Synthesis 101: Ableton Live

Name: Synthesis 101: Ableton Live
Rating: 4.7 (40 reviews)

Analog and Operator

Created byBen dudding

Last updated 4/2020

English

English [Auto],

What you'll learn

Synthesis fundmentals
Electronic Music Production

Course content

5 sections • 41 lectures • 4h 49m total length

Introduction1:00
Explore the building blocks of synthesis and core concepts through in-depth animations and practical examples in Ableton Live. Learn with Ableton’s analog and operator synthesizers, transferable to other synths.

Building blocks of subtractive synthesis3:51
An overview of the building blocks and signal flow of subtractive synthesis.
Oscillators6:29
Sub and Sync Oscillator3:49
Pulse Width modulation3:39
Explore pulse width modulation in Ableton Live, adjust square wave symmetry with the pulse width control, and add motion using a low frequency oscillator to create thicker timbres.
Filters7:29
Amp and Panning3:43
envelopes8:41
Explore how envelopes shape sound in ableton live, using amplitude, filter, and pitch envelopes with adsr parameters (attack, decay, sustain, release) to sculpt percussive or pad-like tones.
Low Frequencey Oscillator13:53
Explore low frequency oscillators (LFOs) and how to assign them to pitch, filter, amplitude, and panning to create vibrato, tremolo, and wobble bass using various waveforms and tempo-synced rates.
Vibrato and Global Settings4:46
Unisone6:55
Glide5:34
Signal Flow Routing7:16
Example: Sequence Bass7:24
Example: Wobble Bass8:07
Create a thick dubstep wobble bass using a two-oscillator analog patch with detuned oscillators and sub boost, then modulate a 24 db per octave low-pass with an lfo.
Example: Reese Bass12:37
Example: Sync Lead4:25
Learn to create an 80s sync lead in Ableton Live using a square-wave oscillator. Adjust sync ratio and pitch envelope, add glide, shape with filter envelope, and apply ping-pong delay.
Example: Super Saw Pad10:30
Create a thick super saw pad by pairing two detuned sawtooth oscillators, shaping with linear envelopes, enabling unison voices and stereo routing, and adding reverb, chorus, and optional auto pan.
Example: Snare10:14

FM Theory4:46
An overview of the history and fundamental concepts of frequency modulation synthesis.
Operator Interface1:38
Explore the operator interface in Ableton Live. Four labeled operators A–D reveal settings as you select sections, and global algorithms change how operators feed into each other to shape tone.
Operators6:40
Envelopes5:16
Shape operator volumes with envelopes in Ableton Live using ADR envelopes for each oscillator, adjusting attack, decay, sustain, and release, with looping and velocity modulation.
Pitch Envelope7:06
Waveforms6:13
Explore how operator waveforms and feedback shape timbre in Ableton Live, from sine and square waves to harmonics, with four-bit to eight-bit warmth and algorithm-driven modulation.
Additive Synthesis10:49
Operator's Filter11:42
Operator's LFO9:05
Velocity11:02
Global Controls11:05
Glide & Spread5:14
Example: Deep House Bass9:07
Sculpt a classic deep house bass in Ableton Live using a sine-wave operator, frequency modulation, and precise envelope shaping, with one voice, glide, and subtle reverb.
Example: Dubstep Bass10:47
Example: FM Pad9:33
Example: FM Electric Piano10:25
Example: Riser Effect11:12
Example: Glitch Lead7:39

Requirements

Description

This course is targeted at beginners and intermediate level students.

It covers the fundamentals of audio synthesis.

The software being used is Ableton Live Suite’s Analog and Operator Synthesizers, but the underlying concepts are transferable to the majority of other software and hardware synthesizers on the market.

The course is structured progressively, covering all the building blocks and different methods of synthesis commonly used.

Throughout the course there are animations demonstrating the concepts visually, so you can see as well hear the sound.

There are also example patches available to download that cover common types of sounds such as basses, leads and pads.

This course is designed to be an in depth, comprehensive look at synthesis and on completion you will have all the basic knowledge required to kick-start your own sound design journey.

Who this course is for:

Beginners and intermediate music producers

Synthesis 101: Ableton Live

What you'll learn

Explore related topics

Course content

Introduction1 lecture • 1min

Introduction to Synthesis3 lectures • 9min

Subtractive Synthesis18 lectures • 2hr 9min

Frequencey Modulation Synthesis18 lectures • 2hr 29min

Outro1 lecture • 1min

Requirements

Description

Who this course is for: