glossary

library272 of 272

every term from the live 12 manual, in plain words.

terms272
Accidentalworkflow
A sharp, flat, or natural sign placed in front of a note to alter its pitch from the key signature.
Action Timeperformance
The quantized duration after which a Follow Action will be triggered.
ADSRaudio
Attack-Decay-Sustain-Release: the four stages of a classic envelope. Attack = fade in; Decay = fall to sustain; Sustain = held level; Release = fade out.
Aftertouchmidi
MIDI message generated by pressing harder on a key after the initial strike.
Aggregate Deviceperformance
macOS combined audio interface across multiple devices.
Aliasingaudio
Distortion artefacts that appear when frequencies above Nyquist fold back into the audible range. Anti-alias filters prevent it.
Ampdevices
An effect that emulates the sound and circuitry of classic guitar amplifiers.
Analysis File (.asd)files
Per-sample metadata Live writes alongside audio (warp markers, etc.).
Arpeggiate (Transform)live 12
A MIDI transformation tool that breaks chords into rhythmic patterns within the clip.
Arpeggiatormidi
A MIDI effect that sequences the notes of a chord into a rhythmic pattern.
Arpeggioworkflow
The notes of a chord played one at a time instead of together. The basis of basslines, plucks, and arp-driven leads.
Arrangement Viewworkflow
Live's linear timeline view for composing full songs end-to-end. Tracks stack vertically, time runs left-to-right.learn this in a lesson
Attackaudio
The fade-in time at the start of a sound or envelope stage. Short attack = punchy; long attack = pad-like.
Attack (Comp)audio
How fast the compressor clamps after threshold is crossed.
Auto Filterdevices
Filter with LFO + envelope follower: classic dub and acid sweeps.
Auto Pandevices
LFO-driven panning for stereo width and rhythm.
Auto-Savefiles
Background project snapshot in the Backup folder. Turn it on.
Backups Folderfiles
A folder within a project containing previous versions of the Live Set.
Barrhythm
A group of beats, usually four. At 120 beats per minute one bar of four lasts two seconds.
BBD / Bucket Brigadecontrols
An analogue delay chip that passes the sound along a chain of tiny stores. Its repeats are darker and a little wobbly.same control elsewhere · valhalla delay: mode (tape, bbd, digital)
Beatrhythm
One pulse of the music, the thing you tap your foot to. Counted one, two, three, four.
Beat Grid / Gridrhythm
The ruler a bar is drawn on: four beats, each split into four sixteenth slots. Notes sit in the slots.
Beat Repeatdevices
A performance tool that samples and repeats short snippets of incoming audio rhythmically.
Beats Modeaudio
Warp algorithm for percussive material: slices around transients.
Bit Depthaudio
How many bits per sample. 16-bit = CD; 24-bit = production standard.
Bounce in Placeworkflow
Render a track to audio, replacing the source. Destructive but lighter on CPU.
BPM / Temporhythm
Beats per minute: how many beats fit in sixty seconds. Higher is faster.
BPM Tapperformance
A button used to set the global tempo by clicking in time with the music.
Browserworkflow
Left sidebar containing Sounds, Drums, Instruments, Audio Effects, MIDI Effects, Samples, Packs and your User Library.learn this in a lesson
Buffer Sizeaudio
How many samples Live processes at a time. Lower = less latency, more CPU strain.
Cabinetdevices
A device that simulates the frequency response of various guitar speaker enclosures.
Cadenceworkflow
A chord progression that creates a sense of ending or pausing. Authentic = V→I; Plagal = IV→I; Deceptive = V→vi.
Capture MIDIperformance
Retroactively grabs the last few bars you played, even without recording armed.
CCmidi
Control Change: a MIDI controller value (0 to 127) for things like mod wheel or filter cutoff.
Chain Selectordevices
Splits which of a rack's chains receive input by velocity, key, or chain zone.
Channel EQdevices
A simple three-band equalizer modeled after traditional mixer channel strips.
Choke Groupdevices
Pads in the same group cut each other off: perfect for hi-hats.
Chord Devicemidi
A MIDI effect that adds up to six pitched harmonies to a single incoming note.
