Ableton Forum

I'm a novice audio engineer/electronic music producer who's both interested in doing original electronic music (ie. 'pop/commercial'-style remixes and stuff in
the style of DJ Shadow) and doing sounddesign/production for others.

I've been working with other software for a fair amount both
in my classes and on my laptop (Reason v3, MOTU
Digital Performer, ReCycle), and I've done many little
'bits' (ie. designed some sounds in Reason, a bit of
drum programming, etc.) but I haven't been able to
have that 'spark' to integrate them all into a
fully-formed track easily..

Would Live 5 be a useful tool for doing that sort of stuff (ie. banging stuff out and developing ideas which I can then transfer to DP for fine-tuning/tweaking) or would an MV8k or similar box be easier?

Also, what do you think is a good pad controller? The pads on my microKONTROL feel very stiff.

Thanks.

--Douglas

As everyone uses Live differently, no-one is going to be able to really give you what you need to know. Except yourself of course. I am sure Live *can* do what you want, but whether it *will* or not is another matter entirely.

I'd suggest trying the demo, now is a good time to do that with V5 now out after all the waiting. When you have downloaded it, check out the PDF manual and get through the basics and getting started sections *before* mucking around in the program. If you are anything like me, the sparks spark faster and brighter when you are knocking up some music without learning the program at the same time.

Oh, and be sure to search the Forum least you wake the newbie hunters if you need help before asking for it. Just a little tip

Oh, and good luck.

I think best way to find the answer you seek to your question would be to demo the MV-8000 and Live 4-5 sometime. Finding ways to spark creativity is something we all want to have an never lose. Roland and Ableton both offer video tutorials on there products in action at there websites.

I'm a good friend and huge fan of DJ Shadow and insofar as Live is concerned; if he knew what Live can do and how easily it can do it, Endroducing would have taken a lot less time to produce.

Live can do it all. Asking if Live can be used for Ninja Tune style or Ballet, is like asking if a piano can be used for Jazz AND waltzes.

The answer is - of course - it depends on the talent of the user.

If this is paint by numbers, then Live has the numbers. The question is, have you got the paint? And are your brushstrokes artistic?

anonymouse wrote:I'm a good friend and huge fan of DJ Shadow and insofar as Live is concerned; if he knew what Live can do and how easily it can do it, Endroducing would have taken a lot less time to produce.

Live can do it all. Asking if Live can be used for Ninja Tune style or Ballet, is like asking if a piano can be used for Jazz AND waltzes.

The answer is - of course - it depends on the talent of the user.

If this is paint by numbers, then Live has the numbers. The question is, have you got the paint? And are your brushstrokes artistic?

i agree with anonymouse and in fact, i'm gonna go write a ballet...

i will call it the ButtCracker

i had a mv 8000 and a mpc 4000 and they collected dust for about 6 months while i was banging out beats in ableton.live is the way to go.

I think Live can be summed up as "....and more!" when you're comparing it to an MPC or MV.

just dont get lost in the deluge of extensions (plugins!) that will be open.

the only weakness of live is the one who is using it, unable to dicipline the self in the way an mpc2000 will discipline and submit you to, for eg.

sweetjesus wrote:

anonymouse wrote:I'm a good friend and huge fan of DJ Shadow and insofar as Live is concerned; if he knew what Live can do and how easily it can do it, Endroducing would have taken a lot less time to produce.

Live can do it all. Asking if Live can be used for Ninja Tune style or Ballet, is like asking if a piano can be used for Jazz AND waltzes.

The answer is - of course - it depends on the talent of the user.

If this is paint by numbers, then Live has the numbers. The question is, have you got the paint? And are your brushstrokes artistic?

i agree with anonymouse and in fact, i'm gonna go write a ballet...

i will call it the ButtCracker

Buttcracker.. sweet..

.