Max For Live, a collaboration between Ableton and Cycling ‘74, is now available.

The video above offers an introduction to Max For Live and what you get with it.

Here are some more Max For Live coverage highlights:

• Max For Live Sneak Preview
• Free Max For Live Tutorial
• Getting Started With Max
• Robert Henke on Max For Live

Max for Live retails for USD 299/EUR 249. If you already own Max 5, the discounted price is USD 99/EUR 79.

See our previous Max For Live coverage for more info!

Developer Dan Nigrin has announced that his software Klee Sequencer is now available. The app, available for Mac and Windows, is a software version of the Klee step sequencer.

Features:

• MIDI output to any hardware or software synths
• Internal or MIDI clock control
• 10 preset slots for instant recall of parameters
• Presets can be saved to and loaded from disk
• Built-in clock divide capability
• Synchronous load – loading of pattern happens on clock pulses, and not in between
• Load on Play feature to allow for loading of pattern each time clock started
• MIDI-controllable baseline note
• Custom definable note range allows for alternative scales

Klee Sequencer retails for $40. 15% of the net proceeds go to support electro-music.com. A demo version is available.

This is a video demo of IK Multimedia’s GrooveMaker Electro – a beatmaking app for the iPhone.

via ikmultimedia:

Hear the sounds of the new GrooveMaker Electro: mechanical and aggressive uptempo beats, weird and chemically altered sounds. A huge collection of phreaked out bass lines and alien noises. Includes 4 songs, plus 1 FREE song by registering, and a total of 315 loops in 85-98-100-120-135 BPM ranges for 215 MB of samples.

This video shows you how to use Ableton Live like an MPC to chop and play your samples so that they can cut each other off.

The video also shows how to setup your own custom drum racks in Ableton so this chop and cut off setting is done automatically when you slice a new sample.

via SoundsAndGear

Expert Sleepers has released version 1.5.0 of Silent Way, their modular synth control plugins for Mac and Windows, adding Silent Way Step LFO.

Silent Way Step LFO is a combination step sequencer and LFO generator. It shares many of the features of the LFO plug-in, but rather than generating waveforms based on simple sine, triangle etc. waves it generates a waveform that the user draws in the GUI.

When the waveform is interpreted as a series of discrete values, rather than as a continuous wave-form, then the output is that of a traditional analogue step sequencer.

Other changes in Silent Way v1.5.0

• The Smooth control on all plug-ins is now calibrated in milliseconds, and has a much larger range.
• All Mac OS X versions now require Mac OS X 10.4.11 or higher.

Silent Way retails for $49.

Matthew Davidson (stretta) put together this demo video for obo – a Max For Live app that turns Ableton Live 8 into a matrix synth, inspired by the addictive-like-crack ToneMatrix synth:

I’ve adapted obo for use in maxforlive, added monome 128/256 support (not required for operation), 16 pattern memory, edit while play, copy/paste patterns and a scale generator (whew).

Check it out and let me know what you think!

Because it was there: Ableton Live 8 does Twitter, with a bit of help from Max for Live, MXJ and Jython.

“I sat and watched fifteen minutes of the Twitter public timeline while recording this video,” says Nick Rothwell, “and have now lost the will to live.”

Maybe if we could just use the Twitter stream to trigger events based on keywords in tweets……

WOK has announced ClockWOrK, a MIDI step sequencer plug-in for Windows that promises to let you create hypnotic sequences like Klaus Schulze or Tangerine Dream.

Here’s an audio demo:

ClockWOrK Features:

• Clear and easy interface
• Number of steps selectable (up to 16)
• Note per step selectable from 3 octaves with display
• Additional row for velocity or MIDI CC
• Each step can be muted or skipped (!)
• Sequence transpose by MIDI input
• Selectable speed (clock divide)
• Manual step thru the sequence with button or MIDI key
• Reset to a specific step manually or on bar start
• Play only when MIDI key is pressed
• Random play
• Supports automation by your host (like “Learn” in Reaper or Energy or Novation Automap)
• MIDI-ouput; any plugin or synthesizer can be used as sound source

ClockWOrK will be available as a VST instrument plug-in for Windows PC. No release date has been announced.

via rekkerd

Changes Ableton Live 7.0.18:

• Support for the Novation LaunchPad controller.
• Support for the AKAI MPD-18, MPK-25, MPK-61 and MPK-88 controllers.
• Support for OpenLabs devices.
• Several improvements for the AKAI APC.

