yeah I really think I'm just going to do the firebox, for price reasons, and it seems like it will do what I need
stillllllllllllllll
I don't have anything to control volume on the tracks
I'm probably going to borrow a friend's axiom 49 and use the faders on that for track volumes, ahah
guitar into ableton!
The cheapest way to get guitar into a computer is definitely not an RME product. Sheesh. If I could afford one, you better bet I woouldn't take it places where beer would get spilled on it, either.
the Firebox would be just fine, but even so, there are even cheaper alternatives that will do just fine. I use the firepod, and like the firebox, it has volume inputs on the front face.
Suggestions:
1. Do not buy/borrow a MIDI foot controller to try to control everything. this is what a sound-check is for. Get the levels close to right to start with, so that when you play, you can focus on PLAYING, not MIXING.
This will save you hassle and money right off the bat.
2. Instead, consider buying a small mixer. If you don't plan on trying to wrestler with Live to get it to behave like a Looper pedal, then don't bother going into Live at all. mix Live and all of its prerecorded loops with the guitar in your small Mackie mixer. This is cheaper than an RME Fireface soundcard, and will give you better latency, too, since your guitar will be 100% live.
a small mixer with Sub outs would allow you to monitor your guitar live and still use Live as a big effects processor if you like.
If you don't need to record a whole band all at one time, then dont worry about getting a soundcard with 8 inputs and 8 ouputs. Sure, 8 is better than 2, but really ask yourself how many instruments you can play at one time. If you are a singer/guitarsit, that's two. Small soundcard are much easier to travel with than big ones, too. And easier to replace when someone spills beer on them.
the Firebox would be just fine, but even so, there are even cheaper alternatives that will do just fine. I use the firepod, and like the firebox, it has volume inputs on the front face.
Suggestions:
1. Do not buy/borrow a MIDI foot controller to try to control everything. this is what a sound-check is for. Get the levels close to right to start with, so that when you play, you can focus on PLAYING, not MIXING.
This will save you hassle and money right off the bat.
2. Instead, consider buying a small mixer. If you don't plan on trying to wrestler with Live to get it to behave like a Looper pedal, then don't bother going into Live at all. mix Live and all of its prerecorded loops with the guitar in your small Mackie mixer. This is cheaper than an RME Fireface soundcard, and will give you better latency, too, since your guitar will be 100% live.
a small mixer with Sub outs would allow you to monitor your guitar live and still use Live as a big effects processor if you like.
If you don't need to record a whole band all at one time, then dont worry about getting a soundcard with 8 inputs and 8 ouputs. Sure, 8 is better than 2, but really ask yourself how many instruments you can play at one time. If you are a singer/guitarsit, that's two. Small soundcard are much easier to travel with than big ones, too. And easier to replace when someone spills beer on them.
Before you buy a MIDI controller for that, see what you can accomplish just using Live's automation capabilities.
it can do a real good job controlling the levels of drum/bass loops (or whatever) for you, leaving you free to play guitar.
Maybe you'll agree, maybe not... but I dont think you need to spend $$$ on a MIDI controller just yet.
it can do a real good job controlling the levels of drum/bass loops (or whatever) for you, leaving you free to play guitar.
Maybe you'll agree, maybe not... but I dont think you need to spend $$$ on a MIDI controller just yet.
Some good advice by Laird, especially simplicity and the mixer.
I still think it best to leave the computer out of it. I saw Willy Porter doing some great things with loops and guitar live without a computer. I believe he was using the Boss Looper or some such similar device.
If you go with a computer, you will need driver stability. Good luck finding that with a cheap soundcard. Seriously. I've had many different soundcards, and I learned this lesson over time. I also wasted some money not saving up for a decent soundcard in the first place.
I do think the Firebox is a good unit. I used to have it. A lot cheaper than the RME. I'd consider the MOTU ultralite
You will need to record and launch loops while playing guitar. I don't see doing that without a MIDI pedal (unless you are talking about playing prerecorded loops). You can also loop vocals and percussive instruments.
Good point about not wanting to spill beer on an expensive item. I would assume that you are going to be careful with your equipment (guitar, computer, amp, digital devices).
I still think it best to leave the computer out of it. I saw Willy Porter doing some great things with loops and guitar live without a computer. I believe he was using the Boss Looper or some such similar device.
If you go with a computer, you will need driver stability. Good luck finding that with a cheap soundcard. Seriously. I've had many different soundcards, and I learned this lesson over time. I also wasted some money not saving up for a decent soundcard in the first place.
I do think the Firebox is a good unit. I used to have it. A lot cheaper than the RME. I'd consider the MOTU ultralite
You will need to record and launch loops while playing guitar. I don't see doing that without a MIDI pedal (unless you are talking about playing prerecorded loops). You can also loop vocals and percussive instruments.
