Ableton Live Riser Device - Free Max For Live Download - Point Blank

Here's one for you Ableton live users with Max for Live. It's a free Riser effect from Point Blank, perfect for break-downs and build-ups in your tracks.



You can grab the device from Point Blank Facebook page here.

"Point Blank instructor and course developer Daniel Herbert has created this Max For Live custom device for creating rises and sweeps in Ableton Live. Perfect for breakdowns and buildups! Watch the video to see how it works, what makes it unique and and how to set it up.

We are giving it away absolutely free via the link above.

Check out Point Blank's range of Ableton Live Online courses here:http://www.pointblankonline.net/courses/ableton-live-courses.php

Watch more free tutorials on our sample course page:http://www.pointblankonline.net/sample-a-course/

Please subscribe to our channel to make sure you don't miss future exclusive tutorials from Point Blank Online school."

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Voltage Controlled & Point Blank Competition winner

Congratulations to Emilia Badaracco for winning a place on one of Point Blank's excellent online pro producer courses.

Here's the winning track, it will also be featured in the right-hand sidebar of Voltage-Controlled for the whole of October.



I have to say, all of the tracks that were sent in for the competition were good and it's a shame that I can only  pick one overall winner.

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Online Music Production Degree programmes with Point Blank

You may have noticed that Voltage Controlled has recently partnered with Point Blank To bring you this awesome competition and a chance to win a place on one of their online Pro Producer courses. But Point Blank also offer more than just online courses. Why not check out one of their new online music production degree programmes that they recently launced along with Middlesex university.

For more information Check out this video.



"Our degree level programmes offer a cheaper but high quality alternative for going to uni and the chance to share a classroom with fellow students who are already pumping out successful tunes or working in the music industry, people like former students Claude VonStroke, Gareth Wynn, Gemma Cairney, Detboi and loads more...

The college has close working relationships with key record labels and offers an unrivalled network of contacts for its student community. Regular guest tutors offer masterclasses at Point Blank’s state-of-the-art studios in Hoxton, East London which are streamed live online. These sessions are also broadcastable from any location in the world. Former guests have included Claude Vonstroke, Basement Jaxx, Radio 1’s Annie Mac, legendary DJ Carl Cox and hip hop sensation Wretch 32"

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WIN with Voltage-Controlled and Point Blank Online

Want to win yourself a place on one of Point Blank's awesome online Pro Producer courses? Then head over to the Voltage-Controlled competitions page to find out more.

The winner and two runners up will also receive an official Voltage-Controlled T-shirt courtesy of Stoketshirts.co.uk.

Click Here to enter this awesome Competition

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Ableton Tutorial - Sound Design Series (pt2) - Point Blank

Even the most humble sound can be brought to life with some short looping and further modulation. In this video Danny J Lewis shows you how Live's Loop Brace can bring some fantastic possibilities to sound design.

This is a sample tutorial taken from our Ableton Live Sound Design course. Find out more about the course here: http://www.pointblankonline.net/ableton-live-sound-design.php

And watch more free tutorials from this and many other courses on our sample course page: http://www.pointblankonline.net/sample-a-course/ 

Please subscribe to our channel to make sure you don't miss future exclusive tutorials from Point Blank Online school.

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Ableton Tutorial - Sound Design Series (pt1) - Point Blank

In this video Danny J Lewis shows you how to use two amp envelopes, panning each oscillator in a different position to create a stereo image. Here the result is a nice, fizzy contemporary sound that works well for sustained chord sections.

This is a sample tutorial taken from our Ableton Live Sound Design course. Find out more about the course here: http://www.pointblankonline.net/ableton-live-sound-design.php

And watch more free tutorials from this and many other courses on our sample course page: http://www.pointblankonline.net/sample-a-course/ 

Please subscribe to our channel to make sure you don't miss future exclusive tutorials from Point Blank Online school.

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Ableton Tutorial - Deep House Chord Selector Rack (Free DL) - Point Blank

http://www.pointblankonline.net/courses/ableton-live-courses.php to check out our range of online Ableton Course where you can learn more techniques like this. Please get in touch with a course advisor at advice@pointblankonline.net if you want to find out more.

In this tutorial Danny J Lewis creates a rack in Ableton Live which gives you a selection of easy to play chords.

Download this rack for free here: http://www.pointblankonline.net/blog/free-ableton-chord-selector-rack-download/

Please subscribe to our channel to make sure you don't miss future exclusive tutorials from Point Blank Online school

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Logic Environment Tutorial - Create Kaoss Pad style X-Y Fader Effects Unit - Point Blank

This week's video from Point Blank Online is aimed at Logic users. It covers how to use Logic Pro's environment to create a virtual X/Y pad to control effects. This is a little more in depth than most of the videos that are posted on Voltage-Controlled so this might not be for everyone.



