Ableton Forum

hey everyone,

was wondering if some experienced live users could shed some light on my concerns about the program.

i'm trying to sort out a band with a live looping element. the loops will mainly be synths and samplers, ie played live on my laptop using a midi controller keyboard, although being able to loop audio from the pa too would be pretty sweet. as i have a friend with an unwanted copy of live, it'd be a lot cheaper for me to use that than invest in an expensive looping device, i'm just not really sure whether it's up to my live requirements.

the main thing i need to do is record loops on the fly, ie as soon as ive recorded a loop it starts looping.

i need to be able to record at least ten loops like this over each other and be able to easily turn off and on specific loops, preferably more than one at once (and automate this?)

also is it possible to record and loop audio live from within another sequencer, e.g. fruity loops (anyone know if the fruity loops vst plugin works with ableton live?)

thanks

edd

I'd recommend you take a look at the new Roland SP-606... as a stand alone unit it sounds like it does all you want to do without the need for a laptop.

I use it in conjunction with Live as a controller and midi sync'd extra-looper ... and like it a lot.

If it is a choice between H/w or S/w then good software like Live will always be more flexible and detailed than hardware. Plus upgrades periodically will add new functions etc (for a price).

The only reason I'd suggest a hardware option is, as you a gigging, robustness and cold-start (switch on and are ready to go). As fantastic as Live is, you are still talking about booting-up a laptop, connecting USB devices, midi cables, CPUs getting warm etc.

However you mention that you are already using a laptop in your set-up ... thus I think it is a no brainer. Just use Live; but perhaps consider your controllers, latency and audio routing costs.

more about the sp-606's live looping capabilities please mokomo

dude, I'm a bassist/guitarist/keyboardist in many bands, and got into live looping with hardware (loop station, also messed with boomerand and line6). TRUST me--Live 2 or 3 on a fast laptop with a good soundcard blows the hardware out of the water. Haven't looked at the 606, but its hardly useful for on the fly sampling with instruments--you'd need foot control. I use Live with a fcb 1010 foot controller and do all live looping shows--no pre-recorded material. Live is awesome--10 seperate loops easy. Individual mute/vol./pan/crossfader/effects for each loop--no problem. The 606 just can't touch the depth, flexibility and routing options of Live. As for the laptop setup--yeah it takes more time, but when you're giggin and setting up PA and stuff its no big thing. Main thing is you want to have a good laptop, fast soundcard, and practice with live and your band a LOT before just bringing it onstage. One for your own learning, two to make sure your system and means of working are stable.

Ryan

i totally agree with the last comment ... SP-606 is a nice machine, but can't touch Live on so many levels.

If you are happy with a laptop, then forget the limitations of hardware - just get Live.

ok, just got hold of live, was swiftly learning how to use it and now i can't find the input device chooser which is supposedly on the track mixer according to the manual - it's nowhere to be seen. this means i cant record any audio! will somebody please help me - it's so frustrating!

how have you set up your audio preferences?

sounds like you don't have your audio inputs activated in the live prefferences settings, go into prefferences activate your inputs and then you will be able to pick them from the dropdown menu in the track

oops sorry guys, was unchecked in the view menu.

but now the key map isn't working! when i unpress the key map button all mappings come undone.

By the way i'm very glad i didn't invest in expensive hardware looping - live seems like a truly amazing program and looks like it can do everything i need. I haven't quite worked out how to get a freshly recorded loop to start at the right time but i'm working on it. Is there a setting where it will only start at the beginning of the next bar or something?

oh great, now everytime i record something i've got to move the velocity slider in the clip view before i hear anything!

It's not set too low as even if you move it down a bit you hear it...

Can somebody help!?

P.s. Does everyone have loads of problems at first or am i just a dumbass?

right now you're problems are 'triggering clips',,, 'clip quantise settings'
and if you're recording the samples into Live that you are triggering 'setting the recording imput buss'

go over those things in the manual a few good times, and take it easy, also pick up Dave Hill jrs book on Live called Live power, it goes over the basics very well and will get you comfortable with them.



you are not alone

edd wrote:the main thing i need to do is record loops on the fly, ie as soon as ive recorded a loop it starts looping.

Hi Edd,

This is now possible with the Loop 4 beta version. But the on-the-fly recording can not be stopped by selecting the clip; you have to stop the recording process by turning of the "track record enable".

To me this is very very good news in v. 4. Thanx Ableton!

why's such good news Per, would you explain a lil bit?

Sure! Here's the difference as I far as I have found out:

Live 3
1. record enable track
2. select clip starts recording
3. select clip stops recording
4. select clip starts playback of the recorded loop

Live 4
1. record enable track
2. select clip starts recording
3. un-record-enable track stops recording AND starts playback of the recorded loop

See? Much faster and now you get immediate playback of a live recorded loop (the function you said you need)