Ableton released Ableton Instruments representing new add-on instruments for Ableton Live. All the instruments are the result of Ableton’s collaboration with leading audio industry partners. The palette covers physical models of electric pianos, analog synthesizers and string instruments as well as multi-mic/multilayer sampled acoustic drums, drum machines, orchestral strings, brass, woodwinds and percussion. The instruments integrate tightly into Live, both in terms of workflow and resource management.

• 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.
  

  – 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.

• SAMPLER is a new sampling instrument that brings powerful multisample playback and profound new sound design capabilities to Ableton Live. Sampler includes the important features you would expect from a sampling instrument and imports multisample libraries in today’s popular sample formats. Sampler also goes deep in the sound design department, bringing powerful sample manipulation and brilliant synthesis capabilities, all with the intuitive usability familiar to Live users. Enter the sample with Sampler.
  

  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.

• TENSION is a physical modeling string synthesizer based on the advanced technology found in String Studio from Applied Acoustics Systems. Through the use of mathematical models, Tension simulates each component of a stringed instrument. Tweak everything from how the string is played – with a pick, bow or hammer – to the size and type of instrument body used. Create incredibly accurate reproductions of real instruments or design otherworldly hybrids, all within Live’s familiar working environment.
  

  Ableton Tension 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.
• ELECTRIC offers the much sought-after sounds of classic electric pianos. Based on AAS’s acclaimed Lounge Lizard, Electric uses the same advanced physical modeling synthesis technology and integrates perfectly into Live’s workflow. Because Electric uses synthesis, users can dive inside and play with the guts of the instrument – the hammers, tines, pickups and more – to achieve just that right amount of melancholy or bark and bite.
  

  Ableton Electric 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:Many parameters can be modulated via key tracking and velocity for expressive, dynamic playing.
• ANALOG emulates the unique circuitry and irresistible tweakability of vintage analog synthesizers, employing the renowned physical modeling technology of AAS’s Ultra Analog. Analog is a creative workhorse that features versatile alias-free oscillators, multimode filters, syncable LFOs, looping envelope generators and much more. Able to produce everything from silky pad sweeps to earth-shaking bass, Analog is also completely integrated in Live’s familiar interface.
  

  Ableton Analog 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.
• SESSION DRUMS is a meticulously multisampled library of acoustic drums that reproduces the nuances of a recording session and puts you in the engineer’s seat. Session Drums gives you full control of the close mics for each drum as well as the overheads and room mics, so you can craft the perfect drum mix for your songs. Session Drums also includes stereo kits appropriate for various musical styles and a variety of MIDI grooves to speed up the production process. Session Drums was created in collaboration with ChocolateAudio (http://www.chocolateaudio.com), makers of the critically acclaimed “Imperial Drums.”
  

  Session Drums puts you in complete control of the drum mix. Each instrument within Session Drums has been painstakingly multisampled, so you’ll have all the flexibility of a studio session drummer at your fingertips. Each drum has also been simultaneously recorded from different microphone positions-close, overhead and room-allowing you to dial in just the right amount of each. For added realism, each drum also includes “bleed” samples, which let you mix in the ambient resonance of the snare. You have a choice of playing with a variety of sticks, mallets or brushes. You can even choose different types of kick drum beaters. Each drum and microphone uses a separate channel, so you can conveniently mix, add effects and swap drums to customize your kit. With Session Drums you can load up a brush kit, replace the snare, play the ride cymbal with a mallet, drop the close mics out of the mix (leaving just the overhead and room mics), add a little bleed to the mix from the mic placed below the snare, tune the kick drum down a bit, or customize any other way you can imagine.

  Ableton Session Drums:

  • 28 GB of drums sampled at 24-bit.
  • Meticulously multisampled in a variety of velocities and articulations.
  • All samples are preprocessed for a well-balanced sound.
  • A collection of multimic drum kits and instruments.
  • Drum Racks with an inline Session View mixer allow versatile mixing of each drum and its mics-close, overheads, room mics and the snare bleed. Each drum channel can have its own effects and routing.
  • Each drum in a Drum Rack features 8 preprogrammed macro controls for quick tweaking of parameters such as drum tuning.
  • Customize or create your own multimic drum kits-drag in or hot swap presets for each drum.
  • A versatile selection of drums including:

  – Kicks in various sizes with felt, wood or plastic beaters, miked with dynamic or condenser mics. Miked with inside and outside mics for extra mixing flexibility.
  – Snares in many sizes and materials, including maple, birch, chrome, brass and bronze. Samples of different striking area-from the center to the outer portions of the drum head to the rim-and alternating left- and right-hand hits for each velocity. Miked with top and bottom mics for extra mixing flexibility.
  – Hi Hats in a variety of sizes with samples played via the pedal and tip or shank of the stick. Features MIDI control of the hi hat pedal-perfect for controlling with a mod wheel or pedal-allowing dynamic playing of the width of the open hi hat. Includes samples of alternating left- and right-hand hits for each velocity.
  – Ride cymbals featuring samples played on the bell, middle and edge of the cymbal. Also includes crash, splash and china cymbals mixable via overhead and room mics.
  – Toms in various sizes with alternating left- and right-hand samples for each velocity. Includes mixable close, overhead and room mics, and bleed via the bottom snare mic.
  – Also includes cowbell and tambourine samples.

