What is the full potential of a Microkorg XL with Ableton?

[kamakawiwaole]

Hi,

I have a Microkorg XL synth, and I am confused as to what full potential can be achieved when utilized with Ableton Live.

http://www.korg.com/product.aspx?pd=545

My question centers around whether Ableton's own tone generator can read the MIDI information coming from the Microkorg in/out (not USB, although it does have one) and re-generate the original sounds from the synth on the computer, if ableton is set as a slave to the microkorg XL. I have been able to establish MIDI connections using M-audios uno MIDI in/out to USB. I can get the korg to play ableton's instruments and use the octave trigger to control ableton's switching in octave. I guess I am asking what is the best way to go about recording audio from the synth into ableton, does it have to be through the audio outs into a converter, then into the computer, or is there some more tech-savvy way to utilize the MIDI information and the audio? or just the MIDI information? I understand MIDI is information about control, but can it somehow send information to generate the sounds in ableton that I would hear on the synth? I assume there is a combination that can be achieved between the two to do what I want. I am looking for best production quality I can get out of my Microkorg into Ableton.

Sorry if i am not clear. Thanks!

[puxflux]

I believe that the best way to accomplish what you are looking to do will be to use the external instrument device in live. The external instrument device will send midi to a specific midi port and channel and receive audio from a specific audio input. This will allow you to sequence the micro korg just like a vsti or live instrument device. You will want to turn local control off on the micro korg. This will let you send midi information to live from the micro korg without the keys directly triggering it's internal sounds, the instrument rack will take care of that part. The only slight down sides to working in this way is that the track will render in real time and you will have to notate the patches you use for each track, that information will not save with the live project.

[kamakawiwaole]

I don't quite understand the last sentence, as I do not know what notate patches means. I can understand something like that the MIDI information can't be retrieved and sent back to the Microkorg working post recording in ableton?

I guess my question then becomes, what is the best way to hook the microkorg up to ableton? I'd like to be able to get high quality recordings onto ableton from the microkorg. Does this mean I need to connect the 1/4" cables thru my apogee duet and into ableton? What is the advantage of using the MIDI in/out as oppoed to the USB direct cable from the microkorg to ableton? Im seeking to establish the greatest compatibility between the microkorg and ableton, utilizing ableton as a sequencer to the microkorg.

Do I use a combination of audio thru 1/4" cables into the duet into ableton + connect the MIDI in/out thru M-audio UNO into ableton? If I do, what does this allow me to do?

Sorry, I am confused to the potential of MIDI in ableton with my microkorg, I dont want to stop short of getting all i can out of it.