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Ambient with Adam
Registrace 15. 05. 2024
I talk about ambient music, guitar and gear
I Made Beautiful Ambient Drones with Free Plugins - Here's How
In this ambient guitar tutorial I show how you can get great sounding ambient drone sounds with a budget setup and a simple reverb technique.
I use my affordable Squier guitar and the free plugins: Neural Amp Modeler and Valhalla Supermassive.
Subscribe to the channel: www.youtube.com/@AmbientWithAdam?sub_confirmation=1
Watch this video next: czcams.com/video/wQzePLid-7U/video.html
Amazon affiliate links to my recording gear (no extra cost to you):
iRig USB Audio Interface: amzn.to/3xFwWaR
Rode Lavalier Go Microphone: amzn.to/4c3zvlA
Dimmable Softbox Light: amzn.to/4aPG0rg
Tripod: amzn.to/3xi6GTT
Neural Amp Modeler: www.neuralampmodeler.com/
Fender Deluxe Reverb II rig model: tonehunt.org/aviavi123/6493155d-99fd-4fc5-9714-cf0d39a5dfe6
Valhalla Supermassive: valhalladsp.com/shop/reverb/valhalla-supermassive/
Timestamps:
0:00 - Ambient drones on a budget
0:25 - What are drones?
1:04 - Setting up the plugins
3:52 - Drone patterns on the guitar
6:29 - Adding more movement
7:18 - Droning over chord changes
9:01 - Additional tips
About:
This is a lesson for ambient drones on guitar, without the need for expensive gear. I explain what drones are in music. Then I set up the two free plugins needed in Ableton: Neural Amp Modeler with a Fender Deluxe Reverb II rig model, and Valhalla Supermassive. I then show some patterns one can play on the guitar to get beautiful drone sounds with the plugins setup. Then I show how to get some additional in movement in the drone sound, and how to play drones over chord changes. Lastly I give some additional tips for further experimentation.
I use my affordable Squier guitar and the free plugins: Neural Amp Modeler and Valhalla Supermassive.
Subscribe to the channel: www.youtube.com/@AmbientWithAdam?sub_confirmation=1
Watch this video next: czcams.com/video/wQzePLid-7U/video.html
Amazon affiliate links to my recording gear (no extra cost to you):
iRig USB Audio Interface: amzn.to/3xFwWaR
Rode Lavalier Go Microphone: amzn.to/4c3zvlA
Dimmable Softbox Light: amzn.to/4aPG0rg
Tripod: amzn.to/3xi6GTT
Neural Amp Modeler: www.neuralampmodeler.com/
Fender Deluxe Reverb II rig model: tonehunt.org/aviavi123/6493155d-99fd-4fc5-9714-cf0d39a5dfe6
Valhalla Supermassive: valhalladsp.com/shop/reverb/valhalla-supermassive/
Timestamps:
0:00 - Ambient drones on a budget
0:25 - What are drones?
1:04 - Setting up the plugins
3:52 - Drone patterns on the guitar
6:29 - Adding more movement
7:18 - Droning over chord changes
9:01 - Additional tips
About:
This is a lesson for ambient drones on guitar, without the need for expensive gear. I explain what drones are in music. Then I set up the two free plugins needed in Ableton: Neural Amp Modeler with a Fender Deluxe Reverb II rig model, and Valhalla Supermassive. I then show some patterns one can play on the guitar to get beautiful drone sounds with the plugins setup. Then I show how to get some additional in movement in the drone sound, and how to play drones over chord changes. Lastly I give some additional tips for further experimentation.
zhlédnutí: 270
Video
Ambient Guitar in 2024: DAW vs Pedalboard vs Multi FX
zhlédnutí 775Před měsícem
In this video I compare different rig options for ambient guitar: DAW with plugins, pedal boards and multi effects units. I break down the pros and cons of each setup, how the rigs can be combined, my recommendations depending on budget, and reveal what I chose for my own ambient guitar rig. Amazon affiliate links to most of the gear mentioned (no extra cost to you): Hotone Ampero II Stomp Mult...
