12 Great Max for Live Devices for Ableton Live
‘Max for Live’ is a creative platform that allows you to build instruments, effects, and tools for use inside the Ableton Live DAW. It is an incredibly powerful tool that often gets overlooked by music producers.
From creating custom synths/samples to sequences to modifying Live clips to native devices, Max for Live is interactive, addictive, and geared to empower your live sets. I highly recommend that you dig into it. You are bound to find something useful regardless of your style or genre.
Without further ado, let’s dive into the list of the best Max for Live devices!
Contents
1. Polyrhythmus
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This ‘modular Euclidean rhythm builder’ is a sequencer designed for multiple use cases such as an arpeggiator, pattern builder, and drum sequencer.
It covers a large gamut of sequence runs ranging from parameters, CCs, random parameter generators, and several others. It features 24 steps, 23 of which can run at the same time as others.
You need some time to study the device, but once you enable each step and experiment with the sequence modes, you are bound to have trouble putting this thing down.
In a nutshell, Polyrhythmus can place mathematical complex arpeggios or multiple polyrhythmic patterns simultaneously.
Being such a unique and composite device, it is best to approach it with a good tutorial video like the above one.
2. Grain Freeze
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Grain Freeze is a granular synth that lets you freeze audio and enrich your sound with lusciousness. This simple tool device is versatile for anyone who wants a flexible looping grain for their projects.
The knobs allow you extreme control over Fade, Grain, Position, and Spray. You can control how the number of grains added to control depth. Other features include a Chorus, a Spread knob, and a mute button.
Check out this video that explains the ins and outs of Grain Freeze:
An overall versatile and highly useful addition to add to your growing arsenal of Max for Live devices for Ableton Live.
3. Reverser
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Imagine playing a reversed beat repeat in real-time but reversed.
Reverser gives you the ability to automate and trigger beat repetitions in real time. It has three simple buttons, a short learning curve, and an easy-to-use UI – everything a performer dreams of.
The ‘Woop’ button triggers the rep, the Free/Slave button allows you to start right away or on the upcoming quantized interval, and the Straight/Reverse allows you to determine the audio direction.
Overall, it is a great tool to edit drums on the fly on stage or in the studio.
4. Circular Doppler
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The CD is the ultimate tool if you want to replicate the ‘pitch effect’ for any input source that you feed into it. However, CD does it by modeling a left/right path for the signal in a circular pattern.
This gives the audio maximum spatial displacement at a 100% Ratio.
The blue dot in the interface represents the listener’s perspective. You can tweak the ratio to alter the path and design the sound as per your needs.
Overall, it is an excellent Ableton device to create dynamic movement and generate unique but evocative stereo sounds.
5. Tapestop
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If you’ve been looking for a simple and effective glitch effect, the Tapestop is where it is at. You can set parameters for up/downtime in beats or seconds (ms).
Considering the fact that people have been populating the forums and asking for a tape-stop effect for quite some time now, this should be a welcomed one.
Hit the button and we are done!
6. Chord Generator
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We all get hit by the occasional creative block. For those moments, Nordmann’s Chord generator can be a handy device to get moving.
The Chord Generator has a simple, beginner-friendly UI that allows you to create a single chord or a complex pattern for your projects.
On the left panel, you can choose a chord and modify the notes or add extensions. You can hear it in root position or any of the three inversions. The right panel features a graphic representation of the chord on a keyboard with each note name of each pitch and a dial to decide the disposition.
You also have two random buttons – one to create random chords and the other to randomize the position.
A sequencer is also available if you wish to detune or modify the chord further. You can get more information on its full capabilities from the above video.
7. MDD Snake
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If you are a fan of Makenoise’s Rene sequencer, you will find the MDD Snake to be familiar.
However, those who are unaware of the esoteric seq. modules, they are a 4×4 grid with a dedicated knob for each step.
The MDD Snake follows that weirdly delicious design to create some tasty melodic sequences on the fly.
It has a ‘random’ feature that pairs with Ableton’s Scale plugin to give you ideas, that you can tweak to perfection. It works with Push 2 to create
8. Subtlesonic AnalogKick
AnalogKick is essential to a kick drum synth that can also double up as an FM mono synth.
It comes uncannily close to approximating the sound of the TR-808. It features Amp, EQ, Mix, and FREQ sections to shape or modulate the sounds.
You can also tweak the tones by adding distortion, and FM, and altering the oscillator envelope by changing the tuning curve. This can lead to some really sharp and hard-hitting sounds. The device has 21l useable presets that can be tweaked and saved in two banks for later use.
Full information about AnalogKick can be found on the Subtlesonic website.
9. Palmas
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We’ve all obsessed over the right ‘claps’ sound without any luck. Palmas, by SufiPlugins, is designed to help you make your own.
It does so by providing you with five fully tweakable parameters: number of hands, pitch, stereo spread, velocity, and synchronization.
With an easy-on-the-eyes interface, you can go from Neo-Soul to Motown claps with a little creativity and effort.
Check the above video to learn more about the Palmas device for Max for Live.
10. Group Humanizer
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This highly acclaimed device was designed by James Holden to humanize MIDI clips on the go.
Humanized sounds can make a track feel more realistic by adding slight adaptive delays to different audio parts.
It can add a subtle but tangible difference in drum tracks. You can also use it over multiple MIDI tracks all at once.
11. VIZZable 2
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VIZZable 2 is a video effects program that will turn your videos into visually pleasing and interesting patterns.
It has a very easy-to-use base and is pretty straightforward. You can even customize your webcam videos when you’re interacting with other people.
It features cool and intriguing effects like slicer, fisheye, blur, and many more for your entertainment and use. Give it a try and see for yourself.
12. AnalogKick
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AnalogKick is a bass drum synth and an incredibly useful program for creating kicks. While having EQ, distortion, frequency, and other useful effects, AnalogKick can fine-tune your kicks to your preferred taste.
It has pre-programmed settings and a simple back-and-forth mechanism. You may also modify the oscillator envelope’s tuning curve to change the attack speed of the beater which is really impressive.
In conclusion, the AnalogKick, with its 21 presets, is an incredibly useful and interesting Max for Live addition to consider.
What is Max for Live?
Max for Live is an Ableton add-on that allows you to create, extend, or customize your effects and instruments.
It includes a collection of premade instruments, MIDI effects, audio effects, and the ability to make/customize them based on your own ideas. You can also use it for your live set to extend your hardware controller’s functionality.
You can also get another max for live devices online and add them to Ableton Live by simply dragging and dropping it into Ableton’s browser.
How to Use Max for Live Devices?
The Max for Live platform is pre-installed in Ableton Live 12 Suite, so it doesn’t need additional setup. It includes numerous ready-to-use instruments and effects (presets).
As for the devices, the process of using a pre-made or custom-created device is the same as using any of Live’s built-in devices. Just ensure that you maintain (and save) the device or a reference copy in the User Library.
Summary
Max for Live is an incredible addition to any music producer’s toolkit. It allows you to create, customize, and extend your effects and instruments to make the most of your sound.
With its wide variety of premade instruments and effects, as well as its easy-to-use interface, it is a powerful and versatile program that can be used for a variety of purposes in the studio.
Whether you are a beginner or an experienced producer, I highly recommend giving Max for Live a try. It can be an incredibly useful tool for expanding your sonic possibilities and creating new and interesting sounds.
