Using Serato ScratchLive with Ableton

LaSonique · Post by **LaSonique** » Mon Jan 21, 2008 1:41 am

Forgive me, I'm a Ableton amateur...

I have a TTMSL57 (Rane mixer with built in SSL), 2 x CDJ100MK3's and now Ableton Live 7.

Any suggestions how I can use SSL and Ableton together on my Macbook during live gigs?

Much love

Patch · Post by **Patch** » Mon Jan 21, 2008 12:23 pm

That's a huge question, mate. I use Mixvibes (vinyl control like Serao), but I use it for scratching over a Liveset.

Unless you're scratching, there is nothing that you can do with Serato/CDJs that can't be done with Ableton Live on it's own...

djn8 · Post by **djn8** » Mon Jan 21, 2008 7:52 pm

Have you ever seen some of Dj Enferno's work? He has a setup similar to what your trying to do. But he uses 2 separate computers, one dedicated to his ttm57 + 2 tables/effects processors, and another for Ableton with several midi controllers.

Not sure what your trying to do exactly, but he runs his setup in a manner that he creates loops with different Serato samples and peices together live remixes/mashups on the fly while useing a foot pedal to trigger the sample loops.

As for how to run Ableton and SSL at the same time on 1 computer, I have no idea. I don't own SSL but honestly plan on getting it in the near future and had the same question myself.

And yes you can do basically everything you do on 2 turntables on live, however it's more visually impressive to watch someone juggling/scratching beats on the tables rather clicking the mouse/midi controller going knob happy.

BinaryB · Post by **BinaryB** » Mon Jan 21, 2008 10:19 pm

Um... you cant do what Serato does in Live.
you cant do what Live does in Serato.

but you can dj with both in very very different ways.

I found that my ttm57sl worked as a sound card on xp but not osx.

Serato and Live could run on the same computer if you can run two soundcards at once. Then you can route and remix etc. scratch and record it or record and scratch it...

When cycling'74 and Ableton get their act together we will see if they are still digital artists or mainly about business now.

LaSonique · Post by **LaSonique** » Tue Jan 22, 2008 9:26 pm

Thanks for the feedback boys, much appreciated.

Is it possible to be dj'ing using my serato and both cdj's, and have Ableton in the background, but SYNCED to Serato so I can potentially have a third track coming in on the background? (Synced so it automatically beatmatches, or tunes into the tracks being played / mixed in Serato?

I should probably hit the Serato forum with these questions as well!

Much love
Lara

Sales Dude McBoob · Post by **Sales Dude McBoob** » Tue Jan 22, 2008 10:18 pm

I don't know.

I recently bought a TTM57SL, but I spend most of my time still practicing vinyl mixing. I'll dabble into Serato a lot more when I move into my new apartment on Feb 1st when I can set it up properly.

I wasn't planning on integrating Ableton and Serato immediately, but ultimately I would love to get this happening. I don't think my current computers (G4 powerbook and G5 tower) are really cut out to run two audio apps. Down the road I want to get this happening.

In the mean time I plan on using my two computers, one for Serato and the other for Live. Either that, or use one computer and quit one of the programs while I play a vinyl track on an analog channel.

Are you folks digging your TTM57SLs or what?

chrysalis33rpm · Post by **chrysalis33rpm** » Tue Jan 22, 2008 11:08 pm

AFAIK there is no way to sync the two without sending the sound out through a soundcard and then a BPM counter like the Kaoss pad 3 or the Redsound macro and running that back into Live as master clock.

LaSonique · Post by **LaSonique** » Thu Jan 24, 2008 11:37 pm

Chrysalis and Sales Dude McBoob ;

I have a Macbook with an INTEGRATED non-dual soundcard. Bummer. I think I have three options :

1. I can upgrade to Macbook Pro, or
2. Source an external sound card which I can then plug in via USB into my laptop (not sure how this will work) or,
3. Buy another laptop dedicated solely for using Ableton.

S.D. McBoob : TT57SL is awesome. I don't think I'm using it to it's full potential though. Am I missing something here? or is there really only TWO built in effects (echo and flange)?

