Harnessing the power of SimulScrub 3, a Max for Live device by zsteinkamp, allows you to delve into a world of endless audio manipulation. This cutting-edge instrument facilitates the playback of multiple contiguous segments of an audio file simultaneously, significantly enhancing the level of control you have over your samples. Among its primary features, you can seamlessly scrub through time while maintaining 1x speed playback, and blend different segments dynamically with a versatile crossfader.
SimulScrub 3's ease of use stems from its visual interface. The interface displays yellow lines representing virtual playheads, while blue bars rising from the bottom represent the volume each respective playhead will produce. The position and width of the pickup pattern can easily be regulated via the slider placed beneath the main display. Automation or modulation of the Position slider and Width knob is also straightforward, widening the spectrum of creative control you have at your disposal.
Adding an audio file to SimulScrub 3 is as simple as dragging and dropping it into the main plugin area. From there, playing any MIDI note will start the playback. You have the freedom to experiment with the number of slices - up to 32. These different slice settings will lead to varying playing dynamics and soundscapes, further amplifying the versatility of this device.
Compatible with Ableton Live 12.0.2 and Max 8.6.0, SimulScrub 3 is an ideal tool for creating unique effects, glitches, and performance enhancements. By reaching into the innovative device's depths, audio manipulation takes on a whole new dimension. Whether you're a professional sound designer or an electronic music producer, the opportunities for audio experimentation that SimulScrub 3 opens up are truly game-changing.
The latest version of SimulScrub 3 can be downloaded via the following link: [SimulScrub 3](https://github.com/zsteinkamp/m4l-SimulScrub/releases/download/v3/SimulScrub-v3.amxd).
To gain more insights about the device and its creatives uses, visit the official [Max for Live library page for SimulScrub 3](https://maxforlive.com/library/device/10345/simulscrub).
To summarise, with its user-friendly design and near-infinite potential for shaping and manipulating soundscapes, SimulScrub 3 is an invaluable asset for any sound artist. It invites you to broaden your creative horizons and embrace a whole new world of sonic experimentation.
Example Usage
Imagine you've just recorded a 4-bar melody line with your favorite synth and it sounds good, but you have the feeling that it could be more interesting. With SimulScrub 3, you can transform that melody into a complex, evolving soundscape by overlapping different segments of the audio in real-time.
First, load SimulScrub 3 onto a MIDI track in Ableton Live. Then, drag and drop your recorded melody from the arrangement view directly into the main plugin area of SimulScrub 3, where the interface shows the waveform.
To start, play any MIDI note on your keyboard or MIDI controller. You should now hear your melody playing through SimulScrub. Begin by slowly moving the Position slider beneath the main display with your mouse. Listen as the playheads, indicated by the yellow lines, shift to different segments of your melody, bringing in different portions of your audio.
Now, experiment with the Width knob. As you increase the width, you'll notice that more segments of your audio file are being played simultaneously. The crossfading between segments is automatically managed by SimulScrub, so you won't hear any abrupt changes.
Next, have a go at automating the movement of the Position slider over time. This will create a dynamic effect as the device scrubs through different parts of your recorded melody in a pattern that you have set. Automation can be drawn into the arrangement view or recorded in real-time as you manipulate the control.
Lastly, change up the number of slices – try setting it to 8, 16, or even 32 slices. This will divide your melody into more pieces to be played concurrently, creating denser textures and more complex rhythms.
The beauty of SimulScrub lies in its ability to generate a unique audio manipulation that can turn simple recordings into intricate masterpieces with just a few tweaks. As a novice user, exploring these basic functions can already provide a fresh perspective on traditional sample playback and inspire new creative directions for your music projects.
In this intermediate tutorial, we'll explore a novel rhythmic technique by using SimulScrub 3 to break apart a drum loop and reconstitute it into a fresh beat within Ableton Live.
First, locate a one-bar drum loop with a solid groove in your library—something with clear transients works best, such as a breakbeat with prominent kick and snare hits. Drag this loop onto an audio track in Ableton Live.
