# Build Umber Grove in Ableton Live

Umber Grove is a plucked string sound made with Tension, Saturator, Reverb and Utility.

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

Exciter Type: Plectrum; Exc Stiffness: 38 %; String Decay: 45 %.

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

<audio controls preload="none" aria-label="Finished Umber Grove"><source src="audio/umber-grove.webm" type="audio/webm"></audio>

[Finished sound — WebM/Opus](audio/umber-grove.webm)

## Step 1 — Shape the exciter, string and pickup

Choose the exciter type and position. Set protrusion, stiffness and velocity for the initial excitation, then adjust string decay and damping for the ringing tone. Pickup position changes which string harmonics are emphasized.

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

| Control | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Voices | 8 |
| Volume | -10 dB |
| Exciter Type | Plectrum |
| Exc On/Off | On |
| E Pos | 13 % |
| Exc Protrusion | 38 % |
| Exc Stiffness | 38 % |
| Exc Stiff &lt; Vel | 0.25 |
| Exc Velocity | 48 % |
| Exc Vel &lt; Vel | 0.60 |
| Exc Damping | 60 % |
| Str Damping | 58 % |
| String Decay | 45 % |
| S Decay Ratio | 45 % |
| Str Inharmon | 8 % |
| Pickup On/Off | On |
| Pickup Pos | 22 % |
| Damper On | Off |
| Unison On/Off | Off |
| Vibrato On/Off | Off |
| Press Dest A | F. Cutoff |
| Press Amt A | 10 % |
| Body On/Off | Off |
| Filter On/Off | Off |

![Umber Grove — Tension — step 1](screenshots/step-01.png)

<audio controls preload="none" aria-label="Umber Grove 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 — Add body resonance and filter the string

Enable the body model and filter using the states below. Choose body type and size, then balance the string against the resonating body. Body decay and its low/high cuts shape the resonance; the instrument filter controls the remaining high-frequency edge.

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

| Control | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Body On/Off | On |
| Body Type | Guitar |
| Body Size | S |
| Body Mix | 28 % |
| Body Decay | 18 % |
| Body Low-Cut | 25 % |
| Body High-Cut | 28 % |
| Filter On/Off | On |
| Filter Type | Low-pass 12dB/oct |
| Filter Freq | 3.9 kHz |
| Filter Reso | 5 % |

![Umber Grove — Tension — step 2](screenshots/step-02.png)

<audio controls preload="none" aria-label="Umber Grove 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 | 0.5 dB |
| Output | -1.0 dB |
| Color On | Off |
| Pre Dc Filter | On |
| Dry/Wet | 30 % |

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

![Umber Grove — Saturator — step 3](screenshots/step-03.png)

<audio controls preload="none" aria-label="Umber Grove 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 | 1.04 s |
| Room Size | 45.00 |
| Dry/Wet | 12 % |

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

![Umber Grove — Reverb — step 4](screenshots/step-04.png)

<audio controls preload="none" aria-label="Umber Grove 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 | 17.4 dB |
| DC Filter | On |

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

![Umber Grove — Utility — step 5](screenshots/step-05.png)

<audio controls preload="none" aria-label="Umber Grove 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/umber-grove.webm)

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