808 style claps with Ableton Operator

808 claps are a mainstay in modern electronic music. In this video we look at synthesising this classic percussion hit using Ableton’s Operator. As opposed to working with samples, synthesising your own drums sounds allows you to customise and refine them to work better with your own tracks.

Lesson key points:
0:12 – Introduction
0:21 – Analysing the original
0:46 – Layer 1 in Operator
2:48 – Layer 2 in Operator
4:40 – Tuning the clap
5:23 – Setting up a pitch envelope
7:01 – Adding effects
8:02 – Alternate method for any synth