Live 8 is a little too much for me

[JJarvis]

I've been beta testing Live 8 and I must say that I am surprised by my disappointment. For one my computer just can't keep up with the cpu demands of running multiple operators on say a drum rack anymore. I was really excited about some of the new features like the looper and the track crossfades. However, Ableton has lost its simplicity as a live performance and remix tool. I admit that I never really worked well with session view as a song construction tool. So I guess I'm a little bit more old school and prefer a standard timeline for composing music. I'm now thinking about going back to working with a more traditional daw and using Ableton only for audio loops. I think that this was Ableton's strong suit and working with midi in Live makes no sense to me anymore. I kind of wish that I could just trade live 7 for live 2. I just might get a cheap PC laptop to do that.

[sdmiddleton]

I know what you're saying. But its better to have it and not need it, than need it and not have it.

[JJarvis]

Right. I couldn't imagine selling off Ableton. I'm just not expecting to update any time soon. I think I've been guilty of waiting for that magic update and not working with the tools I already have. Limitations can be an asset for music production.

[SubFunk]

I know what you're saying. But its better to have it and not need it, than need it and not have it.

I don't agree at all, let your creativity flow!!! Less is so much more!!!

And i am also 50/50 it's somehow nice, i mean the features, but it also feels a lttle blowted and more 'sluggish' to work with just with any of the other DAWs around, i think they should have done a little more for the performance factor. Like tempo nudge on individuel tracks or waveform / midi views for two clips at a time,
It feels a little like they decided full DAW and turn the back on performers / DJs.

Then again i enjoy the testing and don't want to paint black, just hope that they stop from now on (L8) that DAW nonsense and concentrate on LIVE.

But hey they are just a company following the market, really to blame are all the #{}^+*= who cried for more overbloated DAW shit in hope there music is getting better through that.

More movement into the direction L7 -> L8 and we will end up fairly soon with just another logic, cubase, blahhh

[glitchrock-buddha]

I don't agree. I see what you're saying, but I don't think Live 8 has become bloated at all. In fact I think it's become refined. To me, there are additions that I've been waiting for forever. I'm so thankful for group tracks and plug-in configuration for example, as well as other little goodies like improved midi editor, transient detection and the groove engine. It all just feels more complete. I don't even care at all about some of the bigger additions like the looper or crossfades in arrange, or the latin percussion, but I still love this upgrade.

And yes, you're right that using operators in drum racks is taxing on cpu, but it's not something you have to do, you can always sample as usual.

[SubFunk]

I don't agree. I see what you're saying, but I don't think Live 8 has become bloated at all. In fact I think it's become refined. To me, there are additions that I've been waiting for forever. I'm so thankful for group tracks and plug-in configuration for example, as well as other little goodies like improved midi editor, transient detection and the groove engine. It all just feels more complete. I don't even care at all about some of the bigger additions like the looper or crossfades in arrange, or the latin percussion, but I still love this upgrade.

And yes, you're right that using operators in drum racks is taxing on cpu, but it's not something you have to do, you can always sample as usual.

Hey, i hear you... I am not all negative, liking 8 very much, but i can also see a danger of getting to far away from LIVE, just warning, i mean x-fades in arrange, what's next? Dropping session view? Just being extreme here... I just still see live as a tool to rock stages and not to sit in a studio.

I basically feel misunderstood.

[morerecords]

hmmm. well, the main draw is the session view right? mabe you should switch, if you juust need a linear timeline for song wirintg, Logic/Cubase etc can run almost twice as many plug ins due to the fact they do not have that session view...it would probably be quite a boost for you I dunno try it I guess

[SubFunk]

hmmm. well, the main draw is the session view right? mabe you should switch, if you juust need a linear timeline for song wirintg, Logic/Cubase etc can run almost twice as many plug ins due to the fact they do not have that session view...it would probably be quite a boost for you I dunno try it I guess

+1 all those people liking live over other DAWs will end up having the same shit, soon.
doing all those DAW requests, more DAW features: less fun, that is why those others are so boring, but some muppets don't get it!

[JJarvis]

I love session view, but I only like using it for live performance remix purposes. IMO it makes my sequences sound a bit contrived if I use it for composing. When I work linearly, I feel more like I'm stepping back and making an arrangement. Live performance is different from composition for me. Writing songs is a much more calculated process. Just my opinions though. I'm just saying that I don't think Live is the right tool for my style of song writing. I just plan to use it as a loop mangler rather than a daw.

[glitchrock-buddha]

But I don't think Ableton has leaned further towards the traditional DAW features with Live 8. I rarely touch the arrange view and I'm hooked on Live 8. Most things are better for Live performance. Group tracks are great for keeping tracks organized and being able to have less tracks to control live. Plug-in configuration is absolutely essential for instant mappings if you want more than 8 parameters (racks), and great for Live tweaking. Looper is obviously meant as a live tool. And the improved midi stuff and groove control is just as useful for building clips for live use. I think it's pretty reasonable to add the odd advanced DAW feature like crossfades to keep people happy who only use Live. In my opinion it's still very focused on the Live aspect.

[mholloway]

I don't get how you can be A) interested in using ableton only for Loops, and yet B) never have much liked session view.

If you don't like using session view, I frankly don't understand what's kept you using ableton this long, in place of just about any other typical DAW. sure, it's got other nice features (great FX not found in other daw's come to mind, etc) but its' the Session functionality/workflow that really makes it unique, particularly as loop tool....

i don't think 8 is bloated at all, but whatever; I'm just saying, i dont' know why you haven't already switched over. seems weird to say, "I never liked Session View, and NOW live 8 has really disappointed me" -- what did you expect to be different, at this point in your experience with the program?

[djsynchro]

pussy

[Tone Deft]

^ lol

[musicmachine]

Group tracks and zoom are really useful for live use. Been able to trigger groups w/o triggering the scenes is great and you could if you wantedhave a mini set in each group or different parts to a set thatyou could mixor match but the great thing is you have complex arrangements but have them all hidden away. The zoom would be great on a netbook or smaller screened laptop as you could shrink the UI to give you more screen real estate. Ok it may not be feasible with a netbook but the option is there. Live 8 wins at life.

[JJarvis]

I don't get how you can be A) interested in using ableton only for Loops, and yet B) never have much liked session view.

If you don't like using session view, I frankly don't understand what's kept you using ableton this long, in place of just about any other typical DAW. sure, it's got other nice features (great FX not found in other daw's come to mind, etc) but its' the Session functionality/workflow that really makes it unique, particularly as loop tool....

i don't think 8 is bloated at all, but whatever; I'm just saying, i dont' know why you haven't already switched over. seems weird to say, "I never liked Session View, and NOW live 8 has really disappointed me" -- what did you expect to be different, at this point in your experience with the program?

Nothing really. I've changed. I've just realized that I was more productive before when I could only record audio in Live. I like simple programs. I'm glad Reason has refused to introduce audio editing and vsts. Working within limitations is great. That is why many producers still use the original Cubase. Now that there are so many bells and whistles, I find that my creativity goes out the window and I just end up with a bunch of mediocre unfinished projects. It was a slow discovery and even a little painful. I still plan on using Live, I just don't plan on updating anymore.