5 things you can learn from Four Tet right now (Ableton Live)

Cycling through presets and plugins is perfectly fine. Tweaking random effects is great to get ideas. And you don't have to be a sound design expert to make music – the "less is more" approach tends to work best when making electronic music.

We tend to overcomplicate things sometimes when beat making, but Four Tet recently showed us how he uses only 10 to 14 channels with stock presets and minimal mixing. That's it.

He is well-known for his music production techniques and shared insights about his own projects on the Tape Notes podcast. This inspired us to make a video to showcase his methods (video below).

Underrated Ableton Tools and Production Techniques

Many Ableton devices are underrated, and producers often overlook them. For example, if you draw a single note and apply a randomizer, it may sound weird at first. But, by adding a scale, like C major, you enhance the notes.

You create interesting melodies without needing to know music theory. Adding velocity randomness gives your music that organic feel.

5 Tips any beginner can learn from Four Tet

The podcast with Four Tet offers valuable insights for producers at all levels. One of the best things about Four Tet’s approach is that it’s accessible to everyone. Let's check out the five key principles from his approach that can help you make music.

1. Simplicity

Four Tet's work demonstrates the power of minimalism in music production. By using fewer channels and stock presets, he achieves remarkable results. This approach not only streamlines the production process but also allows for greater focus on creativity.

Tip: Start with a limited number of tracks and explore the potential of your DAW's built-in sounds.

2. Randomness

Introducing elements of chance into your compositions can lead to unexpected and inspiring results. Four Tet often employs random note generation and scale selection to create unique melodies.

Tip: Experiment with randomization tools in your DAW to break out of familiar patterns and spark new ideas.

3.Organic Sounds

Four Tet is known for integrating everyday sounds into his music, adding depth and texture. This technique can bring a distinctive character to your tracks.

Tip: Use your phone to capture interesting ambient sounds and incorporate them into your productions.

4.Accessible

You don't need advanced music theory knowledge to create compelling electronic music. Four Tet's approach demonstrates that understanding basic concepts like scales and velocity can go a long way. Focus on the basics and don’t be afraid to experiment.

Tip: Start with simple scales like C major and focus on creating interesting rhythms and textures.

5.Pre-Made Elements

Having a library of pre-made drum loops and textures can significantly speed up your workflow. This allows you to maintain creative momentum without getting bogged down in details.

Tip: Build a personal library of loops and samples that align with your style for quick access during production sessions.

This is how Four Tet makes music

The first takeaway is that using presets whether from plugins or Ableton's built-in devices – is perfectly acceptable. If someone suggests there's a "right" way to make music, remember that there isn’t one. While understanding the basics can help you modify presets, it shouldn’t block your creativity.

There can be technical complexity to electronic music electronic music if you push things (like Disclosure's use of over 50 channels and plugins) but if you break things down – Four Tet's use of fewer channels shows that the focus should be on the music rather than what you use.

For textures, Four Tet often incorporates recordings from his phone. If you lack personal recordings, you can find samples online, like those on Sample Focus. Four Tet also prepares drum loops in advance.

In short

• Minimal Channels: Uses only 10 to 14 channels in his productions.
• Stock Presets: Relies on stock presets rather than complex sound design.
• Natural Sounds: Prefers organic sounds, often avoiding heavy compression.
• Efficient Workflow: Focuses on quick music creation and the process.
• Samples: often using recordings from everyday life.

Practical Examples

• Example 1: Start a track with three channels—a simple drum loop, a bassline using a stock preset, and a melody created with random notes. See how far you can take it!
• Example 2: Record ambient sounds from your environment and layer them under a synth pad to add depth.
• Example 3: Use an existing drum loop and focus on creating a unique melody using random note generation.

Cheat Sheet to Four Tet's style

VIDEO: Insights for Music Producers

Check out how we added a new synth preset and applied sidechain to the kick drum in this video. We highlight Four Tet's preference for natural sounds and minimal compression – creating music quickly and using samples from Sample Focus.

This is how we adapted Four Tet's style:

• New Synth Preset: Added a fresh synth preset to enhance the sound.
• Sidechain Compression: Applied sidechain to the kick drum for a dynamic effect.
• Natural Sounds: Four Tet's preference for using natural sounds with minimal compression.
• Quick Music Creation: the importance of creating music efficiently.
• Samples: Sample Focus for accessing free samples.

Recap

Final Words

Focus on the basics. Don't look to exactly replicate a Four Tet track but to demonstrate how his approach can be applied across genres. Use Ableton's built-in sounds and limit channels for an organized workflow. Add random MIDI note generation and scales. Layer phone-recorded ambient sounds with digital elements. The Sample Focus library has plenty of drum sounds you can use to maintain minimal compression dynamics on the creative side.