The world of electronic music production is ever-evolving, and one of the latest game changers to hit the scene is the Chance Pack 4 by ldmdevices. Inspired by the scripts employed by music legend Brian Eno, this pack of devices for Max4Live challenges the norms of music production, propelling creators into a realm of chaos and unpredictability that can be thrilling to navigate.
Chance Pack 4 comprises ten devices, each with a specific function aimed at injecting an unanticipated spin to your MIDI streams. Allowing MPE data to pass seamlessly, every device opens up innovative means of playing with note alterations, quantizing velocity values, filtering, and triggering clusters of notes. Whether you are splitting or randomizing based on velocity or pitch bands- the distinct flavour they add to your Ableton Live sessions can be remarkably game-changing.
A striking attribute of these devices is their full compatibility with MIDI Polyphonic Expression (MPE). This incredibly expressive protocol, recently recognised and embraced by the MIDI standard, enables each note within a single performance to possess its individual dynamics, pitch, timbre and more. Consequently, this injects a new level of nuance and complexity into your creations, enabling greater depth and dimension within your music.
What makes the Chance Pack 4 even more commendable is its seamless integration within the Ableton Live environment. Designed to be comfortably controlled using Push or any MIDI controller, these devices infuse a versatile element of chaos and randomness into your live performances or studio sessions. Regardless of the style or genre of your music, the randomizing effects and unexpected outcomes generated by these devices promote a sense of excitement and novelty in your creative workflow.
Moreover, Chance Pack 4 is now ready for purchase, thanks to Isotonik Studios. Known for its unique Max for Live devices, Isotonik continues its commitment to providing tools that help artists push boundaries and elevate their sonic capabilities even further. For more details, visit their website: https://isotonikstudios.com/product/chance-pack-four-by-ldm-design/. Alternatively, you can explore more about the Chance Pack 4 here: https://maxforlive.com/library/device/10351/chance-pack-4.
In this constantly transforming landscape of electronic music production, tools that push the boundaries of creativity are not merely a luxury but a necessity. With the Chance Pack 4, this welcome dose of chaos and unpredictability can greatly enhance your performance dynamics, making every live or studio session a new and exciting journey in music creation. So why not embrace the chaos and see where it takes you? The innovative playground that is the Chance Pack 4 awaits your exploration.
Example Usage
Imagine you are working on a new track in Ableton Live and you want to add an element of surprise and dynamism to your MIDI performance without getting bogged down by complex programming. Here's how you can use the Chance Pack 4 by LDM Design to spice up your music with some controlled randomness:
- Start by dragging one of the Chance Pack devices into a MIDI track containing a simple melodic sequence. Let's choose the velocity randomizer to add variability to how the notes are played in terms of their dynamics.
- Once the device is loaded, you will see a range of controls that determine by how much and how often the velocity of your incoming MIDI notes will be randomized. For a gentle effect, set the chance parameter to a low value, so only some notes will be affected. For more extreme variations, increase the chance parameter.
- To retain some musicality, you might want to set a minimum and maximum velocity threshold. This will ensure that notes don’t get too soft or too loud, keeping your randomization within a controllable range.
- Now, as the sequence plays, watch how the device applies random velocity changes, making your sequence feel less mechanical and more human-like.
- For a performance with depth, try mapping the chance and range parameters to knobs on your MIDI controller or Ableton Push. As you perform, twist the knobs slowly to introduce more variations and back down to stabilize the performance.
- Since Chance Pack 4 is fully MPE compatible, if you have an MPE-capable device, you can play expressively with pitch bend, timbre, and aftertouch, while Chance Pack 4 subtly alters the other aspects of your MIDI notes in real-time.
- Don’t forget to experiment with other devices from the Pack. The pitch band splitter, for example, can be used to direct higher and lower notes to different instruments, creating an intricate yet controlled distribution of your melodic ideas across various sounds.
By following these simple steps, you can incorporate an element of unpredictability into your music using Chance Pack 4. It's an easy way to break out of repetitive patterns and bring a sense of organic evolution to your tracks.
In today's session, we'll dive into a creative exercise using LDM Design's Chance Pack 4 to construct an evolving soundscape that leverages the power of MIDI Polyphonic Expression (MPE). We will be utilizing the 'Cluster Trigger' and 'Velocity Quantize' devices from the pack to add depth and unpredictability to our composition. To follow along, make sure you have a sound source that responds well to MPE, such as Ableton's Wavetable or a compatible third-party synth.
First, let's set up a simple melodic pattern. Record a few bars of a basic chord progression or import a MIDI clip to a track armed with your chosen synthesizer.