Chorusaudio
Modulated short delay summed with dry signal to create width and lushness.
Chromaticworkflow
Using all 12 semitones of the octave rather than staying in one key. A chromatic line walks one semitone at a time.
Clipworkflow
A single piece of musical content. MIDI clips contain note instructions; audio clips contain a referenced sample.
Clip Envelopeperformance
Automation data contained within a clip that can modulate parameters independently.
Clippingaudio
Distortion that happens when a signal exceeds the maximum level a system can represent: peaks get flattened into squares.
Codecaudio
Coder/Decoder: software that compresses audio (MP3, AAC, Opus) for storage or streaming, then decodes it for playback.
Collect All & Savefiles
Copies every external sample into the project folder so it's portable.
Comb Filteringaudio
A frequency response interference caused by adding a delayed signal to the original.
Compingworkflow
Stitching the best moments from multiple takes into a single performance.
Complex / Complex Proaudio
CPU-heavy warp modes for full mixes. Pro adds formant control.
Compressionaudio
Turning down anything above a threshold to even out dynamics.learn this in a lesson
Compressordevices
Live's main dynamics processor with Peak, RMS, and Expand modes.learn this in a lesson
Consolidateworkflow
A command that joins multiple selected clips into a single new audio or MIDI file.
Consonanceworkflow
Notes/intervals that sound stable and pleasant together: octaves, fifths, thirds. The 'resolved' end of harmonic tension.
Control Barworkflow
Top strip with tempo, transport, metronome, follow, and global quantize controls.
Convolutionaudio
Multiplying your signal against an impulse response of a real space.
Corpusdevices
An effect that simulates the resonant characteristics of physical objects like tubes or plates.
Count-inrhythm
The bar of clicks before recording starts, so you can feel the speed before you play.
Crossfadeworkflow
A transition between two adjacent audio clips where one fades out while the other fades in.
Crossfaderworkflow
DJ-style A/B blender at the bottom of the mixer; assign tracks to A or B.
Cueworkflow
Headphone monitor send for pre-listening before bringing into the main mix.
CV Clock Outdevices
A tool to sync external modular hardware via Control Voltage timing signals.
CV Toolsperformance
Max for Live devices that send/receive control voltage to modular synths.
dB SPLaudio
Sound Pressure Level in dB, measuring real-world acoustic loudness. 0 dB SPL = threshold of human hearing; 120 dB SPL = pain.
dBFSaudio
Decibels relative to Full Scale: the digital scale where 0 dBFS is the loudest sample value a system can represent. Above that = clipping.
De-Esseraudio
A frequency-dependent compressor used to reduce sibilance in vocal recordings.
Decayrhythm
How long a sound takes to fade out after it starts. A short decay is tight, a long decay is boomy.
Default Setfiles
The template Live loads every time a new project is created.
Delayaudio
Echoes: a delayed copy of the input, optionally feeding back for repeats.learn this in a lesson
Densitycontrols
How many notes a pattern generator adds. Live 12's Rhythm and Seed generators call it density too.same control elsewhere · live 12 rhythm generator: density · live 12 seed generator: density
Detail Viewworkflow
Bottom panel that opens when you double-click a clip or device: the editor for whatever you've selected.
Dissonanceworkflow
Notes/intervals that clash and want to resolve: minor seconds, tritones. Used deliberately to create motion and pull.
Ditheringaudio
Noise added during bit-depth reduction to prevent quantization distortion.
Dominantworkflow
The fifth scale degree (V). Builds tension that wants to resolve to the tonic: the engine of Western harmony.
Downbeatworkflow
The first beat of a bar: the strongest accent in most music. The 'one' you tap your foot to.
Driftdevices
Analog-modelled mono/poly synth with character (Live 11+).
Drum Rackdevices
Container of 16+ pads, each hosting a Simpler or full chain on its own MIDI note.learn this in a lesson
Dry/Wetcontrols
The balance between the untouched sound and the processed one. 100% is only the effect.same control elsewhere · live glue compressor: dry/wet
Echodevices
Analog-flavoured delay with character, modulation and stereo width.
Enharmonicworkflow
Two note names for the same pitch: C♯ and D♭ sound identical but are spelled differently depending on the key.
