"Ableton Live": excellent multitrack live tool! (says me)

ernest@303.nu · Post by **ernest@303.nu** » Sun Jun 16, 2002 2:59 pm

Maybe a bit off-topic, but I'm a bit excited about it.....
I just got it today and it rocks like a stone!!!
It combines the best from Sonic Foundry Acid and regular harddisk recording software, with an extremely smooth live-feel.

It works nicely together with Pulsar through multi-channel ASIO, and didn't crash a single time during the first 3 hours of realtime heavy-duty cut-n-paste, VST-ing and MIDI controller tweaking. Check it out if you're into bpm-based music!

One thing: it plays back 24-bit files, but I didn't get it to record at 24-bit yet... maybe didn't look good enough, or in the next version?

Anyway, this piece of software really surprised me!!! Hopefully it will be working happily together with my Pulsar at my next live gig

[ This Message was edited by: ernest@303.nu on 2002-06-17 09:11 ]

spacef · Post by **spacef** » Sun Jun 16, 2002 3:32 pm

Hi,
can you build midi controller boxes ? (like channels etc do they record mouse movements ?
thanks in advance for the answer. I had no time to test the demo yet but it looks great.

algorhythm · Post by **algorhythm** » Sun Jun 16, 2002 6:57 pm

you can automate the whole mix, and edit it too. and it has extensive MIDI control support. No MIDI sequencing and no VSTi support. The demo still has me drooling though. . . It is a bit overpriced, considered against other sequencers that have more features . . . anyone know the best price online?

yes, it is very stable. and is a great proggie. I think I am selling some gear and buying a laptop to center around this app. . .

{EDIT: I sold some gear, bought a laptop and this app, and am never looking back. Also, I think it is a good price BECAUSE it "lacks" features. I am glad that it does not have MIDI sequencing or VSTi support. That would ruin it. kinda odd sounding I know, but it is precisely because it is limited that it is so good! . . .)
_________________
.: algorhythm :. http://www.algorhythmz.com
It is better to fail in originality, than to succeed in imitation.- Herman Melville

[ This Message was edited by: algorhythm on 2002-09-19 23:52 ]

ernest@303.nu · Post by **ernest@303.nu** » Mon Jun 17, 2002 8:05 am

Don't think it's too expensive for what it's offering: there's simply no alternative to Ableton Live!

The normal version sells for 315 Euro at Musik Produktiv.
But you can get it for 175 Euro at Thomann.de if you can order through an 'educational institution'

BTW check the Ableton forums (especially the Creamware-employees among us) : extremely active participation from Ableton-programmers, they're really appreciating bug-reports and new ideas, and are apparently working like mad to implement fixes and new features, and of course dropping updates very often.

Learn, Creamware, or Burn!!!

[ This Message was edited by: ernest@303.nu on 2002-06-17 09:07 ]

ernest@303.nu · Post by **ernest@303.nu** » Tue Jun 25, 2002 11:31 pm

correction to my first posting: it does record at 24 bit! I just overlooked that option in the configuration panel.

Neutron · Post by **Neutron** » Fri Jul 19, 2002 12:12 pm

Ok i am trying this program, It looks interesting.

It seems to do Time stretching as well as Acid

but the interface is screwing up My XP desktop. I think anything that uses some transparency is flickering, for instance "coolmon" and menus (even abletons own menus)

Im going to try running FLP as a Vsti in it

[ This Message was edited by: Neutron on 2002-07-19 13:28 ]

algorhythm · Post by **algorhythm** » Sat Jul 20, 2002 1:29 am

On 2002-07-19 13:12, Neutron wrote:
Im going to try running FLP as a Vsti in it

let us know how you got on with this! um, er, well, let me know at least

Ableton doesn't accept VSTi's AFAIK though

Neutron · Post by **Neutron** » Sat Jul 20, 2002 10:08 pm

Bah it does not work. It only supports vst effect not vstis. i guess that makes sense considering it does not contain a midi sequencer.

borg · Post by **borg** » Thu Sep 19, 2002 7:44 pm

got it yesterday. i didn't launch my DAW for a few months, but now...

lots of hours making music AND fun!!!
it's the best thing that ever happened to me since buying my first guitar when i was sixteen!

funny thing... people discussing the SFP gui here on Z now. CW, check this application's looks. simple, and consequently so effective.

me so happy!

Bah it does not work. It only supports vst effect not vstis. i guess that makes sense considering it does not contain a midi sequencer.

who needs a VSTi when you have wavelength devices?

