If you're eager to explore new dimensions of sound design and production within Ableton Live, gear up for an engaging journey with the WAVEgen Frequency Generator by SillyFryTools. Bidirectional in design and function, WAVEgen is not only an innovative Max4Live MIDI Effect but also acts as an immersive system for creating water visuals, which is demonstrated in an accompanying video.
WAVEgen 1.0 offers much more than a regular frequency generator. With four distinctive waveforms (sine, triangle, rectangle, and square) at your disposal, you can shape and mold a wide range of soundscapes. Whether it's a sustained, single-frequency note, a dynamic sweep or providing individual frequencies to each note on your MIDI keyboard, WAVEgen does it all.
Highlighting its versatility, the device has three distinct play modes. In the '1-NOTE' mode, you can either let a single frequency play continuously or only while a MIDI key is pressed. The second mode, 'KEYS', takes you beyond the boundaries of standard MIDI implementation by mapping frequencies across the range of your MIDI keyboard for an intuitive, hands-on experience. The '1-SWEEP' mode offers the functionality to generate frequency sweeps within a predefined range, adding flow and motion to your sonic palette.
Originally conceived as a tool for visual design, the WAVEgen's utility extends far beyond music, demonstrating its skills for creating water visuals, adding to the uniqueness of this Max4Live device.
For efficient usage, WAVEgen is compatible with Live version 12.0.5 and Max version 8.6.2. Ensuring an end-to-end user-friendly experience, SillyFryTools invites feedback from users and promises dedicated support for any issues or the inclusion of any new desired features. You may feel free to contact them via email at [email protected], and they'll be happy to assist you.
Revel in an advanced musical experience with the Wave Generator Frequency Generator OSC- WAVEgen 1.0 and explore the depths of its potential. The creative world of sonic experimentation awaits you!
Specifications: - Name | Version: Wave Generator Frequency Generator OSC - WAVEgen 1.0 - Author: SillyFryTools - Device Type: MIDI Effect - Description: Device for generating a wide range of frequencies - Compatibility: Live version 12.0.5 and Max version 8.6.2 - Device Download: Visit the following link - maxforlive.com/library/device/11125/wave-generator-frequnecy-generator-osc-wavegen
For access to this device, please visit the website of SillyFryTools.
Example Usage
Let's explore how to use the WAVEgen Frequency Generator to create a simple drone texture in your Ableton Live track:
- Drag the WAVEgen MIDI Effect from your Max4Live devices onto a new MIDI track.
- Once the device is loaded, set the waveform to 'Sine' for a smooth, foundational sound.
- In the 'Play Mode' section, select '1-NOTE' to allow a single, continuous frequency to play.
- Click and drag the frequency slider to set the pitch of your drone. For a deep, meditative sound, set it to a lower frequency around 60 Hz.
- Now, create a one-note MIDI clip in this track. Place a single long note that spans the entire length of the clip. Since the device is in '1-NOTE' mode, this will trigger the continuous sine wave.
- Press play in Ableton Live. You should now hear a constant sine wave drone coming from the WAVEgen.
- Experiment with the level and the frequency while your drone is playing to create movement and texture in your drone.
Remember, since we're operating at novice-level usage, we're focusing on creating a basic sound. Once you're comfortable, you can explore other waveforms, play modes, and modulation options within WAVEgen to further expand your sonic palette.
In this intermediate usage example, we'll explore how to use WAVEgen in a more experimental context, specifically, to create a dynamic soundscape that evolves over time.
Imagine you're scoring a short film scene where the environment needs to feel both organic and otherworldly. For this task, we will utilize the WAVEgen's ability to generate complex frequency sweeps.
First, insert the WAVEgen MIDI device before a synthesizer on a MIDI track in Ableton Live. Choose a synth with a rich harmonic content—perhaps a wavetable synthesizer with the ability to morph between complex waveforms.
Set the WAVEgen to '1-SWEEP' mode, allowing us to craft a sweep that gradually transitions from one frequency to another. For a more natural progression, select the 'Triangle' waveform on the device, as it provides a smooth, rounded sound.
Adjust the 'Start' and 'End' frequency sliders to define the boundaries of your sweep. For a deep, evolving soundscape, keep the 'Start' frequency low and the 'End' frequency relatively high to cover a broad spectrum.
Now, specify the 'Sweep time'—setting it to around 30 seconds will make for a slow, evolving transition that suits our soundscape. This will ensure the frequency sweep is neither too rapid nor static.
To add more complexity, automate the 'Start', 'End', and 'Sweep time' parameters over the course of your scene. As the intensity of the scene increases, you might want to shorten the 'Sweep time' for a quicker frequency transition, or move the 'End' frequency higher to introduce more tension.
Additionally, make use of Ableton Live's automation lanes to modulate the synthesizer's parameters in tandem with the WAVEgen's frequency sweeps. Automating the filter cutoff, resonance, and wave morphing parameters can create a more interactive relationship between the generated frequencies and the synthesizer’s response.
Finally, to create a sense of movement in the soundscape, introduce a delay and reverb on the synth's chain, automating the mix and delay time to match the sweeping motion created by WAVEgen.
By thoughtfully controlling WAVEgen and the synthesizer's interaction, you can craft a compelling, dynamic soundscape that breathes life into your scene and brings the audience into the heart of your otherworldly environment.
Further Thoughts
As we delve into the unique capabilities of the WAVEgen Frequency Generator by SillyFryTools, we can explore a practical application that demonstrates how this MIDI Effect can be used to create evolving atmospheric pads in Ableton Live. This sort of application is perfect for ambient music producers or sound designers looking to create dynamic soundscapes that evolve over time.
Begin by loading the WAVEgen device onto a MIDI track. For this example, let’s choose the 'Sine' waveform for its pure and fundamental tone which is ideal for crafting atmospheric textures. Set the device to ‘1-SWEEP’ mode, which will allow us to design a frequency sweep that evolves subtly throughout the duration of the track.
Next, we’ll define the sweep range. Set the starting frequency at around 200 Hz and the end frequency at 500 Hz to allow for a substantial yet smooth frequency modulation. Now, it's time to adjust the duration of the sweep. For a long, evolving pad, set the sweep duration to 120 seconds (2 minutes) so that the change in frequency is almost imperceptible, creating a seamless shift in the timbre of the sound over time.
To ensure that the WAVEgen is triggered correctly, we’ll assign a sustained MIDI note in the arrangement view – this note should span the length of the section where we want the texture to unfold.
To add more depth and movement to the pad, let’s create an effects chain following the WAVEgen device. Insert Ableton Live's 'Auto Filter' to add a slow phasing effect by modulating the filter frequency with a low LFO rate. Follow this up with 'Reverb' to add a sense of space, using a high decay time to blend the sound into a lush, ambient texture.
Next, to give our pad even more complexity, we’ll duplicate the MIDI track with the WAVEgen device. On this second track, choose a 'Triangle' waveform and set a different sweep range, this time from 400 Hz to 800 Hz with a sweep duration of 90 seconds. This will create a polyphonic texture as the two different waveforms and frequency sweeps intermingle.
Finally, to achieve a sense of evolution and development within the track, automate the ‘Dry/Wet’ control of the reverb effect and the ‘Rate’ control of the Auto Filter’s LFO. Slowly increase these parameters over time to intensify the atmospheric qualities of the soundscape.
By harnessing the power of the WAVEgen Frequency Generator in such a way, we can produce a living, breathing sonic environment that is both complex and expressive. The simplicity of the sine and triangle waves, modulated over a large time scale, paves the way for a musical voyage that is limited only by your creativity and the parameters you choose to morph.