Envelopeaudio
A control signal that shapes how a parameter changes over the lifetime of a note: typically ADSR for an amp envelope.
Envelope Followerdevices
A Max for Live modulator that uses the volume of a signal to control other parameters.
EQaudio
Equaliser. Cuts or boosts specific frequency ranges to shape tone.learn this in a lesson
EQ Eightdevices
Live's main EQ: eight parametric bands with multiple shapes per band.learn this in a lesson
Erosiondevices
An effect that adds digital artifacts or filtered noise to a signal.
Excitercontrols
What sets a modelled string or bar ringing: a plectrum plucks, a mallet strikes a bar, a hammer strikes strings. Off means the oscillators play instead.same control elsewhere · live tension: exciter type (plectrum, hammer) · live collision: mallet
External Audio Effectdevices
A routing device used to send audio to outboard hardware and back into Live.
External Instrumentdevices
A routing device used to integrate hardware synthesizers into the Live set.
Fadesworkflow
Handles at the start and end of audio clips used to prevent clicks or create volume transitions.
Feedback (Delay)audio
How much of each delay echo gets fed back to create more echoes. >0.9 self-oscillates.same control elsewhere · live echo: feedback · live delay: feedback
Filter Circuit / PRD / MS2 / SVFcontrols
Which analog filter design a filter copies. Live's Auto Filter names them: prd is a four-pole ladder, round, and gives up a little bass at high resonance; ms2 is a two-pole Sallen-Key filter that saturates as it resonates, the MS-20 sound; svf is a clean two-pole state variable filter.same control elsewhere · live auto filter: circuit (svf, dfm, ms2, prd) · live wavetable: circuit (clean, osr, ms2, smp, prd)
Filter Cutoffaudio
The frequency where a filter starts attenuating signal. The 'tone knob' of most synth patches.same control elsewhere · live auto filter: freq · live drift: freq · tb-303: cut off freq
Flangeraudio
Like chorus but with shorter delay and feedback: jet-engine sweep.
FM Synthesisaudio
Frequency Modulation, where one oscillator's frequency is modulated by another's.
Follow Actionworkflow
Rule for what a clip does after it ends: Stop, Play Again, Next, Previous, Other, Random, etc.
Four on the Floorrhythm
A kick drum on every beat of the bar. The pulse behind house, disco and a lot of techno.
Freezeworkflow
Render a track temporarily to audio to save CPU; can be unfrozen anytime.
Fundamentalaudio
The lowest frequency of a periodic waveform. It defines the pitch you perceive; everything above it is a harmonic or overtone.
Gain Stagingworkflow
The process of managing signal levels at each stage of the signal path to prevent clipping and minimize noise.learn this in a lesson
Gatedevices
A dynamics processor that silences signals falling below a certain volume threshold.
Generative MIDImidi
Algorithms that create or modify note patterns rather than you drawing them.
Global Quantizeworkflow
Default launch quantize for all clips: usually 1 Bar so launches stay in time.
Glue Compressordevices
SSL-style bus compressor: used on groups and the master to glue a mix.learn this in a lesson
Grain Delaydevices
An effect that splits a signal into tiny grains and delays them individually with pitch shifting.
Groove Poolworkflow
A storage area for swing and timing templates that can be applied to any Clip to change its feel.
Group Trackworkflow
A folder + audio bus combining multiple child tracks. Press Cmd/Ctrl+G.
Harmonicsaudio
Frequency components that are integer multiples of a fundamental frequency.
Headroomaudio
Distance between your loudest peak and 0 dBFS. Aim for 6 dB to leave room for mastering.
Hertzaudio
Cycles per second: the unit of frequency. 440 Hz means 440 wave cycles every second.
High-passaudio
Filter that removes frequencies below the cutoff. Used to clean low rumble off vocals, hats.
Hybrid Reverbdevices
Reverb combining convolution + algorithmic engines (Live 11+).
Impulse Response (IR)audio
A recording of how a space (or hardware) responds to a single click.
Info Viewworkflow
Bottom-left panel that describes whatever you're hovering: the in-app help.
Inter-Sample Peaksaudio
Peaks that occur between digital samples and can cause clipping in analog conversion.
