The Simple Vst Morpher - Fx 1.1, a gem designed by opticon93, is an exciting tool for Ableton Live users. Being a Max4Live device, it allows the user to manipulate the audio arena dynamically through effect morphing and interpolating, which was previously an intricate process. This device pulls its inspiration from Schlam's Dirty Vst Wrapper and revolutionizes the sound design experience by offering users the power to store and morph between different VST effect snapshots.
Imagine creating an entirely new soundscape by seamlessly transitioning between 14 stored VST parameter settings and manipulating them in real-time. That's precisely what you get with the Simple Vst Morpher - Fx 1.1. The straightforward design of the device encompasses the must-have features of storage capability, morphing slider, and automation. The device is known for its ability to handle up to 4,096 parameters, making it incredibly versatile.
The process to effectively utilize this Max4Live device begins with navigating to your VST library, where you can load your preferred VST. The Vst interface, visible with the Show and Hide button, presents access to your presets, if allowed by the specific VST. The Preset number helps select the presets with ease, and what makes the Simple Vst Morpher - Fx 1.1 truly unique is the Snapshot Storage and Morpher, which is the device's beating heart.
To create snapshots, all you need to do is maneuver the knobs on the VST, and with a Shift+Click, your snapshot is stored. After originating multiple snapshots, the highlight of the device, the Morph Slider, takes center stage. The slider interpolates between the snapshots on the A and B ends, giving a simple transition between two different sound settings. Producers can further experiment by randomizing or modifying the VST presets, storing the new sound, and then inserting it into the morphing slider.
The Snapshot Number provides an easy way to pull up any of the 14 stored snapshots in an instant, aiding the real-time tweaking of audio output. To visualize the manipulation of VST parameters, a multislider display is given at the bottom, accommodating up to 4,096 parameters of a snapshot.
While the Simple Vst Morpher - FX 1.1 is in its early stages, with updates and refinements occurring periodically, the potential it holds for live performers and producers cannot be dismissed. It offers a fully automatable preset number, snapshot number, morph slider, and random button, and while the creator concedes there may be 'an annoying bug or two,' they're open to constructive feedback in the hope of enhancing the device further.
Despite the potential challenges it faces, Simple Vst Morpher - Fx 1.1 from opticon93 sets out a promising path for dynamic audio modulation in Ableton Live, and all this is available at the reasonable cost of free. For more details and to try this exciting device for yourself, check it here: https://maxforlive.com/library/device/10194/simple-vst-morpher-fx. Happy sound designing!
No medium is too daunting in the face of passion, and thanks to tools such as Simple Vst Morpher - Fx 1.1, producers now have more ways to explore their creativity and push the boundaries of what's possible with Audio Manipulation inside Ableton Live. Start experimenting, go wild, and unlock the full range of potential that the Simple Vst Morpher - Fx 1.1 has to offer.
Example Usage
Imagine you're creating a track in Ableton Live and want to incorporate a shifting, evolving texture that breathes life into a static pad sound. Let's explore how to use the Simple Vst Morpher - Fx 1.1 to achieve this.
- Insert the Simple Vst Morpher into your effects chain after a VST synthesizer that's generating a pad sound.
- Open the synthesizer's interface by clicking the 'Show' button in the Simple Vst Morpher and tweak the synth's parameters to create an interesting texture for your pad sound. This will be your starting point.
- Shift+Click on one of the snapshot slots to save this state of your synth as Snapshot 1.
- Change the synth's parameters to create a contrasting texture—perhaps something brighter or with more movement.
- Again, Shift+Click on a different snapshot slot to save this new state as Snapshot 2.
- Now, with both snapshots saved, assign Snapshot 1 to the 'A' side and Snapshot 2 to the 'B' side of the Morph Slider by recalling each snapshot and pressing the corresponding A or B button.
- Start playback of your track and slowly move the Morph Slider back and forth to seamlessly morph between the two snapshots. Hear how your pad evolves over time, creating a more engaging and dynamic feel in your music.
- You can automate the Morph Slider in your DAW to set up these changes to happen exactly when you want in your track, adding an extra layer of sophistication to your production.
Experiment with different snapshots, store new textures, and explore the morphing possibilities to fully utilize the creative potential of Simple Vst Morpher - Fx 1.1 in your music-making process.