Bug fixes since v7.0.16:

• Putting third party plug-in with MIDI out ports on the master track and route the MIDI output of the master track into a MIDI track would crash Live.
• Opening a particular set would crash as soon as the clip detail view of a particular clip would be opened.
• Deleting temp folder would not always work properly.
• Ctrl + Z on modal dialog on a modal dialog could crash Live.
• The display representation of the Axiom Pro’s endless encoders would not update when the knobs itself are turned.
• The state of the tempo nudge up/down would be saved within a Live set by mistake.
• Select on launch would not working when using the APC.
• Locked user remote script would not be locked after re-loading the Live set.
• On Mac OS X, switching on the APC 40 or the Remote SL after Live is already started could still not allow to use the controller until its MIDI port was closed and reopened.
• On Mac OS X 10.6.0, using the Complex warper could crash Live.
• Playing MIDI could crash Live when multi-core support is enabled.
• Switching on track-solo would not work properly in exclusive mode when switching via the APC.
• On Mac OS X 10.6.x, starting Live with a template set that contains audio clips, and with another CoreAudio client running at the same time (e.g. iTunes), would freeze Live. Also, changing sample rates in Live would not work properly.

Five12 has released v2.2 of Numerology, their software step-sequencer for Mac OS X.

Updates include a Pitch Glide option for easily adding pitch bends to monophonic sequences, access to the OS X speech synthesizer and expanded support for the Audio Unit plugins Volta from MOTU and Silent Way from Expert Sleepers.

Numerology retails for $119.

Details:

The Pitch Glide feature in Numerology’s MonoNote sequencing module lets users easily add pitch bends to acid-style monophonic sequences.

The new speech synthesis option in Numerology 2.2 gives users direct access to OS X’s built-in speech synthesizer. Implemented through a new “Speak” option on the Audio Sample module, users can enter the text to be spoken and choose from any of the twenty-four built-in voices in OS X.

Numerology 2.2 adds built-in support for MOTU’s Volta and Expert Sleepers’ Silent Way by providing expanded audio routing options and direct conversion from Numerology’s internal CV signals to the automation inputs of each plugin. The ability to directly pipe CV signals from Numerology to analog equipment, without the resolution and data-rate limitations of MIDI, expands the compositional options available to analog synthesists.

Ableton Live tips: This set of videos, via Bjorn Vayner, shows “features in Live you may have overlooked or forgotten about.”

Part 1 looks at ways to resize multiple tracks in the Session View and how you can continue a stopped Session from where you left off.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Part 2 looks at how you can change the tempo and/or time signature by triggering a scene, how you can expand the Mixer View and how to capture and insert a scene.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Part 3 looks at how to make custom names for notes or ranges of notes appear in the MIDI editor.
The second trick shows a quick way to double the output of your computer keyboard.

Torley does his thing with Camel Audio Alchemy, demonstrating some extreme arpeggiator pattern programming.

via Torley:

GET ALCHEMY @ http://www.camelaudio.comI conjure magic and show you how to cook up a wickedly gorgeous, crazy-spinning arpeggiated sound in just a few minutes… from scratch! This makes a lovely foundation for more complex sounds you can achieve within the single synth powerhouse, Alchemy. Let’s dive into the arp settings, stacked sources, a touch of modulation, and even layered effects for spice.Yes, the opening ditty was made entirely with Alchemy in about 5 min.DISCLAIMER: I’m not professionally affiliated with Camel Audio. I just reckon they rock (both product and service-wise). I’m one of those people that uses CamelPhat like salt.

Matthew Davidson has put together a couple of videos demonstrating how you can run monome apps in Ableton Live 8 with the help of Max For Live.

Davidson notes:

maxforlive simplifies monome workflow.

For example, if you want to use polygomé with a DAW, you must open your DAW software, open polygomé, set up sync in polygomé, set up sync in your host app, set up MIDI output routings from polygomé, set up MIDI routings in your DAW. There is a lot of overhead.

With maxforlive, you simply drag polygomé into your track as a MIDI effect. Then you can start playing immediately. There is no setup. Everything is in sync.

Here’s another video, by Davidson, that demonstrates a stepfilter audio effect he created for Ma For Live.

