Building Rhythmic Chord Stabs for Tech House with Diva in Ableton Live

Tech House is known for its groovy, rhythmic elements and lush soundscapes. One of the key elements in creating a standout Tech House track is the use of rhythmic chord stabs. These stabs not only add harmonic content but also drive the groove and energy of the track. In this tutorial, we will use U-He Diva in Ableton Live to create dynamic and rhythmic chord stabs similar to those in "Cola" by CamelPhat & Elderbrook.

Oscillator Setup

Use Multiple Saw Waves To start building your chord stabs, we need to set up the oscillators in Diva to create a rich and harmonically complex sound.

1. Initialize the Patch:

   • Start by loading U-He Diva onto a new MIDI track in Ableton Live.

   • Initialize the patch to start with a clean slate.

2. Oscillator Configuration:

   • Dual VCO Module: Select the Dual VCO module for rich harmonic content.

     • Oscillator 1: Set to a saw wave. This waveform provides the bright and rich harmonic content needed for chord stabs.

     • Oscillator 2: Also set to a saw wave, detuned slightly (around -7 to +7 cents) to add width and depth.

     • Sub Oscillator: Add a sub oscillator set to a sine wave for additional low-end support.

   • Mixer: Adjust the levels of each oscillator to balance the sound, ensuring the saw waves dominate while the sub oscillator supports the low end.

Voice Stacking for Chords

Building a Minor 7th Chord with Voice Stacking Voice stacking allows us to create complex chords by layering multiple voices. We will use this feature to build a minor 7th chord.

1. Voice Stacking:

   • In Diva, navigate to the Voice Mode section and select Stack.

   • Voice Count: Set the number of voices to 4 to create a full minor 7th chord.

   • Detune: Adjust the detune amount to slightly spread the voices for a richer, more complex sound.

2. Chord Intervals:

   • Use the Stack Tuning settings to define the intervals between the stacked voices. For a minor 7th chord:

     • Root (0 semitones): The fundamental note.

     • Minor Third (3 semitones): Adds the minor quality.

     • Perfect Fifth (7 semitones): Provides harmonic stability.

     • Minor Seventh (10 semitones): Completes the minor 7th chord.

   • Adjust each voice to these intervals to build the chord.

Filter Modulation

Use a Low-Pass Filter with Envelope Modulation Modulating the filter cutoff with an envelope helps to shape the dynamic character of the chord stabs, adding movement and interest.

1. Filter Selection:

   • Ladder Filter (LP): Choose the Ladder Filter for its smooth and musical low-pass filtering characteristics.

2. Cutoff and Resonance:

   • Cutoff: Set the cutoff frequency relatively low, around 200-300 Hz, to start.

   • Resonance: Increase the resonance to around 70-80% to emphasize the harmonic content around the cutoff frequency.

3. Envelope Modulation:

   • Envelope 2 (Filter Envelope): Assign Envelope 2 to modulate the filter cutoff.

     • Attack: Set a short attack time (5-10 ms) for a sharp onset.

     • Decay: Adjust the decay to a medium value (300-500 ms) to create a quick drop-off after the initial attack.

     • Sustain: Set the sustain level low (0-20%) to ensure the sound drops off quickly after the attack phase.

     • Release: Set a short release time (50-100 ms) to avoid overlapping notes.

   • Envelope Amount: Adjust the modulation amount to control the intensity of the filter movement.

Effects

Apply Chorus and Delay for Width Applying effects such as chorus and delay can add depth and width to your chord stabs, making them sound more spacious and interesting.

1. Chorus:

   • Diva’s Built-in Chorus: Add Diva’s built-in chorus effect to widen the stereo image.

     • Depth: Set to around 50-60% for a noticeable but not overpowering effect.

     • Rate: Adjust to a moderate setting to avoid excessive modulation speed.

2. Delay:

   • Stereo Delay: Use Diva’s built-in delay effect or Ableton Live’s delay effect for rhythmic complexity.

     • Sync to Tempo: Set the delay time to synchronize with your track’s tempo (e.g., 1/8 or 1/16 notes).

     • Feedback: Adjust to around 30-40% for a balanced repeat effect.

     • Mix: Set the mix level to around 30-50% to add space without overwhelming the original sound.

3. Additional Processing (Optional):

   • Reverb: Add a touch of reverb to place the chord stabs in a virtual space. Use a short decay time (1-2 seconds) and low wet mix (10-20%) to keep the sound tight.

   • EQ: Use Ableton’s EQ Eight to cut any unnecessary low frequencies below 100 Hz and enhance the presence of the chord stabs in the mix by boosting around 2-5 kHz.

Conclusion

By following these steps, you can create dynamic and rhythmic chord stabs using U-He Diva in Ableton Live that add groove and texture to your Tech House tracks. Experiment with different oscillator settings, voice stacking, filter modulations, and effects to develop your unique sound. These techniques will help you achieve a professional-quality production that stands out in the mix.