major kp3 feedback

[Popsicle Theory]

Hey all,

After having tried for about 8-10 months I finally got my kp3 working as it should in Ableton (ie. recording my effects over the master of ableton) BUT, when I want to record my effects I get this major feedback noise and I quickly have to turn my volume knob down. I tried fiddling with all the volume settings (in my audio device options, kp3, ableton) but it seems unable to fix!

I have to record my effects in a very low volume now which kinds of sucks because I can't really hear what I'm doing..
Whenever I insert the ins of my audio device into my kp3 out the noise/feedback already starts while I haven't even touched anything yet!

Hope someone knows a solution to my problem?
I searched the internet and havent found anything!
Thanks in advance

[Ableton_David]

Hi, if I understand correctly, it sounds like you've got the following setup: Master out to the KP3, which then goes back in and is recorded over the set. If this is the case, then the problem is that you've set up a feedback loop.

To fix this, you can either use a bus track, or just set each individual track that you want to have to go out through directly to the KP3 (rather than to the master).

[Popsicle Theory]

hi, thanks for the reply.
How do I use a bus track then? and what do you mean with the last bit you wrote?
sorry I dont really have that much knowledge about this!

[Ableton_David]

No problem, let me explain it further. Essentially, you have the following setup:

Audio->Master->KP3->Live->Master. Because you're recording the KP3 back into Live, it's going out of the Master out. But, because you have the Master out also going into the KP3, you've set up a feedback loop.

So, here's the solution: set all of the tracks that you want to go out to the KP3 to go out a specific output - one that isn't the Master. You can set this by enabling In/Out view. Then, you can have the KP3 come back in to live, and have the effected audio (out from the KP3) play with the original audio in Live.

The setup should look like this:
Audio->specified output->KP3->Live->Master

[Popsicle Theory]

http://i55.tinypic.com/21btxh.jpg

Here is a printscreen because I don't really get it..

First I had my input + output both in 1/2 but now I changed my output to 3/4 because I think it wont work when you have them both in 1/2?
The channels I want to ''effect'' with my kp3 go to 1/2 and the others just to master..
when I touch my kp3 while in record mode I dont get anything?

[Ableton_David]

Yes, it looks like you've fixed the feedback issue. To clarify, the numbers of the input and output ports don't necessarily indicate feedback - i.e. you can have a signal go out through output 1/2 and in from input 1/2 - as long as the master output is different from the original (no effect) output.

It looks like your issue now is that you have Live set to receive input from the wrong channel. Is the output from the KP3 going into inputs 3 and 4 on your interface?

[Popsicle Theory]

Yeah theyre going to 3/4

[yur2die4]

Hi.

I am curious about what your recording method is. You say that you use your KP3 to 'record fx over the master channel'

Does this mean that you are re-recording in another channel it as you use it, or that you are recording it as part of the arrangement? Or are you possibly playing out live??

Also, I am wondering about the amount of wet/dry that you use for your kp3. I think it is either 'send' mode or 'direct' mode?

As for hooking it up on the master channel, an option that you have is using the "External Effects" effect that can be found under Audio Effects. What this allows you to do is select audio channels that Live sends out to (3/4 for instance, if your audio card is sending out to the kp3 via 3/4), and what audio channels it will listen to (lets say it is 3/4 again). Then you would make sure that your Master is set to a different channel output (1/2 going out to speakers). In this case, I would set your KP3 to 'direct' which lets normal audio through, and then lets the KP3 decide what fx to play Over it. If you were more interested in using the 'send' mode with the KP3 on the master, then you could hit Ctrl+G to group your External Effects into a rack as a wet, and create a second channel within the rack that is the 'dry' signal. This might require a macro knob to switch between the two.


Another option is, creating the same "External Effects" in a Return channel (with your kp3 set to 'send' mode). There is a fun trick you can do for this that allows you to use the crossfader as your on/off or wet/dry effect for the sending! (if you get this setup to work, I may explain it to you )

Lastly, if you wanted to get really confusing.. there might be a way to record your use of the KP3 into Arrangement view via MIDI.. I don't want to get into that unless I have to because, I can't think too well at the moment haha.