Track Delay in Ableton Live: How and When To Use It
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- Опубликовано: 13 сен 2024
- Find the blog post here:
undergroundmus...
As producers we already know that quantization in our preferred DAW is something we take for granted. Our entries whether audio or midi snap to the grid, speeding up our workflow and editing. Our productions can sometimes seem lifeless and robotic as they are made in the computer and they lack groove or a humanized element. This is where using track delay in Ableton can play a part in adding a more natural feel, we also have a guide on how to use track delay in Logic Pro X here.
Track delay is one feature we can use in DAWs, to help humanize our tracks by modulating the rhythms, tempos and swing of the sounds within projects. For all intent and purposes, let’s demonstrate this using drum patterns.
1.Program/Record in your drums.
To do this I usually use pre recorded samples mainly from my vinyl collection, classic drum machines and my live studio sessions. I work in a drum rack and figure out how all my drums are going to work together. I’ve found this method effective because you can see where all your drum and percussion hits are in relation to one another. This initially avoids them playing at the same time, resulting in the sounds clashing and cancelling each other out if found in the same frequency within the spectrum of sound.
2.Duplicate and separate drum sounds.
Once I have my rhythm down, I duplicate or copy out my drum rack, so each sound has its own channel. I label the channels accordingly and solo each sound in its respective channel, and later delete all other sounds and samples from the duplicated drum rack.
3.Levels
My work templates have all been designed so all channels apart from the master are set to -12db. This will allows me to work in the green and level my channels according to each sound’s dynamic range. I always set the peak of my kick to -12db and level other channels according to the Kick. This blog post isn’t about drum processing so I won’t do any EQ or compression for this example.
How much track delay you dial into individual channels will depend on how much separation you want between the individual sounds in your track. House music for instance develops its ‘fist’, ‘identity’, or ‘groove’ from swing with in the overall rhythms laid down. Other sounds, chord progressions and melodies can also add to the groove, as mentioned before we are just focusing on drums and percussion.
To make track delay visible either in the arrangement or session view, locate the small circular ‘D’ icon at the bottom right of the master fader, opposite the preview/cue volume and master pan. In session view, track delay will be visible below each channel fader and labeled track delay with 0.00 and ms (milliseconds). In arrangement view the track delay appears at the top of the ‘mixer drop area’, next to the ‘mixer section’.
By clicking and dragging up (pre delay) or down (delay) on the small window displaying 0.00 you will hear that the sounds in that channel will play faster or slower in relation to the other sounds currently playing.
Generally, I leave the kick on 0.00 and adjust all the other sounds to play slightly faster or slower. I adjust all the sounds until they establish a groove.
As mentioned previously, this technique can be used throughout your entire track. Experiment with track delays on individual channels or groups of channels to get your desired groove!
6:10 here you go folks, it's a 20 second information, I spared you all the nonsense.
Legend
Wow, this is not correct at all. Use track delay to compensate for lag in outboard gear and audio interfaces, not as a substitute for swing.
half of the tutorial is about a irrelevant explanation of groove how to separate drums from a drum rack, don't waste your time folks
One of the most painful tutorials i have ever seen. Yikes
really bad advice man :(
Absolutely terrible advice buried inside rubbish. Shameful.