Next, add SimulScrub 3 to the same track with your drum loop. To initiate the sample playback within SimulScrub 3, trigger any MIDI note. Start with the “Number of Slices” set to 4 to carve your loop into quarter-note segments.
Now, while your loop is playing, slowly move the “Position” slider to the right. You’ll hear the segments of your drum loop being scrubbed through in real-time. Adjust the "Width" knob to increase or decrease the crossfade between segments for a smoother or more abrupt transition.
To create a rhythmic stutter effect, experiment with the "Number of Slices" parameter. Increase it to 8 or 16 for finer subdivision, enabling intricate playbacks across the bar.
To further articulate rhythmic dynamism, automate the "Position" control. Create an automation clip on the timeline, and draw a series of ramps and plateaus, making SimulScrub 3 leap or crawl through different segments of the drum loop.
Remember, you can make this pattern as complex or as simple as you like—try varying the "Width" setting dynamically throughout the automation to introduce variety in the overlap of the segments.
For a unique twist, add an LFO MIDI effect before SimulScrub 3 and assign it to modulate the "Position" parameter. Set the rate to a syncopated value to compound the stutter effect you've established with automation.
Once you've sculpted a groove that flows well, you can bounce this down to a new audio track. Right-click on SimulScrub 3's playing track and select "Freeze Track," and then "Flatten." You now have an audio clip of your newly-minted beat, ready for layering, effects processing, or to serve as the rhythmic backbone of your track.
By harnessing the power of segmented playback with SimulScrub 3, you've turned a familiar loop into something uniquely yours while injecting life into your rhythms. Continue to explore the device’s capabilities, like altering sample pitch or integrating with other M4L devices, to push your audio manipulation skills even further.
Further Thoughts
Imagine you're working on a futuristic ambient track that hinges on evolving textures and unexpected audio landscapes to captivate the listener. The goal is to breathe life into a static drone recording to create a dynamic soundscape that undulates and shifts over time, providing a sense of organic movement. To achieve this, we will use the SimulScrub 3 Max for Live device in Ableton Live to manipulate a long, sustained drone sound.
Firstly, import your drone sample into a new audio track and load SimulScrub 3 onto the same track. Set the playheads count to the maximum of 32 slices for intricate textural possibilities. Begin by automating the Position slider to slowly travel across the full length of the audio sample. This will create a sweeping motion that gradually reveals different segments of the drone.
To add complexity, draw in a sine-shaped LFO modulation in the automation lane of the Width knob, setting it to oscillate between narrow and wide settings over an 8-bar loop. At narrow widths, the playheads cluster together, focusing on tight granule-like sound particles, while broader widths disperse the playheads, creating lush, wide-spanning textures.
With the essence of your soundscape taking form, introduce subtle modulation to the crossfader. Assign a Max for Live LFO to automate the crossfader with a slow rate, so it gently blends between the segments, ensuring seamless and ever-changing audio transitions that feel organic.
To emphasize specific tonal characteristics, experiment with the distribution of playheads. Craft moments of harmonic tension and release by concentrating multiple playheads overtones or fundamental notes at key moments in your track. This selective approach can highlight certain frequencies and create a sonic narrative that guides the listener through your ambient creation.
Moreover, enhance the atmosphere by sending the SimulScrub 3 output to a return channel with lush reverb and delay effects. Try a convolution reverb with an unusual impulse response, like a cavern or tunnel, to immerse your audience in an expansive, otherworldly space.
Recording the output is a must. Engage Ableton Live's resampling feature to capture the performance. Later on, use these recordings to create cut-up audio collage sections, interlacing them with other elements of your track, or use them as raw material for further processing and granulation.
By harnessing the power of the SimulScrub 3 device, you have transformed a simple drone into a complex tapestry of sound, turning your Ableton Live session into an alchemist's lab where time and texture meld to create musical gold.