  • Play with a choice of sticks, Hotrods, mallets or brushes.
  • Stereo drum kits-professionally produced and mixed down-delivering a variety of popular drum sounds ranging from 70s rock to funk to country.
  • Includes MIDI grooves in various styles and patterns by professional session drummer Shawn Pelton that can be used with both stereo and multimic kits. Download the Session Drums grooves here.
  • Perfectly integrated into Live’s environment-the kits are loaded via Drum Racks containing multiple Simplers, which are included with Live 7.
  • Uses Live 7’s new SmartPriming resource-efficient sample engine, which optimizes CPU resources and lets you work with an impressive number of instruments in your compositions.
• DRUM MACHINES offers a choice selection of classic drum machines, meticulously sampled and programmed by Ableton content developer PureMagnetik (http://www.puremagnetik.com), to faithfully reproduce the original sounds. Drum Machines is easily tweaked with cleverly mapped controls, allowing users to experiment with the inner workings of the instrument and adjust to taste.
  

  Drum Machines recreates the classic electronic drum computers of the past. Each machine was carefully sampled and programmed to replicate the nuances of the original. But Drum Machines doesn’t stop there, it also gives you creative parameters not included on the originals. Using Drum Racks with cleverly mapped macro controls, you can endlessly tweak and customize Drum Machines. Each instrument includes a wide selection of presets with effects and accompanying MIDI patterns in a number of styles for instant gratification and inspiration.

  • 24-bit 96 kHz samples meticulously recorded and programmed by Ableton content developer Puremagnetik to faithfully reproduce the sounds of the originals.
  • Drum Racks with an inline Session View mixer allow versatile mixing of each drum. Each drum channel can have its own effects and routing.
  • Each drum machine includes expertly programmed presets that reproduce the originals and creative variations including effects.
  • Includes MIDI patterns in a variety of electronic music styles.
  • Easily tweaked via pre-assigned Drum Rack macro controls.
  • Many parameters can be modulated via key tracking and velocity.
  • Integrates perfectly into Live’s workflow and intuitive user interface.
• ESSENTIAL INSTRUMENT COLLECTION 2 is a multi-gigabyte collection of meticulously sampled and selected instruments, offering a choice selection of acoustic and electric pianos, guitars, bass, drums, orchestral strings, brass, woodwinds and more. Version 2 adds acoustic and electronic drums as well as presets optimized for better sound quality and faster loading.

  Ableton Essential Instrument Collection 2 features:

  • All instruments are meticulously multisampled in a variety of velocities and articulations.
  • All instruments are perfectly integrated into Ableton Live’s workflow. Instruments are loaded via Simpler, which is included with Live 7.
  • All instruments take advantage of Live 7’s new SmartPriming resource-efficient sample engine, allowing users to work with an impressive number of instruments in their compositions.
  • Each instrument includes versions for high-quality production and CPU conservation.

  New in Ableton Essential Instrument Collection Version 2:

  • 1 stereo drum kit from Ableton Session Drums
  • 1 drum machine from Ableton Drum Machines
  • Presets have been optimized for better sound quality and faster loading
  • Benefits from Live 7’s numerous performance improvements
• ORCHESTRAL STRINGS, BRASS, WOODWINDS, PERCUSSION are four collections of sampled orchestral instruments featuring a number of variations and articulations, created in partnership with SONiVOX (http://www.sonivoxmi.com), a leading provider of premium sampled instruments. Recorded with the expertise of world-class musicians, engineers and producers, these collections put a world of authentic symphonic possibilities at the composer’s fingertips. The Orchestral Strings, Brass, Woodwinds and Percussion collections take advantage of complete integration with Live and its new resource-efficient sample engine, allowing users to work with an impressive number of instruments in their compositions.

More info and downloads: http://www.ableton.com

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Tags: akai, amplifier, analog, bass, delay, digital, drum, drum kit, drum machines, drums, effect, electric, equalizer, filter, groove, guitar, operator, percussion, Recording, sampler, samples, saturation, session drums, synth, techno, tension, vintage, wav

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