How can i import a Live set into another Live set?

choice · Post by **choice** » Fri Dec 12, 2008 5:01 pm

Im using Live 5. I want to import one of my sets onto each other so ie. have 1 set containing 3 songs instead of 1 set containing 1 song. Im using Live 5.

CHARLIE! · Post by **CHARLIE!** » Fri Dec 12, 2008 5:07 pm

Well Ive only ever used live 7 but if it is the same in live 5 it is really easy, all you have to do is find your other set in the file explorer and drag that set into either session or arrangement view and it will bring in all the tracks from that set.

Very useful for creating one liveset out of all your songs.

choice · Post by **choice** » Fri Dec 12, 2008 7:27 pm

No it wont let me do it. The manual says i should be able to do it but i cant. When i try to drag the other set in, an 'x' appears. Have i done something wrong? The only thing that it will allow me to import are the midi notes. Do i have to render my set or something? My first gig is next week and if i have to load each song it will be a real pain.

CHARLIE! · Post by **CHARLIE!** » Fri Dec 12, 2008 7:41 pm

It couldnt hurt to render your set especially if you dont plan on tweaking during the show... this will save you tons of CPU.

To load all your VSTs into one set, unless you reuse them for multiple songs, will drain your computer something awful.

choice · Post by **choice** » Fri Dec 12, 2008 7:55 pm

Im not using many VST's maybe 1 per set. They're wav files mainly.
I've just noted that when i click on the 'triangle thing' in the file browser beside the .als file the only file that appears is a midi track. Any ideas?

beats me · Post by **beats me** » Fri Dec 12, 2008 8:10 pm

http://forum.ableton.com/viewtopic.php? ... c2bb97e061

Have you tried dragging the set beyond the tracks that already exist and drop it there? Scroll all the way to the right in session and drop it after your last track. The problem may be you are trying to drop it on tracks that already exist and that ain't going to happen (I think).

Jekblad · Post by **Jekblad** » Fri Dec 12, 2008 8:10 pm

are you in arrange or session?

if you're in session view the clips should show up after you hit the lil triangle. not sure why you're not seeing your other channels.

If you drag your other channels in it will bring all the stuff stored on that channel including clips and FX. So you need to find out those other channels aren't showing up cuz they're the key.

edit: beats me is correct, there is sort of a certain place where you can drag stuff.... so drag and move your cursor around until it looks like it'll go

choice · Post by **choice** » Fri Dec 12, 2008 8:27 pm

In either view the files do not show
I have a sounds folder for each .als file but when i click on the triangle of the set .als file there is only a midi file. my set 'is contained' also so all the samples ARE in the one folder

patchdub · Post by **patchdub** » Fri Dec 12, 2008 9:32 pm

you should just be able to drag your .als file over to either session or arrange view. i am using 7 and can't remember if anything was different for 5. i do this all the time for live shows. i do have everything as audio without fxs on tracks because live has trouble when midi and audio are combined.

maybe a helpful hint when combining multible songs in a set...before you start importing your songs have all your volumes at unity and adjust your volume within the clip. maybe thats obvious but wasn't to me, the first time i started to import a bunch of tunes i realized i had to spend loads of time readjusting all my songs tracks so the volumes wouldn't be jumping all over from song to song. now everything i write i leave the faders at unity for easy importing.

for the ableton folks...
something that is odd though is... if i am in session view and i am trying to import a tune with say 10 tracks and i only have two tracks in the new session it will only import the first 2. live ought to be able to add more tracks if the tune being imported is using more than are already up. however when doing the same thing in arrange view there is no problem and extra tracks are created in the session view.

Macrostructure · Post by **Macrostructure** » Sat Dec 13, 2008 12:08 am

I don't think this feature was implemented until 6, or perhaps not for the arrange window until 6, something like that. It was a big issue for a while....

sorry this is really rubbish help I'm giving here. I'll test it tomorrow and report back, I have 5, 6 and 7 on a laptop in a cupboard somewhere...

choice · Post by **choice** » Sat Dec 13, 2008 1:36 am

How do i leave tracks at 'unity'?

please do, because im about to start redoing a lot of my work unless i can figure this out!

Macrostructure · Post by **Macrostructure** » Sat Dec 13, 2008 9:43 am

choice wrote:How do i leave tracks at 'unity'?

please do, because im about to start redoing a lot of my work unless i can figure this out!

ok....

first thing is you have to locate the area of the Arrange window clearly labelled 'Drop Files And Devices Here'. It's at the bottom under your last 'used' track.

Now...Arrange window

5.2.2 will not import arrangements. If you drag an .als file into the 'drop files and devices here' area of the arrange window you just get new tracks created for each track in the impoted arrangement, with the clips and the track effects intact, but the clips are all stacked up on the left in each channel at 1.1.1

6.0.10 improves on this by replicating the imported arrangement in the newly created tracks, complete with clips and track effects. additonally you can browse the project and import individual tracks or just the clips if you want.

7 does the same thing

Note that return tracks are never imported. You will have to re-create them manually.

Second - Session view

Live 5.2.2. imports 'als files as complete and correct session views with all clips in the correct relative positions. The theory here is that you can then re-create your return track structures and jam out the arrangement again.
You just drop the .als file from the browser wherever you want it in the session view. as you hover over session view the insert point becomes visible.

Hope this helps

choice · Post by **choice** » Sat Dec 13, 2008 2:21 pm

No it didnt work, but thankyou for all the help.

When i attempt to drop the .als file in anywhere (session/arrangement etc.) the only files that it allows me to import are the 'midi' files?? Pretty weird.

I have found a solution though. I copy and paste all the tracks, envelopes etc. from one set. Close it. Open another set and paste them in. I dont do much editing in Live. So this is working as a short term solution for me.

Macrostructure · Post by **Macrostructure** » Sat Dec 13, 2008 4:03 pm

choice wrote:No it didnt work, but thankyou for all the help.

When i attempt to drop the .als file in anywhere (session/arrangement etc.) the only files that it allows me to import are the 'midi' files?? Pretty weird.

I have found a solution though. I copy and paste all the tracks, envelopes etc. from one set. Close it. Open another set and paste them in. I dont do much editing in Live. So this is working as a short term solution for me.

Yup, something messed up going on there mate.