Ableton Forum

Hello, n00b here. I have been trying to warp some tracks and have been getting very frustrated with the results. They come out alright and sound beat matched, but its not quite tight enough. I'm pretty sure that I'm placing the warp markers in the wrong spot in regards to the attack.
I have searched these forums and the best discussion I found a few discussions with videos, but all the links were dead b/c they were several years old.
Does anyone have a pic showing exactly where the warp marker should go? I have been placing it at the small tail that precedes the attack. I think this is wrong, because I can see now that this is a different length on different songs (and sometimes obscured by other sounds). So do I put it at the zero crossing of the first attack (right to the left of the first large and wide waveform that follows the more compact and tightly packed ones) or should it go at the peak of the largest attack?

Sorry for double posting this in the "general section" previously.

Here are some screen shots to better clarify my question:

This is where I have been placing them so far, at the very start of the waveform:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/38329633@N08/4498863966/

This is the same marker, just zoomed out to show placement:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/38329633@N08/4498863764/

Here is a different placement, at what I think is the first large attack of bass:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/38329633@N08/4498863828/

And here is one more, at the peak of what I think is the largest attack:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/38329633@N08/4498227769

So which of these is correct?

edit: its not posting my images, so I put in the direct links

Ahhh shoot, bad connection made me double-post

I would definitely not go with the last two.

With the first screenshot, I personally would push it in just a tad further. The nice thing about bass/kick attack frequencies is that they are quite abrupt, and are usually quite discernable in a naked space. A lot of artists and programs might sometimes add swing to something by adding some percussive elements slightly before the attack of the actual sound.

Higher frequencies have tighter squiggles, lower frequencies glide up and down. The main thing you are searching for is any visible arch, but then also make sure that you are putting your marker smack dab on the attack (of the actual punchy element, you can often tell also by the amplitude-height-of-the-squiggles where the actual punch dominates in volume). The reason being 1. So that if you apply any effect, or cut your part into smaller parts, you will still retain the sharp attack of that piece. 2. when blending it with other tracks, if you consistently tell Ableton Live that the POP of the kick is on that spot for every one of your warped clips, then it will blend them together much more aesthetically.

Best of luck

Lastly, use your ears when you are just starting. You can set a loop brace for a small section, and experiment with either the metronome, a midi beat (both might be off a VERY slight bit) or another warped loop (something very clear and tight). Then you can listen to the way that the pieces interact dependent on how you warp your material.