If you’re working with the monome + Max For Live combination, leave a comment with your thoughts on it!

This Ableton Live tutorial looks at using sends and returns.

via PrimeLoops:

The sends and returns in Ableton are often overlooked, they are very simple to use, and save you CPU power, plus give you more control over a bunch of channels effects, this ones simple yet effective!

Stay Creative!

Ableton Live: Dubspot Instructor, Michael Hatsis, shows how to add Space and Dimension to Minimal Techno style drums.

Topics covered include using Drum Rack’s Send and Return tracks, as well as Creating and using a Plate and a Room style reverb in Ableton Live.

via DubSpot:

Sonic State Labs takes a look at the new Apple Logic Pro in this video review.

via sonicstate

This video demonstrates how you can use the new Novation Launchpad like a monome.

To try this out, you’ll need a Launchpad (You can get them for $199 at Zzounds and other online retailers), a free app called nonome and a monome app.

For this demo, Mike Tron built a Windows executable that combines nonome with a monome program called mlr. Tron is offering to build an OS X version, too, if there’s interest.

In addition to Ableton’s announcements today about Ableton Live Intro and their giveaway of 10 free Live Packs to celebrate Live’s 10th anniversary, it announced the release date for Max For Live and the beta release.

Max for Live will be available on November 23rd, 2009. It will cost USD 299/EUR 249. If you already own Max 5, the discounted price is USD 99/EUR 79.

If you’re a Live 8 user already, you can join the Max For Live beta.

Max for Live, co-developed by Ableton and Cycling ‘74, puts the power and potential of Max/MSP inside Live. Max for Live is a tool kit for making new devices. You can build new devices from scratch, modify existing ones or simply use devices that others have made. Max for Live includes several ingenious example devices and plenty of tutorials to take you from using to tweaking, and then to building.

Key Features:

• Build your own audio effects, MIDI effects and instruments
• Use the API to control Live Sets, tracks, clips, devices, notes, loops, parameters etc.
• Extend your hardware’s feature set: provides objects to access any hardware controllers that are connected to Live
• Includes a specialized version of Max for creating and editing Max devices (Please note: does not run independently of Max for Live)
• Comes with a selection of MAX devices that are ready to use out of the box for audio and MIDI processing, algorithmic composition, real-time performance and hardware control
• Devices keep playing in Live while they are being edited in Max
• Flexible user interface design: the UI can look like Live or completely different
• Includes hundreds of built-in Max objects for logic, MIDI, scripting, audio and video processing
• Supports video synthesis and animation via “Jitter” objects
• Includes step-by-step tutorials for learning to program with Max for Live

Ableton is celebrating the 10th anniversary of Live by giving away 10 free Live Packs for Ableton Live 8 and up.

The Live Packs feature the work of 10 top Ableton Live artists, and let you look inside their songs and see how the artists work their magic.

The Live Pack artists include:

• Adam Freeland
• Apparat
• Brian Ales
• Covert Operators
• Junie Morrison
• Martin Gretschman, aka Acid Pauli
• Micah Frank
• Mum
• Swayzak
• Thavius Beck

Note: The free Live Packs will work in Live Intro or Live Lite, but will be read only.

No registration or email mumbo-jumbo is required – just go to Ableton’s site and start downloading.

Ableton

Description:

The new Live Intro has all the essential basic features as Ableton Live at a lower price and comes including a huge library of sounds from Hip Hop, Rock, Soul, Techno – Including 7 GB of Sampled Instruments, Drum Loops, Beats and Breaks, 200 Audio and MIDI Racks and Effects and 500 Instruments and Drum Kits from the Ableton Live Suite library.

Also included a Getting Started Manual, Integrated Step By Step Tutorials and Practical Song Templates.

Key-Features:

• Studio Quality Recording up to 32 bit / 192 kHz
• Full REWIRE Support / Slave or Master
• 64 AUDIO Tracks / Unlimited MIDI Tracks
• Instant Mapping of MIDI Hardware, Controllers etc.
• MIDI Sync to other software / Incl. Impulse and Simpler
• Supports all VST and AU Instruments, Effects and Plug ins
• MAC OSX and WINDOWS XP / VISTA compatible

Live Intro will be available shortly at a street price of €99 or $99. There is a free upgrade to Live Intro for  Live 6 LE and Live 7 LE users.

via Macmusic