Ableton Forum

I am comfortable with basic use of Ableton but am still learning some pretty basic functions, and have questions about volume automation.

While these questions are general, the current project involves a track of live performance with modulars with too much volume change caused by the constantly changed modular settings throughout the track, which track I now want to adjust to maintain a more consistent general volume [not of every note but of all the many different sections which in turn become much softer/louder]. My current approach and which I suspect is best, is to use Gain utility or manual edit of volume automation line for each section in which changes of overall volume occur.

I wonder about quick and rough alternatives which could be applied to a whole track, even if less optimal? One possibility is to apply compression to the whole track to even out volume changes, then boost level of full track. But the volume changes are great enough that this alters the sound quality more than wanted; also I want NOT to alter dynamics within a section, just to even out the sections.

Very possibly the idea of applying an effect to a whole track which will even out general volume of sections without making more granular unwanted changes as compression does, is just unrealistic - but I'm not sure, and this is what I'm asking? Thanks

If you can handle the latency a limiter might help you to keep the dynamics within a section while limiting the max level of the track/set. And if you want different sections to have different maxima you can automate the level of the limiter.

Thanks for your reply! I just watched a youtube with someone saying Ableton limiter isn't good and tends to change audio quality and is fine only for eg cleaning up a drum track etc? While I'm unsure of db, I'm talking about wanting significant volume differences, not tweaks - don't limiters [even better ones, if you agree about Ableton's?] like compressors, differentially apply themselves to the loud tones in the constellation of a note and its timbre, and thus change the timbre, rather than simply change gain? I don't really totally understand compressors and limiters, but compressors for sure seem to change audio timbre, like subtle filters almost. Thx

Yes I found compressors and limiters need a bit more investment of time than things like EQ to get used to them and how they can help, especially as there's lots of different types that do different things. Experimenting with the threshold and ratio, and then the release, will help you to hear how your sounds are affected. Limiters (effectively a compressor with an infinite ratio *steps back and waits for experts to correct him*) is great at equalising the output, saving ears and speakers along the way.

I don't have much experience of the Ableton compressors/limiters but have used the Fabfilter ones for years, and you can trial them for 30 days. Plugin Alliance also have some good ones, again with a trial period. It might take a bit of time to get your head round what works and what doesn't, but the investment will pay off. The old Bruce Lee adage applies: fear not the man who has used 10,000 compressors once; fear the man who has used one compressor 10,000 times.