Subtraction Engine

Less is more: addition by subtraction is the name of the game...

Created by Ableton Certified Trainer Noah Pred, this generative MIDI performance effect is designed to mute steps of incoming MIDI drums, melodies, and harmonies to create variations, build tension, or experiment with different expressions of rhythmic and musical phrases. You can do this manually for full control - or just enable Auto Dice to let the good times roll.

Optimized for Push with full automation labels and Info View annotation, Subtraction Engine is ready for high-level play straight away. Experiment, have fun, and capture results to new MIDI or Audio Clips by recording them to other tracks in Live.

Subtraction Engine’s large Dice button randomises all eligible Step states to instantly produce new variations on a MIDI sequence. The Global Probability Amount slider governs the chance of Step states flipping for all Steps simultaneously — but Step Probabilities can also be set individually. By reducing a Step’s Probability to 0% you can Lock it, excluding it from randomization for highly programmable control.

Clicking the Manual toggle to switch into Auto Dice mode allows you to create infinitely evolving permutations of any MIDI fed into Subtraction Engine, randomising all unlocked steps at the specified Interval, set in bars. This could be used to generate new melodic riffs at, for example, Intervals of 2 or 4, or for creating continuous variations on percussion patterns — with Locked Steps perpetually exempt. Adjust Cycle settings to impose polymetric note gating on patterns of any length.

WATCH OUR IN-DEPTH TUTORIAL VIDEO FOR v1.0...

How does Subtraction Engine differ from Live 11’s note probability?

1. New step activation states can be generated automatically at specified intervals, for example creating a new variation every 2 bars, 4 bars, etc., producing continuous yet coherently phrased variations
2. Chords are toggled as a single unit — as opposed to Live 11's probability, which treats all notes individually
3. Shorter step activation cycles layered with longer MIDI phrases easily create dynamic yet hypnotic rhythmic patterns while adhering to the melodic contour of the original MIDI input
4. All steps can be toggled on, off, or inverted simultaneously for highly engaging performance control
5. Parameters are available for automation and MIDI or key mapping
6. Works with Live 10 Suite

PRESS FOR SUBTRACTION ENGINE: ASK AUDIO

SUBTRACTION ENGINE CHANGE LOG

v1.7

• Added output mode to simply Mute disabled steps as the default behavior - or route the muted steps to an instance of X-Relay via one of 64 selectable Relay conduits.

v1.6

• Added playback direction control with four modes: default forward, reverse, circular (back & forth), and random step selection.

v1.5

• Added a new Weighted toggle that allows you to switch from the default legacy Random behavior, in which the randomization sliders would simply indicate the likelihood of each step being randomized in either direction, to a new Weighted behavior in which the randomization sliders correspond instead to a step's likelihood of being randomized to On (at higher values) or Off (at lower values).

v1.2

• Added Cycle Reset option to reset polymetric masking at intervals measured in bars.

Requires: Ableton Live 10.1.x or higher running Max for Live 8.1.x on Mac or PC (Live 11 may be required for Presets).

Includes: Subtraction Engine device, 16 presets, Utility Boost, manual.

Note: Subtraction Engine does not produce MIDI notes — notes must be fed into it.

Included with: Ultra Bundle, Max MIDI Bundle.