Imagine you're working on a track in Ableton Live that has a very atmospheric vibe, and you want to introduce some evolving textures using a pad sound to keep the listener engaged. You decide to use the Simple Vst Morpher - Fx 1.1 to blend between different effects on your pad channel in real-time. Here's how you might set it up and perform the morphing:
- Selection of the VST Effect: Load the Simple Vst Morpher - Fx 1.1 onto your pad track and press the 'Load' button within the device. Navigate to your VST plugins folder and choose a versatile effects plugin that allows for movement and textural shifts, such as a multi-effects processor or a complex reverb.
- Creating Snapshots: Show the VST interface using the 'Show' button. Dial in a preset that provides a lush, wide reverb, and then hold 'Shift' and click on the first slot in the Snapshot Storage to save it. Next, tweak some parameters to add a modulating chorus and a slight distortion for a more gritty, textured sound, and save this to the second slot.
- Setting up the A and B Points: Recall the first snapshot you created and click the 'A' button to store the clean reverb preset in the 'A' position of the Morph Slider. Then recall the second snapshot and click 'B' to store the textured preset in the 'B' position.
- Performing a Morph: Now it's time to perform. As your pad sound plays, begin to slowly move the Morph Slider from the 'A' position towards 'B'. You'll hear the effect smoothly transitioning from the clean, lush reverb to the more gritty, modulated sound.
- Automation for Evolution: For an even more dynamic movement, automate the Morph Slider within your Arrangement View. Draw an automation lane that gradually transitions back and forth between the 'A' and 'B' points over several bars.
- Recording Automation Movements: Alternatively, you can record your real-time manipulation of the Morph Slider for a more organic feel. Press 'Session Record' and manually move the slider as your track plays back.
- Additional Snapshots: Don't limit yourself to just two effects; experiment by creating additional snapshots with different settings. Maybe add a flanger or a pitch-shifting effect into your snapshots for an even wider variety of textures. Then, you can store these into the 'A' or 'B' slot at any time during your performance, expanding the possibilities.
- Mixing Parameters: Pay attention to the multislider display at the bottom which shows you all the VST parameters that are being morphed. Use this feedback to make fine adjustments and ensure the morphing complements your music.
By following these steps, the Simple Vst Morpher - Fx 1.1 lets you bring a new level of depth and movement to your pads, making them breathe and evolve in a way that a static effect could never achieve. It's an intermediate method that can yield very professional and complex-sounding results with a bit of practice.
Further Thoughts
When crafting evolving soundscapes and dynamic effects in Ableton Live, the Simple Vst Morpher - Fx 1.1 opens up a realm of sonic possibilities by allowing producers to interpolate between two extensively different effects settings. Let's explore an expert application of this device by integrating it into a live performance setup to create a morphing delay effect on a lead synth line.
Begin by loading your favorite delay VST into Simple Vst Morpher - Fx 1.1. Carefully sculpt two distinct presets within your delay plugin. Preset A creates a tight, warm slap-back echo with a short delay time and high feedback, while Preset B offers a vast, modulated echo with a long delay time and lower feedback.
Using Simple Vst Morpher - Fx 1.1, take a snapshot of each of these presets by simply twiddling the knobs in your VST to your desired settings and Shift+Clicking on slots in the Snapshot Storage section. Assign Snapshot A to the 'A' side and Snapshot B to the 'B' side of the Morph Slider.
Now, as you perform your set, you can automate or manually adjust the Morph Slider to seamlessly transition between the two contrasting delay types. Imagine during a verse, your synth holding the audience in a tight rhythmic grip with Preset A; and as you move into the chorus, you slowly morph towards the spacious, ambient Preset B, expanding the sonic landscape and adding a dramatic flair to the transition.
Furthermore, you can experiment live by saving intermediate steps between the two snapshots as additional snapshots. If the inspiration strikes, twiddle the knobs to refine the effect, save a new snapshot, and adjust the Morph Slider destination points mid-performance for unpredictable yet controlled sonorities.
Remember, the morphing process is dynamic – to add more interest, map the Morph Slider to a MIDI controller's mod wheel or an expressive MPE pad to add a touch of human feel to the rate and depth of the morph. Trust your ears and let the visual feedback from the multislider display guide your improvisation, ensuring smooth transitions without jarring jumps.
The integration of Simple Vst Morpher - Fx 1.1 into a live performance highlights the device's potential to not just recall static presets, but to act as an instrument in itself – one that demands real-time interaction and an imaginative approach to sound design. The Simple Vst Morpher becomes an essential tool, transforming routine performances into a captivating, evolving journey for both the artist and the audience.