How to design exponential rhythms used by ODESZA and Flume #AbletonLive

Hello, this is Minimal Order.
The other day, I released a new song on Bandcamp.

Introduction

In this post, I will describe how to create a rhythm I've been into lately, "exponential rhythm", using Ableton Live as an example. (I actually only learned today that it has such a cool name.)

Exponential Rhythms are skillfully manipulated by ODESZA, Mura Masa, and Flume, and the part around 01:40 in the following song is iconic. (It's also similar to the transition of sound as a ping-pong ball naturally falls and gradually stops bouncing on a desk or floor.)

I will provide a summarized translation of this explanatory video.

This time, I will briefly write about how to create it while providing a summarized translation of the video below from the YouTube channel SynthHacker.

1. The recommendation is Ableton's MIDI effect "Arpeggiator"

There are many ways to reproduce exponential rhythms, but the one recommended by the video creator, SynthHacker, is Ableton Live's built-in MIDI effect, Arpeggiator. (In the video, it's around 03:30.)

Input chords using a piano or violin and once the preparation is complete, call up the
Arpeggiator.

2. Set the Arpeggiator parameters

Once called up, there are two main settings. 1) Set Style to
Chord Trigger (to keep it sounding as a chord) 2) Change from Sync mode to
Free mode.

3. Automatically move parameters with LFO MIDI

The video uses Envelope MIDI from around 04:30, but since I don't have it, I will substitute it with the Max for Live effect LFO MIDI that came with Live 10 Suite.

Immediately after clicking the item [Free Rate] in the effect box, click the [Rate] item of the Arpeggiator mentioned earlier, and the effects will be connected. ← This is important.

And, the recommended settings look something like this ↓

4. Export as MIDI to a separate track

By the steps up to "3" above, an exponential rhythm should be forming. This step involves exporting this content as MIDI information to a separate track.

To export, set the "export destination track" as follows.

Once exported, the MIDI information looks like this!

5. Deliverables

The finished result looks like this. I recorded it.

Conclusion

In this article, I focused on the Exponential Rhythms that electronic music flagbearers skillfully utilize, and broke down the explanatory video for them.

I hope you can apply this to your own music production.
I have compiled my composition techniques and DTM operation tips in this magazine!

Reference