questions for live performers...final thoughts on LIVE4?

ryst · Post by **ryst** » Thu Jul 22, 2004 2:44 pm

I am really digging Live4. I have not used it for live performance yet but I am looking forward to doing so in the future. The beta stage is almost over. So I have a few questions for all the DJ's and live performers....I am not asking about "feature wishlists". Only about current features from Live4 and previous versions.

1-- What are your overall final impressions on Live 4 compared to previous versions for live performance?

2-- Are their any features that have changed from previous versions that will impact how you use LIVE 4 "live"?

3-- Is there anything from LIVE 3 that you miss for live performance?

I remember a few people not happy when the first few betas were released.
I am wondering if any feelings have changed? I would really like some feedback from you guys if possible. Thanks!

5dots · Post by **5dots** » Thu Jul 22, 2004 2:55 pm

i'm sorta of two minds. on the one hand, live 4 allows me to use just one program to do the work of several (and means i don't need an audio routing app, like jack, running while i'm playing live).

on the other hand, my cpu goes WAY up when i'm using live 4 (probably because of cpu-hungry VSTIs and AUs)...

i will definitely be buying live 4, and will definitely be using it to perform with. but it does cement my resolve to get a faster machine, and soon.

bug hunter trooper · Post by **bug hunter trooper** » Thu Jul 22, 2004 3:58 pm

final thoughts: BUGS BUGS BUGS even in RC1

but it is understandable that A-team wanna rush V4 out to make some cash and refound loads of working time on this version, the final will be out on 28th buggy or not.

4.01, 4.02 will fix it

"only a dead bug is a good bug"

ryst · Post by **ryst** » Thu Jul 22, 2004 6:57 pm

thanks guys.

Is there anyone out there who uses Live as a "live" performance tool that could possibly answer my questions a little more in depth????

5dots · Post by **5dots** » Thu Jul 22, 2004 7:12 pm

i'll address them more specifically:

1. overall, i'm very happy with live 4. i'm blown away by how nicely midi is integrated, and really excited to start working on some new material (with more of my mind focused on sound, and less focused on technicalities of making my ideas happen).

2. live 4 will allow me to drop several other apps, and streamline my productivity. i'll be able to function better while on stage, and not have to focus on workarounds.

3. everything in live 3 is also in live 4 - i could just ignore all of live 4's new features if i wanted and go on like it never happened. that'd be dumb, of course, but i could do it. so no, there's nothing i'll miss.

Pitch Black · Post by **Pitch Black** » Thu Jul 22, 2004 8:40 pm

Very excited about L4. It has enabled me to get rid of our old live sequencer (a 50 pound Ensoniq TS-12!!). Currently rebuilding the live rig around two powerbooks running L4 - one doing kick/snr/bass/hats/perc/ and the other handling the live playing and jamming. Finally able to build a huge mega-song containing all our clips, so there'll be no need for touching the computer during the gig - yay! Each Pbook will have a stereo mix representation of what the other is doing running at all times but pre-muted , ready to go.

We're in the last two weeks of making our new album, so L4 couldn't have come at a better time.

Really looking forward to using the breakbeat cutting tricks with MIDI sequenced breakbeats because after you jam all your funkiness you can still mix the individual drums on separate channels.

L4 will be triggering our video show, too.

cheers
p

ryst · Post by **ryst** » Thu Jul 22, 2004 8:44 pm

5dots,

Thank you! That's the kind of response I was looking for. I appreciate it. Could some more live performers contribute?

noisetonepause · Post by **noisetonepause** » Thu Jul 22, 2004 10:08 pm

I'm lazy and broke, so I don't want to download a new beta and use that for five more days when it'll be another two months before I can afford the upgrade... but still, live or studio (I like to perform my arrangements and record them for further editing, so I suppose I fall somewhere in between - no audience to speak of yet, though - only the odd collaborator/instrumentalist), the only features I missed when I went back to 3 after b8 expired was the routing. But then I never needed MIDI in the first place, so maybe that explains it.

-Paws

AdamJay · Post by **AdamJay** » Thu Jul 22, 2004 11:22 pm

ryst wrote: 1-- What are your overall final impressions on Live 4 compared to previous versions for live performance?

2-- Are their any features that have changed from previous versions that will impact how you use LIVE 4 "live"?

