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How to 
Subsocial

We're here to help.

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We created this page to easily answer the most common questions that we're asked about our sounds and releases.

 

You'll always find up to date guides, answers and tips right here.

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Let us know if there's something else we should have on this page that would help.

Jump to:

Ableton

Vital

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The "Basics"

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All our audio files are 96 kHz / 24 bits.

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  • They are higher quality files than most other samples.

  • A sample rate of 96 kHz means better time stretching and pitch shifting.

  • Higher sample rates have many other benefits for professional workflows.

  • 96 kHz files can be easily converted to lower sample rates.

  • 24 bit is the standard bit depth quality of most production grade audio and recordings.

  • Higher bit depths allow for more flexibility during the production process.

  • Our flies will work fine in 16 bit or 32 bit projects in any software.

  • All of our audio files will work in any software or hardware as standard .WAV files.

  • Our audio files may exist as mono,  stereo, or a spatial format.

  • Most issues will audio files that "don't work" are due to differences in sample rate, bit depth or channel count.

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Our MIDI files are regular MIDI files.

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  • MIDI files are just patterns of notes and controller changes over time. Notes and controller changes are just numbers between 1-127.

  • Import, drag, or load them on any hardware, or in any software that is MIDI capable.

  • Most MIDI files are single parts, like chords or a melody.

  • Some MIDI files are complete songs with multiple parts that will import on multiple tracks.

  • Sometimes your software will ask you if you want to import the tempo and time signature that's in the MIDI clip. This is normal, but you should probably choose not to if you're bringing it into an existing project you're working on.

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Software Compatibility 

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  • If something is not working or loading, update your software. (Don't hate)

  • We usually develop in the latest versions of software. If in doubt, ask us and we can let you know if a release will work with your setup.

  • Each release page will specify the software it's specifically designed for.

  • You can always use any .WAV audio in our packs to make your own instruments with.

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Where to keep stuff.

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  • First, you should UNZIP your downloaded files and store them somewhere you'll remember.

  • We highly recommend keeping all of our releases in a folder that doesn't move named, "Subsocial Studios" - this makes your life a lot easier, you'll see.

  • Most issues when loading instruments, effects, or presets are due to missing or moved files.

  • For software DAW specific help, keeping scrolling down.

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Spatial Audio

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All of our current spatial audio releases offer binaural and 1st Order Ambisonics formats.

 

We choose to release in Ambisonics B-Ambix format because it sounds good and is easy to capture, use, and produce with. It can also be converted to other spatial formats easily, and is useful as immersive audio assets in VR productions and game design.

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The binaural files we provide are rendered from the same ambisonic recordings.

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  • Spatial audio is anything "beyond" stereo

  • Spatial audio sounds impressive on playback systems that support it.

  • The files are still .WAV files in most cases.

  • The simplest spatial audio format is "binaural." It is 2 channels, and can be played back on any device that can play stereo sound. The only real requirement is using headphones to listen to the extra depth that binaural brings. You can use any of our binaural files as regular stereo files, just keep this in mind.

  • Any multichannel .WAV file with 3 or more tracks is probably "spatial audio."

  • Your software will need to support multichannel audio .WAV files in order to use it. Most professional audio software can support spatial audio.

  • You will most likely need to learn more about spatial audio production before using spatial file formats if you don't know much about it.

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Ableton Live

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For best results, we recommend updating to the latest version of Ableton Live for device/preset/set compatibility.

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We realise that this may seem like a big ask for some who do not want to update.

 

When we make stuff for Ableton, we are usually making it in the latest version that brings significant new features. This way, we can create new things that take advantage of the latest features, and have our releases be more compatible for the future.

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Ableton Files & Folders

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If you're not sure on how to manage and use files easily with Ableton, here's a quick guide to get you up and running.

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  • Our Ableton focused releases are typically just like Ableton Project folders.

  • .ALS files are the Ableton Live set & project files.

  • .ALC files are Ableton MIDI or audio "Clips" that also have custom sounds and effects attached to them. They are sort of like track presets, so dragging them onto a new track is what they're made for!

  • .ADG files are Ableton "Device Group" files, which could be Ableton drum racks, synthesizers, samplers, or even just effects racks that can be loaded into another Ableton set.

 

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We highly suggest doing the following with our Ableton packs and sessions:

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  1. Create a folder named, "Subsocial Studios."

  2. Download and unzip each of our downloads into your "Subsocial Studios" folder. Future downloads can go in the same folder, and Ableton will automatically show new folders you add.

  3. Each release/download will be a folder inside your main "Subsocial Studios" folder.

  4. Open Ableton and add your new "Subsocial Studios" folder to "Places" in your Ableton browser.

  5. Drag and drop any of our sessions, .adg files, (racks, instruments, effects etc.) or our Ableton instrument preset files into any sessions you're working on, and they'll just work!

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Moving an .ADG file to another folder outside of the downloaded folder, and then loading it in a different Ableton session will result in Ableton saying that "Media files are missing." This is normal.

 

You either need to put .ADG file back in its original folder, or re-link the media files in Ableton.

Vital

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For best results, we recommend updating to the latest version of Vital for the best sound preset compatibility.

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Installing Vital Files

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You will find .vitalbank type files in these releases. These files are complete banks (collections of sound presets). They contain everything that's needed for our presets to work.

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To use this .vitalbank file, simply open up Vital and them click the Vital menu icon and choose "Import Bank" - now navigate to the .vitalbank file you downloaded and click Open. 

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A bank of presets will install automatically to your default Vital Presets folder and you will see them as a new folder bank in your presets browser, ready to play.

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