"http://www.pointblankonline.net/courses/logic-courses.php This week Paul Yarrow shows you how to use the power of Logic Pro's environment to create an X-Y fader multi effects unit much like Korg's Kaoss pad. 

Learn more about using Logic Pro's environment on our wide range of Logic courses: http://www.pointblankonline.net/courses/logic-courses.php

Check out even more free tutorials at http://www.logic-cafe.com/Please subscribe to our channel to make sure you don't miss future exclusive tutorials from Point Blank Online school."

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Creating a Tech House Track in Ableton Live with Radio Slave Loops - Point Blank

In this weeks video from Point Blank we are shown a few tips and tricks while creating a tech house track using samples and loops. They also have a pretty cool competition running where you can win the sample pack used in this video, a copy of Ableton Live 8 and a place on a Point blank Pro Producer course.





"Win this Radioslave pack, Live 8, and a Point Blank Pro Producer course here: http://ow.ly/c0BAS

In Ableton Live we have a fantastic tool to manipulate, chop and twist loops into your own interpretations all in real-time. This gives you the ability to create limitless unique tracks with the same loops and samples. In this tutorial Danny J Lewis shows some simple but very effective techniques to do this such as adjusting the clip start position and transposing the key up and down.

The pack he is using is one of Ableton's latest partner instruments, put together by Radioslave and Sample Magic. As well as a collection of drum, percussion, and musical hits and loops, the pack contains some great custom instrument and effects racks which, if hooked up to a midi control, can give a really tactile method of experimenting with the sounds. 

Check it out here: http://www.ableton.com/library/radio-slave-live

Racks such as the Kit Creator use macro controls to scroll through the various samples and adjust parameters like attack, decay and low cut to mould the sounds into something new. It is a great example of the type of racks that we teach you to build from scratch on Point Blank's Ableton Live Sound Design courses.

Check out the sound design course here:http://www.pointblankonline.net/ableton-live-sound-design.php

Watch more free tutorials on our sample course page:http://www.pointblankonline.net/sample-a-course/

Please subscribe to our channel to make sure you don't miss future exclusive tutorials from Point Blank Online school."

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Electronic Music Composition (pt 3) - Faithless 'Insomnia' - Point Blank

"Go to: http://www.pointblankonline.net/electronic-music-composition-emc.phpto check out our online Electronic Music Composition Course where you can learn more techniques like this. Please get in touch with our course advisors at advice@pointblankonline.net if you want to find out more.

In this tutorial Ski Oakenfull breaks down the chord sequences in Faithless' dance anthem 'Insomnia'. Buy here:http://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/insomnia-best-faithless/id305775034

Do you have a track that you would like to see Ski deconstruct musically? Then let us know in a comment below or hit us up on twitter with:
#emcrequest @point_blank + your suggested track title

Please subscribe to our channel to make sure you don't miss future exclusive tutorials from Point Blank Online school."

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Logic Tutorial - Turn the Korg Monotron into a Polysynth - Point Blank

My Korg Monotron has been sitting on the shelf for a few months now, not really seeing any action in the studio. This video from Point Blank made me pick it up and have a little mess around with it.

Turning the Monotron into a poly synth using pitch shifters and tuning effects seems like a pretty cool idea. This tutorial shows you how to get this effect using the built in effects in Logic but the techniques shown can be easily recreated using other DAWs. I managed to get a pretty close sound using Ableton live and a few 3rd party plugins.

"http://www.pointblankonline.net/courses/logic-courses.php This week Paul Yarrow shows you how to open up a new world of performance capabilities for Korg's Monotron by turning it into a polysynth enabling it to play chords.

Learn more techniques like this on our wide range of Logic courses: http://www.pointblankonline.net/courses/logic-courses.php

Check out even more free tutorials at http://www.logic-cafe.com/

Please subscribe to our channel to make sure you don't miss future exclusive tutorials from Point Blank Online school."

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Custom FX Rack Design in Ableton Live - Stereo Width (Free Rack DL) - Point Blank

"http://www.pointblankonline.net/courses/ableton-live-courses.php In this tutorial Danny J Lewis shows you how to create a custom FX rack in Ableton Live to add stereo width to your mix

Download the rack for free here:https://www.facebook.com/pointblankcollege/app_326957207366280

Learn more techniques such as this on our Ableton Sound Design course, an 8 week module that involves the creation of many bespoke effect and instrument racks :: http://www.pointblankonline.net/ableton-live-sound-design.php - get in touch with a course advisor at advice@pointblankonline.net if you want to find out more.

