Questions from NEWBIE LAND !

[yoda]

Hello,

I loaded up my "8 Suite".

Bought a CD from the "Virtual Training Company" for Live 7 . . . that was their most up to date offering. I went through some audio and MIDI I/O issues with my computer but they are up and running.

OK, I,m ready to get going. The Suite included "Essential Instrument", "Latin Percussion" and "Drum Machine" since I ordered the "boxed" version.

Questions:
#1 - I can't find these instruments. I'm assuming they were installed . . . maybe not. Shouldn't these s how up under "Instruments" in the browser?? OR am I looking in the wrong place? Did I do something wrong while I was installing my A.L. Suite?

#2 - I am using a separate 500GB drive for all my music application, so A.L. Suite was installed there. I am finding out that there is an "Ableton" folder on my C: drive and it seems to contain data. I had assumed that since the Ableton Suite was installed on a different drive, anything to do with Ableton would be on that drive. I was hoping that in case of a c: root drive disaster, I can just take my external-SATA drive and continue work on any computer with an E-SATA port. But, if any necessary files for Ableton to run is on the C: drive I probably won't be able to do what I was hoping to do. What are in the "Ableton" folder on my root drive? Can I move this folder on to the same drive as where Ableton was installed?

#3 - Several years ago I bought Evolution UC-33e used. I hooked it up to my computer but it doesn't seem to be working properly. With the Ableton up, ONLY the faders are working. I can't get the buttons or the pots to work. In the "Preference" dialog box for MIDI, I can not get the "dump" button to light up to send Sys-Ex info to the UC-33. How do I send the necessary Sys-Ex data to my UC-33 to get all the buttons and knobs to work in Ableton?

#4 - I have another sequencer that can export "standard MIDI files". Can Ableton read/import standard midi files? How does a "standard MIDI file" differ from a "MIDI clip"? . . . or are they the same? Can I take a MIDI file, for one instrument, and copy-&-paste small sections from a large standard MIDI file into a "clip location" in session view to create MIDI clips?

I'm sure I'll have more questions later.

Sorry for asking some very basic questions.

Thanks for any help I can get.

[yoda]

Shelluser,

Thanks!

I didn't realize that .alp files needed to be "installed". I just copied it on the HD. I got it!

I was also able to move my "library" location to my external e-SATA drive. "Options" menu . . . what do-ya know . . . thats where the access was hiding!

Yeah . . . I suppose you're right. Can't hurt to try things. I just thought that "MIDI clips" might be a proprietary MIDI file format. I'll just experiment until something goes hay-wire.

Now, if someone can give me a tip on how to get my UC-33 up and running, that would be great. I will eventually move up to the APC40, but for now I have to stick with what I got.

Thanks again.

[UKRuss]

As i recall with the UC33e, you are better off manually mi9di mappingn everythign you want to control.

Enter midi map mode, by clicking on the 'midi' button top right of you Live workspace, then select a function you want to control, say 'pan' on Track 1, then wiggle a rotary on your Uc33e, you'll see the midi CC number pop up on Live's screen. Exit midi map mode by clicking the midi button again and now when you wiggle the rotary...your pan knob moves.

I liked my uc33e, but in the end...

APC40 ftw!