Master Modulation With The Modulation With The LFO’s, ENV’s, Stepper & Performer
Modulation in NI Massive is the use of the envelopes, stepper, Performer and LFO’s to control pitch, filters and other tools to affect the delivery and evolution of sounds – even controlling the wave shape to alter the original signal. Think of the modulators as a near infinite set of hands, controlling what you want… when you want!
As you can imagine, there are a thousand different ways to do this, and Massive has a world class combination of tools for the job. Deciding which path to take can be confusing. Dubstep/DnB producer Deadly Habit takes you through this landmark tutorial series step-by-step, introducing you to some of the most powerful methods used by the top producers the world over.
Everything has come together! I have gone from being confused by all the options to fully understanding how I can attack the sound I want to achieve. Excellent videos!
LEARN THE SECRETS OF MASSIVE MODULATION WITH A MASTER
SEAL IT IN AN ENVELOPE
Grab the beverage of your choice as Deadly Habit kicks off the videos with a journey through the world of envelopes. Massive has 4 Envelope tabs – —each one has its own ADSR selections with an array of options including “morphing” options. Each envelope can control just abut any parameter including themselves! Deadly Habit explains every move he makes as you discover:
- Insider tweaks and tips on how to maximize attack, decay, sustain and release settings.
- How to “let the air out” of a riser to create dramatic wave sounds (these are perfect before a drop).
- How to set up an envelope that repeats with a pre-set trigger.
- The difference between gates, one-shots and holds and more importantly when to use them.
- When to use a basic sustain loop that only goes forward and backward one time.
- How to morph a sound using the Sustain Loop. (You’ll spend hours having fun with this one tool).
- How to create a wide variety of wild morphs including expo, triangle, peak, switch, sine, steps and extreme.
- Unique ways to use envelopes to create specific musical sounds like bass, kick, leads and pads.
GET DOWN WITH LFO’S
An LFO is a low frequency oscillator. An LFO modifies any chosen parameters to change over time – at the shape and speed you set. Massive has perhaps the most advanced internal modulation routing capabilities and LFO’s lie at the heart! In Video 2 you’ll get a closer look at:
- Super fast ways to choose the right LFO curve for your project – sine, saw, triangle or square.
- How to rapidly modulate the LFO settings with an internal envelope and select the optimum attack and decay.
- How to take advantage of multiple LFO wave-shapes, and how to morph between them.
- The correct way to create a classic LFO to filter cutoff (you’ll use this one again and again).
- How to morph a sound using the Sustain Loop. (You’ll spend hours having fun with this one tool).
- Sneaky insider tricks to maximize the power of noise curve selections like exponential down, shuffle, triple ramps, bending and vibrato wave.
- How to throttle the rate level on the internal envelope to create buzzing, angry sounds.
MASTER MODULATION IN NI MASSIVE IN JUST 3 HOURS
Are you struggling to make most of NI Massive in your productions?
It’s time to raise your game!
You see, the real artistry in sound design comes from the producer’s skill with modulation.
Modulation in NI Massive is the use of the envelopes, stepper, Performer and LFO’s to control pitch, filters and other tools to affect the delivery and evolution of sounds – even controlling the wave shape to alter the original signal. Think of the modulators as a near infinite set of hands, controlling what you want… when you want!
As you can imagine, there are a thousand different ways to do this, and Massive has a world class combination of tools for the job. Deciding which path to take can be confusing. Dubstep/DnB producer Deadly Habit takes you through this landmark tutorial series step-by-step, introducing you to some of the most powerful methods used by the top producers the world over.
POWER MOVES WITH THE STEPPER
The Stepper is not your average step sequencer. Pitch change and parameter control is just the beginning. In Video 3 you’ll learn:
- Simple ways to generate a Stepper pattern quickly so you can begin to experiment with different sounds.
- How to force Massive to produce a monophonic signal. (This method works no matter how many different voices are used.)
- Powerful techniques to create complex arpeggios with ease. (Add glide to key notes to get some fascinating sounds!)
- How to take advantage of the unique way Massive LFOs have both positive and negative readings.
- Add filters to the Stepper to create a classic 303 sound!
POWER MOVES WITH THE PERFORMER
The Performer is like a powerful audio Swiss-army knife. Its main role is very basic. But it has a plethora of options that make it truly powerful. Plus, once you have determined your choices, there are a number of automation options that free you up for other tasks. You can “set it and forget it.”
- The Performer has more curves than an Italian road. Discover how to get the most out of them… and if you don’t see anything you like you can create your own!
- How to create a “moving filter” by using the Performer to modulate Massive’s filters.
- Clever tips to take your creativity to whole new level with the Randomizer. You can choose to randomize upper or lower lever curves, levels, and performers.
