Ableton Forum

Thinking about picking one up, and I have some questions. I want to use it as a stand-alone synth, as well as midi controller for Ableton transport AND soft-synths - mostly Reaktor ensembles.

1. How well does it work with Live as a transport? Does it require a lot of custom mapping per set? Can you use the Mackie control to make banks of fader controls for tracks?
2. Can you easily toggle between transport control to controlling vst's on individual tracks? How hard is it to set up the controller to work with different vsts? Again, I work with about 10 different ensembles regularly.
3. Do you also use it as an audio interface? How is it?

My other option is to get an SL mkII and probably an Audiokontrol, which will cost me more AND not give me an onboard synth. Any thoughts greatly appreciated.

I owned one a while ago. It was the first piece of gear I ever bought, so this was at a time when I basically knew nothing about anything and just getting into electronic music.

1. Never got to use it with Live as a transport. I didn't even know about Live at the time. Sorry man.

2. I found it very difficult to get it to work with different VST's. The instruction manual is poorly written and wasn't able to really use it that effectively as a MIDI controller for VST's. For ease of use in controlling vst's, you are better off with the Novation SL series with automap.

3. I primarily used it as an audio interface. The specs aren't too high. I think they were 16 bit 48khz at the highest resolution. So not the best interface in the world (but it's an all-in-one type solution). I wasn't exactly making high quality recordings at the time. If you want higher specs you should go for the Audio Kontrol, which is a really great interface.

If your priorities are better control over your software and ease of use out of the box then the Remote SL is a better choice. The AK is a fantastic interface (solidly built, good specs, high quality sound). In general, i would say go for that set-up. My experience with the X-Station wasn't too great (partly due to my inexperience). I found it difficult to use, and the instruction manual was terrible at explaining and showing how to actually use it. So much so, that I was barely able to use it at all. The onboard synth isn't anything too special.