EASY Fixed Length Clip Recording in Ableton Live
zhlédnutí 391Před 2 měsíci
In this tutorial I explain how to easily record clips of predetermined duration in Ableton Live, both for MIDI and audio, without having to use a Push device or plugins. It will work for any edition of Ableton Live (even Lite), as long as it's Live version 11 or later. Subscribe to the channel: www.youtube.com/@AmbientWithAdam?sub_confirmation=1 Watch this video next: czcams.com/video/H2Nt3csPP...
Why I Returned My Hotone Ampero 2 Stomp
zhlédnutí 361Před 2 měsíci
I explain three big problems I have had with the Hotone Ampero ii Stomp multi effects unit, and why they are deal-breaking issues to me. I also outline what kind of players I think they will impact. Amazon affiliate links to gear mentioned in video (no extra cost to you): Hotone Ampero ii Stomp: amzn.to/4bMqLkk M-VAVE Chocolate MIDI foot controller: amzn.to/3RaopDg Subscribe to the channel: www...
M-VAVE Chocolate MIDI Controller: Is It Any Good?
zhlédnutí 2,8KPřed 2 měsíci
A detailed review of the M-VAVE Chocolate bluetooth wireless MIDI footswitch, and walkthrough of its desktop configuration app. Amazon affiliate link to the M-VAVE Chocolate: amzn.to/3RaopDg Amazon affiliate links to gear mentioned in video (no extra cost to you): M-VAVE Chocolate: amzn.to/3RaopDg Hotone Ampero Control: amzn.to/45dBpOA Subscribe to the channel: www.youtube.com/@AmbientWithAdam?...
Ibanez Ichi10: Is It Worth It? (3 month review)
zhlédnutí 6KPřed 2 měsíci
I give an overview and detailed review of the Ibanez ichi10 Ichika Nito headless electric guitar with stainless steel frets after owning it for 3 months. Amazon links to some products mentioned in video (no extra cost to you): Ibanez IGBQ724 gigbag: amzn.to/4dSt9ay Amazon affiliate links to my recording gear (no extra cost to you): Rode Lavalier Go microphone: amzn.to/4c3zvlA Dimmable softbox l...
Review of Hal Leonard Guitar Method: Music Theory
zhlédnutí 91Před 2 měsíci
I give an overview and detailed review of the Hal Leonard Guitar Method: Music Theory book by Tom Kolb. Amazon affiliate link to the book: amzn.to/3KfmaL9 Amazon affiliate links to my recording gear (no extra cost to you): Rode Lavalier Go microphone: amzn.to/4c3zvlA Dimmable softbox light: amzn.to/4aPG0rg Subscribe to the channel: www.youtube.com/@AmbientWithAdam?sub_confirmation=1 Timestamps:...
I cannot get the desktop app to work. It says "firmware update" and nothing else! Help!
How can I connect this Chocolate midi controller to the Yamaha MD-BT01 Bluetooth dongle?
Hi! I guess you would use a TRS-to-MIDI converter to connect it. I used the BOSS BMIDI-5-35 to connect the chocolate to my Ampero ii Stomp's MIDI input and that worked fine :)
@@AmbientWithAdam Thank you for your suggestion! That's what I am thinking, but I will lost the wireless capability.
@@lanphanh True :) I guess one would really only want to use the Yamaha MD-BT01 if one has a MIDI controller that can only do MIDI out. But since the M-VAVE Chocolate has bluetooth you can connect it directly with bluetooth to whatever device you're using?
@@AmbientWithAdam With this current version, I think it can only connect to the ipad or computer to set and control the midi app. BTW, I tried to reuse my old Midi cord to make the TRS to Midi, but it seems doesn't work with either mode A or B. mode A have Pin 5 to Tip and B to Ring and vice versa. Also, I am using this for my Yamaha SX900
I see that nurture vinyl in the background, big ups
Such a good record
Very nice video! I’ve got one of these about a week ago and so far I’m liking it a lot. The pickups are serviceable but could be a bit better.
What did he say
That’s what she said
next month the mvave chocolate plus will be released.... an upgraded version
Really? Where could I see the information?
