Ryan Axtell » Gear

Clicks in Loops

admin — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 18:24:55 +0000

So I am in a predicament and need your input!

I am currently exporting some of my soft synth/ambient/rhythm tracks from the “This Valley” protools files so I can play them live. I normally use Ableton Live to trigger my loops/tracks live, but the lately I’ve been having trouble making my loops warp to Ableton’s built in click (which I hacked and replaced with a Boss DB-90 rimshot sample). Sometimes it works, but almost any song in 6/8 won’t properly warp.

To solve this, I decided to just dump out my tracks w/ the click embedded in the stereo audio from protools so I could just trigger them in ableton without actually warping…the problem is I don’t like the protools click sounds. This of course gives me a mono track/loop b/c the left side of my stereo channel is designated for click. Also, if I role this way, there is a good chance that each of my tracks may have slightly different click volumes based on individual session settings…and we don’t want to lose that click in the mix now do we!

I recently made a sample of the DB-90 rimshot with is my favorite (and some of the drummers I use) sample to play with. What is the easiest way to create a custom click track in Protools 8 using this sample? (I say pro tools b/c that is where all my data is). Import into a tick-based track and quantize to grid?

I admit I’m not the best Ableton warper but I know my way around pretty well…but I don’t have the patience to place warp markers on every beat in my tracks. Ideally I would import stereo loops/tracks into ableton, warp them to the built in click (per individual scenes) and role out!

Thoughts?

Gibson E-335 Wanted

admin — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 00:56:39 +0000

So I’ve been saving for a long time to eventually purchase a new guitar. My main guitar right now is a stock American Tele. I do have a few ’80′s hair metal mayhems around but I only play them when I where my tights.

Originally, I planned on purchasing some type of Les Paul to really contrast my tele and fill out my sound, but after more research I’ve decided I want the semi-hollow E-335. From Chuck Berry and the 3 Kings of Blues to Eric Clapton and John Mayer, this guitar brings the tone, the feedback, and the bite. I personally am a sucker for the tobacco burst. Now this is obviously a blues/Jazz guitar…no Enter Sandman on this fine instrument.

So, here are the stats:

Maple Back & Sides
Single-ply top, back and fingerboard binding
Free Gibson hardshell case
Two volume controls, two tone controls
Three-way pickup switch
Rosewood fingerboard with 22 frets
Nickel or Gold Machineheads
Mahogany Neck
Two ‘57 Classic humbucker pickups
Dot Inlays

If you happen to have on sitting in your room in mint condition give me a call! At the same time, in this economy, I don’t feel right about shelling out 3 G’s. Then I’ll need a new Top Hat amp, pedals, and new outfit!

Finale vs. Sibelius

admin — Sun, 28 Dec 2008 23:20:14 +0000

So, I currently use Finale Notepad and Printmusic, which are perhaps the hardest, most stripped down programs ever, but they are free/cheap. I have been looking at upgrading to either Finale or Sibelius, and after a lot of research, I am looking at Sibelius. From my experience, the interface is much more intuitive, and it offers more options for interfacing with midi programs/sequencer. Seems like Sibelius has been getting the popular vote, while most schools seem to get group licenses cheaper for Finale…Kinda like the mac you have at home and the pc you have to use at work.

This FORUM has some good insight.

This ONE too.

Verbzilla…still need a pad?

admin — Wed, 24 Dec 2008 07:38:29 +0000

So my buddy Jay just got Line 6′s Verbzilla…and I gotta say that pedal is pretty awesome. While it delivers everything a verb should, its octo setting generates the reverb an octave higher, creating an ethereal pad-like layer…and for around 10 bucks! Definitely a great tool to add to the arsenal.