The Shape-Driven MIDI Sequencer for Ableton Live

Kristallnacht tension snaps as Constellation 1.0 hits the Ableton Live scene - a novel MIDI effect Max4Live device imparted by eliasjarzombek that unfolds a lucid interface for music production. Directly influenced by the 'Shape Your Music' project, this device enables you to compose melodies and harmonies by manipulating graphical shapes. A profound shift from the conventional note-based sequencing approach.

Each edge of the shape you draw in Constellation represents a musical note, while the angles at the corners define the interval between notes. This innovative representation of melody and harmony via a graphical interface cultivates a unique, intuitive relationship between form and sound.

Dive headfirst into the expansive shape editor of Constellation. Unleash your creativity in shaping the sequence with the facility to add, move and remove points, offering you absolute control over the loop. Customize the velocity, note length, loop direction, and loop length to match your musical vision. You can further steer the tonal direction by setting key/scale options. Constellation brings in the convenience to save and load shapes by providing four user-friendly slots.

With the MIDI THRU feature, you can orchestrate whether incoming MIDI influences the sequence starting note. When turned off, it allows you to create longer progressions by stacking two Constellation devices, with the output of the first device straightly connected to the input of the second. Turning this on sets multiple devices to play simultaneously, a mechanism perfect for configuring drum patterns where each device can control a separate drum sample.

The Constellation 1.0 is designed for Ableton Live 10 and beyond, compatible with Max 8.2.2 and later versions. A comprehensive user guide (https://constellation.eliasjarzombek.com/) is provided for users, unveiling the potential of the sequencer. Get a grip on this new tool by exploring the step-by-step guide and viewing the illustrative demonstration video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d47NkPKMGOY&lc=Ugy8UcjCHYspvRXgJ1V4AaABAg).

Constellation 1.0 is free and accessible via [https://maxforlive.com/library/device/11072/constellation](https://maxforlive.com/library/device/11072/constellation). Grab your copy now and venture into a new, creative realm of Ableton live session, crafting harmonies and melodies through the power of shapes.

As it is designed to be as versatile as it is intuitive, Constellation 1.0 hosts an entirely new way for both seasoned producers and those new to Ableton to compose and perform sequences. Submerge into the limitless world of MIDI sequencing and take the shape into your music future.

Example Usage

Creating a Simple Melodic Sequence with Constellation 1.0:

  1. Begin by loading Constellation 1.0 onto a MIDI track in Ableton Live with a melodic instrument of your choice.
  2. Open the Constellation device to view the shape editor. You'll see a default shape that you can alter for your sequence.
  3. Create a new shape by clicking in the editor to add points which correspond to different notes. Try adding four points to form a simple polygon.
  4. Click and drag points to move them around, creating various musical intervals. Listen to how the sequence changes as you manipulate the shape.
  5. Adjust the velocity and note length of each point by clicking on them and dragging up or down to make the melody more dynamic.
  6. Set the loop direction and length to adjust how the sequence plays back. Experiment with different loop settings.
  7. To set the sequence to a specific key, click on the on-screen keyboard to select the starting note. From there, the shape you drew will maintain the selected key/scale.
  8. Press play in Ableton Live, and you'll hear your newly created sequence come to life.

As you become more familiar with Constellation, try saving and loading different shapes using the slots on the left for quick changes during a live set or while composing. Remember, it's all about experimenting and having fun with the shapes to create unique melodic patterns that inspire your music.

As you venture deeper into the world of electronic music production, tools like Constellation 1.0 offer innovative ways to breathe life into your creations. Constellation, crafted by Elias Jarzombek, is not just a MIDI sequencer; it's an artistic expression platform that can transform the geometric shapes you draw into intricate musical patterns. Let's dive into an intermediate-level usage example, demonstrating how you can employ Constellation to add dynamic variations and evolve a straightforward melodic line into a complex harmonic structure within your Ableton Live session.

First, load up Constellation onto a new MIDI track in Ableton Live 12.0.5, ensuring that your Max is updated to version 8.6.2. Begin by drawing a simple shape within the shape editor of Constellation; for instance, a triangle can be an excellent start for generating a triplet feel. Make sure each point represents a note and consider the musical intervals you want by adjusting the angles of your shape.

