Ableton Forum

since i've had a keyboard longer than ableton, i've found some cool sounds in it that i dont want to change when using it in ableton. how can i record MIDI from a source and record the same sounds (or as a second best option, how do i record a MIDI instrument as audio in ableton) ?

thanks
this forum kicks ass

If your keyboard has any type of audio out (RCA or 3.5mm hopefully!) you can just connect the KB to Live (via your computer/soundcard) and record what you play. You could then use Lives instruments to play the samples you recorded.

This is not really my forte - but you'll get the answers here. I'd imagine you'll be advised to multi-sample the sounds from your KB.

What I'm trying to say is - I don't know the answer to your question.

Either you can record your performances from the keyboard as an audio track in Ableton's sequencer into a song you are working on, or make samples from your favorite patches on the keyboard.

Last method might take some time, as you would have to sample a bunch of notes, rename + organize, trim etc...

You could then play it in any sampler though and even sell off your keyboard.

1. Hook keyboard up to computer via MIDI out>MIDI cable & MIDI IN >MIDI card
2. Create a MIDI track in Live (shift+cntl+T)
3. record enable that track
4. hit play/record and play notes on your keyboard.
5. quantize/loop MIDI as necessary

then

6. Hook up Keyoboard to computer via MIDI CARD>out>MIDI cable>MIDI in on keyboard
7. Audio output of keyboard>audio cables>soundcard input
8. create a new Audio Track in Live (Cntrl T)
9. Record Enable that track
10. Hit play/record.

Live should send MIDI notes to the synth, which will send audio back to Live.

Turn off "WARP" if you dont want any "changes" made to the audio.

I am not sure what you mean by "i want to record MIDI from a source and record the same sounds"... What is the source of MIDI? Hopefully not another sequencer (maybe your synthesizer has an onboard sequencer... if so, your job will be a little more difficult, but not too much).

Anywho, Make sure that for each track you record to, that the correct input is selected. i.e. "MOTU soundcard inputs 1/2" or "m-audio MIDI translator" or whatever. The manual details how to define these devices in the preferences, and after that, its just a matter of knowing whether you want to record MIDI (notes) or audio (sounds).

thanks all for the tips.
just to clarify what i mean: my keyboard has some built-in sounds and parameters that i'm used to. sometimes i'll use its onboard memory to save some melodies, and its drum machine for rhythms. i'm sure many of you also do this. my question is, how to record MIDI from a keyboard AS-IS ? so far, every time i play something on the keyboard, i have to load an instrument within Live onto the MIDI track; I'd like to know how to make this optional.

Failing that, at least now -thanks to Patch for reminding me there's a headphone-out- i can record the keys as Audio.

You can route MIDI into a track by arming it to record. You can also route that MIDI back out through your MIDI interface to the keyboard. You'll probably also want to switch off Local echo if you can on the keyboard. That'll make it easier to sequence as you won't have double notes

Ah yes, I thought it might have an onboard sequencer.

You might be able to get those notes from the synth into Live... but it wont be easy. It might even be frustrating.

If your synth can TRANSMIT those MIDI notes, to, say, another synth, then you are in luck (some on-board sequencers are only internal: they can only control that synth, not others).

You will likely want to set up Live as the Tempo Slave, and the synth as the tempo Master, and use MIDI beat clock to sync the two machines.

Then go synth_>MIDI out->midi cable ->MIDI input -> computer
record enable a MIDI track in live.
Hit play on the synth.
It should trigger Live to start recording (or you may have to start recording in Live before hitting play on the synth, I'm not sure).


Some synths actually save their sequencer data as standard midi files (.smf) and, if you have an editor on your computer, you can Dump those files to your computer and import them into live. I've never owned such a beast, but I hear they exist.

ok, got it. i just had to think of the keyboard as any instrument. took the patch cable out of my bass and into the keyboard so it records audio the same as any guitar. voila, perfect. now it works as a midi AND audio instrument, for joy!

Hey
I'm having the same problem only I'm not working with a synth but with a ronald V-drum (is plus/minus equal to a ronald synth).

I want to record via my Ronald synth to ableton in MIDI with the same drumtones.

I've read this forum and I see always that you have to connect you're synth with ableton to get the tones that are in your'e drum module.

But I want only to record (in midi)

then disconnect my Ronlad ,V-drum

and then I want to play with my recorded drum sample into live (the drum sample must have the same tones that my V-drum have and must be in MIDI (why in MIDI?; so I can adapted my errors wile playing a sample.).

I've watched my manual of my Roland V-drum and there is written: That I can dump my bulk to an external sequencer (so i can dump all my information onto an external harddisk).

Can I dump this information (e.g. Several drum kits,...)into ableton and how can i do this??

I have really now clue.

Regard