Good point about not wanting to spill beer on an expensive item. I would assume that you are going to be careful with your equipment (guitar, computer, amp, digital devices).
it would be just guitar loops, no prerecorded drums or beats or anything, it would be a 2 piece with a drummer
I have some research to do on guitar loopers now I guess!
http://revision3.com/xlr8rtv/willits2/
I'd like to have a set up very much like that actually
I have some research to do on guitar loopers now I guess!
http://revision3.com/xlr8rtv/willits2/
I'd like to have a set up very much like that actually
Yeah, totally not looking any further into looping pedals
I know what's out there and I know Ableton is what I want to use!
So, if I were to copy Willits' set up, I would replace the MOTU Traveler with the Firebox, and the Pocket Fader with an Axiom 49 MIDI Controller just for use of the faders (slightly ridiculous but damn pocket faders are expensive and this will work fine), a keyboard with keys picked off like in that link I posted as a midi foot controller until I am sure I want to buy the behringer one.
Will this work?
I know what's out there and I know Ableton is what I want to use!
So, if I were to copy Willits' set up, I would replace the MOTU Traveler with the Firebox, and the Pocket Fader with an Axiom 49 MIDI Controller just for use of the faders (slightly ridiculous but damn pocket faders are expensive and this will work fine), a keyboard with keys picked off like in that link I posted as a midi foot controller until I am sure I want to buy the behringer one.
Will this work?
Increase the audio buffer, but maybe it gets too slow now with that interface.duluxdog wrote:Guys, what do you reckon to this, my current set up:
Guitar -> Sansamp Tri-Ac (amp emulator) -> Tascam US-122L USB soundcard (basic soundcard) -> Ableton -> Headphones
I am having problems with crackling audio when recording. I'm new to Live so it's giving me a headache. Any ideas? Am I doing anything wrong with my set up like this?
Hey there, kinda late on this.
but you all seem to be forgetting the old tried-and-true method of:
guitar -> pedalboard -> amp -> microphone -> soundcard -> live
I use this because it gives me the highest quality guitar tone, my loops will always sound good and will match my direct guitar tone, and I don't have to go through any gear if I don't want to (all pedals are true bypass). I have tried nearly every possibility, and this is the best for what I do (live looping/songs with electronic elements/concrete, a la: martin dosh, andrew bird, califone, tortoise, etc).
problems:
-adds another gain stage. i.e., you must set the mic level accordingly for each night's performance unless you ALWAYS set your amp/guitar at the same levels. this really isn't much of an issue, though, if you have it pretty much set up beforehand and have a brief moment to check input levels.
-there is no way to cut the direct signal and get only "ableton effected" guitar sounds, but I have yet to need this for anything in live performance, so I will cross that bridge when I come to it.
but you all seem to be forgetting the old tried-and-true method of:
guitar -> pedalboard -> amp -> microphone -> soundcard -> live
I use this because it gives me the highest quality guitar tone, my loops will always sound good and will match my direct guitar tone, and I don't have to go through any gear if I don't want to (all pedals are true bypass). I have tried nearly every possibility, and this is the best for what I do (live looping/songs with electronic elements/concrete, a la: martin dosh, andrew bird, califone, tortoise, etc).
problems:
-adds another gain stage. i.e., you must set the mic level accordingly for each night's performance unless you ALWAYS set your amp/guitar at the same levels. this really isn't much of an issue, though, if you have it pretty much set up beforehand and have a brief moment to check input levels.
-there is no way to cut the direct signal and get only "ableton effected" guitar sounds, but I have yet to need this for anything in live performance, so I will cross that bridge when I come to it.
i have an 828 and firebox. You should know that the Firebox has weak gain on their preamps and doesn't work great with mics that require a lot of gain (ie. sm57). Being that the hi-z uses the same gain, you might have issues with preamping the guitar. You probably won't need that much gain but just wanted to let you know.
Re: Guitar into Ableton
When play live I use a cheap little Behringer mixer that I plug my bass guitar into which then plugs into my laptop sound card.
I picked up a Digitech Control 7 midi foot controller on eBay and through using the Bome's Midi Translator program I have set the foot controller to act as the QWERTY keyboard "enter" key. Once a blank clip is armed to record in Session View the clip is highlighted with the mouse. Using the foot controller as my "enter" key I can punch in and punch out what i am playing with my foot.
Ableton live is very cool as it will automatically loop the recorded clip seamlessly (usually!) integrating into the playing track.
I picked up a Digitech Control 7 midi foot controller on eBay and through using the Bome's Midi Translator program I have set the foot controller to act as the QWERTY keyboard "enter" key. Once a blank clip is armed to record in Session View the clip is highlighted with the mouse. Using the foot controller as my "enter" key I can punch in and punch out what i am playing with my foot.
Ableton live is very cool as it will automatically loop the recorded clip seamlessly (usually!) integrating into the playing track.
Anthony Pell. (APELL)
"Wild & Completely Unbridled Electronica" - inthemix.com.au
http://www.apellmusic.com
http://www.myspace.com/apellmusic
http://www.youtube.com/apellmusic
"Wild & Completely Unbridled Electronica" - inthemix.com.au
http://www.apellmusic.com
http://www.myspace.com/apellmusic
http://www.youtube.com/apellmusic