Next, duplicate this MIDI track with Constellation, and on the second instance, start modifying the shape by adding extra points and creating quadrants within your triangle. This will give you more notes and create a more complex rhythmic pattern that plays in counterpoint to your original sequence. Adjust the note length and velocity parameters to inject some groove and dynamics into the pattern.

At this stage, experiment with the 'MIDI THRU' toggle. With this setting turned off, you can chain the output of the first instance of Constellation into the input of the second. This allows you to create an extended melodic progression or a completely new sequence that builds upon the original. It's an exceptional tool for crafting evolving sequences that develop over time.

Now, let's add harmonic depth. Create a new MIDI track with Constellation and set its output to a chordal instrument, like a lush pad or string ensemble. Use the shape editor to draw a shape with more extended edges correlating to longer note values, crafting a harmonic bed that complements your melodic sequences. Play with the loop direction and length for additional variations in timing and phrasing.

To enrich the textures even further, consider using the 'Stacking' technique. On your drum track, add individual instances of Constellation for each drum sample. Craft unique rhythmic shapes for your kick, snare, hi-hats, and other percussion elements. Remember that when 'MIDI THRU' is enabled, it allows these sequences to play in parallel, so you can have each drum element triggered by its rhythm while keeping everything in sync.

Finish up by setting the key/scale in Constellation to ensure all your sequences are musically coherent. This tight integration with Ableton Live’s scale feature ensures that your compositions maintain a consistent tonal center.

By applying these intermediate techniques, you’ll see how Constellation 1.0 can exponentially expand your creative capabilities. Each tweak in shape or parameter adjustment can lead to a new sonic landscape. Grab the device from Elias Jarzombek’s website and start sculpting music that’s as unique as the shapes spurring it to life.

Further Thoughts

Imagine crafting a sequence that evolves over time, a musical journey that unfolds with complexity and a sense of narrative. We will use Constellation 1.0 by eliasjarzombek, a Max4Live MIDI Effect sequencer that operates via geometric manipulation, to achieve this in an Ableton Live session.

Begin by setting up a simple chord progression in a separate MIDI track, perhaps a delicate ambient pad that loops every four bars, providing a harmonic bed for our sequence. Now, insert Constellation 1.0 before the pad's track and turn off the MIDI THRU function. This will allow Constellation to control the starting note of the sequence without any external MIDI input affecting it.

Craft your initial shape, a simple triangle, on Constellation’s shape editor to give a three-note motif. Each vertex represents a note, and you adjust the angles to determine the intervals. Start with a root note, a perfect fifth, and an octave above the root for a strong, resonant tonal anchor.

As your composition requires a sense of development, automate the movement of the vertices in Constellation’s editor, enlarging intervals slowly over time to stretch the motif into a broader, more expansive melody. Automate the velocity parameters to add dynamic contours - softer touches as the shape expands, rising to a crescendo as it contracts.

Next, duplicate the Constellation device on the same MIDI track. With the second device, ensure MIDI THRU is also turned off, and create a contrasting rhythmic pattern using a square shape; this shape provides a steady, even rhythm, against which the melody can play. This layer’s role is to offer a counterpoint, so keep the intervals close, within a minor third and a perfect fourth. These devices will now run in sequence, and together, they form a composite eight-note sequence.

As the arrangement progresses, bring in a bassline. Place another instance of Constellation on the bass track, set MIDI THRU to 'on', and now draw a shape that only uses two vertices - a linear interval, perhaps a perfect fourth. This simplicity provides a stable foundation over which the main melodic sequence can soar.

With MIDI THRU enabled, playing different bass notes on your keyboard shifts the sequence's tonal center, allowing real-time improvisation without losing the integrity of the geometric sequencing—each new note inputs as a starting note for the sequencer.

Blend in a rhythmic element by adding Constellation to a drum rack channel with MIDI THRU off. Design a shape with sharp angles and quick note durations for a staccato percussion pattern, playing in parallel to our previously crafted sequences.

Throughout the performance, engage with Constellation's loop length and direction controls. Create variations by reversing the sequence or halving its length. Save and recall different shapes using the slots to transition between movements in your composition.

Lastly, perform live automation during playback or recording. Adjust the shape editor parameters in real-time to introduce nuance, recording these movements into clip envelopes for playback. With Constellation 1.0's innovative shape-driven interface, you have turned simple geometric patterns into a dynamic, evolving musical sequence, maximally utilizing Ableton Live's potential for creativity and expression.

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