@@juanpiticuan2005 on youtube.. there are videos
👌great video!
Thank you!!
Not really.. you can't substirute an acoustic.
Thanks for the review man! I almost forgot that headless guitars exist lols been looking for a new guitar to buy for awhile now that is primarily light And I forgot that Ichika has a sig haha. I'm a fan of his though Will consider this model definitely Thanks again. New subscriber here.
Haha, headless might be the way to go for you then :) Agree, Ichika is great! Thanks for the sub :)
Na, m, good!
Great video, thank you! I have question maybe you can help me :) I have a Hotone Ampero 2 Stage and it has a built-in bluetooth control setting. I wonder if I can pair it over bluetooth. The thing is that I cannot try it by myself because m-vave is not available in my country. I can only order abroad and if it is not compatible with Ampero 2 Stage over bluetooth there is no option to refund the m-vave. Also the Ampero 2 Stage has a 3.5mm TRS midi in connector, it means I would not be able to use a standard TRS-MIDI cable if the bluetooth does not work. Do you think it can pair directly with Ampero 2 Stage over bluetooth?
Hi! I don't know about connecting via bluetooth to the stage unfortunately, sorry. I thought the bluetooth was mainly for connecting your phone to the device? But perhaps it can accept other input devices too. Regarding the 3.5 mm output: I wonder if it would work to use a 1/4" from the Chocolate into a 1/4" to 3.5mm converter, and then in to the stage. Could be worth trying? But I understand if you don't want to gamble if you cannot return it :/
@@AmbientWithAdam Actually, Ampero 2 Stage's bluetooth audio and control options are separated. This is the user manuel info about bluetooth control: "When switched on, SEARCH button will appear for searching and pairing nearby BLE devices like MIDI controllers (e.g. Ampero Control)." As I understood, I am able to pair Ampero Control easily but I am not sure that I can pair M-Vave Chocolate as well. I think I am going to give it a go. By the way, I didn't think I can use 1/4" to 3.5mm converter with a midi cable. It would not be the desired outcome but at least I can use it with the cable. Thanks again!
@@VolkanIcin Oh ok! Yes, hopefully it will work with the chocolate over BT then. I'm not use the 1/4" to 3.5mm converter works either, but it could be worth a try :) Hope it works out for you!
Great video! However, for some reason the audio clip isn't recording when the scene is triggered. I've got everything set up like you have it, track is armed, blank clip in a midi channel, etc. Maybe there's something that I need to change in the settings for scene to initiate armed track recordings? Thanks in advance
Hey! Hmm, that's unfortunate. I'm think I'm using all default settings in Live, and the project I used in the demo was completely fresh. Took a screenshot of my settings: u.pcloud.link/publink/show?code=XZaahP0ZuaPiEXaO4mH8bLPTCgFubLFFHPDy What Live version are you using?
@@AmbientWithAdam solved!! Thank you for showing your settings, I had “start recording on scene launch” turned off 🙏
@@JamesTobiasMusic That's great! I'll pin this thread in case someone else has the same issue
Great review and deep dive. Thank you. Subbed. Do you think this would work with an Eventide H9? Also, did you hear back from M-Wave with regards to showing CC messages?
Thanks for the sub! I haven't tried but I would expect it to work with an Eventide H9. It works both for Ampero ii Stomp and HX Stomp with a TRS->MIDI converter into the device's MIDI input, so I'd expect it to be the same with the H9. I've heard people saying that it doesn't work with all converters though so be wary, but with the BOSS BMIDI-5-35 cable it works with both aforementioned stomps. No I haven't heard anything from M-VAVE. I'll keep you posted if I do :)
Ok thanks for that 🙂 In the end, I went for a Paint Audio Midi Captain mini. A fair bit more expensive, but really good value all the same for what it offers, (inc. CC messages) and I want to access things more easily on the fly too. Really enjoying this channel.
