Ableton Forum

What I have been attempting: Record every sound I create in real time using Ableton Live.

I am doing a live set with a looper for each midi instrument; vocal; and guitar. I can build up, undo last layer, start new loops; have different length loops... it's amazing.

However the catch is I have been looking for a way to record all the sounds I produce in my live set by using the Ableton live transport record function... This is causing big problems:

For example: While having track 1 armed and a loop successfully engaged and into the play mode, I go to "Arm" track 2. Subsequently, the looper on Track 1 will then go back into Record mode. This zany behavior only occurs while Transport Record is ON.

If I use the monitor Auto/In/Off and do not Arm the tracks, but go to "In", I can Use the loopers any way I wish. But most of the show is not recorded. The worst thing about this arrangement is that when I hit stop, the loopers will no longer play back correctly - ever - until they are cleared and a new set of loops is made fresh. And this also only occurs while Transport Record function is ON.

Is there a way to record in real time all the sounds I produce in Ableton's recording function without it wreaking major havoc on the loopers?

Try setting up two additional tracks to record tracks 1 & 2 pre-fx

THank you so much, Yoseph. Such a simple and elegant solution. Perfect for every need I could possibly forsee.

Not that I need it any more (thanks to you), but I have also figured out how to keep my loops intact after using the monitor "IN" function. When I'm done performing a song, I stop the transport and the song goes back to 1.1.1, I go to each looper and press the square "stop" symbol (if this is not done, the loops corrupt and are unplayable when the transport play is selected), and then I can start the song up again and voila - the song is recorded and the loopers are all functional. The nice thing about keeping the loopers intact is that I can play around with stopping and starting and adding to - or even changing the loops altogether without arranging in the arranger. It's all on the fly.

I have read a lot about looper and much of it is discouraging - most people giving up way too soon. This looper thing is a pain because it is so tempermental and I think Ableton could clean it up quite a bit. However, I can get it to work perfectly and build large, tight multitrack songs on the fly with using no click track, prerecorded clips or metronome.

I saw a technique by some guy calling himself kill paris or something like that on youtube - I will try it out later and see if it will work without using a mouse - such as my current technique allows.

I am a newbie to Ableton, but I am already starting to love this thing - a lot...

I honestly cannot stand some of the ways Ableton handles recording in conjunction with the Looper. I personally switched over to a hardware looper a long time ago and run everything into an interface for global recording. The ease is uncomparable

MisterMcGillicuddy wrote:I honestly cannot stand some of the ways Ableton handles recording in conjunction with the Looper.

What specifically don't you like?

Yeah, I get it Mr M:

Here's my latest problem with what I'm trying to do - Looper and Ableton in general. I am trying to simultaneously perform and record a live show that is constantly ON - no breaks or silent spots; different songs, parts, tempo's... I can do this with an external recording device, but not through Ableton's recording function. So far I can only use Ableton as the instrument, not the recording and performing device.

1. I can record a song just as I have performed it, but I cannot continue recording and start another tempo without looper and transport issues.
a) if I stop recording, I have not found a way to start recording again where I stopped. The new song starts recording back at 1.1.1.

b) if I continue recording, there is no way to introduce the new tempo without tapping it in - and voila the transport begins back at 1.1.1 again.

c) If I somehow manage to get my new song started without erasing the old one and the new tempo is set, when I am done, all the songs have the tempo of the latest song I have recorded.
Does anyone claim to be able to do what I am trying to do with Ableton? I would love to hear those tricks.

It may require some planning, but you can record scene changes into the arrangement that can change the tempo along your time line. Also, placing Locator markers in the arrangement can resume recording from specific points.

Sorry if that seems too obvious.

AtmosTrio: Thanks, man. I will try anything. I am pretty new to this - 1 or 2 weeks. I have been trying to go through the tutorials in my spare time and learn all this. I will try the locators.
I don't have a specific time length for my songs. I start my loopers and play with them until they're just right for a foundation... Then I do a lot of scratching, soloing and soundscaping and when I feel it's appropriate, I rap my scripts. after I do a song, I like to let something non-rhythmic play on the TT while I start another song.
I have not used locators in Ableton yet. I will play around with it. However, if you could try a test and let me know if you are able to do it, I would be amazed and very happy:
1. Start a song with a looper and record it
2. Add some more tracks for a minute or so using at least one more looper.
3. Keep recording, clear your loopers and start another song with a different tempo using a looper and repeat step 2. Stop recording and check your work in step 4.
4. Clear your loopers and play back the songs in a continuous play - each song in its own tempo including all looper parts. (that's essentially all I am trying to do)