- How to “stack” performers on top of performers by automating effects, oscillators and more — discover new and exciting sounds you would never find any other way.
MODULATION FOR MORE INTERESTING SOUND
Why learn all this modulation stuff anyway?
Modulation adds interesting layers to the sounds you produce. For example, a regular wave-table is enhanced dramatically when you modulate it with an LFO or envelope. On the same Oscillator you could also change the pitch, add interesting effects and many other options. Likewise, simple effects takes on more complexity when you can add modulation to their parameters.
In other words, it’s like icing on an already delicious cake. Modulation lets you “sweeten” a sound until it has a personality it could not develop on its own. MassiveSynth.com’s newest video series, “Modulation and Modulators in Massive,” presented by veteran dubstep producer Deadly Habit takes you on a tour of the wide variety of modulators in Massive. Deadly Habit shows you in real time tips, tricks and choices to cut through “producer’s block” to start laying down monster tracks.
While Deadly Habit helps you get a handle on Massive’s LFOs, envelopes, Stepper, performer, and endless automation options, he constantly encourages you to experiment and apply your creativity. It’s good to know technique, he says, but real learning takes place when you explore and try different things.
By the end of these videos, you’ll have a much greater appreciation of the modulation power inside Massive. When you combine your new found knowledge with your own creativity, your productions will improve by leaps and bounds.
MASTER CLASS: ADVANCED MASSIVE MODULATORS
Now that you are familiar with many of Massive’s potent modulation options, in Video 4 we’ll kick it up a notch and discover some advance skills with the modulators. Then we’ll take a look at setting parameters with your favorite DAW. Here are some of the things you’ll learn:
- How to use the side-chain to affect modulators in the exact percentage you specify.
- How to map macro controls to make side-chaining fast and easy.
- How to use your DAW to automate the ratio. If you have it synced you need to do it within your DAW.
- How to automate parameters like pitch position, amplitude, filter routing, or almost anything within Massive. (Set it manually or record automation as you go through your sequence!)
- Time-saving tips that help you “draw in” automation when the need arises.
- How to make complex patches with “modulators affecting other modulators” complete with macro controls and the side-chain.
- How to set up advanced routing to build Stabs, Reese Basses and other sounds.
- How to use “midi learn” to map to your midi controller and record it live. The secret is using the modulators within Massive judiciously.
CREATIVITY AND ADVANCED MODULATION
The best way to learn is practice and experimentation. In the final video, Deadly Habit show you how to resample a Reese as an example of how to apply your own creativity and resourcefulness to create original sounds. You discover:
- How to process and resample to get new sounds.
- When it is better to tweak levels in your DAW instead of Massive.
- How to use plug ins like Izotrope Trash to add greater distortion, grit and dirt.
- Why “playing” without second-guessing creates breakthroughs in creativity.
- How to use multi-band plug ins to affect individual bands with separate distortion units.
- Why “less is more” when creating Reese basses.
- How to use EQ to take the edge off an overdriven mix.
- How to maximize your creative output by constantly bouncing down, adding more modulation and effects, trying different modulation patterns and cross fading between them with different effects chains. (This constant flow of experimentation creates awesome results!)
EXPERT GUIDANCE
The main advantage of Massive is well, it is Massive: the range of modulation possibilities is literally endless. However, that’s also a disadvantage because it can be difficult to know where to start. These videos provide a “learned guide” to start you on the correct path.
Yes, you possibly could figure it out for yourself…eventually. In fact, random exploration and experimentation is encouraged. However, Deadly Habit gives you a base to work from, a starting point. You’ll be watching “over-the-shoulder” as he creates new sounds from scratch using solid LFO, envelope, Stepper and Performer settings you can put to work immediately in your own compositions.
Like you, Deadly Habit is an artist (specializing in Dubstep/DnB) with releases on labels such as 20/Twelve Netaudio, Savory Audio, Shift Recordings, Tentative Recordings and Witness Records to name a few. He’ll point out when you’ve acquired the basic knowledge and where you’ll benefit from some exploration on your own. This guided approach is much more productive than attempting to find all the possibilities in Massive modulation by yourself.
Part of the fun is watching a master producer put his immense talent to work. In video 5, for example, Deadly shows how to marry Massive’s modulation with your favorite Digital Audio Workstation to develop a new composition on the fly. He’ll indicate which functions are best handled by Massive and which are better handled by the DAW. You’ll also get a good look at his personal favorite VST plug ins as he smashes and mashes a sound into gritty submission.
Think of Deadly Habit as your personal guide and “Modulation and Modulators in Massive” as the guidebook. You’ll learn more, faster, and get more enjoyment out of every step of the journey!
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