@@standingbadger Ah nice, that also seems like a great device :) Hope it works out well for you! Thank you, that's kind of you to say 🙏
I prefer stainless steel over Evo gold P. S. I subscribed 👍
Thanks for the sub! I'll admit that I also prefer the SS frets, if not only for the aesthetics :)
Excellent rundown of gear options! Subscribed!
Awesome, thank you! 🙏
Hi Adam, thanks for the tutorial, say if you play a midi loop but it is not fully quantized, does fixed loop have an auto quantization. I dont want to use a mouse or keyboard..when i am performing live. Any suggestion how to record live loops and have ableton auto quantize it to your metronome. Thanks
Hi @3082frank! Have you tried enabling record quantization: Main menu -> Edit -> Record Quantization ? Not sure if that's good enough for you. There's also this Max4Live device that seems really effective: czcams.com/video/0L1ipOVthy0/video.html&ab_channel=abletondrummer.com Hope you're able to sort it out!
@@AmbientWithAdam Hi Adam, i will check it out. Thank you for the reply.
Super appreciate the emphasis on affordability!
Happy to hear that 🙏 It encourages me to make more of these!
Thanks for watching the clip! Check out the full tutorial: czcams.com/video/f2xSbFQnTt0/video.html
Thank you for watching! Please let me know if there are other ambient guitar sounds you'd like to see me cover in this "Gear Doesn't Matter" series 🙏
Returning the ampero stomp 2 as well. Not for the looper, I actually didn’t test it, but the functionality isn’t there. I was considering replacing my hx stomp with the ampero and sound wise I actually thought the ampero was better. However, it’s lacking in effects and programmability. Software is also pretty buggy. Maybe in a couple years.
iPad has absolute tons of amazing plugins and they are WAY cheaper than on Mac/PC (FabFilter suite is $80 on iOS compared to $2000 ). I can't believe more people haven't caught on to how good they are.
thank you very much you gave me the key to what i want , the video great but the volume of the video need some caring.
Glad to hear that :) Sorry about the low volume, it will be better in upcoming videos
Hi, thanks for sharing your experience. I have a question: I'm looking for a controller to connect to a recorder on a PC, like Audacity, Ableton, etc. Is it possible to assign functions like record, pause, and new track to the buttons on the controller in such programs?
I want to use the controller as a means for recording noodling on the guitar and accumulating guitar ideas.
And also, will it work with Garage band ?
Hey! Yes, it definitely works with Ableton - that is primarily what I use it for :) Record, play, pause etc can for sure be controlled with MIDI. But I do not know about creating new track, at least I would not know how to do it. Audacity I do not know about either unfortunately
I do not use Garageband so I do not what you can bind to MIDI in that program. But Garageband does support using MIDI controllers at least, so it is possible it can do what you want :)
This guitar is the perfect blend of modern and classics. I have the guitar with the evo gold frets. bought new, had the neck fitted improperly, so got a replacement guitar. the guitar is very versatile and comfortable. The hardware is better than what most headless guitars have. you can adjust string height and intonation just like on a traditional guitars without too much fiddling unlike strandbergs. The "not a headstock" allows you to hang it like you would a normal guitar. The body shape allows to use traditional stands. Basically, you are getting a very light and ergonomic guitar without any of the downsides that come with strandbergs and such. I agree that the gigbag is trash. I got a mush better one from Music Store for like 30 EUR.
They are some good looper pedal around you could have added one to the stomp. It s true that its looper in yhe stomp is no good
Kool Vid. I agree 👍🏽 with your take on this subject. I have over 20 different pedals for different use and they spark more creativity than VSTs for the long run.(Thats my take) I would definitely start out with a Computer, Interface, and your instruments of choice first. Im a Ableton & Logic user. I would definitely be working up to a Pedals board next after those first components. Especially for Ambient music. VSTs FXs work great also. Love them. ONLY PROBLEM WAS UPGRADING TO A M3 MACBOOK AND SOME OF MY VST'S & PLUG-INS NOT WORKING PROPERLY or NOT WORKING AT ALL and also trying to log back in to re-download them. Forgetting passwords and Searching old emails to reconnect with them. It was a ClusterFunk. Meanwhile my Pedals and Hardware Synths where ready to Go‼️No Download Required.
