Electric: Piano Dreams

Electric is a synthesizer that reproduces the authentic sound of the Rhodes® and Wurlitzer® electric pianos. Electric was created in collaboration with Applied Acoustics Systems (AAS) and is based on the same advanced physical modeling synthesis technology found in their acclaimed Lounge Lizard instrument. Physical modeling synthesis uses complex mathematics to reproduce the behavior of the individual physical components of an instrument—in this case the mallets, tines, pickups, dampers and other parts that interact to produce the unique sounds of electric pianos—all in real time. Because the sounds are synthesized, not sampled, it's possible to quickly tweak each component and customize the instrument to your personal taste. You can also go far beyond the capabilities of the originals and create amazing new sounds while still retaining the warm qualities of an electric piano. Electric integrates beautifully into Ableton Live's workflow and brings the unmistakable classic sounds of these instruments to Live users.

Electric pianos have several components that interact to create the sound of the instrument. When a note on the keyboard is struck, a mallet hits a fork. The fork has two parts: the tine and the tone bar. The mallet strikes the tine, causing it to vibrate, which causes the tone bar to resonate at a specific pitch. The sound of the resonating tone bar is then amplified by a pickup and sent to the output. Once the fork is activated, it will continue to resonate on its own for a long time. But releasing the key applies a damper to the fork, which mutes it more quickly. Electric faithfully reproduces these dynamic interactions through synthesis, allowing for an amazing degree of customization and experimentation.

Key Features

• Integrated perfectly into Ableton Live's workflow and intuitive user interface.
• Expertly programmed presets ranging from a wide selection of popular classic electric piano sounds to creative inventions that explore the outer realms of Electric's sound design potential.
• Physical modeling synthesis allows real-time tweaking and customization of Electric's individual components and parameters:
  • Two pickup models: electromagnetic (Rhodes®) and electrostatic (Wurlitzer®). The physical location of the pickups in relation to the tines can be adjusted using the Symmetry and Distance controls. The Input knob controls the input sensitivity of the pickup and the Output knob adjusts the output of the pickup section.
  • In the Mallet section, users control the hardness of the mallets via the Stiffness parameter, resulting in a brighter or mellower sound. The Strength knob controls the impact force of the mallets and a Noise control adjusts the impact noise of the mallet and fork.
  • The Fork section features a Tine component with Decay and Level parameters, and a Color control that determines the amount of high and low partials. The Tone Bar component allows adjustment of Decay and Level parameters. The Fork section also has a Release parameter.
  • The Damper section has a Tone knob that controls the hardness of the dampers, for a brighter or mellower sound. The Attack/Release knob determines how much damper noise is present when the dampers are applied and/or released, and the Level parameter adjusts the overall amount of damper noise.
• Many parameters can be modulated via key tracking and velocity for expressive, dynamic playing.

System Requirements

Electric requires Ableton Live 7 or higher.

Collision control

The exciting thing is that every aspect of this Collision + Corpus equation is adjustable—you have complete control over the excitation source, the force of the impact and the type of resonator. Choose what you want to hit: beam, plate, membrane, bars or tubes. Select the type of resonator and modify its geometry. Experiment with different materials: from glass or metal to wood, nylon and rubber. Try out different listening positions and compare parallel and serial configurations. Apply harmonic or disharmonic overtones. Tweak the preset sounds to perfection, create instruments that would be physically impossible in the real world or go full-on experimental for completely new sounds.

Choose your resonator

Collision features seven resonator types. Here, "resonator" refers to both the playing surface and the (optional) resonating body behind it. The choice is yours:

Go configure

Collision has two configuration modes: parallel and serial. These mirror the real-world construction of these instruments—a xylophone, for example, consists of a beater, a playing surface (which is also a resonator...) with a resonating tube underneath. So a xylophone is a serial configuration. The parallel setup is not common in the real world but this is where physical modeling synthesis really scores: creating virtual instruments beyond physical constraints. Think of it as hitting two interdependent resonators or playing surfaces simultaneously.

Corpus separatus

Corpus is a virtual resonator or soundbox with a life of its own. Independent of Collision, you can use Corpus to add physical modeling characteristics to audio material or place it behind any virtual instrument to create complex resonances. You can avoid some tricky mic setups and studio workarounds simply by using Corpus instead. To round things off, Corpus' secret weapon is a MIDI sidechain input. Use this to control the pitch of the resonances produced and give pitched resonances to unpitched percussion.

