to 16 steps, enforcing stability amidst the subsequent chaos.
Next, create a snare pattern on the second sequencer, setting the grow mode to 'expand and contract' with a step size of eight notes, but this time allow for a dynamic sequence length between 8 and 32 steps. Leave the probability at default to ensure regular snare hits, but toggle the growth amount to introduce subtle variations over time.
Implement sequencer three for hi-hats, adjusting parameters intricately. Set the grow mode to 'contract' to reduce sequence length progressively, fluctuating between 16 and 1 step to simulate the hi-hats closing. Accentuate this with a rising velocity mapping as the sequence tightens, simulating an increased intensity as the pattern condenses.
Harness the expressive MPE capabilities, adding a shaker on sequencer four. Map the growth alterations to the MPE slide parameter, with a higher slide value correlating with a longer sequence, simulating a shaker being moved more vigorously as the pattern extends.
For the fifth to the eighth sequencers, deploy melodic elements like bass, pads, or leads, each set to a unique scale mode within ADD. Experiment with different growth modes to introduce a cascade of evolving pitches that respond to the ever-shifting rhythmic base. Use the freeze function selectively to anchor a sequence that has reached a particularly pleasing state, while allowing the others to continue their metamorphosis.
To weave these individual threads together, adjust the global swing control to inject a looser groove into the sequences, humanizing the overall pattern, and encouraging a sense of live performance.
In a practical application, imagine scoring a live art installation where the music must adapt and evolve without direct intervention. Add automations within Ableton Live to gradually shift the device parameters over time or introduce MIDI mapping to an external controller for real-time manipulation, providing an ideal soundtrack that mirrors the unpredictable nature of the creative process.
Remember, experimenting with various growth amounts, probabilities, hold functions, and MPE mappings in ADD contributes to a live set or recording session that breathes with organic dynamism, painting a landscape of sound that is as unstable as it is entrancing.