Inverse Phaseaudio
The process of flipping the polarity of a waveform to fix cancellation issues.
Inversionworkflow
A chord voiced with a note other than the root in the bass. First inversion = third on bottom; second = fifth on bottom.
K-weightingaudio
The frequency-weighting curve LUFS meters use to mimic human hearing: emphasises mids, rolls off subs and extreme highs.
Kick Drum / Kickrhythm
The low, soft thump of a drum kit. In dance music it lands on every beat and is the heartbeat of the track.
Kneeaudio
How smoothly compression engages around the threshold. Soft = gentle.
Latencyaudio
Delay between an action and hearing the result. Mostly determined by buffer size.
Legato Modeperformance
A clip launch setting where a new clip picks up the playback position of the previous one.
LFOaudio
Low-Frequency Oscillator: a slow waveform used to modulate parameters.learn this in a lesson
Libraryfiles
The folder where Packs install. Set its location in Preferences.
Limiteraudio
An extreme compressor that prevents signal from passing a ceiling. Used on the master.
Live Clip (.alc)files
A single saved clip with all its settings, devices, and warp markers.
Live Device (.adv)files
A single saved device preset.
Live Pack (.alp)files
A bundled, distributable project (often instructional).
Live Set (.als)files
A single Live project file.
Locatorworkflow
A bookmark on the Arrangement timeline (Intro, Verse, Drop). Click to jump.
Loop Braceworkflow
The grey bar above the Arrangement that defines the loop region.
Loudness Waraudio
The trend of increasing audio levels in mastering at the expense of dynamic range.
Low-passaudio
Filter that removes frequencies above the cutoff. Makes things darker.
LUFSaudio
Loudness Units relative to Full Scale, the standard for measuring perceived loudness.
Macroworkflow
One of 16 knobs on a Rack. Map any inner parameter (or many) to one knob.learn this in a lesson
Macro Variationworkflow
A snapshot of all 16 macro values, recallable instantly. Great for live morphing.
Makeup Gainaudio
Boost after compression to restore the level you reduced.
Max for Live (M4L)devices
Visual coding environment baked into Live Suite for building custom devices.
Melddevices
MPE-first dual-engine synth in Live 12.
Metronome / Clickrhythm
A steady tick on every beat that never speeds up or slows down. A ruler for time while you play or record.
Mid/Side (M/S)audio
A processing technique that separates the center signal from the stereo differences.
MIDImidi
Musical Instrument Digital Interface. A protocol for sending note and controller data: not audio.learn this in a lesson
MIDI Chaseworkflow
A setting that ensures MIDI notes are triggered even if playback starts in the middle of the note.
MIDI Effectmidi
Processes MIDI before it reaches the instrument (Arpeggiator, Chord, Scale).
MIDI Mapmidi
Per-set assignment of a hardware control to a Live parameter (Cmd/Ctrl + M).
MIDI Monitormidi
A tool used to view incoming MIDI data for troubleshooting purposes.
MIDI Remote Scriptperformance
A Python script that defines how a hardware controller interacts with Live.
MIDI Stackslive 12
Generative tool that builds chord stacks from a single note.
Modulationworkflow
(Theory) Changing key mid-song to lift energy or create contrast. (Synthesis) Routing one signal to vary the value of another parameter.
Modulation Laneslive 12
Offset-based parameter movement on top of automation, new in Live 12.
MPEmidi
MIDI Polyphonic Expression: per-note pitch, glide, slide, pressure. Meld is MPE-first.
Multiband Dynamicsdevices
A tool that provides compression and expansion for three independent frequency bands.
Noise Decaycontrols
How long a drum's noise layer rings: short is a tight crack, long is a rattle of snare wires.same control elsewhere · live collision noise: d (decay)
Noise Flooraudio
The level of background hiss and electronic noise in a system. Quieter material has to live above it to be audible.
Normalizeaudio
The process of increasing the gain of an audio file so its loudest peak reaches 0 dBFS.
Note Echomidi
A MIDI effect that creates rhythmic repetitions of MIDI notes.
Note Lengthmidi
A MIDI effect used to manipulate the duration of incoming MIDI notes.
Note On / Offmidi
The two MIDI messages that start and stop a note.
