Ableton Forum

OK, so I want to play arrangements in Live 6 on my MacBook (2GHz, 2GB RAM) and process a microphone input live. Simple stuff, just turing AU plugins off and on, etc.

What's the best way to do this?

I have an Edirol FA-101 and I can't seem to get the microphone to work without latency. I'm playing pop songs and talking in between, so the mic needs to be un-effected and without latency at times.

I've run the built-in latency lesson and still I can't get what I want.

Thanks in advance!

does your sound card have software monitoring (My firebox can route audio through its self - bypassing the software and latency) if so you could plug that monitor output to a mixer ??

Oh, cool. I'm not sure. Here's the factsheet for my interface:

http://www.rolandus.com/products/produc ... rentId=114

I'm going to mess around with it right now and see what I can figure out.

Thanks for your help! Can you explain your setup to me?

The FA 101 has a Direct Monitor section. Learn how that works.

I don't have the manual and Roland/Edirol's crappy site doesn't have PDFs.

What's the basic idea with direct monitoring? I mean, I've used the interface to monitor vocals/instruments before without latency, but effecting stuff live on-the-fly is a different idea and I'm not sure how to go about it exactly.

This is why I call on you, dear forum. You are full of smart people doing all kinds of stuff with Live and your gear. Can you help me out?

Thanks again in advance!

The idea of direct monitoring is duplicating the input signal. One of the copies goes normally into your computer for it to be recorded and processed. The 2nd copy goes directly to the soundcard's output without going into the computer, thus outputting it without latency. The drawback is that the direct monitor signal can't be processed with software plug ins.

I haven't used the FA 101, but this is how I think it works from seeing it:

Soft Ctrl: No idea what it does. Maybe someone else can help or by trial and error.

Mono: Makes input centered. My old US-122 had a mono switch. When off, what came in through input 1 went to the L channel and what came through input 2 to R channel. When on, both inputs came out center.

Mix: Mixes your software output with your DI signal. Don't know if it's like a crossfade where center is both the Software output and the DI at the same level, left is software only and right is DI only, or it's just the DI level, where fully to the right it's both software and DI at the same level. Try it and work it according to what it does.

Oh, I just downloaded the FA 101 manual (there is a pdf in the roland site, but you have to sign up in the Roland Backstage thingy).

Soft Ctrl switch: when on (pressed inward), it allows you to control your direct monitor mix via the included software.
When off, the software is bypassed, letting you monitor all 10 inputs to your main outs.

Stereo/Mono switch: Selects whether the input signal will be monitored in stereo or mono. Turn it on (pressed) if you want to monitor in monoaural.
Even if this is set to mono, the audio signal is sent via Firewire to your computer in stereo.

(I didn't understand that either)

Mix Knob: Works as a crossfader. To the left, it decreases the DI level. To the right, it decreases your computer output level. Center is both signals at full volume.