(yes, because there's no midi sequencing in LIVE, but looking at the way of working (playing your synths live in the program, or making loops in another app) i'd never use something different than SFP or hardware. just my opinion of course)

_________________
andy
 the lunatics are in the hall 

[ This Message was edited by: borg on 2002-09-20 05:40 ]

algorhythm · Post by **algorhythm** » Thu Sep 19, 2002 10:48 pm

the ableton crew KNOWS how to make an interface.

a few 'elegancies' that I've noticed -

There are no popup windows. none. zero. I hate popup window ads in my browser, but I never noticed how annoying cubase/etc/etc were with popup windows for effects and such until I used Ableton. Now I can't stand popups - In Ableton, EVERYTHING is available in one well-laid out page, and all VST effects are visible in an effects strip per channel. They even represent all VST FX GUI's the same way: you can show (1) the full GUI as a popup (2) slim version with all parameters and (3) and you can 'shrink' down the Effect GUI, and still control ANY 2 parameters via an XY field. elegant, brilliant.

You can minimize all of the windows OR expand them with a single mouse click.

There is a little "info window" similar to tooltips to get beginners going.

The Arrangement window is an Audio sequencer similar to SF Acid, except that you can also trigger samples over the arrangement live - this is great for combining prepared sequences with live improvization.

The Automation editing: To edit an automate paramaters sequence, click on the parameter. that simple. no fiddling with endless menus trying to find "aux send ch 13" or some such.

With Cubase, I used (yes, past tense) dual monitors and felt that I needed a third. What I needed was a different sequencer. Ableton fits great on a single 14" laptop at a decent resolution. 17" and 19" are even better. Dual monitors is totally unnecessary.

I'm going to write a full review of this app. It really impresses me that much.

ernest@303.nu · Post by **ernest@303.nu** » Sat Sep 21, 2002 4:54 am

borg and algo: Thanks for bringing this up! You're expressing exactly my thoughts. The interface is half the power of this beauty (the other threequarter being its excellent features

)
This software has given me tons of additional ideas for a possible *better* interface to those SHARC's (maybe I should start a "SFP complete re-design" topic)

looking forward to your review algo, I'm sure it'll turn more of us PlanetZarians into Ableton-Live-addicts
[edit]typo[/edit]

[ This Message was edited by: ernest@303.nu on 2002-09-21 06:00 ]

Omb · Post by **Omb** » Fri Nov 08, 2002 9:01 pm

great sound and very easy to use .
after a long time of diging into loop's,
sound's, plugin,instrument etc..in vst

abelton is powerfull and put a

in your
face .

omb

Nizor · Post by **Nizor** » Fri Nov 15, 2002 7:15 am

hello all,

you guys are really right.

Make it simple and it will work.
Steinberg sure makes complete softs, but you have to go through one zillion menus to get the info you need.
And latency is a problem, and VSTI cause problems.

Hope you're right about Ableton, and if so, uninstall vst (i got the powerpulsar, so i really do not care anymore for VSTi).

Do you know where i can get a review of LIVE, or a tutorial to start with it ???

borg · Post by **borg** » Fri Nov 15, 2002 12:24 pm

there is a tutorial here: http://www.creativesynth.com/subgroups/LiveZone.html

reviews can be found on the ableton site, see section 'reviews'

i bet they're all quite positive

Post by **hubird** » Fri Nov 15, 2002 12:59 pm

I think I like the concept, but what should I do when I wanne use an external synth like my Virus?
Do I have to sinc Cubase to Live, than record the file in Cubase and import the file into Live?

marcuspocus · Post by **marcuspocus** » Fri Nov 15, 2002 2:09 pm

No, sync live to cubase, and record in live, cuz live use asio to, and record 24bits, and you can use routing also...

I do this, but with Logic, and Logic control totaly Live

algorhythm · Post by **algorhythm** » Fri Nov 15, 2002 3:08 pm

erm, forget cubase, just record into live. use the ASIO drivers and route your virus into pulsar and into the ASIO drivers. Unless you need the MIDI-sequencing of cubase, in which case things to get a bit more complicated (open cubase first, then live as a rewire client, but then you loose VSTfx in live).

marcuspocus · Post by **marcuspocus** » Fri Nov 15, 2002 3:39 pm

When in rewire mode, Live doesn't want to record, i get a message 'can't record in rewire mode'. So you better open Live first, unless your recording in Cubase, then drag wav file into Live afterward... But i find this less cool...

But using the asio in LIVE instead of logic (or cubase) forbid you to play VSTi now... Nothings perfect...

Post by **hubird** » Sat Nov 16, 2002 11:25 am

thanks Algo and Marcus, I'll give this a try!
At least there are several possibilities, though I think Marco's solution is most 'clean'.
Algo, using the Virus I need Cubase for midi, and it still is the best synth I have!

Nizor · Post by **Nizor** » Mon Nov 18, 2002 1:07 pm

it's the best synth ever !!!!!

the screaming pig of them all