Ableton Forum

Hello All
I am attempting to shift from Acid 4.0 to live. One of the features I use regularly in Acid is something called the "Project Key." Basically, this lets me set the key for the song and adjusts all my loops to match that key. So if I think something will sound good in A, I select "A" as my key and all my loops, even if they have another base key, are adjusted to fit the song. Is there such a thing in Live 4.0? Thanks!

hmmm.....no.....there's no global transpose....maybe you should stay with acid.

(backing away slowly)

Thanks I'd rather not. There's a lot I like in Live better than Acid. I do have one question. I am new to all this, and I saw you say "backing slowly away". Is a global transpose something really bad? Thanks!

jamey Russell

That said though if you warp marker your loops you do get a transpose function per clip which comes in dead handy if you are only a semi-tone or two out of key either way.
You'll just have to use your ears though when making those finer key adjustments.

I was using that last night, and it did come in handy . Though it was difficult by ear. There were a couple of times that I needed to look up the loop properties in Acid (which has the original key listed) and then figure out the amount of steps I needed to transpose from there.

jesusfreak does acid allow you to export all the samples you use to wav files simotaneously? and if so what is the procedure, I've got acid pro 4 some where around here under all this dust, If it can change all the samples to a key of my choice and export them all as individual wavs I might have just finally found a reason to use it for somethin.

I know acid3 allows you to do so 4 should still have that feature. Just open a new project, load the loops and fix em, then select export loops as separate files (wav. of course). Acid is a great tool for fixing/editing loops but Live is even better for rockin the loops.

Are we starting to build some consensus for the idea that Live should _at least_ allow users to _view_ key information embedded in Acid and Apple loops?

I know I have posted on this topic before, but I may be applying for the crusader job...


My loop software background is Apple Soundtrack, not Acid, but the key-handling abilities of each truly enhances rapid, extemporaneous composition. Live performance may be another beast entirely, but plainly the performer must select some set of (key-matched) loops prior to the performance and be prepared to play any live instruments in the chosen key, if not in accord with the chosen chord progression. The key-aware capabilities I'm talking about would let live performers efficiently audition loops from a large library and fire them without having to wade through a "by-ear" transposition process for each loop.

If a couple people want to express their support, I'll take this over to the Feature Request forum.

If I record chords, I name the file accordingly ("Guit-Cminor" for a chord for example).

If I record some notes on an instrument as well ("melodika c4-d4").

Then I have folders for each song and most of the times the clips in one folder will be in the same key.

Does acid analyze your files an tell you the key? That would be a great feature. How does it tell the key if you play two notes? Could be any key then.

My understanding is that creators of Acid and Apple loops tag their loops with information such as key and tempo (bpm), so all Acid / Soundtrack / GB, etc., need to do is look at the tag, not "analyze" the loop.

Obviously, it would be hugely useful to have Live at least display this information if the loop has been already tagged. Then, it's a small step to have Live (optionally) transpose a loop from a key shown in the loop's tag to a "Project Key".

hehe. My old copy of Acid DJ (very very very old and lowend version) had this feature. Its an old feature thats been present for donkey's years.

Its pretty useful, but I think your loops have to have root key information. Otherwise it doesn't work.

Absolutely. The idea would be to have Live make use of any root key information that may be present.

itll prob be done in the next version, when you think about it the abes have so much work to do I seriously doubt that they're sitting on their laurels at this point. Live is the only music app that everyone can visualize
how it would be if it were perfect, very clearly and easily and unlike any other software company ableton can literally make a few tweaks and it'll be there, that has to be an exciting threshold for them to be sitting on,, if they in the next version improve Live at the same ratio of improvement they have been doing there are going to be many many wet pants across the music world, whole governments might even fall.... hell george bush might even declare war on them.

i'm only too happy with live 4, live 5 will eat what little sanity i have left.

I love Live but feel that a project key feature would be a huge enhancement to the software. Of course, the loops need to be "acidized" with embedded key and tempo info for this to be useful. Sonar 3 has this ability.
Another nice feature that Sonar has and that Live needs is the ability to display said tempo and key information(of acidized files) during preview(not only after it's imported into the project). This, in my humble opinion, is crucial in order to avoid distortions produced when sound is stretched too far beyond it's original root.