Channeling the spirit of the 90s into your Ableton Live sessions has never been easier, thanks to Akihiko Matsumoto's mighty Reese 90. This unique Max4Live instrument, utilizing the iconic phase distortion synthesis of the past, paves the way for thick, evocative sounds reminiscent of the golden age of electronic music. Whether you are an avant-garde sound artist or a dance floor maestro, Reese 90's power to transform aural landscapes makes it a must-have tool in your production arsenal.
At the heart of Reese 90 lies Phase Distortion Synthesis, a technique pioneered by musical equipment manufacturer Casio. This method produces bold, complex tones with depth and character unattainable by conventional synthesizers. It's this remarkable synthesis process that gives Reese 90 the ability to replicate the lush, dense sounds that defined 90s house and drum and bass music.
Its applications don't stop there, however. Reese 90's true stereo monophony keeps sounds sonically wide yet clear, essential for impactful basslines, leads, and more. With it, the daunting sonic conundrum producers often face - achieving a wide stereo field without sacrificing clarity becomes a thing of the past.
Elevating the versatility of Reese 90 even further, the instrument comes with flexible modulation options. With envelope-controlled distortion and filters at your disposal, you can sculpt your tone to fit your creative vision perfectly. Whether you're aiming for gritty bass rhythms or soaring, resonant leads, Reese 90 will have you covered.
Adding modern edge to the synth, Reese 90 supports MPE (MIDI Polyphonic Expression) Pitch Bend. This cutting-edge technology allows for expressive, fluid movements that can add an additional layer of dynamism to your melodies and basslines. Incorporating these organic movements can be the difference between a flat, lifeless track and a vibrant, immersive soundscape.
Whether you're an experimental electronic music artist pushing the boundaries of what's sonically possible or a club-focused producer aiming to get audiences moving with nostalgic, resonant tones, Reese 90 provides an unprecedented thickness and character to your tracks. Its unique blend of old-school vibes and modern precision opens up new territories in music creation.
Ready to add this synth powerhouse to your Ableton Live set-up? The Reese 90 Max4Live instrument is available to download at the MaxforLive Library. Simply head over to their website and search for Reese 90, or, click on this link: [Reese 90 - MaxforLive Library](https://maxforlive.com/library/device/11637/reese-90) and start your sonic journey into the lush world of 90s electronic textures.
So, go ahead. Rediscover the glory of 90s textures, push your boundaries, and step into a new era of music production with Reese 90.
Example Usage
To dive into creating thick 90s textures with Reese 90, let’s explore a straightforward setup that will get even a novice user up and running quickly in Ableton Live. This example focuses on crafting a classic 90s house bassline using Reese 90's phase distortion synthesis.
Start by launching Ableton Live and adding a new MIDI track. Navigate to your browser, locate Reese 90, and drag it onto the MIDI track. Once loaded, you’ll see the user-friendly interface that gives you access to all the sound design tools this synth offers.
Begin with a simple MIDI clip; you can use the piano roll to draw in a rhythmic bassline common in 90s house music—think along the lines of a repeating four-note pattern. C2, E2, G2, and B2 are good starting points. This kind of sequence allows Reese 90 to shine with its inherent monophonic nature and create those deep, resonating basslines.
Now, onto sound design. Start by adjusting the phase distortion parameters. This parameter is at the heart of Reese 90's ability to deliver those bold, complex sounds reminiscent of old-school synthesis. Slowly experiment with the controls to understand how they affect the tonal quality and thickness of your sound.
Next, adjust the modulation envelope to add movement and texture. By controlling the envelope, you can sculpt how the bassline evolves over time, adding punch or sustain depending on your preference.
For a touch of stereo width—a key element in creating the massive, club-ready basslines of the 90s—activate the True Stereo Monophony feature. This will ensure that your sound remains powerful and clear, even when it's spread across the stereo field.
Finally, enhance your bassline's expressiveness using MPE pitch bending support. This step is optional for novices but can add a layer of modern expressiveness by subtly bending pitches at the end of some notes for extra flair.
This basic setup will get you started with creating thick, enveloping basslines typical of the 90s era. As you grow more comfortable with Reese 90, continue to adjust and experiment with additional options, such as engaging the flexible filters to drastically alter the mood and color of your bass tones. With practice and creativity, you'll be recreating the iconic sounds of the 90s in no time.