Chrysalis, looks like I need to start hunting for a BPM counter then! I presume it works like : main laptop w Serato - BPM counter - second laptop w Ableton?

you gentleman rock! Thanks for the help
x

rishi · Post by **rishi** » Fri Jan 25, 2008 5:51 am

I used to use Serato with Ableton without any computer aided syncing.

I had the external Serato Box and an Edirol soundcard (for Live) with all audio going into 4 channels on my DJM600.

My midi controller triggered clips in Live and also keyboard shortcuts (via Bomes Midi Translator) to browse and load tracks from my Serato library.

The new nudge feature in Live7 makes it possible to beatmix your Live clips with Serato. As Serato user you are obviously comfortable with beat mixing, so you might find it easy enough to beatmix your Live stuff with Serato.

chrysalis33rpm · Post by **chrysalis33rpm** » Fri Jan 25, 2008 8:41 am

Yeah, theres no real reason you wouldn't beatmix between the two like any other sources...sounds fun, eventually I'll get into the same!

Sales Dude McBoob · Post by **Sales Dude McBoob** » Fri Mar 07, 2008 4:48 pm

Last night I tried using the TTM 57 SL as the interface for Live 7, and it worked fine. Then I launched Serato and it took over. The audio engine in Live shuts off when you launch Serato. Not surprising. Bummer. It would have been sweet if the two programs could share the same interface simultaneously.

It seems like using the nudge in Live 7 is the way to go to sync the music in both programs. Using an external BPM counter adds another piece of equipment to your kit, as well as adding another layer of things that can malfunction. Matching music with music is the art here. The extra effort on your part will make you a better DJ.

Anyhow, I have a long way to go with this stuff. Serato is super fun. My history with DJ'ing is so inside out. I started DJ'ing on Ableton, then I just used vinyl, now I'm using Serato with vinyl control. Eventually I'll bring all three together, but there is no rush. I'm one broke bastard! No 2nd laptop for me anytime soon. My biggest concern is picking out songs to play. The rest is just fun noodling!

Lara - effects wise ::flips open manual:: looks like Echo (delay), Hold Echo, Low Pass Filter, Band Pass Filter, and High Pass filter. I've only used Echo so far. I've been having the most fun with putting the same song on both decks and just messing with it. This guy has been a big help:

http://youtube.com/user/ellaskins

Nathan Ramella · Post by **Nathan Ramella** » Wed Apr 09, 2008 9:21 pm

making the rounds now.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yZ2jTG7OLss

Tone Deft · Post by **Tone Deft** » Wed Apr 09, 2008 9:22 pm

Nathan Ramella wrote:making the rounds now.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yZ2jTG7OLss

overrated.

Nathan Ramella · Post by **Nathan Ramella** » Wed Apr 09, 2008 9:32 pm

Tone Deft wrote:
Nathan Ramella wrote:making the rounds now.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yZ2jTG7OLss
overrated.

Heh. From my original thread after you watched the video..

Tone Deft wrote:holy fuck!! I've posted many many many times that I'd give my left nut to scratch in Live.

There's no need to be jealous internet-pal. Put your mind to it and I'm sure you could copy my idea in less time than it took me to make the prototype.

Tone Deft · Post by **Tone Deft** » Wed Apr 09, 2008 9:37 pm

Nathan Ramella wrote:
Tone Deft wrote:
Nathan Ramella wrote:making the rounds now.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yZ2jTG7OLss
overrated.
Heh. From my original thread after you watched the video..

Tone Deft wrote:holy fuck!! I've posted many many many times that I'd give my left nut to scratch in Live.
There's no need to be jealous internet-pal. Put your mind to it and I'm sure you could copy my idea in less time than it took me to make the prototype.

that was in your thread?? missed it. I just stumbled across it while looking at what kinds of max/msp scratch patches are out there. I'm pretty sure I can do the control part, thing is, I'd rather spend $100 on Ms Pinky, my free time is more valuable.

honestly Nathan, your idea has got me thinking, it's just that I'd totally release it open source or at least tell people about it.

that is really cool to make something like that, it's just that you're using it as a vehicle to get attention.

I'd love nothing more than for your creation to be more than I could realize and I'm completely wrong and you nailed it. I'd buy it from you and use it in utter humility daily.

Using Serato ScratchLive with Ableton

Using Serato ScratchLive with Ableton

Just a thought?