Help me build an Ableton Rig

[silencer eleven]

So here is the deal, I am a complete noob and we lost our bass player so I need to put together an Ableton Live rig to use with our band in strictly live setting. I need to have four independent outputs (1 click, 2 and 3 sample left and right, 4 bass). Going to run bass to an amp then DI to the house (so for us it will feel and sound like bass on stage).

I am planning on using Ableton Live 8 (no brainer), a Macbook Pro with optimum system requirements stated by Ableton, and M-Audio Fast Track Ultra. Anything I should reconsider or change? Money is tight, looking for the best and also an affordable way to do this.

Really the major question is the interface. I want to make sure this system is compatible, would love something that is easy to setup and use but also incredibly reliable. Would love to hear from some people that have used Ableton in this way.

Thanks for reading and I really appreciate your help.

Jordan

[hacktheplanet]

If you'll just be playing back multitracks, the most recent MBP is way more than adequate. You could easily get by with an old c2d. I do. Just max out the RAM with 3rd party stuff and you'll be good. Look around online for a refurb, and buy Apple Care.

Stay far away from anything M-Audio. Their drivers are really terrible, and I think the devices have poor sound quality. Also, a buddy of mine uses the Fast Track Ultra and he is annoyed that he has to shut down and restart his MBP to get it to recognize the interface. I've been using MOTU gear forever, and I think an Audio Express would be a good choice for your purposes. Also maybe check out what Presonus has.

[stonee]

i can also back motu.

[silencer eleven]

If you'll just be playing back multitracks, the most recent MBP is way more than adequate. You could easily get by with an old c2d. I do. Just max out the RAM with 3rd party stuff and you'll be good. Look around online for a refurb, and buy Apple Care.

Stay far away from anything M-Audio. Their drivers are really terrible, and I think the devices have poor sound quality. Also, a buddy of mine uses the Fast Track Ultra and he is annoyed that he has to shut down and restart his MBP to get it to recognize the interface. I've been using MOTU gear forever, and I think an Audio Express would be a good choice for your purposes. Also maybe check out what Presonus has.

Thank you so much for all the help. Was looking at the MBP i5, think they just came out with an i7 series. When you talk about maxing out the RAM do you mean running an external along side the computer? Just checked in to the Audio Express and it looks awesome! On the back panel there are two lines out and mains out.... How exactly will I configure the interface using Ableton to separate those into individual tracks? Anything I should specifically look for from Presonus? Just found out also that the interface has to use USB 2.0 due to no firewire ports on the MBP's.

Again thank you so much,

Jordan

[gjm]

Just found out also that the interface has to use USB 2.0 due to no firewire ports on the MBP's.

I think you will find that Thunderbolt is backwards compatible to existing Firewire and USB peripherals. A Firewire audio interface should be no problem.

[silencer eleven]

Just found out also that the interface has to use USB 2.0 due to no firewire ports on the MBP's.

I think you will find that Thunderbolt is backwards compatible to existing Firewire and USB peripherals. A Firewire audio interface should be no problem.

I don't think the computer I am looking at has thunderbolt. Looking at a 13 in, MBP believe one of the i5's. It def isn't the newest version.

Jordan

[saxman420]

+1 for Motu

How will you be triggering your scenes, samples, etc? It may be worth getting a cheap usb powered midi keyboard for this purpose.

Good Luck

[silencer eleven]

+1 for Motu

How will you be triggering your scenes, samples, etc? It may be worth getting a cheap usb powered midi keyboard for this purpose.

Good Luck

Good question. Think for the immediate future we will just assign them to number keys and play using the laptop. But some sort of midi foot controller or other would be great. Anything I should specifically look into?

Jordan

[gjm]

I don't think the computer I am looking at has thunderbolt. Looking at a 13 in, MBP believe one of the i5's. It def isn't the newest version.

Then it will have FW... or its not a MBP.

[silencer eleven]

I don't think the computer I am looking at has thunderbolt. Looking at a 13 in, MBP believe one of the i5's. It def isn't the newest version.

Then it will have FW... or its not a MBP.

Prob my misunderstanding. I guess it really doesn't matter if I go with a Motu interface, it has both! Now I guess the final question would be, How do I configure the interface and software to give myself a L and R stereo mix through the main outs, click through either the headphone out or one of the lines out and then bass through the other line out? I just want to make sure this is all gonna work together and not have any problems for our application.

Jordan

[supamonsta]

this is basic routing operations, you set it in live pref's and in each live track (inputs list, outputs list)

you'll be perfectly fine with a motu soundcard and a macbook

cheers

[silencer eleven]

this is basic routing operations, you set it in live pref's and in each live track (inputs list, outputs list)

you'll be perfectly fine with a motu soundcard and a macbook

cheers

Thank you, I guess the question was that they have two groups of audio outputs, and phones out. Just wanted to make sure that I can send just sample to main outs L and R then bass to audio 4 and click to audio 3, or click to phones? Just need everything independent. Again these questions prob sound very elementary for all you and I appreciate your help. If you need to know ANYTHING about guitar gear let me know I can help you out.

Jordan

[silencer eleven]

http://losangeles.craigslist.org/lac/sy ... 75836.html found this online. Will this computer work for what we are talking about?

Jordan

[hacktheplanet]

http://losangeles.craigslist.org/lac/sy ... 75836.html found this online. Will this computer work for what we are talking about?

Jordan

Yup, that one should be just fine.
For the channel routing, check the settings in Live and glance at the manual if you have to... It's pretty simple to do with a little practice.
For the click, consider making your own click track with a "blip" or a hihat sample, as AFAIK it's not possible to route Live's click to a specific output.
The triggering... A MIDI keyboard will be ok at first while you practice. Then you might consider a smallish drum pad controller like an Akai LPD or MPD, or perhaps a Behringer FCB1010 or any of the other foot controllers available.

(My guitarist and I had a similar setup when we were gigging to recorded drums a few years ago. It was interesting. )

[silencer eleven]

http://losangeles.craigslist.org/lac/sy ... 75836.html found this online. Will this computer work for what we are talking about?

Jordan

Yup, that one should be just fine.
For the channel routing, check the settings in Live and glance at the manual if you have to... It's pretty simple to do with a little practice.
For the click, consider making your own click track with a "blip" or a hihat sample, as AFAIK it's not possible to route Live's click to a specific output.
The triggering... A MIDI keyboard will be ok at first while you practice. Then you might consider a smallish drum pad controller like an Akai LPD or MPD, or perhaps a Behringer FCB1010 or any of the other foot controllers available.

(My guitarist and I had a similar setup when we were gigging to recorded drums a few years ago. It was interesting. )

Ok talked with the guy who has the computer and apparently he has another one about 8 months older, same specs but it also has firewire and it's only 30 bucks more. Would that be a better buy? He did recommend it for our application. He did also recommend a 500GB/7200RPM hard drive. What do you think?

Click, we have clicks already made and ready. Thanks for the heads up with the controllers. How hard is it to configure those?

Jordan