Ableton/Packs/building-max-devices/02_M4L_Intro/06_Modulating_Parameters

• Ableton/Max for Live/Audio Effect/Human LFO - Track 5 Modulating

  • Tutorial

    • Controlling Live Parameters from Max

      • Device: Ableton/Max for Live/Audio Effect/Human LFO
        • This Max for Live patch provides a "humanized" low-frequency oscillator to control parameters in Ableton Live.
      • Patch Highlights:
        • c74/M4L/obj/live.remote~ is used to map and control parameters within Live dynamically.
          • The @UsePersistentMapping 1 attribute ensures that parameter mappings are stored within the Live set.
        • c74/msp/obj/snapshot~ converts signals into discrete events for modulation.
        • c74/M4L/obj/live.colors provides names for custom UI colors.
      • Steps to Explore the Patch:
        • Open the device and unlock the patcher.
        • Explore the numbered steps for implementing the "Map" button:
          • Inside p Map, learn how live.remote~ interacts with selected parameters.
          • Notice how parameter references are sent as IDs through Max objects.

    • Key Max Objects in the Patch

      • c74/M4L/obj/live.remote~ live.remote~ Reference - Max Documentation
        • Remotely controls Live parameters and stores mappings in the session.
      • c74/msp/obj/snapshot~ snapshot~ Reference - Max Documentation
        • Converts audio-rate signals into discrete numbers.
      • c74/max/obj/dict dict Reference - Max Documentation
        • Stores structured data such as mappings for modulation.
      • c74/M4L/obj/live.colors live.colors Reference - Max Documentation
        • Provides consistent color definitions for Max interfaces.

    • Objects Used in This Device

      • Left
        • c74/max/obj/message sends parameter changes dynamically.
      • Right
        • c74/max/obj/pattr stores data persistently between sessions.
    • 
    • Additional Reading:
      • c74/M4L/Ref/Live Audio Effects Creating Audio Effect Devices

  • Inside the HumanLFO Patch

    • 

    • Key Max Objects

      • inputs to p HumanSine
        • c74/M4L/obj/live.dial Period 6.86s
          • This defines the period of the sine wave for the LFO to be 6.86 seconds
        • c74/M4L/obj/live.dial Humanize 67.3%
          • This defines the "humanization" effect to be at 67.3%, probably sort of like 67.3 "wet" vs "dry" effect
      • p HumanSine patcher
        • 

        • Key Max objects

          • left inlet
            • c74/max/obj/rdiv !/ rdiv Reference - Max 8 Documentation - convert ms to Hz

              • Description

                Divides a number by the incoming value. Functions like the / object, but the inlets' functions are reversed.
                

              • Examples

                • 
                • / with the inputs swapped
              • what happens after 6.86 seconds passes through !/ 1000.? it's 1000/6993=0.1458

                logbook

                • whatever is passed in becomes the denominator, so it's 6.86/1000 = 0.00686 ??
                  • calc

                    6.86/1000

                • as it turns out, the c74/max/Parameter/Range here 500. 10000. and c74/max/Parameter/Unit Style is Time (ms), so the actual value for 6.86 seconds is 6860, which means that it's actually 0.146
                  • calc

                    1000/6860

            • c74/msp/cycle~ generates the cosine with specified freq from -1 to 1

              • cycle~ Reference - Max 8 Documentation
                • Sinusoidal oscillator

                • Description

                • generate a periodic waveform
                • The default waveform is one cycle of a cosine wave.
                • You can also use the wave~ object, which offers additional flexibility though slightly less optimization.

                • Examples

                  • 
                  • Repeated cosine or any other waveform
                • interpolating oscillator that reads repeatedly through one cycle of a waveform, using a wavetable. The wavetable can be changed using the 'set' message. This wavetable may be of any size, but historically was limited to 512 samples.

                • Arguments

                  • frequency Displayed: number

                    • Optional
                    • Units: hz
                    • Oscillator frequency (initial) The initial frequency of the oscillator

                  • buffer-name Displayed: symbol

                    • Optional
                    • The name of a c74/msp/buffer~
                      • buffer~ object used to define the oscillator's wavetable. If a frequency argument is present, the buffer~ name follows the frequency. If no buffer~ name is given, cycle~ uses an internal 64-bit 16K cosine wavetable.

                • Output

                  • signal

                    • A waveform (cosine by default) repeating at the specified frequency, with the specified phase.
            • left side
              • c74/msp/div~ 2: make it so amplitude goes from -0.5 to 0.5
                • div~ Reference - Max 8 Documentation
                • divide the amplitude of the cycle by 2 (make it half as "loud")
              • c74/msp/plus~ 0.5: make it so amplitude goes from 0 to 1

  • My #Questions

    • in my own words, what is this LFO doing?logbook
      • The LFO is adjusting the filter cutoff Ableton/Macro parameter Ableton/Instrument/Rack/Bass/106 Bass
        • which adjusts Ableton/Instrument/Analog/106 Bass
          • it's mapped to Ableton/Instrument/Analog/Filter/1/Freq
            • #Learned that by clicking the Map button, I can see the mapping in Ableton from the macro button to the actual thing it's adjusting in the instrument.
            • it kind of looks like Filter Cutoff is somehow mapped twice to F1 Freq, with two different values for min and max ... ?
            • ok so there are actually two copies of the 106 bass in this instrument rack, each with their own filter 1 frequency cutoff
        • The LFO is going between 40% and 60% on the Filter Cutoff dial.
        • The bass 01 has -0 dB
          • osc 1 - detune 0.12
          • osc 2 - detune -0.03
        • the bass 02 has -3.0 dB
          • osc 1 - detune -0.04
          • osc 2 - detune 0.12
        • so the two copies have symmetrical detunes, which I guess is kind of a "unison" effect.
        • I wonder why they chose to do that rather than just using a unison effect.
        • also, i see that bass 01 has lp12 and bass 02 has lp24, and the max for one of them is 5.8k while themax for the other is 22.0k, ... but I can't really tell from the macro mappings detail which one is which. carefully designed, but it's a bit beyond me.
    • what does it mean for an #LFO to be "humanized"logbook
      • it's injecting some imperfections in the glide time. so it's not a perfect sine wave, but instead it's sorta smoothly jerking around.