Note Transformationsmidi
Live 12 generative MIDI tools: Stacks, Rhythm, Shape, Recombine, Connect, Seed.
NRPNmidi
Non-Registered Parameter Number, used for high-resolution control of hardware.
Nyquist Frequencyaudio
Half the sample rate: the highest frequency a digital system can represent without aliasing. At 44.1 kHz, Nyquist = 22.05 kHz.
Octaveworkflow
The interval between a note and one with double or half its frequency. Notes an octave apart share a letter name and sound 'the same' an octave higher or lower.
Operatordevices
Live's 4-operator FM synth. Carriers output, modulators warp the carriers' frequency.learn this in a lesson
Oscillator Shape / Wave Positioncontrols
The knob that changes an oscillator's wave. On our synths it goes from saw to square; on a wavetable it moves through the table, which Live calls wave position.same control elsewhere · live drift: shape · surge xt classic: shape · live wavetable: wave position · tb-303: waveform (saw or square)
Overtoneaudio
Any frequency above the fundamental in a complex tone. Harmonic overtones are integer multiples; inharmonic overtones (cymbals, bells) aren't.
Parallel Processingworkflow
Routing a signal to two or more paths simultaneously to mix dry and processed versions together.
Parameter Lock / P-lockcontrols
A knob value saved on one step of a sequence, so that step plays differently from the rest. Hold the step and turn a knob.same control elsewhere · elektron: parameter lock
Partialaudio
A general term for any single sine component in a complex sound: fundamental and overtones are all partials.
Peakaudio
The maximum instantaneous voltage or numerical value reached by an audio signal.
Pedaldevices
An effect modeling guitar distortion, overdrive, and fuzz circuits.
Pencil Modemidi
Draw notes/automation freely. Toggle with B.
Pentatonicworkflow
A five-note scale (no half steps). Major pentatonic = 1-2-3-5-6; minor pentatonic = 1-♭3-4-5-♭7. Hard to play 'wrong' over its key.
Performance Packlive 12
Live 12 system for organising live performances with scenes & macros.
Phaseaudio
How two waveforms align in time. Cancellation happens when they're inverted.
Phase Distortion / DCWcontrols
Casio's CZ way of making a bright wave from a soft one: it bends the timing of a cosine instead of filtering. DCW sets how far it bends.same control elsewhere · surge xt: classic, wavetable (osc types) · live operator: feedback · casio cz: phase distortion, its amount is dcw
Phaseraudio
Notch filters swept by an LFO. The classic 'whoosh'.
Piano Rollmidi
The MIDI editor: pitches up the side, time across the top.learn this in a lesson
Pitch Devicemidi
A MIDI effect that transposes incoming notes by a set number of semitones.
Pitch Env / Pitch Envelopecontrols
How far a drum's pitch falls at the start of each hit. More makes a kick zap and a tom boing.same control elsewhere · live drum sampler: pitch env · live ds kick: env · live ds tom: bend
Predelayaudio
Gap between dry signal and the start of the reverb tail. Keeps vocals upfront.
Probabilityworkflow
A MIDI parameter that determines the likelihood of a note playing when triggered.
Program Changemidi
A MIDI message used to switch patches or presets on an instrument.
Project Folderfiles
A directory containing the Live Set, samples, and related assets.
Push 3performance
Ableton's hardware controller; can run Live standalone, no laptop required.learn this in a lesson
Quantising / Quantizingrhythm
Moving notes onto the nearest slot of the beat grid so they land exactly on time.
Quantize (MIDI)midi
Snap selected notes to a grid value.
Quantize / Quantiseworkflow
Snap notes, clips or recordings to a rhythmic grid (1 bar, 1/4, 1/16…).
Rackdevices
Container of devices with Macros and parallel Chains. Instrument/Audio/MIDI/Drum.learn this in a lesson
Random (MIDI)midi
A device that adds unpredictable pitch variations to incoming MIDI notes.
Ratioaudio
How aggressively a compressor squashes signal above the threshold (4:1, 10:1…).
Re-Pitchaudio
Tape-style stretch where pitch follows speed (faster = higher).