That's so annoying :/ And a very good point I could have brought up. Software can require some work to maintain, especially when setting up on a new computer. I hope your plugins become M3 Mac-compatible soon :) The stable nature of a pedalboard should not be underestimated
Great bit of kit, but I’ve had pairings issues with it over the past 6 months. Yesterday I discovered why. I upgraded from iOS 17.1 to 17.5 and it immediately paired and became rock solid again.
Thank you for this video! Very useful for beginners like me. Subscribed. :)
Happy to hear that! Thanks for the sub :)
Can it be used to control LoopyPro App?
Hey! I'm using Android myself so cannot test whether it works or not. But in principle it should work I think. At least you can connect to your iOS via bluetooth and configure the device. I'm not sure if the iOS device can receive MIDI from the controller over bluetooth though, but hopefully it can. And that would be what LoopyPro requires is my understanding. Perhaps someone with an iOS device could let us know? Hope if works out for you :)
Could you use 2 mvave chocolate simultaneously?
Hey! Great question. Unfortunately I only have the one unit, so not able to test this. But your software/hardware (given enough inputs) should in principle be able to receive MIDI from multiple controllers. But I'm not sure how they'd handle several controllers of same type of device. For example, it could be (and it would be unfortunate) that the Chocolate device drivers can only handle one device at a time. If I ever get a second M-VAVE Chocolate I'll test this and let you know
I’m using two simultaneously on my iPad. There is an app that sort of combine the two M-vave chocolate as one MIDI source. The name of the app is MidiFire.
can it be used as a simple footswitch? for example, switching from a clean channel to an overdrive channel on an analog amp?
Hey! That might be possible if your amp has some kind of MIDI / USB / bluetooth input. What kind of amp do you have?
@@AmbientWithAdam Just ordered a Blackstar ID:Core V3 Stereo 20. I also ordered the m-vave to use with archetype plini but was wondering if it works with the amp as well. Guess I’ll test it out once everything arrives.
@@TakisKoroneos Ok, nice :) It looks like one can control it with a "Blackstar Foot Controller FS-11". That also also seems to have a TRS-like output, so it might be possible with M-VAVE Chocolate if you put it in TRS-to-MIDI mode, and connect via TRS to the amp. But it's still hard to know what kind of MIDI commands you'd need to send. It depends on what the FS-11 sends since we'd want to mimic that. Probably they wouldn't reveal what kind commands they send with the FS-11 to force you to buy it. Likely it would be hard to get this working with the M-VAVE Chocolate I think unfortunately :/ But you never know, good luck!
@@AmbientWithAdam Thanks for your input! You’re probably right, I just feel the fs-11 is a bit much for the value it provides. It literally works only on a couple of amps.
@@TakisKoroneos No worries! I hope it works out :) Yes, I totally agree about the fs-11. Annoying that they do that instead of just providing a general purpose MIDI input and document what codes need to be sent :/
Hi thanx, do you think I can use it to play stop next and previous songs on vlc, media windows etc? can change the controls??
Hey! On your request I've tested this a bit now. Using the "Video Model" mode of the controller, I was able to control VLC on Windows: Go backward, go forward and play/pause all worked, but I'm not sure what the last button ("loop playback") does. I didn't work at all with Windows Media Player unfortunately. It appears like there are also other ways of controlling VLC with MIDI too: www.quora.com/How-can-you-control-VLC-playback-with-MIDI (using any controller). Hope this was helpful
@@AmbientWithAdam Thank you so much you're great! so kind and professional, super answer, have a great time..
Hi, thanks for sharing your experience. I have a question: I'm looking for a controller to connect to a recorder on a PC, like Audacity, Ableton, etc. Is it possible to assign functions like record, pause, and new track to the buttons on the controller in such programs?
err... wait... i think that the whole AZ series has this dynamix switch, and it's not exclusive prestige feature you can go as low as 250-300$ for AZES31
Lol, can't believe I missed that! Thank for the correction. I'll pin this comment
I have the black hss version and imho it looks much better than a strandberg
Nice, the black one looks sick too!
