Best interface to get Guitar into Live 8

[damian1972]

HI all - have recently purchased a Peavey Xport USB interface which Ableton 8 which generates an error message " Ableton Failed to open " on selection of the audio input

Not sure if an incompatibility issue or the fact IM trying to set up an interface via USB that is bypassing my Delta Audiophile soundcard.

Can anyone recommend anything that works solidly with Ableton - a colleague has suggested going via the audio inputs using a DI box to boost the signal to line level and therefore using the normal soundcard

[snakedogman]

If you already have a soundcard (as you seem to do) with analog inputs then yes, the easiest way is to either use a DI box, plug that output into your Delta's analog input and use some kind of software amp modeller. Or use an external amp modeler like a POD and plug that into your Delta.
Personally I use a Sansamp Character (Blonde) pedal, sort of an analog amp modeler, which goes directly into my soundcard. Works a charm.

[rikhyray]

+1 for Sansamps. Distortion is one FX where digital really fails, or say is really weak. So much easier to get satisfactory results with analog. Sansamps are all analog and have wide choice of models.

[damian1972]

Thanks - this looks similar to the Xport though in terms of functionality. Are you able to select this as an audio input for Live or does it open up as a VST?

[damian1972]

cool - might give it a go then if I decide to go the interface route again...

does it rely on ASIO drivers? My worry is that my DAW is using my Audiophile ins as default and not letting me open any other currently so might be an issue with ASIO to some extent

[darkenedsoul]

Wait, Guitar->DI Box->Analog 1/4" input into Audio Interface (in my case Motu 828Mk II) will give me the louder signal coming into Live? I was going to get one of those pre-amp thingies from Guitar Center. I don't think I have a DI box anymore....but I should look....

But going into the Motu Mic/Inst input has wicked WICKED low input into Live and can't get it bumped up to decent level to where I can adjust it down in Live if it comes in too hot. But if a DI box will do the amplification (pre-amp?) to bump volume input up going into Motu I'll go that route. Someone posted an image of hookups for all his gear on the forum and I wrote down a configuration for it to try but haven't gotten my lazy ass to try it yet to see if it would work. I just don't know if I have to do any sort of routing on the Motu to get the signal path set up/working with that type of layout.