Key features

Collision

• Co-developed with AAS, Collision is a completely new instrument, uniquely in tune with Ableton Live's workflow and intuitive user interface.
• The comprehensive preset collection includes xylophone, glockenspiel, marimba, balaphone, vibraphone and toms.
• Physical modeling synthesis allows you to tweak Collision's parameters in real time.
• Exciter section: This has two oscillators. The first models the "beater," or whatever is used to hit the playing surface. By modifying the stiffness and the noise settings, you effectively control the beater material or type. For example, you can increase the stiffness to simulate a metallic beater or add noise to simulate a beater with a felt surface. The second oscillator in the Exciter section is a noise oscillator with envelope and multimode filter controls. This is great for getting creative and adding a unique edge to your sounds.
• Resonator section: This features two polyphonic resonators arranged in series or parallel. These resonators model the playing surface and any additional resonating body. Choose from the following resonator models:
  • beam (a basic wooden or metal beam)
  • marimba (a beam that has been carved to produce a certain pitch)
  • string
  • membrane (the skin of a drum)
  • plate (a flat resonating surface)
  • pipe (open or closed)
  • tube (variation of pipe—always closed with additional tonal capabilities)
• You can also control hitting and listening positions, decay, brightness and inharmonics. Each resonator type has its own parameters for controlling the virtual shape and size of the resonator:
  • ratio (controls the geometry of the membrane and plate resonators)
  • opening (controls the geometry of the pipe)
  • radius (lets you modify the size of both the tube and pipe resonator types)
• Resonators have pitch envelopes featuring two LFOs with multiple modulation types.
• Many parameters can be modulated via key tracking, velocity and MIDI controllers for expressive, dynamic playing.

Corpus

• True stereo processing of the incoming signal and full control over the stereo width of the wet signal
• Use independently of Collision to apply physical modeling characteristics to audio material
• Full access to all of Collision's resonator models
• Features a MIDI sidechain input for controlling the tuning of the resonators
• Spread parameter to detune left and right channel resonances
• Dual LFO: create interesting stereo effects by applying various phase settings
• Post-effect filter section for coloring the wet signal

System requirements

Collision requires Ableton Live 8 or higher.

Analog: Warm Fuzzy Monster

Analog recreates the sounds of analog synths. Analog was created in collaboration with Applied Acoustics Systems (AAS) and is based on the same advanced physical modeling synthesis technology found in their Ultra Analog instrument. Physical modeling synthesis uses complex mathematics to reproduce the behavior of the individual components of an instrument in real time. Analog models the individual analog circuits—oscillators, filters, LFOs—found in a variety of legendary synthesizers. Analog integrates perfectly into Ableton Live's workflow and brings analog synthesis to Live users.

Key Features

• Integrated perfectly into Live's workflow and intuitive user interface.
• Expertly programmed presets covering a range of vintage analog synthesizer sounds and entirely new analog creations.
• Physical modeling synthesis allows real-time tweaking and customization of Analogs's individual analog modules and parameters:
  • Two alias-free oscillators featuring sine, square, saw, white noise and a sub oscillator. The oscillators also feature a hard sync function and are capable of pulse width modulation when using the square waveform. Each oscillator also has an integrated pitch envelope.
  • Two multimode filters with 2- and 4-pole lowpass, highpass, bandpass, notch and formant modes. The filters feature flexible routing, allowing them to function in parallel or in series. A Drive chooser allows for various types of saturation for each filter's output.
  • Each filter is fed to a discrete Amp module, featuring Level and Pan controls.
  • A dedicated Noise module generates white noise and has a Color knob that varies the cutoff frequency of a built-in lowpass filter. The F1/F2 knob controls the amount of noise that is sent to the Filter 1 and Filter 2 modules.
  • The LFO module can modulate the Oscillator, Filter and Amplifier modules. The LFOs have triangle and square waveforms with pulse width control, sine and two random waveforms, each with retrigger, rate, offset, delay and attack parameters.
  • Envelope modules are included for each Filter and Amp module. Featuring ADSR envelopes with linear and exponential shapes as well as free-run, legato and looping modes.
• Many parameters can be modulated via key tracking and velocity for expressive, dynamic playing.

System Requirements

Analog requires Ableton Live 7 or higher.

Multisampler

With Sampler you can import third-party libraries as well as create and edit your own multisamples. Sampler hosts an unlimited number of sample zones, including key and velocity ranges as well as crossfades, all definable using the intuitive graphical editor. Each zone also includes numerous creative playback and looping options. Sampler imports multisamples and sound design parameters* from libraries in the common formats: AKAI S1000, S3000, GigaStudio, EXS, SoundFont and (non-encrypted) Kontakt. Sampler employs Live's disk preloading technology to prevent RAM shortage and long waiting times while loading. In turn, Sampler gracefully handles multisamples, helping you stay productive and creative when working with large, professional libraries.

