Ableton Forum

Here is a post on the A&H forums: http://community.allen-heath.com/forums ... -the-qu-16

Using Ableton as insert was a way of explaining things. You hook up the hardware synth (ex TR-8) to the A&H Mixer, then from the mixer you want to go into Ableton so you can use all the goodies of Ableton, then from Ableton back into the A&H mixer for a final mix. And all off this realtime. I think this isn't possible with the Qu-16.

Because whatever you plug into this type of mixer will record into its own seperate channel in live even the mixers own effects

You can not go into Ableton from the mixer and back into the mixer from Ableton realtime. The Behringer X32 can do this. That made the A&H Qu range a no-go for me. I think the PreSonus range can do this also, but they were to expensive for me because I need at least 24 channels.

For example:

I have a Nord-Lead 4R, Bass Station 2, TB-3 and TR-8 going into the mixer and straight into Ableton Live. From inside Ableton I can use all the Ableton plugins on the hardware channels, and I can mix in software plugins like for example NI Massive, all on seperate channels. These channels are then send back into the mixer for final processing (Gate, compression, EQ, ...). Basically the mixer has two functions. A sound card for Ableton, and then it's main duty, a mixer off course.

You can not do the above with the A&H Range... I hope this explained it now?

Hey I have an x32 an can not get it set up with ableton properly, can some one help please

You should start a new thread and post a lot more details what is not working.

Hello Kibosh,

could You tell me about Your experience with X32?

Currently I'm at the same point You we're before the purchase, except I already own Presonus StudioLive 16.4.2 and use it as a mixing desk & audio interface.
What annoys me the most is lack of motorized faders (no control over Live) and the fact that outside Live I'm only able to capture analog inputs (however firewire/digital channels can be recorded all together as main mix or if sent to AUX buses but I would rather use them for external effects).
I control many synthesizers simultaneously + audio clips. I record each channel with Audition for future remixing&mastering.

Also, does X32 allow to combine two mono channels under one fader (I want to control stereo instrument with one fader)? I know it is possible to link two adjacent faders but it doesn't quite suit me.

At this point I also only use the X32 as audio interface. I don't use it as a mixer anymore. You loose the flexibility of Ableton. I also don't use it to control Ableton because it's only with 8 faders.

I produce Techno (or try ) and use a lot off effects. I still could use the X32 for the final mix, but I don't. It's too much off a hastle and it's easier in Ableton itself.

As you said, you can link up two mono channels to one stereo channel, and then the faders are locked to each other. So you only have to move one fader and the other will follow.

Control over live is limited to 8 faders only with Mackie control. You can however MIDI learn all faders but when I tried that, there was a midi loop. Maybe I did something wrong. I don't know. There are rumors that when the new midi protocol (or something) comes out, you will be able to control more, but they are rumors. I forgot the details...

To be honest. With the knowledge I have now, I won't buy it again, I would look for a bigger audio interface with more inputs and do everything inside Ableton. And I'm still hoping Ableton would release a nice controller with 16 or more automated faders in a compact form. I don't like all those 8 fader toy's. But I won't buy another mixer, it doesn't add anything for me.

Don't get me wrong: I have nothing against the X32. It does what it said it would do. It's worth it, it sounds good, it has some nice effects and a lot more, but it's just not for me as a Techno producer.

Another thing to watch out is that the X32 DOES NOT HAVE LINE INPUTS (beside the AUX). The gain on the XLR inputs is wide enough, but because there aren't any dedicated line inputs, you have to be carefull with Phantom power. For that reason I have my gear hooked up using passive DI boxes. You can not disable the 48V button, neither is there a warning when you want to activate it. There is a protection (I think) when you load a scene, but I'm not sure.

On a final note: You can route everything from the mixer input channels to Ableton and then in realtime back to the mixer. So for example, you have a hardware instrument on channel 1 and 2, you can route them into Live on channels 5 and 6, and route them back to channels 1 and 2 on the mixer, or even other channels like 7 and 8. The mixer itself does not have any latency, but the routing through Ableton off course does, but you can compensate that inside Ableton.

EDIT: I forgot, there is a sort off hack somewhere for the X32 enabling you to use all the faders to control Ableton through ethernet MIDI. But it was a pain setting it up.

Thank You for your comprehensive reply. It encourages me to stick with my first choice and possibly wait for the holy grail (32 channel analogue+digital "Push-o-mackie" ) or to minimize the equipment to bare minimum. In this case my path comes full circle... because I wanted knobs as well!

I don't see why an APC40 wouldn't have been enough for what you wanted. It's not like the X32 has direct EQ/Compression/Gate etc controls dedicated to each channel (even on the large version, which I use for a FOH gig every week) so having channel strip racks set up in Live with macros for the APC40's device controls doesn't seem much different to me.

Edit: I mean besides the obvious of more channels and out of the box processing.

It's not the same as dedicated buttons. It just isn't.

Even more on something like the APC40 without LCD. Ableton push is nice to use the macro's, so the naming comes on the screen, but I also dislike menu diving when you want to go deeper with Push.

On the X32 it's simply a select button and the complete channel strip is there ready for you, with all dedicated knobs. That part works fine.

At this time I own a Bass Station, Minibrute and Nord-Lead 4R. All hands-on and I love that.

I guess it's a personal choice on how you want to work... (and money when talking about hardware ).

EDIT: Ableton should make something like the Avid Pro-Tools S3. But a lot cheaper!!!!

Kibosh wrote:It's not the same as dedicated buttons. It just isn't.

And the X32's scheme isn't the same as a board with dedicated controls per channel, so why stop with a board that only has a single channel strip area for all channels?

I like my combo of Vestax VCM-600, Push and touch-able. Looking to get the BCR2000 into the setup again (after many years in a box) with the new Sigabort script.

http://www.allen-heath.com/ahproducts/zed-r16/ maybe this would have suited you better than the X32...

So I know this thread is a little long in the tooth but I was just given a Mackie TT24 for free. I'm seriously considering trying to use it as a control surface for Ableton. Does that sound like a fool's errand?

wgrant wrote:So I know this thread is a little long in the tooth but I was just given a Mackie TT24 for free. I'm seriously considering trying to use it as a control surface for Ableton. Does that sound like a fool's errand?

Well if you got it for free then why not just hook it up and see how it goes. If it works then use it. If not, sell it.

Yup and that's the plan. Trying to find the time between work husband duties to jack with it. I did get enough time to find that the USB drivers that were originally for XP don't play nice with Windows 10 so I guess I'll map it all out with straight midi. The only real drawback I can find there is that when you start a session it probably won't reset all the faders to the project's current setting.

Anyway... not asking for help just quite yet because I haven't had time to experiment yet. Just probing to see if anyone has done this yet.

Cheers.