Just got an Octatrack and I’m laying out numerous batches of sample chains set up in lengths of 64, kicks, snares, HH’s etc.
I want to have each chain with just one type drum per chain so I can set up patterns and just keep changing the sample until I find the sound that fits.
Anyway what’s the general concensus for those who use Live to make chains regarding exporting options?
Do you normalize your sample chains or not?
Is there anything else you like to do before you export?
Thanks for any suggestions and input.
Your experience will save me from going back and repeating all the work of making chains.
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Congrats on your new OT!
My technique: I made a template in Live that contains a single track with a Sampler, and a midi clip with a single note. I drop (n) samples in the Sampler, distribute the ranges equally under the sample selector tab, then select all and hit "normalize all’. This adjusts the volume of all samples independently, such that all samples will playback at max 0.0. Then I set up a saw LFO at 100% (still in Sampler) to modulate the sample select parameter, and adjust the rate so that it works with 1) the length of the midi clip, and 2) the number of samples in the Sampler (this should be one of the multiples that the OT uses). I then adjust the tempo to make sure sample tails don’t overlap, and export whatever number of bars I need to play back all of the samples (ie 64 samples at 8th note intervals = 8 bars). Done.
I like this method because I don’t have to bother dragging, dropping and adjusting position of samples. I just grab 64 at once, drop on Sampler, click distribute ranges equally, click normalize, make sure the clip is playing, export and finished.
As for normalization/dynamics/loudness when making chains, I’ve opted for a very minimal, hands off approach. Considering that much of the material we use is already compressed to death, and will likely be compressed more as we track out and master, all I do is normalize the samples so that the chain sounds relatively even from sound to sound. Personally, I feel anything more is just asking for trouble. Further EQ, compression, etc, will happen as needed during production.
I hope these ideas are helpful!
Wow! Thanks a lot Zac.
I really appreciate you for taking the time to write out and share your workflow with me for making sample chains in Live. I’ll be trying it out this evening.
It’s so true about a lot of the samples being compressed and then receiving more as we work with them. A minimal approach seems wise and I’ll try the same.
I can’t wait to give your ideas a try.
Thanks a lot.
No problem! There are a lot of ways to achieve the same result, but I like making chains this way. If you run into any issues with this particular way of doing it, let me know and we can step through it together. I think this way has some limitations (so far I’ve found that it only works well with short samples, due to limitations of the lfo cycle time), but I’d be interested in trying to optimize, potentially using M4L devices or something, to achieve an all-purpose tool. Basically the idea here is to be able to make chains quickly with as little fiddling as possible.