# Build Ochre Tines in Ableton Live

Ochre Tines is an electric keyboard sound made with Electric, Saturator, Reverb and Utility.

Signal flow: **Electric → Saturator → Reverb → Utility**. Use stock devices in **Ableton Live 12 Suite**.

Pickup Model: R; M Stiffness: 44 %; F Tine Vol: 48 %.

[Complete device settings](ALL_PARAMETERS.md) · [Instrument settings](STARTING_STATE.md)

<audio controls preload="none" aria-label="Finished Ochre Tines"><source src="audio/ochre-tines.webm" type="audio/webm"></audio>

[Finished sound — WebM/Opus](audio/ochre-tines.webm)

## Step 1 — Shape the hammer, tone and pickup

Choose the pickup model and set hammer stiffness and force. With tine volume at zero, shape the tone component, pickup distance and symmetry. The hammer’s velocity sensitivity changes how strongly the tone responds to each strike.

Use **Electric** with the [complete starting settings](STARTING_STATE.md). Set the source and amplitude controls below; sections marked Off stay bypassed at this stage.

Signal flow: **Electric → Saturator → Reverb → Utility**. Begin with the instrument, then add each effect in its numbered step.

| Control | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Voices | 12 |
| Volume | -12 dB |
| PB Range | 2.00 |
| M Stiffness | 44 % |
| M Stiff &lt; Vel | 62 |
| M Force | 48 % |
| M Force &lt; Vel | 60 |
| Noise Amount | 10 % |
| Noise Decay | 15 % |
| F Release | 35 % |
| F Tone Decay | 65 % |
| F Tone Vol | 75 % |
| P Symmetry | 56 % |
| P Distance | 62 % |
| Pickup Model | R |
| P Amp In | 48 % |
| P Amp Out | 48 % |
| Damp Tone | 45 % |
| Damp Amount | 58 % |
| F Tine Vol | 0 % |

![Ochre Tines — Electric — step 1](screenshots/step-01.png)

<audio controls preload="none" aria-label="Ochre Tines after step 1"><source src="audio/steps/step-01.webm" type="audio/webm"></audio>

[Sound after step 1 — WebM/Opus](audio/steps/step-01.webm)

## Step 2 — Blend in the tine character

Raise tine volume to the listed amount, then set its color and decay. The tine adds a brighter component to the tone. Its balance against the tone component and the pickup geometry determine the bell-like edge of the instrument.

Keep the first stage’s source and amplitude settings while making these changes. The [complete instrument settings](ALL_PARAMETERS.md#electric) show the resulting tone before effects.

| Control | Value |
| --- | --- |
| F Tine Decay | 58 % |
| F Tine Vol | 48 % |
| F Tine Color | 45 % |

![Ochre Tines — Electric — step 2](screenshots/step-02.png)

<audio controls preload="none" aria-label="Ochre Tines after step 2"><source src="audio/steps/step-02.webm" type="audio/webm"></audio>

[Sound after step 2 — WebM/Opus](audio/steps/step-02.webm)

## Step 3 — Apply Saturator

Select the curve before setting Drive. Drive changes the waveform’s harmonic content; Output balances the level after that change. Dry/Wet blends the processed and direct tone. Keep Color and clipping controls as listed because they alter the distortion character.

| Control | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Type | Soft Sine |
| Drive | 2.0 dB |
| Output | -2.0 dB |
| Color On | Off |
| Pre Dc Filter | On |
| Dry/Wet | 45 % |

Place Saturator after **Electric**. The [complete settings](ALL_PARAMETERS.md#saturator) include its remaining controls.

![Ochre Tines — Saturator — step 3](screenshots/step-03.png)

<audio controls preload="none" aria-label="Ochre Tines after step 3"><source src="audio/steps/step-03.webm" type="audio/webm"></audio>

[Sound after step 3 — WebM/Opus](audio/steps/step-03.webm)

## Step 4 — Apply Reverb

Set decay, room size and Dry/Wet for the surrounding space. Predelay separates the direct attack from the room. Input filtering shapes what excites the reverb, while diffusion and high-frequency damping change the density and brightness of its tail.

| Control | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Predelay | 12.0 ms |
| In Lo Cut On | Off |
| In Hi Cut On | Off |
| Diff. Hi Freq | 4.50 kHz |
| HiShelf Gain | 0.60 |
| Density | High |
| Freeze On | Off |
| Decay Time | 1.35 s |
| Room Size | 52.00 |
| Dry/Wet | 14 % |

Place Reverb after **Saturator**. The [complete settings](ALL_PARAMETERS.md#reverb) include its remaining controls.

![Ochre Tines — Reverb — step 4](screenshots/step-04.png)

<audio controls preload="none" aria-label="Ochre Tines after step 4"><source src="audio/steps/step-04.webm" type="audio/webm"></audio>

[Sound after step 4 — WebM/Opus](audio/steps/step-04.webm)

## Step 5 — Apply Utility

Set gain and width at the end of the chain. Set Utility’s **Gain** knob to the **Output** value in the table. Width changes the balance between center and side information; Mono combines the channels. Bass Mono narrows only the low frequencies below its cutoff. Keep DC Filter and phase-inversion switches at the listed values.

| Control | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Output | -2.99 dB |
| DC Filter | On |

Place Utility after **Reverb**. The [complete settings](ALL_PARAMETERS.md#utility) include its remaining controls.

![Ochre Tines — Utility — step 5](screenshots/step-05.png)

<audio controls preload="none" aria-label="Ochre Tines after step 5"><source src="audio/steps/step-05.webm" type="audio/webm"></audio>

[Sound after step 5 — WebM/Opus](audio/steps/step-05.webm)

## Downloads and settings

- [Complete settings](ALL_PARAMETERS.md)
- [Starting settings](STARTING_STATE.md)
- [Finished sound — WebM/Opus](audio/ochre-tines.webm)

[Read this guide on playgrid.cc](https://playgrid.cc/tutorials/ochre-tines/)