Let's delve straight into the powerful world of the unkChainFollower 1.0 by unkdevices, an innovative audio device injecting new dynamics into sound processing. This Max4Live marvel, housed in Ableton Live, creates a pulsating audio envelope from an incoming sidechain audio input. But unlike traditional sidechain processors, this envelope doesn't merely affect the source's amplitude - it's a door to wider expressive capabilities.
Sidechain compression, or 'ducking', is integral to electronic music production, used universally to create breathing room for kick drums and basslines, and to inject movement and energy into sustained elements like chords, pads or leads. The basic principle is that when the kick drum hits, other elements get quieter, creating a pumping effect. However, with unkChainFollower 1.0, the game changes significantly as we're now dealing with dynamic sidechain effects.
In regular applications, one might use the envelope follower to map the resulting amplitude envelope to an external device within the Ableton Live set. But this software takes it a notch higher. You can apply that envelope not just to one, but multiple parameters across several devices thanks to its innovative functionality. This creates an intricate network of dynamically interacting effects that brings "life" to your track, whereby the audio actually breathes, and elements organically flow with the rhythm.
Moreover, the possibilities offered by mapping this envelope to other Ableton Live parameters are endless. Imagine a scenario where every kick drum hit not only ducks the volume of the chord pad but also simultaneously sweeps an EQ, vibrates a bit of reverb or twitches a delay timing slightly. Your music will take on a dynamic expressiveness, pulsating and throbbing to the beat, imbued with a sense of almost organic interactivity.
The device was introduced in Live 10.1.18 and Max 8.1.5 versions and is available for download at https://unknowndevices.gumroad.com/l/ChainFollower. The advantage of this nifty little tool is that it complements your existing setup and it doesn’t add another layer of complexity. It fits seamlessly into your workflow, transforming it into a powerhouse of creative possibilities.
Also, it’s user-friendly for both beginners making their initial foray in the world of electronic music production and seasoned professionals looking to fine-tune their sounds. Despite its rather ungainly name, the unkChainFollower 1.0 is a potent tool. So potent, in fact, that using it could very well transform the way you approach sound processing in Ableton Live forever.
To conclude, why settle for static when you can dynamically pump your productions? It's time to unlock your tracks' potential with the unkChainFollower 1.0, and let your music truly come alive. After all, a production that breathes is a production that engages - and isn't that the goal of all music?
For more information, visit the Max4Live device page at https://maxforlive.com/library/device/10280/unkchainfollower.
Example Usage
The unkChainFollower 1.0 by unkdevices provides a user-friendly entry into dynamic sidechain effects, perfect for beginners eager to add that pro-level 'pump' to their tracks. Let's walk through a basic application within an Ableton Live session.
- First, ensure that you're running Ableton Live version 10.1.18 with Max version 8.1.5, as listed in the device details for compatibility with unkChainFollower 1.0.
- Download the unkChainFollower from the provided link and install it into your Ableton Live set.
- Drag and drop the ChainFollower onto the track you want to be affected, typically a pad, bassline, or lead sound that you want to pulse in rhythm with another element such as a kick drum.
- For this example, let's select a kick drum track to be the sidechain input source. On the unkChainFollower device, click the 'Sidechain' button, and then from the drop-down menu, select the kick drum track.
- Play your track. You should now hear the dynamic pumping effect as the ChainFollower responds to the kick drum, automatically reducing the volume of your affected track to create that characteristic 'ducking' sound.
- Experiment with the 'Threshold' and 'Release' knobs on the ChainFollower. Lowering the 'Threshold' will make the effect more pronounced, and adjusting the 'Release' will control how quickly the sound returns to its initial volume, shaping the character of the pump.
- Optionally, explore mapping the envelope output to modulate other effects or parameters by clicking on the 'Map' button and then clicking on the external parameter you wish to modulate, such as a filter cutoff or reverb mix.
By following these simple steps, the unkChainFollower 1.0 provides an accessible path for new producers to enhance their music with dynamic sidechain effects, creating a rhythmically interesting and professionally polished mix.
Harnessing the Power of unkChainFollower 1.0 for a Lively Bass Line
Imagine you've crafted a groovy bass line in your latest deep house track. The rhythm is infectious, but it's currently stealing the spotlight, overpowering the kick drum—the heart of the house genre. To inject life into the mix and have the bass dance around the kick, we're going to use the unkChainFollower 1.0 to achieve dynamic sidechain effects effortlessly.