Next, insert the 'Cluster Trigger' device onto your MIDI track. This device will allow us to add randomly triggered note clusters that respond to your playing dynamics, resulting in a more complex and texturally rich outcome. Experiment with the 'Probability' setting to control how frequently these clusters are generated. I suggest starting at about 30% to maintain musicality while introducing variability.
Now assign 'Base Note' to the root note of your key; this will tell the device which pitches to prioritize when triggering clusters. Set 'Velocity Sensitivity' to taste, allowing your playing dynamics to influence the cluster's character further. For an extra twist, map 'Cluster Size' to a macro control on Ableton's Push or your MIDI controller, enabling you to dynamically change the size of the clusters as your performance progresses.
It's time to introduce the 'Velocity Quantize' device, which will allow us to apply velocity thresholds, quantizing the dynamics of our MIDI notes. By filtering out notes below a certain velocity, we can create a gated effect that lets through only the more forcefully played notes or clusters, adding a rhythmic element to the texture.
To achieve this, place the 'Velocity Quantize' device after the 'Cluster Trigger.' Set the 'Minimum Velocity' to define the threshold level - notes with a velocity lower than this will be ignored. A good starting point may be around 40 for a pronounced effect, but feel free to adjust according to the mood you're after.
Throughout your live performance or arrangement, live record automation for the 'Minimum Velocity' and 'Cluster Size' to build tension and release, effectively using these parameters as expressive tools for your narrative.
Lastly, ensure your synthesizer or sound source is set up to respond to MPE control messages, with parameters like pitch bend, aftertouch, and slide mapped appropriately to take full advantage of the expressive potential unleashed by these Chance Pack 4 devices.
With these simple steps, you've transformed your static MIDI pattern into a dynamic, evolving soundscape, embracing the beauty of chaos and the expressiveness of MPE within Ableton Live.
Further Thoughts
Let's explore the cutting edge of controlled chaos and expression by leveraging the latest iteration of LDM Design's Chance Pack 4 in an Ableton Live environment, exploiting its robust MPE (MIDI Polyphonic Expression) capabilities.
Imagine crafting a piece where the piano leads, but instead of a regular, predictable melody, you yearn for a dash of unpredictability without losing the emotive touch of human play. Queue Chance Pack 4, and let's flesh out a hands-on application.
Firstly, I'll set up an MPE enabled grand piano instrument on one track, ensuring it is receiving MIDI from all channels to maximize polyphonic expression. Following this, I’ll insert one of Chance Pack 4's devices before the instrument in the same MIDI track to modulate the incoming MIDI data.
Let's choose ‘Probability Velocity Split’, a device that initiates random splits based on velocity tiers. I’ll configure it to allow for softer notes to pass through unaltered 70% of the time, but with 30% likelihood, those same notes are either skipped or transition into a random arpeggio pattern, thus enriching the original performance with spontaneous complexity. I will set the velocity threshold at 64 to separate the dynamics of the piano playing.
Moving forward, I’d like to add textural layers. I create another track with a lush pad sound, also MPE compatible. On this track, I place the ‘Pitch Band Cluster Trigger’ from the Chance Pack 4, which sculpts the input into a cascade of supplementary notes when certain pitch bend thresholds are crossed. Remapping the pad’s pitch bend data through a pre-mapped Push, I’ll gently weave in bending gestures at the climax of phrases to trigger clusters that resonate like an ambient cloud around the piano.
For a percussive element, I turn to ‘Quantize Velocity Rand’, setting it on a drum rack filled with unconventional percussive sounds. By setting high randomness, I allow the velocity of each drum hit to be altered marginally, creating a constantly evolving rhythm section that never repeats the same dynamics twice.
Lastly, let's consider live performance control. I’ll map several parameters from the Chance Pack devices to macro controls on the Push, enabling real-time manipulation. For instance, I alter the probability rates on the ‘Probability Velocity Split’, or change the threshold settings on the ‘Pitch Band Cluster Trigger’, morphing the energy of the track as it progresses.
What we've crafted here is a dynamic arrangement that breathes – it interacts with the intentional gestures of the MPE performance while inviting a touch of generative unpredictability. The resulting composition is not just a stale repetition of prewritten notes but an evolving landscape that blurs the line between human input and algorithmic variation, truly embodying the spirit of embracing chaos with the fine control of MPE. With Chance Pack 4, you possess the creative alchemy to transform MIDI notes into a living, breathing sonic tapestry, enshrined within the forward-thinking ecosystem of Ableton Live.