UPDATED FOR LIVE 12
With the addition of a new module called Modulate, which makes use of the new modulation capabilities in Live 12. This module won’t show up if you’re using Live 11 or below. It behaves similarly to the Remote module, but instead of taking full control over the parameter in Live, it can still be moved, automated or controlled with a Remote module or other devices.
MODULAT FEATURES
Formerly known as Signal, Modulat is a toolbox of modules that can be connected together to create or modify signals from Ableton Live, transform and output them as Audio or control for parameters. Begin by spawning modules from the menu and then connect them with patch cords by clicking on each modules inputs (left) and outputs (right). You can click on any output to monitor its signal within the scope and all modules run at audio rate. Use the Audio In & Out Modules to exchange signals between devices or to send & receive control voltage.
Modulat is a node based / modular playground for control signals such as LFOs, envelopes and automations. Most Max for Live control devices have a lot of issues and limit the possibilities by completely taking over the control of a parameter in Live. Signal uses audio signals for all its calculations and lets you route them however you want giving you a lot more options while keeping the highest quality possible along with staying sample accurate.
Additionally it eliminates chain mapping, where you would use an LFO on another one. Since every mapping in Live introduces a delay as well as CPU usage, chain mapping is not useful at all. With Modulat you only need one mapping to make everything possible. You can always add another signal and keep expanding the setup. Especially by using multiple instances you can use Lives own routing to mix control signals, record them and play them back in any way using the session view, the Looper device or simply by triggering them using Simpler/Sampler.
Additionally Modulat is the only device on the market that provides a workaround to control parameters in sync with Live by compensating for the delay. You can find out more about this workaround on page 10 of the user guide linked below.
The modules in Modulat are versatile, you don’t need a lot of them to create something useful. With a lot of additional features that haven’t been done before, bypassing mapped parameters for example, Signal is the ultimate control device.
With the flexibility Modulat becomes a meta language, you can basically create your own control devices exactly how you like it without actually having to program them in Max. Signal takes away all the work of getting the basics to work and leaves you only with the decision making.
MODULAT MODULES
INPUTS & OUTPUTS
Audio In / Out – Receive and send audio using the device inputs and outputs.
Dial – This module simply outputs the dial value, which can be automated.
MIDI In / Out – Receives and sends MIDI data.
Note In – Receives MIDI notes and outputs a trigger, pitch and velocity signal.
Observer – This module outputs the value of any parameter in Live.
Remote – Controls parameters in Live with the incoming signal.
Note Out module:
- Outputs MIDI Notes with a trigger, pitch value and velocity value signals.
- Similar to the Note In module, pitch and velocity values can be scaled (-1 to 1) or raw (0 to 127). Because of rounding errors when dealing with floating point values, it is advised to use raw values for the pitch.
- This module is able to prevent any incoming MIDI notes from being send out by default. This way you can mix the Note Out notes with the already existing notes or not.
Route module:
- Up to 8 inputs and outputs can be routed in any way imaginable doing a drag and drop on the input and output names within very similar to how inputs and outputs of modules can be connected. Click on a connection to delete it and click on an input or output to delete all of its connections.
- You can switch between different setups or routing combinations with the setup number at the top making it possible to change the routing of other modules dynamically. The maximum amount of setup numbers can be set as well. It is advised to not use high values unless actually needed as high values will increase the loading time for Modulat slightly.
- The DSP part of the module is being compiled on the fly to ensure efficiency. If an input, output or a setup number isn’t used, the CPU usage will not increase. You can use this module for very simple tasks such as a gate without having to worry about wasting CPU usage on all of the other things the module could do.
- Copy and paste works as usual across different Modulat instances and even carries over to other Livesets.
GENERATORS
Envelope – Generates an AHDSR curve controlled by a trigger signal input with an output range of 0 to 1.
Follower – This module expects an audio signal input and generates a signal that follows the incoming amplitudes.
LFO – The curve is customizable and the presets in the list above can be used as a starting point.
Noise – This module outputs random values within the range specified (including the low and high values themselves).
Step – This module is basically a step sequencer. It allows the use of curves and all kind of shapes, but with the dials at the bottom it is designed to be used as a step sequencer.
TRANSFORMERS
Function – This module translates an incoming signal using a customizable curve.
