Ableton Forum

I'm currently using Sonar and P5, but am thinking of ditching P5 for Live. While very similar, the more I play with Live the more I feel it is far superior.

A couple questions:

1) I just got an M-Audio Axiom controller. I assumed the eight Axiom pads would be perfect for triggering Impulse, but I can't seem to find how to assign a comand to *trigger* the Impulse pads. They don't go blue when going into midi assign mode! Certainly this can be done, I see a lot of Trigger Finger users here. What obvious thing am I missing???

Also, it seems for the built-in transport controls I have to hit the buttons twice for them to work, like it's on/off for the buttons. Is this normal midi behavior (still a bit of a midiot I'm afraid).

2) I don't DJ, I am interested in using Live more as a "creative daw". While I see it has everything I would need to record and compose, I am wondering how useable Live is in the mixing/mastering stages? Can I go "all the way" with Live and my vst's, or will I still need Sound Forge or even Sonar to edit, mix and master?

The more I use Live, the more I'm liking it. It truly inspires creativity in a way linear sequencers (like Sonar/Cubase etc...) can't match.

TIA for any help....cheers! =)

Hi. Welcome to the forum.

Of course, first I have to give you the obligatory first post RTFM.

Okay, now that that's over with, here's the beef:

1) Whole notes, C3 - C4 on your keyboard should trigger the impulse samples from left to right (manual page 283)

1a) Dunno about the transport problem you are having... I only have to hit mine once. I might be misunderstanding you tho... You may want to check out "Clip Launch Modes" (manual page 139)

2) I used to use Sonar, and I find that I am MUCH more productive and can create a much more professional mix with Live. The intuitiveness of the Live workflow is unmatched.

However...

I (along with many on this forum) would probably recommend using a third-party mastering suite such as Waves to put the finishing touches on your tracks.

Overall, Live is a freakin awesome DAW host in every regard, and should be able to take you from conception to completion.

Hope that helps.

Hey Joe, thanks for the help. I assure you I was all over the "FM" last night, as well as doing Searches here, before I gave up and decided to post! =)

I think the problem is actually how to get teh Axiom's pads to be assigned to notes C3 - C4, but I'll figure it out...

As for mixing/mastering, it's good to hear Live's environment is condusive to this. Admittedly, I just need to import a rough mix of mine and play around with it myself to see what it's like. Things like how envelopes work and such make a big difference in the feel...at least to me.

But this is really not a big issue, I was just curious to see if Live users generally stay in Live start to finish. For example, a lot of Sonar users still master in Sound Forge, just because it "feels better" to do that work in a different environment. Oh, and yes I have some Waves/Wavearts/Voxengo stuff to git-R-done in that respect. I'll miss not being able to use the Sonitus suite from Sonar though, since they're DX not VST....

Here's a free plugin you can use to run DX plugins in Live.

http://perso.orange.fr/vb-audio/us/prod ... dxrack.htm

Scroll down on the page for the free version.

Works great in Live, I would have purchased the full version, but since they are now using a dongle they'l never see a cent from me, to bad.

jamester wrote:
I think the problem is actually how to get teh Axiom's pads to be assigned to notes C3 - C4, but I'll figure it out...

use the 'midi pitch' Live plugin before Impulse, that way you can actively re-assign the ranges to match up.

jamester wrote:1) I just got an M-Audio Axiom controller. I assumed the eight Axiom pads would be perfect for triggering Impulse, but I can't seem to find how to assign a comand to *trigger* the Impulse pads.

Congrats on discovering Live 5. It's a great program!

You should be able to use the free Enigma editor from M-Audio to change the notes of the Axiom trigger pads. I believe the first pad defaults to C1 (General Midi Specification) and you need to start with C3 since that is what Impulse uses.

Enigma should also allow you to edit the assignments and functionality of the transport buttons on your Axiom. The easiest thing is to assign them as Midi CC 112, 113, 114, 115, 116, 117 and then use Live's Midi Learn to assign each button the appropriate Transport function inside Live. Since Live's transport doesn't have RWD or FF, I used the Midi Learn to assign them to << and >> in the Arrangement view. << and >> are used to navigate the song Markers. So first I use Live's KEY learn feature to assign the "s" key on my computer keyboard to "SET" a marker, then use << and >> to navigate song markers in Arrangement. Works great.

Wow, on page three already? This forum moves fast...cool! =)

Thanks for all the responses and help everybody!

ILTK - grabbed that plugin, haven't checked it out yet but if I can run my Sonitus suite with it then that's awesome! I agree about teh dongles - never had them, never will... It looks like the free limits you to four fx, but that's fine for me.

Mark H - Yeah, I thought the Enigma software came with the keyboard, but it doesn't; you have to download it I guess. Will look into this shortly! Oh, and great tip about the song markers, I was wondering about this "lack of Rewind" button issue...

Maybe the "hit button 2 times" is because your pads are set to toggle the CC (I push to go to 127 and a 2nd to go back to 0). Look in the manual for a way to change it to Moment or something similar (127 when pushed, 0 when released)

Hey Jamester

Another convert here: I'm Graham on the Sonar forum. Since I bought Live I haven't opened Project 5 (V2) don't even know if it still opens. I upgraded Dimension to Pro so I could use it vst in Live. There are a few dxi things I can't get to open despite the adapters but i don't miss them.

I tend to compose and mix most of the way with Live then export and embelish (add more stuff) in Cubase SX3 although now they've sorted out the vst adapter in Sonar, and I can use multi envelopes on vst fx again, I may drift back in to Sonar as well. The beauty of a variety of tools!!

Live 5 is now my go to - it's just so easy to use. Oh and you can use external hardware (for me the Virus) more easily than in Project 5. Reason rewires excellently.

It was warp and the ease of using envelopes that really sold it to me.

Go for it man

Regards

Graham