120 bpm. 4/4. C major. Yawn. What if you could use those same Ableton Live project defaults to do something different? A new Max for Live devices dares you to do just that.
It all started with an idea from the mighty composer/artist Tyondai Braxton. Developer Tim Charlemagne wove that notion into Scale-O-Mat – an all-in-one pitch transformer device for Max for Live (so compatible with any copy of Ableton Live Suite).
You can start simple – the devices let you change a scale over the whole project. You can filter out notes that don’t fit the scale, or constrain notes to the scale you want. That could mean basic transpositions, too – for instance, if needed by instrumentalists or vocalists.
But Scale-O-Mat goes deeper, too, with multiple devices that talk to one another, up to four different groups, a chord feature, presets, and of course, a ton of scales.
Ableton’s own Push hardware comes with a decent selection of scales and modes, from “church” modes like Dorian to Indonesian and Japanese selections. Tobias Hunke has added to those selections, which you should check out both for use with this device and outside it. Check those here:
https://www.ableton.com/de/blog/explore-new-scales-40-free-presets/
https://abletonkurse.wordpress.com
Scale-O-Mat works in tandem with Tim’s other Max for Live creations, so you can work with his chord device and elaborate modular sequencer.
It’s great stuff, both for people who have had some theory and those who didn’t but want to spice up their lives a bit.
Download for 10 € / US$12 (includes VAT).
https://www.soundmanufacture.net/scaleomat/