CLUTCH - Sidechain-Triggered MIDI Buffer

CLUTCH is a precision sidechain-driven MIDI gate designed for rhythmic layering and tight performance integration. Unlike standard gates that just mute audio, CLUTCH acts as a "cocked and loaded" MIDI buffer: it holds your incoming notes in memory and fires them only when your audio sidechain source strikes the Threshold.

It is the perfect tool for "ghosting" synth layers over acoustic drums, locking melodies to rhythmic transients, or performing with complex, quantization-free timing that always lands on the beat.

Key Features

• Turn any audio source into a rhythmic trigger for your MIDI instruments.
• Late Arrival Window (Gate Time): A configurable time window that allows notes played after the initial trigger to still pass through. This forgives human timing errors and keeps the groove fluid.
• Gap (Hysteresis): A dedicated secondary threshold ensures the gate closes cleanly. By setting a "Gap" below the opening threshold, you eliminate "chattering" and misfires on noisy or decaying audio signals.
• Visual Scope:  real-time monitoring of transients, Threshold, and Gap levels.
• Polyphonic Buffer: Full support for chords and overlapping notes.
  
  

Setup Guide

Important: CLUTCH is built as an Max Audio Effect to allow for flexible sidechain routing, but it processes and outputs MIDI data.

1. Placement Drop the CLUTCH device onto the MIDI Track you wish to control.

2. Audio Sidechain In the Audio Input section of the device:

• Select your trigger source (e.g., "Kick Drum" or "Sidechain Bus").
• Adjust the Threshold (Orange line) until the green transient spikes cross it.
• Adjust the Gap (Blue line) to set the reset point for a clean release.
  

3. The Routing Trick (Critical) To prevent "double triggering" (where you hear both the gated notes and your raw key presses), you must disable the track's standard input.

1. On the CLUTCH Device: Locate the internal MIDI Input selector and choose your MIDI Controller / Keyboard.
   • The device will now listen to your keyboard directly.
2. On the Ableton Track: Go to the Track's I/O Section.
3. Set "MIDI From" to  No Input.
   • Why? This stops the track from receiving "dry" notes from your keyboard.
   • CLUTCH will automatically inject the processed/gated MIDI signal back to the start of the track's chain, functioning exactly like a standard MIDI input.

4. Play Hold a chord on your keyboard. You will hear silence until your audio sidechain source hits the threshold, then your notes will strike in perfect sync.