To recreate those unmistakable thick 90s textures using Reese 90, let's dive into an intermediate-level technique that will bring a nostalgic yet fresh element to your tracks through the device's phase distortion synthesis.
Begin by loading two instances of the Reese 90 onto separate MIDI tracks in Ableton Live. Start with the first instance, which will be your bass layer. Set the oscillator's wave shape to 'Square PD,' which will give you that classic buzzing bass tone ideal for drum and bass or darker house tracks. Navigate to the modulation section and tweak the envelope-controlled distortion to produce a subtle growl, providing movement and life to your bassline. This can be achieved by slightly increasing the attack and sustaining the modulation envelope, allowing the bass to evolve dynamically.
Next, move to the other Reese 90 instance, which will constitute your lead element. Choose a 'Sawtooth PD' wave shape here for a brighter, more harmonious tone that can cut through the mix. Experiment with the phase distortion amount and modulate it using the onboard LFO to bring about a shifting texture, reminiscent of early trance leads. By setting the LFO rate to a moderate speed, you ensure that your lead has a fluid, evolving character that's both retro and modern.
To further integrate these elements, pan them in the stereo field for a wider sound stage. Reese 90’s true stereo monophony feature allows for this expansive audio manipulation, making the results musically satisfying and spatially interesting. Consider employing an auxiliary reverb and delay chain to the lead to envelop the sound with an atmospheric touch suitable for 90s-inspired progressive tracks.
Finally, engage the MPE pitch bend support to add expressive modulations to your performance. It is particularly useful for introducing those iconic pitch sweeps and slides that add a human touch to otherwise mechanical sounds. This can be mapped to a MIDI controller, allowing an organic interaction with your synthesized textures.
By harnessing the unique features of Reese 90 in these varied ways, you can authentically emulate and evolve the classic 90s sound palette within your productions. Whether you're working on a throwback club anthem or an avant-garde sound experiment, these techniques will help you wield the full potential of this powerful Max4Live device.
Further Thoughts
Reese 90 is an innovative Max for Live synth that can serve as your secret weapon for tapping into nostalgic 90s textures. Let's dive into an expert-level usage example to illustrate its capabilities within an Ableton Live session, focusing on unleashing thick, pronounced textures for your tracks.
First, load Reese 90 onto a MIDI channel in Ableton Live. By default, you'll encounter a sound that's already resonant with the gritty essence of 90s Phase Distortion Synthesis. However, to truly unlock the device's potential, you'll want to manipulate its modulation parameters extensively.
Start by exploring the Phase Distortion parameter. This control is central to achieving those quintessential 90s sounds. Set the initial Phase Distortion around 50% to establish a balanced starting point. As you tweak, introduce a modulation envelope tied to this parameter. Go to the modulation section and set the envelope with a medium attack and fast decay, creating a dynamic movement that emulates those evolving textures characteristic of early drum and bass and house music.
Next, modify the stereo width to enhance the depth. Although Reese 90 is a monophonic instrument, its True Stereo Monophony feature allows you to widen your textures without sacrificing clarity. Push the stereo width to about 70% for added space, ensuring your sound fills the mix with a bold presence.
Utilize the flexible filtering system. Activate the filter section and choose a 24db low-pass filter. Adjust the cutoff frequency to tame the high-end brittleness and add a touch of post-processing resonance to emphasize the low-mid growl. Using an LFO to modulate the filter cutoff at a rate synced to 1/4 notes introduces a rhythmic pulsing effect that harks back to classic 90s rhythmic structures.
Reese 90's MPE pitch bend support can infuse your lines with expressive glides and bends. If you have an MPE controller, use it to perform live pitch modulations. Otherwise, automate pitch bend lines directly within Ableton’s MIDI clips. Subtle pitch slides, particularly on basslines, can provide an organic and fluid motion reminiscent of live performance nuances ubiquitous in 90s production.
Finally, enhance your synth patch with additional processing within Ableton. A light touch of reverb and delay can underscore the spatial aspects of your sound, while saturation or distortion plugins can bring out additional harmonic richness, complementing the synthetic nature of Phase Distortion Synthesis.
Employing these techniques, Reese 90 serves not only as a spectacular emulator of vintage textures but also stands as a versatile instrument capable of pushing boundaries in sound design. As you experiment further, consider blending different modulation sources to craft sounds uniquely your own while still resonating with that unmistakable 90s essence.