Ableton...
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- bored2death0
The problem with that video is that it shows you the least special aspect of Live: Arrangement View. You can use just about any audio recording program to get that. Ableton's real uniqueness is the Session View. That's where all it's power is, in my opinion.
- for performance or recording quick ideas yes, totallyMiguex
- ukit0
Agreed, you could do almost the same thing they did with Audiomulch or some other freeware program
- albums0
My question thread was deleted, I'll ask here...
I have been given the opportunity to use a friends laptop which has Ableton Live 7 on it. He has told me that if I wish to pay for the upgrade he will upgrade it to 8, however suggests that I use the money on hardware instead. Being a novice I have opted for devices listed at ableton.com as compatible. I am looking at one of the two setups: 1. a Novation Launchpad http://www.ableton.com/launchpad… with an Akai MPK25 http://www.akaipro.com/mpk25 or 2. a Novation Launchpad, an M-Audio Oxygen 25, http://www.m-audio.com/products/… and a Behringer BCR2000. http://www.behringer.com/EN/Prod… The donor computer is a Dell Studio 1555 Vista Ultimate 64-Bit with Intel Centrino 2 T9550 @2.66GHz chips & 8GB RAM.
I have seen setups on youtube that consist of 2 devices so I am wondering if it will be possible to host 2-3 devices easily? I am aware there are some PCI & PCI-e devices however am unable to find exactly what I need, mainly because I'm not sure what is best for my intended use.
I believe that midi devices can be set up in series though I am unsure of the connection requirements of the items I am interested in as most are listed as usb. I have 3 usb inputs on the computer, one of which says eSATA; Firewire 1394, Network , and Mini PCI-e connections are available as well. If it matters there are also a VGA and HDMI connection. I am stating these additional ports in hopes there is another piece of hardware I could possibly plug into the mini PCI-e or eSATA usb port then connect all the controller devices to.
As you can tell though, I am ignorant here and seeking advice from knowledgeable hardware users. If you have other hardware suggestions that you believe would accomplish my interface expectations, while avoiding shortcomings I may not be aware of, please inform me and share your thoughts.
I would like to use one of the two setups listed above or one similar to them, but prefer not to order the items, wait a week or two to receive them, then not have a clue how to connect them correctly or not realize I'm still missing some additional hardware. I figure there will be issues in midi mapping attempting to use multiple devices that are all designed to work with Ableton, however I prefer these issues as opposed to having three devices and only one working at a time.
Thank you for any input or insight you are able to share. If you have any further questions about the computer hardware/configuration in question, please let me know so that I may answer them. I'm not sure if the computer setup is good, bad, or irrelevant to successful operation.
- ukit0
- albums0
I continued this conversation over at the Ableton forums as well. The advice there was to avoid M-Audio for build quality and step up each of the selected pieces to more production minded equipment. In place of the Novation Launchpad it was suggested I use the Akai APC40 for its knobs & sliders in addition to the pads offered by the Launchpad and the Novation 25 SL MKII over the Akai MPK25 as its mapping features are more robust/intuitive. The cost of the APC40 and the Novation 25 exceed that of the 3 other smaller pieces so I'm still undecided. Any input from hardware users is appreciated as I've heard great sound being controlled by just the Launchpad and a Korg nanoKontrol . Thanks
Also, I found some of this gear used from Guitar Center. Anyone ever buy used music gear? I've bought used computer equipment before but never music. Shy away from or what? Experiences?
- yeah, M-Audio is usually not very good in terms of built quality (compared to other brands)Miguex
- Dodecahedron0
This looks pretty cool, if I were to spring for a simple midi keyboard for ableton it would be this. If you want to hook up multiple devices a usb router would work. I wouldn't get to carried away though, one is enough until you are a ninja. Ableton handles midi very well so I assume multiple devices wouldn't be too much of a problem except for your own learning curve.
- for all midi connection go to Options-Preferences... sure devices are ON and in/outputs are setDodecahedron
- Options . Preferences . Midi SyncDodecahedron
- orrinward0
If you want to start doing music stuff, give puredata a try, or the pay-equivalent, Max MSP.
Puredata pretty much lets you make your own custom music applications and perform with them.
- orpkoobcam20
I can't even begin to imagine the music you're trying to make with all that setup and waffle you're talking about. If you're new to making music digitally may I suggest you keep it simple and low cost:
Try Renoise first - it's free:
Use a simple but good free analogue synth to learn the basics.
This actually quite a decent synth:
http://kunz.corrupt.ch/products/…And you can find decent free drumkit sample packs to use, for example this one is super awesome:
http://www.orangetreesamples.com… Kit.rarRenoise has native FX's filters that are decent, and I suggest you use a Mac so you can make use of the free native Apple AU FX's that are brilliant.
Create a few patterns, beats, loops and put together a basic track. Then use the FX, EQ and mixer to learn how to mix a well balanced track. Some decent tutorials here:
http://audio.tutsplus.com/Once you are confident, and feel you have talent - and feel the limitations of Renoise, invest in Ableton.
You can use renoise as an instrument within ableton if you get attached to it.
you can use the MPK25 with renoise as well as Ableton and it's a pretty nice little midi input board with a decent low price. it just plugs straight into a usb port so no need for all that space station geek pc stuff you're talking about. Not sure what you are talking about regarding mini PCI-e etc.... You can get a fancy keyboard later if you have talent.
This guy is super awesome, is about 20 years old and is only using fruityloops, a mouse and a crappy old PC:
http://soundcloud.com/robotakihe's done some decent remixes that have been published. All done on a crappy setup up.
http://soundcloud.com/robotaki/y…– you don't need all the gear etc to make decent music - you need talent. So start low cost first. Maybe take a few music lessons.
- popfodders0
You can Time Stretch with most any tool, BTW. Acid music and Reason do it as well.
- ApeRobot0
Albums: Much more control with APC 40 compared to launchpad,
Combined with MPD or such,MPK25 as cheap feel regarding pads and keys weight.
As orpkoobcam2: keep it simple an lowcost