* Parameter conversion is naturally limited to features which Sampler and the source format have in common.

Sound Design

Sampler's unique processing and modulation capabilities are perfect for sonic exploration of your samples. Every voice is processed with a multimode filter with several filter types including morphing filters, allowing you to seamlessly morph from low-pass to band-pass to high-pass to notch and back with a single control. Sampler also features a polyphonic saturation stage for adding just the right amount of warmth to your sound.

Every aspect of the sound, including sample start and loop position as well as loop length, can be polyphonically modulated. A dedicated modulation oscillator allows samples to be frequency- or amplitude-modulated, allowing for selective harmonic or disharmonic enrichment of the original timbres. Three LFOs, five multimode envelopes and various MIDI inputs serve as modulation sources. The ability to modulate not only post processing but also the sample playback characteristics extends Sampler's functionality in the direction of wavetable and granular synthesis.

Full Live Integration

Sampler integrates perfectly with Live. Its GUI sports a look and feel that will be instantly familiar to Live users. Sampler draws much of its power from Live's features. Modulate Sampler with clip envelopes and Arrangement automation or use your MIDI controller for real-time hands-on tweaking. Stack multiple Samplers to create layers and splits, add MIDI and audio effects, and save your creation as a Rack for future use. You can even pack entire Live projects, including the samples used by Sampler, for easy collaboration with other Live users.

Operator delivers a wide range of sonic possibilities through an extensive array of synthesis tools. Powerful analog-style subtractive synthesis and detailed FM effects are all possible due to Operator's hybrid approach to synthesis.

Operator's dynamic collection of musical presets was created by an expert team of sound designers to be versatile, inspiring and immediately playable. As you will soon hear, punchy basses, soaring leads, pulsating rhythmic effects, smooth pads, faithful digital emulations and even classic analog percussion can all be achieved with Operator.

Let's take a closer look at some of Operator's powerful features.

The core of Operator's synthesis engine consists of four unique oscillators that offer a wide selection of sine waveforms, a number of which faithfully emulate the aliasing artifacts of classic hardware FM synthesizers, and several "virtual analog" synthesis waveforms such as saw, square, triangle and noise.

Each oscillator can either deliver audio signals to the output or modulate other oscillators. Operator supplies nine algorithms for flexible routing of the oscillators, allowing them to be used in parallel or reconfigured in a variety of modulation algorithms for FM synthesis. The flexibility of Operator's oscillator routing makes it possible to create classic analog synth sounds as well as rich, detailed FM timbres.

Operator includes an innovative global control called Tone. Tone is a quick and effective way to modify a sound, as it allows dramatic transformations in the character or timbre with a single knob.

Another quick editing control is Time. Time provides a global length control for all of Operator's envelopes, allowing effortless reshaping of sounds. Percussive sounds can become more or less percussive and pad sounds softened or given sharper attacks.

To expand Operator's subtractive synthesis capabilities, a multimode resonant filter is included with low-pass, high-pass, band-pass and notch filter types, making it extremely easy to sculpt and refine your sounds.

The LFO can modulate the oscillators with a variety of waveforms. Operator's LFO is capable of operating at audible frequencies, so that it can be used as a fifth oscillator.

Operator features seven flexible envelopes: one for each of the oscillators, the filter, LFO and pitch. The pitch envelope is capable of modulating each oscillator and the LFO. All envelopes feature loop, beat and sync modes making it possible to create evolving, rhythmic sounds of great complexity.

Operator also offers a special Spread parameter, which creates rich stereo chorusing effects, a polyphonic glide function, a broad range of expressive modulation parameters and much more. To further explore Operator's extensive features, look to the Info View as you move your cursor over parameters for an explanation of each control.

We won't leave you hanging there though, as Operator includes extensive lessons that will guide you, hands on, step by step through this powerful instrument.

Operator is capable of endless sound creation due to its extensive features, yet it remains easy to use. Like Live, Operator's interface is streamlined for immediacy and designed to promote creativity. We've also created six integrated tutorials, or "lessons," to accelerate your discovery of Operator's powerful and flexible sound design ability. Even if you have very little experience with synthesis, you can learn Operator quickly and easily.

Lesson 1: Operator Introduction

A tour of Operator's streamlined interface and powerful key features, giving you the power to personalize the wide range of sounds in this synthesizer.

