Hey, i am new to this program, and I am wanting to expand my DJ capabilities. So can anyone break down what DJ Enferno is doing in the following video?:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=cQ28nICqiGk
I understand what he is doing, i just dont know how it all works together. Like when he plays something it looks like it automatically loops in the right place, i know he is using a foot pedal board, but im not sure exactly how that works with Ableton. Any insight would be appreciated.
Thanks
can you explain this video
You got a loooong road ahead, son.
The best advise I can give is to watch the Kid Beyond videos that are on this site and youtube. One of them is very good - KB gives a breakdown/tutorial of what he does. If you can get your head around what he is doing, then substitute what he does with a mic for what Eferno does with decks - you'll be well on your way.
I use a foot controller along with decks to take loops from live stabs, scratches, drumming, etc, etc...
The essence of what Eferno does (and he posts on this site sometimes) is looping and adding effects. He uses an external Pioneer effects box, but there's no reason you can't use Lives in-built effects to do similar stuff.
If you're interested, there's another really good Dj doing great things with Ableton. His name is... Shit - I can't remember - but he has some sweet vids on youtube. I'll post his name when I remeber it.
The best advise I can give is to watch the Kid Beyond videos that are on this site and youtube. One of them is very good - KB gives a breakdown/tutorial of what he does. If you can get your head around what he is doing, then substitute what he does with a mic for what Eferno does with decks - you'll be well on your way.
I use a foot controller along with decks to take loops from live stabs, scratches, drumming, etc, etc...
The essence of what Eferno does (and he posts on this site sometimes) is looping and adding effects. He uses an external Pioneer effects box, but there's no reason you can't use Lives in-built effects to do similar stuff.
If you're interested, there's another really good Dj doing great things with Ableton. His name is... Shit - I can't remember - but he has some sweet vids on youtube. I'll post his name when I remeber it.
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Hillyhi11s
- Posts: 13
- Joined: Mon Jun 25, 2007 1:05 pm
Patch,
Thanks for the reply, i know I have a long ways to go, i really am just cracking the surface of the program and trying to make sure this is what I want, I think it is! But yeah, Kid Beyond has tons of videos I'm checking them out now. I understand what hes doing, I guess that Enferno was just doing that on a bigger scale with the tables (+pioneer efx 500) keyboards and drum pads.
So, is there a good foot controller that you might recommend? I think he is using the FCB1010 Footswitch (so his website tells me). And do I need an external USB audio interface? I want to get this set up (at first) really basic without having to buy a bunch of equipment, if i can. You know, until i get the feel of it.
Let me know about that other DJ you know of using Ableton. I would love to check his stuff out too.
Thanks for the reply, i know I have a long ways to go, i really am just cracking the surface of the program and trying to make sure this is what I want, I think it is! But yeah, Kid Beyond has tons of videos I'm checking them out now. I understand what hes doing, I guess that Enferno was just doing that on a bigger scale with the tables (+pioneer efx 500) keyboards and drum pads.
So, is there a good foot controller that you might recommend? I think he is using the FCB1010 Footswitch (so his website tells me). And do I need an external USB audio interface? I want to get this set up (at first) really basic without having to buy a bunch of equipment, if i can. You know, until i get the feel of it.
Let me know about that other DJ you know of using Ableton. I would love to check his stuff out too.
His name is Lamont. You're gonna love it. Check him out on youtube.
(Search for ABLETON + Lamont).
The FCB1010 is pretty much the standard foot pedal around here, although I use a cheap Rolls MP80 foorpedal that I picked up on ebay REALLY cheap. I'd recommend it. You'll need an audio interface with MIDI in/out to use it. As a DJ, you'll want to get an audio interface with plenty of OUTS. I'd recommend the Motu Ultralite. It's what I (and numerous others around here!) swear by.
You'll also want to learn how to use software called Bomes midi translator, and maybe Autohotkeys. These are not essential for the early learning process, but getting these down will mean you can perform MAGIC on the decks!
(Search for ABLETON + Lamont).
The FCB1010 is pretty much the standard foot pedal around here, although I use a cheap Rolls MP80 foorpedal that I picked up on ebay REALLY cheap. I'd recommend it. You'll need an audio interface with MIDI in/out to use it. As a DJ, you'll want to get an audio interface with plenty of OUTS. I'd recommend the Motu Ultralite. It's what I (and numerous others around here!) swear by.
You'll also want to learn how to use software called Bomes midi translator, and maybe Autohotkeys. These are not essential for the early learning process, but getting these down will mean you can perform MAGIC on the decks!
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pepezabala
- Posts: 3503
- Joined: Mon Jun 07, 2004 4:29 pm
- Location: In Berlin, finally
But you don't necessarily need a footpedal for doing live looping, especially if you have your hands free.