3-- Is there anything from LIVE 3 that you miss for live performance?

1 - i love it. more options are better right? Live 4 is consolidating the live performance into 1 app. now i don't need to run live with a drum machine outside of the computer... i can run Battery or Reaktor live as well, and let my old drum machine Control that aspect in live, thus keeping all audio in the computer and making the mix down on stage easier.
For mac users, the addition of AU fx and instruments which are generally a little more cpu effecient means more headroom, which is always a good thing on stage.

2 - The shuffle is great. it can be used to great, yet subtle, effect.
Also the improved patch bay makes switching routings "live" easier.

3 - Live 4 took nothing away from Live 3, so i dont miss anything.

Jbo · Post by **Jbo** » Thu Jul 22, 2004 11:54 pm

I am missing the feature to be able to click and have your progress be visible and following the loops as it goes
Sorry to not know the name but its one of the things now missing that had once been a part of Live
In any event no biggi

{EDITED}

READERS please forgive any confusion I have caused, I was silly to think Live would lose a cool function such as th FOLLOW function... for those also concerned... as described clearly in "options", follow=ctrl-f...Just no more arrow I suppose .. and its much much smoother too! LOVE LIVE

loophead · Post by **loophead** » Fri Jul 23, 2004 12:24 am

Jbo, if I am understanding you correctly, all you need to do is double click the clip and the clip envelope window will open and you see the progress of the loop.

Jbo · Post by **Jbo** » Fri Jul 23, 2004 1:48 am

Thank you Loophead, for your fast response, but I do not wish to appear upset or terribly out of sorts..since Live just about always has my every apprenhension well in hand, and I always find that which I had missed was there all the time , I simply needed to upgrade my handing skills in 99% of instances
But the function I am referring to wasn't even designed to do what I had developed a habit of "using"
I now have only the 64/1 button and the lock/unlock envelope button where once this had also been.
I would use this function to "find" my activity "focus" instantly, sort of a lazy-crutch thing... not a real issue though I must reiterate, I do not wish to cause distractions while the monster masters are at what they do, but only wish to be heard and understood for what it be worth to whomever.
Again,Loophead as I feared flam-retributes for my using the spot i posted in.. I have seen zealous forum users on other forums really try and bear down on a person for an out of place post, so I was glad to see your response was one of helpful nature... there sometimes seems to be an abundance of sentiment to try and "help" the moderators do their job, so truly, I thankyou for your intent to assist.

Bernd · Post by **Bernd** » Fri Jul 23, 2004 2:33 am

Hello Jbo,

I am not sure, if I understand you correctly. Are you talking about the "follow" button? If so I have good news for you. It is still there but now it is not only available for the arrangement but also for the clip view at the bottom to do the same with a single sample, the notes or a clip envelope. The button is therefore located in the control bar lefthand to the song position.

And furthermore this feature is improved even more. In the preferences you will find under "Misc/Appearance" an entry "Follow Behavior" where you can choose if the view should do paging (like in Live 3) or smooth scrolling which holds the play position marker always in the center of the view.

Kind regards, Bernd.

P.S. The "64/1" button, you were reffering, shows the current grid size. You can change it by Apple-1 to Apple-4 on Mac and Ctrl-1 to Ctrl-4 on Pc. See the info view for details.

Jonathan Binns · Post by **Jonathan Binns** » Fri Jul 23, 2004 2:59 am

I have a feeling this has been brought up already, but I think it is related -- what about the 'arrow' on top in the arrangement view? Did it not follow along during play? As Loophead said, now you have to enlarge the whole thing and go back to the beginning to retrieve the arrow. Small detail, but it seemed much easier in Live 3. Can we have our moving arrow back?

Jonathan

Jomdom · Post by **Jomdom** » Fri Jul 23, 2004 4:12 am

That arrow is the song start position... If it followed the progress of the song, it would be a little self defeating. You can resume play with shift+space, and you can move the song start marker with a ctrl+click up on the bar ruler.

questions for live performers...final thoughts on LIVE4?

questions for live performers...final thoughts on LIVE4?

Re: questions for live performers...final thoughts on LIVE4?

One feature I liked {EDITED} I FOUND IT "CTRL-F"= "FOLLOW"

It used to be next to the lock-loop button still remaining