Re-Pitchcontrols
A warp mode that speeds the sound up or slows it down like a record, so pitch moves with tempo.same control elsewhere · live warp modes: beats, re-pitch
Reduxdevices
A bit-crusher and downsampler used to create lo-fi digital textures.
Release (Comp)audio
How fast the compressor lets go after the signal drops back below threshold.
Resamplingworkflow
Routing the master output back into a track input to record what you hear.
Resonance / Qaudio
Boost at the cutoff frequency. High Q = ringy, acid-bass character.
Resonatorsdevices
A series of parallel tunable filters that add harmonic resonance to a signal.
Return Trackworkflow
Destination track for sends; usually hosts shared effects like reverb or delay.learn this in a lesson
Reverbaudio
Simulation of how sound decays in a real or imagined space.learn this in a lesson
Reverb Algorithmcontrols
Which reverb design plays: a hall is big and slow to build, a plate is bright and dense from the first moment.same control elsewhere · live hybrid reverb: algorithm
RMSaudio
Root Mean Square, a measurement of the average energy level of an audio signal.
Roardevices
Multi-band saturator/distortion in Live 12 with parallel paths and feedback.
Sample Rateaudio
How many amplitude samples per second a digital recording stores. CD quality = 44.1 kHz.
Samplerdevices
Multi-sample instrument with key/velocity zones. For full sampled instruments.learn this in a lesson
Sampler Zonedevices
An area in Sampler where specific samples are mapped to ranges of keys or velocities.
Saturationaudio
Generating harmonics by reshaping the waveform. Adds warmth, grit, or distortion.learn this in a lesson
Saturatordevices
Waveshaper with soft, hard, tube, digital and other curves.
Scale Modeworkflow
A Live 12 feature that highlights or restricts MIDI notes to a specific musical key.
Sceneworkflow
A row in Session View. Launching the scene fires every clip on that row simultaneously.
Scene Launchperformance
The triangle button that fires an entire row of clips.
Scene Tempoperformance
A tempo value assigned to a scene name that triggers when the scene is launched.
Semitoneworkflow
The smallest interval in Western tuning: one piano key to the next. Twelve semitones make an octave.
Send / Pre / Postworkflow
Pre-fader send is independent of track volume; post-fader follows it.learn this in a lesson
Session Recordperformance
The bottom-bar record button that captures launched clips into Arrangement.
Session Viewworkflow
Live's clip grid for non-linear performance and ideation. Tracks vertical, scenes horizontal.learn this in a lesson
Seventh Chordworkflow
A triad with a fourth note (the seventh) stacked on top: gives chords a jazzier, more open quality.
Shuffleworkflow
A swung 8th- or 16th-note feel, common in blues, hip-hop, and UK garage. Heavier than light swing.
Sidechainaudio
Use one signal as the trigger that controls processing on another. Classic kick→bass duck.learn this in a lesson
Simplerdevices
Single-sample instrument with three modes: Classic, One-Shot, Slice.
Snaprhythm
Pulls each note you play to the nearest slot on the grid, so small timing slips are tidied. This is quantising.
Soft Clipaudio
A saturation technique that rounds off peaks to prevent harsh digital clipping.
Solo Safeworkflow
A setting that prevents a track from being muted when another track is soloed.
Spectral Resonatordevices
An effect that processes audio in the frequency domain for metallic and tonal transformations.
Spectral Timedevices
A hybrid delay and freeze effect that operates on the spectral components of a sound.
Split/Choplive 12
An operation to divide MIDI notes into multiple smaller segments.
Stereo Fieldaudio
The space between your left and right speakers. Pan + width + delay live here.
Stiffnesscontrols
How hard the mallet, hammer or plectrum is. Stiffer is brighter and clickier.same control elsewhere · live collision: mallet stiffness · live tension: stiffness
Strength (Quantize)midi
Partial quantize: 50% pulls notes halfway to the grid for a humanised feel.
Strumlive 12
A MIDI transformation that offsets the start times of notes in a chord.
Subdominantworkflow
The fourth scale degree (IV). A gentle pull away from the tonic, often used to set up the dominant.
Subtractive Synthesisaudio
Creating sound by removing frequencies from a complex waveform using filters.
Sustainaudio
The held level a synth envelope settles to while a note is pressed, before release kicks in.
