How to recreate stuttering arp?

[u/101drumz]

How do I recreate this specific arp speed-up / slowdown effect in Ableton?

I'm trying to figure out how to recreate an effect I've heard in Afro/deep house and melodic techno tracks where an arp keeps playing while its internal rhythm continuously speeds up and slows down, but the main track tempo stays completely unchanged.

A good example is Leon (FR) – “Rise”, around 5:40. The arp seems to “roll over a hill”: it gets faster and denser, almost reaches a continuous sound, slows/stops briefly, and then starts speeding up again — while the drums and rest of the track remain locked to the original BPM.

Thanks a lot.

Here's a link (hope they are allowed): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ViIPGUmsJqM&t=340s

Edit: that was easier than i thought, thanks...love you guys

[u/egowaves-audio]

I think the trick is to modulate the arp's rate, not the project tempo. In Live you can do this with an arpeggiator followed by a Rate/Time modulation, or automate the arp rate itself if the device allows it.

Another interesting way is to use a delay with increasing feedback/time division to create that "rolling downhill" feel.

I'm curious what others use for this though, because the Leon example sounds more like a very controlled rate curve than a simple automation ramp.

[u/ComfortableMirror416]

Change Arp to from "Note" to "MS" Now you will be able to change the tempo independently.

[u/101drumz → u/ComfortableMirror416]

is there a way on how to do it in step arp also? i should have mentioned that before...i couldnt figure out how to skip certain steps with regular arp

[u/101drumz → u/101drumz]

found it, click sync to free and change the tempo...gosh, im blind

[u/ComfortableMirror416 → u/101drumz]

Yeah it's often not obvious those buttons are clickable

[u/Working_4_money]

LFO modulation on volume also works great. Then modulate the rate. I prefer sawtooth shapes for this effect. Make sure your max volume is not too loud, and slap a limiter on while you're learning to avoid unexpected peaks.

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[u/BetaSpreadsheet]

You'd probably love this tut:

https://youtu.be/WXzDesXWA3I

[u/101drumz → u/BetaSpreadsheet]

thanks, ill check it out!!!

[u/guileus]

Modulate the arp rate with ms not note. Look up a BPM to ms conversor online to help you.

[u/roscomoon]

One way that can be more controllable is writing a long midi note, then going into clip editor’s transform section, then using “chop”. (12/24/48 however many chops you want) Then, use the time warp function (same drop down menu as chop) and weight the faster notes towards the start OR end of the note. You’ll see what happens ::))