The remaining lessons delve deeper into Operator by guiding you step by step through creating a variety of sounds from scratch.

Lesson 2: Creating Bass Sounds

This lesson shows how Operator's hybrid approach to synthesis can deliver an extensive range of bass sounds.

Lesson 3: Creating Drum Sounds

Operator features powerful envelopes and noise generators, making it an excellent resource for drum and percussion sounds of all kinds.

Lesson 4: Creating Lead Sounds

With four oscillators, multimode resonant filters and polyphonic glide, Operator excels at fat lead sounds.

Lesson 5: Creating Pad Sounds

In this tutorial, you'll use Operator's four oscillators and smooth filtering options to create a variety of lush pad textures.

Lesson 6: Rhythmic Textures

Operator has a unique ability to loop its envelopes, creating intricate rhythmic textures that are difficult, if not impossible, to create on other synths.

Operator also invites creativity beyond sound design. Operator is fully integrated into the Live environment, allowing every parameter to be automated or performed in real time via Live's extensive variety of control options. Get completely hands on and remote-control Operator's parameters via MIDI. Operator is perfectly at home with Live's powerful clip envelopes, flexible routing, and inspiring MIDI and audio effects.

Tension: Never Break a String

Tension is a synthesizer that emulates stringed instruments. Created in collaboration with Applied Acoustics Systems (AAS), Tension is based on the same advanced physical modeling synthesis technology found in their String Studio instrument. Physical modeling synthesis uses complex mathematics to reproduce the behavior of the individual physical components of an instrument in real time. Tension recreates the characteristics of the strings, body, frets, fingers and pickups, as well as how the string is played—with a pick, bow or hammer—allowing you to recreate a wide variety of stringed instruments and textures. Tension is capable of modeling stringed instruments including bass, violin, viola, cello, guitar, piano, harpsichord and clavinet, or it can synthesize entirely new hybrid instruments. Tension integrates seamlessly into Ableton Live's workflow, making the possibilities convenient and nearly endless for sound designers and lovers of all things stringed.

Stringed instruments vary greatly in shape, size and playing method. The vibration of a string is the main sound-producing mechanism of stringed instruments. The player sets the string in motion by the use of a pick, a bow or a hammer, similar to those found in a piano. The pitch of the string is determined by its length, which can be fixed, as in a piano, or changeable, as on a guitar. The vibration from the string is transmitted to the body of the instrument, which resonates and increases the volume of the sound, or to an electric pickup, which amplifies the string vibration. Tension gives you access to all of these elements and more, making it possible to recreate realistic and dynamic stringed instruments or mix and match characteristics of various instruments to create something completely new.

Key Features

• Integrated perfectly into Live's workflow and intuitive user interface.
• Expertly programmed presets ranging from a wide selection of stringed instruments to hybrid inventions that show Tension's sound design capabilities.
• Physical modeling synthesis allows real-time tweaking and customization of Tension's individual elements and parameters:
  • The String module features Damping and Decay parameters to simulate the brightness and vibration of different types of strings, such as those made of metal or nylon. The Inharm knob adjusts the tuning of partials from purely harmonic to inharmonic.
  • The Excitator section reproduces how the String module is played. Choose from Plectrum for guitars, harpsichords or picked bass; Bow for violin or cello; or two Hammer models for striking from above or beneath the string. A Position parameter sets the spatial relationship of the excitator relative to the string.
  • The Body section allows you to select sizes from tiny to huge. The Low Cut, High Cut and Decay parameters simulate the frequency response of instrument bodies constructed of various types of material.
  • The Damper section has Mass and Stiff knobs that work together to emulate the characteristics of the felts of a piano or the fingers of a guitar player to attenuate the vibration of the string. A Position knob adjusts the position of the damper in relation to the string. The Damp parameter adjusts the overall amount of damping applied.
  • The Termination module emulates the interaction between the finger, fret and string. The Finger section features Finger and Stiff knobs to simulate different finger behaviors. The Fret section features a Stiff knob to control the stiffness of the fret in relation to the string and the pressure applied by the finger.
  • The Pickup section models the characteristics of a magnetic pickup. The distance of the pickup from the string can be controlled via the Position knob.
  • A multimode filter with 2- and 4-pole lowpass, highpass, bandpass, notch and formant modes features a dedicated envelope and LFO to further shape the sound.
• Many parameters can be modulated via key tracking and velocity for expressive, dynamic playing.

System Requirements

Tension requires Ableton Live 7 or higher.