Working with Loops in Ableton Live: Part 2

In the previous issue, we covered slicing audio loops to MIDI. In this issue I would like to cover another way of working with audio loops, using the brand new system for warping audio, making it much easier to time stretch and quantise audio parts to fit your project… Alongside this is a new system of groove-quantising both audio and MIDI clips, giving you enhanced control over the feel of your productions.

Warp Speed

Warp Speed

Dragging ready-made loops into Live is very easy thanks to a real-time browser preview of loops at the correct project tempo. This will allow you to audition loops for your project. Hit the RAW button to hear the loops at their original speed if you prefer. When you drag a readymade loop into an audio track you can click the waveform to see it displayed in Sample View. By default it will have warping enabled, unless you have for some reason disabled this in the Preferences. If the sample isn’t looping, simply drag to select it all, then right-click and select Loop Selection (or press the Loop button in the Sample section).

If Live determines the sample to be a different length that you think it should be, use the left and right markers to select its correct length, then right-click and choose Crop Sample. You can also try moving the playhead to the correct position, going to the Start and End boxes and either pressing the Set buttons or entering numerical values.

Select Mode

Setting the Warp mode is important as it helps you tailor the algorithm to the waveform. This can be controlled from the warp box in the Sample section. This loop contains a bass tone, so warp is set to Tones.

For other kinds of material, try different Warp modes. Beats is good for drums; Texture works better for polyphonic material or pads; Re-Pitch operates by transposing; Complex and Complex Pro modes are for warping material with multiple characteristics such as entire tracks, although it uses more cpu.

Select Mode

Warp Markers

Warp Markers

Warp markers are added by right clicking the Sample editor and selecting Insert Warp Markers. Holding down the (Shift) key while clicking on a ‘ghost’ marker enables you to drag the marker to a new position without affecting the waveform. You can double-click on a ‘real’ marker to temporarily make a ‘ghost’ and move it.

Once a warp marker has been created, holding down the (Shift) while dragging it will move the waveform beneath the marker rather than moving the marker itself.

When warp markers exist in a clip, dragging them will move the segment of audio between that marker and the next in whichever direction you drag it. Using this method enables you to manually alter the tempo and feel of an audio clip.

Timing

Dragging the warp markers in order to tweak or correct the timing of a track is generally quite straight forward. Sometimes you will find yourself needing to quantise an audio part quickly rather than moving individual parts of the waveform around. To do this right-click the Sample editor and choose Quantise Settings. This reveals a window in which you can choose the required resolution and strength of quantisation. Alternatively you can apply your track groove as discussed in the previous issue.

Timing