There is a black version of the ichi10?
@@02dusk the black version is not a signature model
@@02dusk q54bkf, basically the same guitar but black and hss instead of sss
the plastic pickup switch cap is still super cheap and fell off mine very quickly, I wish they would put on better caps on these switches
That's unfortunate :/ That cap is probably something the could afford to upgrade lol
Ichika Nito's own one appears to have fallen off too (when you see him playing it on his channel)
@@michael1 lol
@@michael1 😂
Not sure why everyone is laughing like I told a gag? czcams.com/video/mlqZdpRT8Ng/video.html I was saying his switch is broken too.
The issue I am having with is that it does not have a toggle mode where it can send either on or off signal depending on whether the effect is off or on.
What device/software are you trying to control? There's no way the controller can detect what the status of the effect is, it can only send the MIDI commands to configure it. This is not the fault of the controller though. But there are three different things I can think of that you could try with "Advanced custom mode" which may or may not work depending on your device/software: 1) Bind the effect on/off toggle to a CC code, and then configure one of your footswitches to send that CC code. The value doesn't matter 2) If you're only able to turn on or off the effect the effect this way, you could try using two footswitches (or long and short press on one footswitch) to send different values for the same CC. So footswitch would send value 0, and the other value 127. Then it might be that one of the switches turns the effect on, and the other off. Which might work for you? 3) Similar to case 1), you could also try a MIDI Note ON command instead of a CC command. This for example works for some DAWs like Ableton Live to toggle things I hope that you are able to work it out. You might also want to check the manual of the device/software you are controlling if you have access to it. In the end it might also be easier to use a MIDI controller from the same manufacturer that is designed for your device/software, if there is one
So what brand are you now using?
Hey! Actually I haven't gotten another unit, yet at least. For now I'm just using a DAW (Ableton Live) and plugins. NAM and Tonex for amp sounds. It's actually great. The only thing I don't like is being tied to my computer
Yep. The looper is useless. Bought a new one from thomann. They Sent me a used one scrched up and all and charged full price. So being returned ASAP. In all fairness its a good sounding device with a unusable looper.
Hi Adam, Thanks a lot for this tutorial! I was looking for this solution and nobody was giving the explanation like you did. Good job!!
Happy to hear it was helpful! Thank you!!
No, the best value is a Morningstar MC 6 Pro.
thats more than 10 times the price of the chocolate?
Changing from the Evo gold frets(supposedly last a lot longer than that nickle frets) to stainless steel frets was an excellent move. Went to ibanez website and notice that almost all their headless are rocking the Stainless steel frets.🫡👍🏾. Since i practice a lot and dont want to deal with frequent fret replacements(expensive) moving to stainless steel frets was such a perfect move by ibanez. Definetly going to pick up a couple of these headless guitars now.🤗 If Harley Benton can put stainless steel frets on their guitars and sell them at those incredible prices ibanez have no excuse for not putting them on their guitars that cost $400 - $1,000+.
Totally agree! It's annoying to have a fret job done, and also risky in the sense that it may not feel like the same guitar afterwards. And yeah, since these Ibanez are also made in Indonesia they should be able to afford those SS frets as well :) Hope you enjoy your headless guitars!
Fairly good review.... Overall, pretty good! I'm actually planning on doing a review of the book here soon as well. Stay tuned for that! Oh I found the Justinguitar link, it's in the description. You didn't say that. You pointed and it wasn't there. Just a heads up!
Thanks for the heads up! I thought I'd set it up correctly with the YT card, but I'll check again. Hope you're having a good day :)
great content! 😊
Thank you! :)
I've been wanting to get one of these ever since it came out, the Q54 in particular but haven't been able to, so I don't really have a long term experience with it yet, apart from trying it out briefly in a shop. But, one way that I've seen some headless guitar players tune these, is by plucking with their fretting hand on the fretboard and tune with their right hand, have also seen double-locking bridge users do it that way.
Ah, I hadn't thought of that haha. Makes sense :) Thanks for the tip!
@@AmbientWithAdam You're welcome, thought it would help.