Back in 2009, I released a track on Different Pieces/Armada called
Less Cowbell
Earlier this month, I rebooted the track with updated drums and used it in my
May podcast. [
Update: I've since posted the
full reboot as a free download.]
The core sound in Less Cowbell is based on an custom Ableton Live Operator patch that deconstructs the original TR-808 analog cowbell sound.
To commemorate the original release in 2009, Peter Kirn's
Create Digital Music blog posted a piece on the making of the track - along with a downloadable version of the Operator patch - so producers could see how it was done and tinker with the sound itself.
I was going to post a link to the original article here, but I've since made a few revisions to the info and download, so I'm posting a new Live Set that includes the patch - and a sequence to get you started with the macros.
The set is compatible with Live 7.0.18 or higher - and requires Operator (but it will still work in demo mode, even if you don't own this little wündersynth).