Ableton Live 10 comes with its own reverb unit, and Max for Live users can take advantage of the Convolution Reverb Pro plug-in. In this Ableton Live Tutorial video, Liam O’Mullane takes a look at both types of reverbs, which use different algorithms to generate different reflections.
In my previous article on Ableton's Convolution Reverb I gave a very rough example on how to create an impulse response. I went into a big room, and simply recorded the sound of myself clicking. This is the transient method to recording impulse responses. You record an audio file that captures the initial transient of the click, and this audio file can be pulled into the Convolution Reverb.
A better way is to use the included IR Measurement Tool. This measures the room by sending out a sweeping sine wave through a speaker. The sine wave uses an exponential sweep of the audio spectrum - going through all the frequencies in the audio range. Capturing the room this way gives you a much more accurate impulse response of the room. Let's take a look at how to set this up.
- A convolution reverb takes a sample from a real-world space (called an impulse response or IR) and uses this to digitally simulate the reverberation of that space. 'Only a convolution reverb can capture the ambience of a real space, or real hardware, and recreate it on a computer,' explains Ableton sound designer Christian Kleine.
- Alone with sound design you have endless possibilities to recreate this sound effect but after discovering the Ableton Convolution Reverb plugin everything made so much more sense to me. I can use this impulse response to make my voice sounds like I’m in a tunnel, a parking garage or standing in a church without even being there.
Step 1 ' Where to Find the IR Measurement Tool
The IR Measurement Tool is a Max device that can be used to create your own IRs, which you can then pull into the Convolution Reverb. This means that you will need to have the Ableton Suite with Max For Live. The device can be located in Max for Live > Max Audio Effect. Drag this onto an Audio Track. This tool will measure the space and then you can save out the impulse as an audio file.
Step 2 ' What You Will Need
You'll need a speaker (for a mono file), or two (for stereo) to send out the sine wave, and you'll need a microphone to pick up the audio sine sweep signal. A good quality condenser or field recording microphone is ideal, but any microphone that picks up a good signal will work. Try setup the speaker(s) in the middle of the room. But you can really set them up anywhere you like. Walk around the room and use your ears to pick up where you think the best spot is. Clap your hands and hear the reflections and decide where you think is best. You can even record multiple times with the speaker set up in different locations. I'll leave this up to you. Now the place the microphone somewhere near to the speaker so that it can pick up the signal of the speaker when it sends out the sweeping sine wave.
Step 3 ' Recording The Impulse
Make sure you have se tup your Audio Input Device in Ableton so that it will record in the audio signal. On the audio track with the IR Measurement Tool set it to Monitor Mode to In, and Record Arm the track.
On the IR Measurement Tool, leave it set with the default values. The only thing I changed was the Chan from True Stereo to Mono to Stereo as I was only using one speaker. On the right of the plug-in, click on Input. Now press the Sweep button to send out the sweeping sine wave. The exponential sweep will go through all the frequencies. The microphone will capture this giving a very accurate impression of the impulse across the whole frequency range. A progress bar is at the bottom of the IR Measurement tool showing you the progress of the sine sweep.
When it is done, the progress bar will read '˜Measurement Done'
Now click on Save, to save out the impulse response. A dialog box will come up asking you where to save the file. Choose a location. This will save the impulse out as an audio file. Maybe save all your impulse responses in one location so that you can easily browse through them.
You can also click Trim and Normalize to trim the silence out of the IR and normalize the audio level.
If you need to you can go back and change some of the parameters such as the IR Time for longer or shorter IR lengths, and the Amp if you require more amplification, but I found the default values to be perfect for recording the impulses.
Step 4 ' Using The Impulse Response
These impulse audio files can now be brought into Ableton's Convolution Reverb.
Convolution Reverb Ableton 9 Download
Here is my dry Snare sample.
And here is the snare sample with the impulse response of my room:
I set up the speaker and microphone in my lounge. It's a small to medium sized room with tiled floors. So I could use this impulse response if I wanted a small room with a hard surfaces sound.
Now you can build up a collection of high quality impulse responses for the Convolution Reverb. Giving you a choice of different '˜real' spaces to use in your recording. And when you invest in higher quality field recorders, microphones, and AD/DA converts you will really start getting top-notch impulse responses. But you can really start off with any gear and upgrade as you go.
