Playback engine and loops problem

[Ataraxia]

Hi all,

Just got Ableton Live and I must say Pro Tools is going straight OUT

Got a couple of very irritating problems though:

1: I'm getting a bit too much latency, particularly when using drum kits, so tried to lower the buffer size in the playback engine (I'm using a Digidesign MBox 2 (yeah, Pro Tools )) but when I do and click Ok it just reverts back to what it was (1024 if it makes any difference)?

2: I've put together a loop using a VST instrument with a recorded MIDI sequence. I tried to record the track and fading in the sequence by controlling a filter cutoff on the instrument from my MIDI controller (for the first four bars a.k.a. the first loop), so obviously on the second loop I want it to play with no filter..... no. It starts fading it in again. I realise this is because it's a loop and it's looping what I've done with the sequence, but I don't want it to! Any ideas?

Any help would be much appreciated

[gibson_ewok]

2: I've put together a loop using a VST instrument with a recorded MIDI sequence. I tried to record the track and fading in the sequence by controlling a filter cutoff on the instrument from my MIDI controller (for the first four bars a.k.a. the first loop), so obviously on the second loop I want it to play with no filter..... no. It starts fading it in again. I realise this is because it's a loop and it's looping what I've done with the sequence, but I don't want it to! Any ideas?

I assume you have either drawn an envelope for the filter in the clip itself or drawn it on the arrange window in a lane.
If you have done it in the clip, drag your clip out to however long you want it. Click on it so its selected (highlighted) and press Cmd + J to consolidate then go into the clips envelope again and get rid of the filter automations by highlighting the ones you don't want and pressing the delete key.
If it is in the arrange window in an automation lane. Open the filter automation by clicking on the parameter you have automated on the device itself or by using the drop down menus on the channel. Then again highlight and delete (this will delete the clip unless you have put it in its own automation lane by pressing the + button under the drop down menus on the mixer section of the channel.)

Hope this helps.

Cheers,
Bill

[Ataraxia]

Unfortunately not, there is no sign of any automation envelope anywhere, can't find the automation lane either. And I haven't drawn any envelopes? The whole thing is driving my head to meltdown, I've even changed the instrument then put it back, and it still does it!!!

[Ataraxia]

Have now re-recorded the sequence and will be using envelopes on the recording (if I can figure it out), still need help on the playback engine issue?

[dom]

It depends on the drivers of the Mbox what kind of buffersizes it accepts.
For low latency you want to use something between 64 and 512 samples - but i remember the mbox 1 also only allowed 3 general buffer sizes for applications besides protools.
You can check the low latency by just using your onboard sound chip.

Best,
Dom

[Ataraxia]

Ok, tried the above (haven't had chance to test the drums yet) but certainly the overall latency reading has way more than halved. However now I'm getting a crackling sound every now and then?

I should replace the MBox really shouldn't I?