lee1984

I am trying to create a sample and hold effect for ableton live so I can create a freeze effect on some vocals. I only just bought maxforlive with ableton but wanted to try and create this effect. I had a go but didn't seem to work for me. I was wondering if anyone had any ideas to help me. I added the s&h and a audio on/off button but the audio was not running through the virtual cables and seems I have done something wrong. If anyone could show me and help me out it would be greatly appreciated. I tried the reference help for sample and hold but was confusing me more.

I added a screen shot of what I did but I am sure it is way off.

I am trying to create a sample and hold effect for ableton live so I can create a freeze effect on some vocals. I only just bought maxforlive with ableton but wanted to try and create this effect. I had a go but didn't seem to work for me. I was wondering if anyone had any ideas to help me. I added the s&h and a audio on/off button but the audio was not running through the virtual cables and seems I have done something wrong. If anyone could show me and help me out it would be greatly appreciated. I tried the reference help for sample and hold but was confusing me more. 

sh-effect-for-ableton-live

Just asking, to be sure: you do not actually think, that one single sah-object gives you the "freeze" effect, do you?

If so, you'd have a lot to learn, in fact so much, that I couldn't give you any better advice than: start with the tutorials and bring a lot of patience, because you have a long way ahead. Just that much: it's much more complicated (but still very do- and learnable) than you think.

If not then I'm sorry, but your question can give the impression, that you know very little about audio-processing.

I apologize, if this sounds arrogant, english is not my native language and I don't mean to disencourage you. But if my feeling is right, you have some major misunderstanding or lack of understanding of audio-processing, that makes it hard to give you any better advice.

Edit: if you only want to use, not necessarily build the effect you could download this: 

http://www.maxforlive.com/library/device/1431/freezer

Just asking, to be sure: you do not actually think, that one single sah-object gives you the "freeze" effect, do you? 

Edit: if you only want to use, not necessarily build the effect you could download this: http://www.maxforlive.com/library/device/1431/freezer . It might do what you want.


Hi. I was asking a very general question. Just to see how hard it would be to achieve what I wanted to do. I did as much research as possible on this. I have little knowledge on this subject and I guess it is harder than I expected from what you are telling me.

http://www.jeanfrancoischarles.com/2008/10/freeze-sound-with-maxmspjitter.html

 which says he uses max/msp/jitter to accomplish this. I was just wondering how hard it would be. I guess to hard.

I watched this video http://www.jeanfrancoischarles.com/2008/10/freeze-sound-with-maxmspjitter.html which says he uses max/msp/jitter to accomplish this. I was just wondering how hard it would be. I guess to hard.

It is very easy to put the Jean Francois patch in Max for Live. If you want I can tell you how.

It is very easy to put the Jean Francois patch in Max for Live.  If you want I can tell you how.


Hi there. That would be great. I downloaded it but the files are not recognized by Ableton or my PC.

You need to open it with Max. Since the file name is missing the extension, you need to add the ".maxpat" extension to it. See if you can get the max patch open, and I'll tell you the rest.

You need to open it with Max.  Since the file name is missing the extension, you need to add the ".maxpat" extension to it.  See if you can get the max patch open, and I'll tell you the rest.


Although I am getting the "charset: error getting wide character buffer size"

I should have asked which one of his patches you are opening, so we are looking at the same thing ("stochastic-freeze-8frames" and "freeze-slide" seem like good candidates).

After that we'll need to make sure your max search path is set up.

I should have asked which one of his patches you are opening, so we are looking at the same thing  ("stochastic-freeze-8frames" and "freeze-slide" seem like good candidates).

After that we'll need to make sure your max search path is set up.


I was using the "freeze-frame-1" which I converted to a max patcher file. I am on PC. This is the first one he showed in the video. Or should I use another?

See the file called "solofreeze.pfft", that needs to be in your Max search path. To set up the path, I recommend making a folder called "max_enabled". Put the .pfft file in there. Now open Max, go to options, then file preferences. Click on the plus symbol and choose the "max_enabled" folder. It should look something like the attached photo.

Once the Max search path is set up, Max will be able to find "solofreeze.pfft". That's probably why you got the error before.

Set that up, and I'll help you copy the contents over to the M4L device.

See the file called "solofreeze.pfft", that needs to be in your Max search path.  To set up the path, I recommend making a folder called "max_enabled".  Put the .pfft file in there.  Now open Max, go to options, then file preferences.  Click on the plus symbol and choose the "max_enabled" folder.  It should look something like the attached photo.

Once the Max search path is set up, Max will be able to find "solofreeze.pfft".  That's probably why you got the error before.

Set that up, and I'll help you copy the contents over to the M4L device.


heya lee, your approach how you try to learn about things isnt bad at all, but you really picked the worst example for it by bad luck, because i am afraid that the fft solution (which is more or less the only way how to archive the freeze effect) might really discourage you from programming and DSP.

using fft and understanding how it works and what it does is like level 93 from 100.

(one could do something similar wiht a delay line, but that also woould be over the top of a beginners head; one should know the tapin~ objects basic functions before.)

welcome on board, go ahead, but pls build something else as first project. :)

heya lee, your approach how you try to learn about things isnt bad at all, but you really picked the worst example for it by bad luck, because i am afraid that the fft solution (which is more or less the only way how to archive the freeze effect) might really discourage you from programming and DSP. 

+1 for going through the tutorials. The max/msp tutorials on youtube really helped me.

Here is what the device should look like.

+1 for going through the tutorials.  The max/msp tutorials on youtube really helped me.

Here is what the device should look like.


@110 - Yeah I think after this I will go back to the basics. I was hoping it would be a simple copy and paste into Ableton but was not sure.

....I had a go myself and I actually was not to far off, before I posted this thread. You were right Mike the problem was the solofreeze.pfft file I could not copy it over to Ableton and connect the whole device. Now it is working in Ableton.

The only problem I have is that I can not hear the Audio before I freeze it only the frozen section when I hit the freeze button.

All good I duplicated the Audio to a separate track and can record from there.

....I had a go myself and I actually was not  to far off, before I posted this thread. You were right Mike the problem was the solofreeze.pfft file I could not copy it over to Ableton and connect the whole device. Now it is working in Ableton.

All good I duplicated the Audio to a separate track and can record from there.


s&h effect for ableton live