To start: You can assign a key on your computerkeyboard to a clip-slot and then make your loops by just hitting that key.
Then you can make clips that play midi that gets rerouted into live as midicontroller-data and launches clip-recording and playback on various slots with different looplengths.
and instead of buying expensive midi-controllers you can have a look at some cheapo gamecontrollers and use them to control live as well. You will need to install additional software though (Junxtion or USB-overdrive or whatever ...).
To start: You can assign a key on your computerkeyboard to a clip-slot and then make your loops by just hitting that key.
Then you can make clips that play midi that gets rerouted into live as midicontroller-data and launches clip-recording and playback on various slots with different looplengths.
and instead of buying expensive midi-controllers you can have a look at some cheapo gamecontrollers and use them to control live as well. You will need to install additional software though (Junxtion or USB-overdrive or whatever ...).
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Hillyhi11s
- Posts: 13
- Joined: Mon Jun 25, 2007 1:05 pm
hands free???
Yeah, I doubt I will be doing much mixing where i can be pressing buttons. Setting my loop ins and out in Serato is annoying enough (even though Serato does that fairly well), so a foot controller for Ableton is a must.
I think im going to get the Behhenger foot pedals. Its not too much. As far as the other equipment, i am not sure what to get next, that firewire audi interface is like 5 or 600. ouch (i am sure its good though). How does it all hook up together, from the tables to the pedals to the computer? Does it all go into the audio interface then plug into the computer?
Those vids of Lamont are cool. I think I would be doing stuff like that at first for sure. I want to get a triggerfinger pad too (but later). Thanks for all the help so far.
I think im going to get the Behhenger foot pedals. Its not too much. As far as the other equipment, i am not sure what to get next, that firewire audi interface is like 5 or 600. ouch (i am sure its good though). How does it all hook up together, from the tables to the pedals to the computer? Does it all go into the audio interface then plug into the computer?
Those vids of Lamont are cool. I think I would be doing stuff like that at first for sure. I want to get a triggerfinger pad too (but later). Thanks for all the help so far.
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Hillyhi11s
- Posts: 13
- Joined: Mon Jun 25, 2007 1:05 pm
bump
physically, how is it all wired together?
Example setup would be Turntables / FCB1010 Foot Controller / M-Audio trigger Finger / Ableton Live / to master out.
Example setup would be Turntables / FCB1010 Foot Controller / M-Audio trigger Finger / Ableton Live / to master out.
I can't remember his name...-
Hillyhi11s
- Posts: 13
- Joined: Mon Jun 25, 2007 1:05 pm
connection
Hey, I just bought a Midi to USB interface from an audio engineer and she explained daisy chaining to me with the Midi. Its a bit confusing. I bet that is why no one has attempted to explain how it all hooks up. So lets simplify the question.
How do I hook my tables to the foot pad and Ableton (so that i can loop on the fly)?
How do I hook my tables to the foot pad and Ableton (so that i can loop on the fly)?
all the foot pedal does is press the record and stop buttons on the live tracks.... the way he's doing it is he beat matches the record to ableton when in sync, he starts recording a loop and stops it with the pedal, then you start playing the loop....
I do the same thing with a mic where I have it pitch my voice up and add fx to make live female vocals(weird I know but it works really well) and when I'm improvising live I can hit record and record a vocal phrase and loop it then record another one and so on and switch between them.
look up live looping tips on this forum, there are a few flying arround.
as for wiring, pedals and all the other controllers are just midi, connected to the lap top.... turn table output goes to audio card's input... you don't need an expensive sound card to do this. I have a sound blaster usb 24 bit external which I bought for 40 bucks at circuit city which has one input and three outputs which I am running at 96.000 khz at 16 bit.
I do the same thing with a mic where I have it pitch my voice up and add fx to make live female vocals(weird I know but it works really well) and when I'm improvising live I can hit record and record a vocal phrase and loop it then record another one and so on and switch between them.
look up live looping tips on this forum, there are a few flying arround.
as for wiring, pedals and all the other controllers are just midi, connected to the lap top.... turn table output goes to audio card's input... you don't need an expensive sound card to do this. I have a sound blaster usb 24 bit external which I bought for 40 bucks at circuit city which has one input and three outputs which I am running at 96.000 khz at 16 bit.
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Hillyhi11s
- Posts: 13
- Joined: Mon Jun 25, 2007 1:05 pm
right on!
Thanks Ruso
I will have to check those forums when I get home. Yeah, so I all the midis going into my computer vis usb and my tables are going through the sound card (its a good one built in). I guess that will work. now all i have to do is figure out how to program all this and I am good to go.
Thanks again
Hill
I will have to check those forums when I get home. Yeah, so I all the midis going into my computer vis usb and my tables are going through the sound card (its a good one built in). I guess that will work. now all i have to do is figure out how to program all this and I am good to go.
Thanks again
Hill