Begin by placing the unkChainFollower on your bass track. Then, send a duplicate of your kick drum's audio to the sidechain input of ChainFollower. This process ties the envelope generated by the plugin to the kick's signal, which we'll use to modulate the bass.
Now, set the 'Threshold' to engage the envelope effect just as the kick hits. With the 'Attack' and 'Release' knobs, you can sculpt the envelope response to your taste. For a more pronounced pumping effect, shorten the Attack to make the volume duck quickly and adjust the Release to control how fast the bass "bounces back" after each kick.
What's exciting with unkChainFollower is the ability to map the generated envelope to modulate other parameters within Ableton Live. Map the ChainFollower's output to the filter cutoff frequency of your bass's synth. As the bass ducks in volume, the filter sweeps accordingly, achieving a rhythmically dynamic modulation effect that gives both movement and space for your kick drum.
Experiment further by tweaking the 'Amount' knob. Increase it for a more aggressive ducking, or scale it back for subtler movement. Then, adjust the 'Sidechain Filter' within ChainFollower to hone in on certain frequencies of the kick drum for sidechaining.
Finally, automate the 'Amount' or 'Release' parameters for different sections of your song. Decrease the Amount during the verses for a more laid-back feel, then ramp it up during the drop to create a surge of energy that gets your audience moving.
Remember, sidechain is not just a utility, but an expressive tool. With ChainFollower's precise control and mapping capability, you're no longer simply sidechaining. You're sculpting a dynamic interplay between your track's elements, giving your music the professional pulsating energy that stands out in the club.
Further Thoughts
Imagine we're working on a deep house track with a consistent four-on-the-floor kick drum pattern that we want to use as the rhythmic pulse driving our sidechain compression. We're aiming to achieve that signature pumping effect, not just on our bassline but also on a lush pad and some atmospheric backing vocals to create a cohesive and dynamic mix.
Let's begin by setting up unkChainFollower 1.0 on the bassline track. Insert the device directly after your favorite EQ, as we like to sidechain post-EQ to avoid any unwanted low-frequency triggering. The UnkChainFollower accepts sidechain input, so we'll route the kick drum into it, using Ableton's sidechain routing options. By adjusting the 'Threshold' and 'Release' controls, we dial in where the pumping starts and how quickly it returns to its initial volume, creating a breathing rhythm in sync with our kick.
Next, let's add some creative flair by mapping the envelope modulation to an external filter device on the bassline. In every deep house track, the movement of the filter can be as crucial as the notes themselves. We automate the filter cutoff, with peaks coinciding with our kick's transient, giving the impression of the bassline expanding and contracting with the kick, adding a unique groove element that molds the track's energy around our kick drum's pulse.
For the pad, we want a more gentle sidechain effect, allowing it to fill the space in between kick hits subtly. After placing unkChainFollower 1.0 on the pad track and receiving the same kick input, we can fine-tune the sidechain envelope with a higher threshold and a smoother, longer release. This subtlety provides enough room for the kick but doesn't overpower the ethereal nature of the pad. It's important to preserve the ambiance while still keeping the rhythm intact.
Lastly, let's work with the backing vocals. These elements often get lost when competing with other mid-range frequencies. We insert unkChainFollower 1.0, and by choosing a creative routing choice, instead of sidechaining from the kick, we sidechain from the snare or clap. This technique ensures that our vocals dip subtly during the snare or clap hits, adding a rhythmic variation that prevents our track from becoming too uniform and keeps the listener engaged.
In all these instances, the real-time visual feedback from unkChainFollower's interface allows us to see the sidechain envelope working in harmony with our musical elements. It adds a level of precision and control that traditional sidechain compressors can't provide, enabling us to craft our dynamic sidechain effects to perfection.
As a final touch, automate the unkChainFollower's parameters over time for build-ups and breakdowns, playing with the intensity of the pumping effect to match the energy of your arrangement. With unkChainFollower 1.0's intuitive mapping capabilities and fine-tuning options, you can breathe life into every beat and create pumping productions that stand out in today's electronic music scene.