Please subscribe to our channel to make sure you don't miss future exclusive tutorials from Point Blank Online school."

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How to Make Enhanced Podcasts in GarageBand - Point Blank

Now this hasn't really got much to do with music production but it's still useful to know how to put together a professional podcast, especially if you're DJing as well as putting your own music out there. Check out this video from point blank.



"http://www.pointblankonline.net/music-business-online-promotion.php This week we show you how to put together an enhanced podcast in GarageBand to give your DJ output a professional edge.

If you want to learn more about this subject check out the four week Music Business 2: Online Promotion course on Point Blank Onlinehttp://www.pointblankonline.net/music-business-online-promotion.php"

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Making music with apps (pt 2) - Point Blank

You might of remembered the video from Point Blank online where a track was built using nothing but audio sources taken from iOS music apps. Well here's part 2, this vidio focuses on connecting your iOS device to your computer so that you can easily record audio.

"http://www.pointblankonline.net/courses/ableton-live-courses.php In this tutorial Danny J Lewis breaks down the connection process when recording material from your music apps into your chosen DAW (in this case Ableton Live). He uses a camera connection kit to connect a MIDI keyboard to bring a traditional method of inputting note data, and a simple stereo mini jack to 2 x mono phono jack lead to connect the iPad to your audio interface.

Go to: http://www.pointblankonline.net/courses/ableton-live-courses.php to find out how you can learn more about using Ableton Live as a recording tool. Please get in touch with our course advisors at advice@pointblankonline.net if you want to find out more."

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Milton Jackson Music Production Live Masterclass - Point Blank

"We are very excited to welcome Scottish producer Milton Jackson on Thursday 17th May at 4pm (BST) / 11am (EDT) for a Music Production Live Masterclass - set to be the first ever live broadcast via our YouTube channel.

He will be running through how he used a combination of Logic and Ableton Live to make some of his most well-known tracks to date such as 'Ghosts in My Machine' and 'DSI'

At the end of the session he will field some questions from members of the audience and those of you watching live online so if you have anything to ask please go ahead in the comment section below.
Please subscribe to our channel to make sure you don't miss future exclusive tutorials and live events from Point Blank Online school."

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Making a beat using only iOS music apps.

I usually post quite a lot on Voltage-Controlled about iOS music apps so this tutorial from Point Blank seems fitting for this weeks post. Be sure to check out Point Blank's YouTube channel for more tutorials.


The apps used in this video are:
- iMaschine
- iMS-20
- Animoog
- GarageBand
- BeatShuffler

"In this Ableton tutorial Danny J Lewis experiments with creating a drum and bass track idea entirely with iOS Apps recorded into Ableton Live. It is part of our series of Making Music With Apps tuorials.

Please subscribe to our channel to make sure you don't miss future exclusive tutorials from Point Blank Online school."

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Recreating a bassline in ableton live - Point Blank

"Go to: http://www.pointblankonline.net/courses/ableton-live-courses.php to check out our range of online Ableton Live courses where you can learn more sound design techniques like this. Please get in touch with our course advisors at advice@pointblankonline.net if you want to find out more.

In this Ableton tutorial Danny J Lewis (Defected/Enzyme Black) reverse engineers the bumpy bassline in the 2011 club anthem Noir & Haze - Around (Solomun remix) 
Out to the original artists. You can buy the release here:http://www.beatport.com/#/release/around/378135"

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Robot Drums emulating Propellerhead Figure - Point Blank

This is a pretty cool idea; the folks over at Point Blank have put together a video showing you how to create a rack in Ableton Live that gives you a Propellerhead Figure style of drum sequencing. This is a cool way of finding some inspiration and creativity when coming up with drum patterns. Check out the video below.



"http://www.pointblankonline.net/courses/ableton-live-courses.php to check out our range of online Ableton Course where you can learn more techniques like this. Please get in touch with a course advisor at advice@pointblankonline.net if you want to find out more.

In this tutorial Danny J Lewis shows you how to create a rack that emulates the mechanics behind the way the drum patterns switch in the recently released 'Figure' app. 

Please subscribe to our channel to make sure you don't miss future exclusive tutorials from Point Blank Online school."

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Native Instruments Maschine Tutorial - Using Saturator on 808 Kick Drum Bassline - Point Blank

"http://www.pointblankonline.net/native-instruments---maschine.php In this tutorial Danny J Lewis shows you how to use a saturator to bring life to an 808 kick drum bassline with Native Instruments' Machine"

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Creating a dub siren in Ableton Live - Point Blank

Everyone loves a dub siren. Here's a video from Point Blank that shows you how to create a siren of your own using Ableton. If you don't use Ableton, the basic principle will work for pretty much any DAW or synth that you have.

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