Swingworkflow
Pushing every other sub-beat slightly later to create a triplet-ish lilt instead of straight 16ths. Swing percentage controls how much.
Syncopationworkflow
Placing accents on weak beats or off-beats instead of the expected strong beats: what makes a groove feel 'pushed' or funky.
SysExmidi
System Exclusive messages used to communicate manufacturer-specific data.
Tags / Categorieslive 12
Live 12 tagging system that classifies sounds across all your packs.
Take Laneworkflow
Multiple recording passes stacked under a track for comping (Live 11+).
Tempo Followerworkflow
Tracks the tempo of an audio input and adjusts the project tempo to match (Live 11+).
Texture Modeaudio
Warp algorithm for pads, ambience, polyphonic material.
Thresholdaudio
The level at which a compressor or gate starts working.
Timbreaudio
The 'tone colour' that lets you tell a flute from a guitar at the same pitch. Determined by harmonic content + attack/decay envelope.
Time Signature Changeworkflow
A marker placed in the Arrangement View to alter the meter of the project at a specific point.
Time Warplive 12
A MIDI transformation that stretches or compresses the timing of selected notes.
Tones Modeaudio
Warp algorithm for monophonic melodic material like vocals or bass.
Tonicworkflow
The 'home' note of a key: the one a melody resolves to and a piece usually ends on. Also called the root.
Track Activatorworkflow
The button that toggles a track on or off, functioning as a mute switch.
Transientaudio
The sharp attack at the start of a sound (kick thud, snare crack). What punch is made of.
Transient Shaperaudio
A processor used to specifically adjust the attack and sustain portions of a sound.
Triadworkflow
A three-note chord built by stacking thirds: the basic building block of harmony. Major, minor, diminished, augmented.
Tritoneworkflow
The interval of three whole tones (six semitones). Historically 'the devil in music': extremely tense, the engine of dominant-seventh resolution.
True Peakaudio
Inter-sample peak measurement. More accurate than sample-peak for digital ceilings.
True-Peakaudio
Inter-sample peak measurement that accounts for waveform excursions between digital samples: catches clipping that sample-peak meters miss.
Tune (drum)rhythm
Moves the whole drum sound lower or higher in pitch.
Tunerdevices
A utility device that displays the pitch and frequency of incoming audio.
Tupletworkflow
Any rhythmic grouping that doesn't fit the prevailing subdivision: triplets (3-in-2), quintuplets (5-in-4), etc.
Upbeatworkflow
The unaccented beat before a downbeat: the 'and' between beats. Pickup notes often start on an upbeat.
User Libraryfiles
The location for storing custom presets, defaults, and user-made content.
User Modeperformance
A controller state that allows for custom manual MIDI mapping.
Utilitydevices
A versatile tool for controlling gain, phase, stereo width, and channel routing.
Velocitymidi
How hard a MIDI note is hit. Most instruments map velocity to volume and tone.
Velocity Devicemidi
A MIDI effect used to remap, compress, or randomize note velocities.
Velocity Rangemidi
The span between the lowest and highest velocity values in a MIDI clip.
Vibratocontrols
A steady wobble in pitch. On our drums it starts with every hit.same control elsewhere · live analog: vib
View Filterlive 12
The side-bar in the Live 12 browser used to toggle visibility of tagged content.
Vinyl Distortiondevices
An effect that adds crackle, hiss, and harmonic distortion common to vinyl records.
Vocoderdevices
Imposes the spectrum of one signal (modulator) onto another (carrier).
Voicingworkflow
How the notes of a chord are spread across octaves and instruments: the same chord can sound thin or huge depending on voicing.
Warpaudio
Time-stretching that locks any audio sample to the project tempo without changing pitch.learn this in a lesson
Warp Markeraudio
A pin on the waveform telling Live where a transient lives so it can stretch around it.
Warp Mode: Proaudio
An advanced version of the Complex mode with additional formant control.
Wavelengthaudio
The physical distance one cycle of a wave covers in air. Inversely proportional to frequency: bass has long wavelengths, treble short.
Wavetabledevices
Live's modern workhorse synth: two oscillators scanning through wavetables.learn this in a lesson