Step 5 ' Capturing Analog Equipment
This method of sending an exponential sweep of the sine wave over the frequency range can also be used with analog equipment such as tape echo and spring reverb devices. Unfortunately I wish I had an analog device such as a tape echo to test this out, but all my equipment is '˜in-the-box' now. It works in much the same way. Instead of using a speaker and a microphone, you simply connect the device to your audio system. Consult your audio interface or mixer's manual on how to connect devices such as delays or reverbs to your equipment. Then send the sine wave test to it and the impulse audio file will be created. If you want to measure any digital devices such as digital reverbs use the Impulse button instead of the Sweep button.
Conclusion
This method will give you a very accurate impulse response of your room or analog device. And it doesn't have to be limited to rooms and devices. You can get out into nature away from the studio and record some interesting spaces. Think of the possibilities! Tunnels, caves, canyons, etc... Gosh if there was a way to build a housing for your microphones and speaker you could go for a swim and record the sounds underwater. But I don't think sending a sine sound wave underwater is a good idea. You may attract the attention of some unhappy sea life such as sharks! So maybe stick to above water. Have fun creating these impulses and bringing them into the Convolution Reverb.
Related Videos
Download Impulse Response Expansion Sets for Max for Live’s Convolution Reverb device!
I was just trying to learn more about convolution reverb when I stumbled upon a mother load of IRs! Turns out Ableton has a bunch of highly recommended IRs and I happen across a ton more! Happy days are here at last.
LINKS
- Check out Plugin Deals __ CLICK HERE
- Check out Sample Pack Deals __ CLICK HERE
If you don’t have the Max Convolution reverb device yet, but have the Live 9 suite, go here to download the Max Essentials free device pack! The pack comes with a boat load of IRs and a number of other great devices as well.
*There are also other convolution reverb vsts out there if Max isn’t for you.
What is Convolution Reverb and Impulse Response (IR) Samples?
A Convolution Reverb consists of a recorded sample (called an Impulse Response or “IR”) of an acoustic space to excitation from a signal such as a sweep tone, starter gun, or snare drum crack, and the effect on the space of that signal after it has been removed and usably transformed by the convolution processor. Convolution reverbs essentially record and process the reverberant behavior unique to a real acoustic space. – bhphotovideo
Where can I find Expansion Packs ( impulse response samples )?
Now that you know what you are looking for a simple google search will lead you in the right direction. Here are what I have found.
- Joshua Casper [free] – 2oo HD/HQ synthesized IRs
- Echo Thief [free] – IRs from out-of-the-way spaces from all over North America. 90 unique spaces: caves, skateparks, stairwells, underpasses, glaciers, concert halls, and more.
- Echochamber [gone away] – a selection of hardware and DSP IRs from a mixing/mastering studio. The site is in German, I think, but the zip files are clearly labled.
- Fokke van Saane [free] – an eclectic IR collection spanning from classic hardware reverb units to the engine of a Mercedes. Radios, inside a mouth, factories, small chruches and lots more.
- Dubbhism [free] – as the name implies, these IRs are tailored to dub. Featuring vintage spring, plate, hall, and other reverb units.
- FFS Percussive Echoes – a free selection of IRs designed specifically for drums, from sound designer Diego Stocco.
- Samplicity [free / paid] a couple free packs
Ableton Convolution Reverb Review
NEW | UPDATE
- Open Air Library [gone away] – very detailed records of the recording equipment and areas. Also, previews of voice & drums
- Propellerhead Software’s List – a massive list on its own!
- Voxengo – a few unique resposes
Where do I put the files once I have them?
Ableton Convolution Reverb Ir
Watch this short video tutorial. Essentially you can just drag and drop. All the heavy lifting;). However, for the Max device, if you would like the IRs to show up in the two drop down menus you need to put them in the right space and there are a couple ways to organize.
Here is a short tutorial on working with the impulse response files and where to put them so they show up in the preset menus!
File Pathway to the IR folder.
Documents -> Ableton -> Factory Packs -> Max for Live Essentials -> Max Audio Effect -> Convolution Reverb -> IRs
How can I record my own unique Impulse Responses?
If you want to collect your own IRs, you can use the IR Measurement Device (included with the Max for Live Essentials Pack). With adjustable settings for capturing audio and generating either impulses or sweeps, the IR Measurement Device makes it easy to make an IR out of anything in your studio.
Impulse Response Measurement Device
Mac Users IR Installation Instructions for Max’s Convolution Reverb Device
If you’re on a mac, go to the location you described above (*Documents -> Ableton -> Factory Packs -> Max for Live Essentials) . Then right-click on the maxforliveessentials pack and choose “show package contents”. Then go into Max Audio Effect>Convolution Reverb>IRs. If you put your IRs in the IR folder, they will show up in the Convolution Reverb Pro device’s drop down menu inside Live.