OK! So what the hell is Daft Punk doing to get that “pumping” sound in their songs? That’s what we’re going to tackle here in this Weapon of Mass Production… and frankly, you’ll be surprised at how simple it really is to setup this sound. It’s a compression effect called ducking and what it does is compress one audio signal using the amplitude of another. Rather than spend a bunch of time writing out the details, what I’ve decided to do is give you an ableton live session of a new track I’m working on that has the ducking setup properly. So download the session, open it up and mess with the compressor on the synth track. Turn it on and off and mess with the attack and release to fine tune that pumping sound. For those of you who’d like more info on ducking, there’s a great tutorial here as well as sound examples. Next WOMP there’ll be something very special for you Access Virus users…

How to install and use:

1. - Download Ableton Live Daft Ducking Project (804)
2. - Unzip and open session in Ableton Live
3. - On the Synth track, locate the compressor and turn it on and off and listen to the change
4. - Suggested: Mess w/ attack and release on the compressor
5. - TIP: Try compressing the Synth audio with the Bass signal

And here’s a sample of a new VTG song with the ducking in action:

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Dirty synth baby – We all want it. Well then, here’s a prime specimen from “Dance Floor Game”. This little bitch of a synth preset requires Vanguard, Camel Phat and Ableton Live 6+ to fire up. Preset comes as a Live Instrument Rack file. Recommended for Hard Dance, Breaks or Electro. Check out a snippet of “Dance Floor Game” below to hear this dirty synth in action.

How to install and use:

1. - Download: VTG Dance Floor Game Arp (811)
2. - Unzip and double click to install into Ableton Live
3. - Layer with super distorted Arp synth sounds.

And here’s a sample of “Dance Floor Game”…

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VTG will be headlining Knave in Osaka this Friday, October 10th. This will be the first performance of our Electro dance set, new music in the coming weeks. In other words, “The Eagle” US military radio in Tokyo is insane! Be sure to check it out when you’re abroad. It’s on 810AM. Listen for “Paul Harvey’s News and Comment” show.

We’ll be performing alongside Uglyhead on their US tour this Sunday, Sept. 7th at Retox Lounge in San Francisco, CA. An epic night of Electro Rock and Post Industrial shall ensue and it will be the last time to catch us live for a while as we’re heading off for Japan to perform in October and when we return be prepared for some more dance oriented performances… See you at the gig!

This week I’m pleased to introduce to you VTG Prolific Electro Breakbeat Drum Kit, an Instrument Rack for Ableton Live. This second Weapon of Mass Production came about during the writing of “Prolific”, a new VTG track. It’s best used when mixed w/ an acoustic drum loop that has a hi-pass filter on it set around 400hz to add some cymbal work to the drums. Check out a snippet of “Prolific” below to hear the kit in action.
How to install and use:

1. - Download: VTG Prolific Electro Drum Set (1017)
2. - Unzip and double click to install into Ableton Live
3. - Layer kit w/ existing acoustic loops and rock some beats

And here’s a sample of “Prolific”…

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