Robert Henke Filter Delays and Lanzarote Verb are two new free delay and reverb M4L devices from the Ableton co-founder.
This week, Dillon Bastan released ChatDSP, a tool that can create new Max for Live devices from simple prompts and AI. It’s a very controversial release, but it shows what’s possible these days. However, there are still plenty of M4L devices created by creative and talented human beings.
A star in the M4L scene is undoubtedly Robert Henke, co-founder of Ableton, who has recently released two lovely free Max for Live devices you shouldn’t miss: Filter Delays and LanzaroteVerb
Robert Henke Filter Delays & Lanzarote Verb
Filter Delays is a new advanced M4L delay and filter FX device. According to Robert Henke, he wrote the original Filter Delay device for Live 1.0 in 2001, but recently rediscovered it.
It consists of three stereo delays with independently adjustable delay times in rhythmic values. The output of each delay is routed into a low-pass and high-pass filter in series. This filtering part allows you to narrow the signal to a specific part of the spectrum.
At the end of the signal path, you can choose to either feed each delay individually or sum them all back into the processor. Great for repeated echoes.
On the parameter side, you have a global section and per-channel pan, time control with various sync options, and time, frequency, width, and volume controls. As mentioned, there is also a color-coded feedback option.
A Special Unrealistic But Musically Reverb
The second new M4L device is Lanzarote Verb, a somewhat experimental reverb. Robert Henke says it’s an exploration of classic allpass- and comb-filter delay configurations. Moreover, he explains the origin of the device’s name:
Imagine crashing waves on black volcanic rocks in a cave. That’s why I named it ‘Lanzarote Verb’.
The core consists of three allpass filters in series, followed by three comb filters in parallel for each stereo channel. The delay times for each filter differ slightly between the left and right channels. Plus, you can recall different reverb types from 14 built-in presets.
Lanzarote Verb is fully tweakable with a handful of parameters: size, diffuse, decay, cutoff, color, modulation, and dry/wet. But lower your expectations a bit. It’s an experimental, a bit quirky reverb, not top-notch.
Robert says that it’s not at all realistic but certainly recognisable and musically useful. I can confirm that after my first tryouts. It sounds unique
First Impression
Two original M4L devices from Ableton Live’s co-founder. Not to be missed. And they’re human-made, not by an AI agent.
Robert Henke Filter Delays & Lanzarote Verb are available now as a free download from the official website. It requires Ableton Live 12 Suite or Live 12 Standard with a Max for Live license.
More information here: Robert Henke
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