Synth Exploration - Analogue Archival

by Robert Allen

Analogue Archival is our most in-depth and deeply sampled Ableton instrument to date but if you haven’t used one before understanding the dials and buttons can be tricky.  This is why we decided to create this walkthrough article showing you a little behind the scenes look into the demo and how the sounds were made etc.

Overview

 The Analogue Archival pack is made up of 20 multi-sampled Ableton instruments that run inside the Sampler device.  Each instrument is a deeply sampled analogue synth that covers Moog, Korg & Novation.

Each device also comes with a corresponding FX rack for extra spice and enjoyment.  Within the session we’ve set the FX and instrument settings to a level we love but feel free to change and tweaks these as you see fit.

The Moog instruments are currently set to mono due to it predominantly being used as a bass instrument but these can be easily changed by adding more voices.

 

 

Adding an Instrument To Ableton Live

Ableton can be a little fiddly with where you place things so here’s our tops tips for navigating to the instruments.

  1. We dropped the ENTIRE Analogue Archival folder into our samples folder called ‘Touch Loops Samples’.
  2. We then dragged and dropped this into the ‘Places’ part of Ableton’s left hand side browser (see image below)
  3. Inside this folder you’ll see the Analogue Archival sample pack and all it’s contents
  4. Navigate to the ‘AnalogueArchival_Instruments_TL’ folder and expand this.
  5. Here you will find all the instruments we created.
  6. Just drag and drop these into your session in the blank space that states ‘Drop Files & Devices here’
  7. You’re good to go – easy!

 

 

Note: DO NOT move the contents of the folder to different locations.  If you move the samples Ableton won’t be able to find them and you’ll need to re-search for these.

 

Learn more about organising your samples in Ableton HERE

 

ADSR

Each instrument provides control over the amp envelope and also basic controls for the filter section.  Each macro dial does the following:

Attack – The time it takes for the note to reach full volume.  The higher the value, the slower the ramp up in gain.  Slower settings are usually more appropriate for pads and ambience.

Release – The time taken for the note to stop.  Short settings with give super tight endings to the sound, longer values add length and time to the note.

 

 

If this article has taken your fancy then you can check our extensive range of Synth Samples

 

Filt Amount & Filt Attack

Now this attack time shouldn’t be confused with the ADSR attack time.  These to dials work together in allowing the filter to open over time.

Filt Amount – This dictates how far the filter will open when the filt attack time has been fulfilled.

Filt Attack – The speed at which the filter will open.

Example:

Filt Amount – 100%

Filt Attack – 1 second

Outcome – The filter will take 1 second to fully open when note or chord is played.

 

Automation & FX – Demo Breakdown

The real joy in these instruments is when you start to explore the different parameters of the main instrument rack and the FX rack.

 

Intro Arps

By using Ableton’s Arp device we’re able to create arpeggios from our chord progression of choice.  The development in sound is a combination of automating 3 separate parameters:

1 – Low Pass Filter – Slowly allowing more top end and harmonics to be revealed as the filter opens.

2 – Filter Amount – Due to the attack settings this allows us to again affect the opening of the filter.

3 – Release – As the progression evolves the notes get longer and begin to blur into one another.

 

 

These settings combined give the feel of an increase in energy and showcase the momentum we’re looking for.

 

Korg Pads

The Korg instruments are incredibly powerful for chords & pads.  In this example we've automated the 'Modulation' and the 'Tremelo' to create movement and width as the sound develops.  Listen below:

 

 

Synth Stab Automation

If you're looking to create house & techno then this could be incredibly useful when creating stabs that move.   In the house section of the demo we're automating the low pass filter, the filter amount and the envelope to allow the sound to change and develop over time. 

 

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