Spread – This module will take multiple inputs and adds a value to it speci#ed with the number directly next to the input.
EFFECTS
Jitter – This module creates a jitter signal with a customizable frequency, which you can then mix together with other signals.
Smooth – This module takes a signal and smoothes it out to avoid quick movements.
TIMING
Clock – This module generates a clock signal that loops after a set amount of bars.
Counter – Whenever this module receives a trigger ON value it will count the Milliseconds, samples or beats (quarter notes / clock signal) that have passed.
Delay – This module can delay a signal with positive values as well as negative, which will add latency.
Swing – With this module you can apply swing onto any signal.
Static Delay – An incoming signal can be delayed without the ability to automate the delay time. This has the advantage of using a more efficient method for delaying and is suggested to use when no automation is needed. These two controls for milliseconds and samples are already included in most input and output modules. This module simply allows you to use them anywhere in the signal flow.
Trigger Delay – Trigger signals can be delayed with any delay module, but by using this module the three trigger states are separated and delayed individually.
Trigger Duration – This module can limit the duration of trigger signals with a minimum and maximum length that can be speci+ed in milliseconds or samples. Both the minimum and maximum values can be controlled in audio rate by connecting signals into the module inputs. To deactivate the maximum limitation entirely with a signal, make sure the signal is 0 since a value of 0 will deactivate the limitation just as the activation buttons would.
BASICS
Math – You can perform basic math operations by selecting a method in the drop down.
Movement – This module analyses an incoming signal and reports its movement.
Range – The incoming signal will be kept within a customizable range.
Scale – This module allows you to scale a signal by using 4 reference points. If the module receives the value speci#ed in the top left, it will result in the value shown in the top right. The same goes for the bottom two values.
ROUTING
Mix – This module simply mixes multiple signals together.
Trigger Merge – This simple module will analyse multiple trigger signals and create a single.
PLEASE NOTE: Users of Live 10.0.5 and below (also Live 9) need to manually connect Live to the latest version of Max 8, details Are in the installation section towards the bottom of this page.
Daniel Ribeiro –
Absolutely brilliant max4live device. Turns Ableton into an entirely other beast. I know for a fact I’ll be using this for years to come 🙂
Manfred –
According to ClyphX, Signal is the perfect complement to my live set. Now I can just do things that I previously had to program myself with Max for Live.
billborez –
Absolutely love this. Just superb.
dwave10 –
One of the best M4L packages out there. Completely transforms Ableton in so many ways.
daizok –
Modulat is easiliy one of my favourite devices. Besides the vast modulation and routing options it runs like clockwork.
Nicola Sauser –
This is some serious gourmet shit!
TO –
MODULAT was easy to use even for beginners like me!
There are so many presets and templates that it doesn’t take much time to understand.
brodiem2016 –
Total Mayhem!!
petertaber –
It’s hard to remember what I did before I had Modulat. Modulat produces more flexible basic modulation than any of the Ableton’s factory M4L devices. When I want to go deep, Modulat let’s me treat my Ableton+VSTs like a digital modular rig. The developer regularly provides free updates, and is extremely responsive about issues. I can’t recommend this tool highly enough.
BLAKE HARTING –
This is such an awesome plugin. The amount of creativity you can do with it is ridiculous, and they did a great job with every little detail. Completely stable and works great.
Revo Music –
Absolutely incredible device! The most effective way how to do a lot of mappings in Ableton. It opens a totally new way of work. Also, the support from the developer is absolutely amazing, very helpful even if I needed an adjustment in the device. Big fan!
adrian lini –
Absolutely insane, wish there were more people online discussing the power of this!
Darren E Cowley (Admin) –
Just the Facebook group as far as I’m aware, but yeah totally agree!!
Andrew Richards –
The best and most important modulation device for Live, in my opinion. It makes the large number of one-off custom modulation devices redundant, including the ones Live ships with, and it’s more accurate and CPU efficient than them. If you do tricks with M4L LFOs, shapers, etc., you really want to be using Modulat, not a bunch of individual devices on a rack. Trust me.
And thanks so much for updating this for Live 12 so quickly! Works like a charm with the new relative modulation system.
Chris Connelly –
Modulat is insanely powerful and easy to use. You won’t need anything else for modulations