Ableton Live

[garlad]

Does anyone use Ableton?? I got it yesterday and I am VERY excited about it! Used it for a small while last night (was getting a tutorial from a friend) but it seems a very powerful tool!! I have a midi keyboard too (M-Audio) so I'm all set!

I bought Reason 3.0 a while back (€400 ) and I didn’t have the patience nor could I get my head around it.. It was forgotten about for so long that I lost the discs.. But thankfully I had registered the software so I am entitled to a replacement set of cds for €29 That is on the way to me too..

I'm determine to give it a better go this time!!

Those who use Ableton, what are your thoughts? Find it straight forward to use once you get use to it? Got to admit, there is a LOT to get my head around, but looking forward to it!

[THE_FORCE]

Nice one Gar. Yep I use Live 8, with a PCR-500. I've only really been scratching the surface for a couple of months, but it's one wicked bit of software.

Things have moved on so much since my home studio and Atari Mega 4/Cubase setup 15/20 years ago !

I find it strange going between Session and Arrangement view after being so used to the old Cubase, but the way you can add effects/racks etc. is very intuitive.

You'll have to let us know when you knock your first tune up matey.

EDIT: What sort of tunes you making ?

[garlad]

Cool Jon! Didn’t know what a PCR-500 was.. had to Google it! 4 octaves! Nice! Looks a cool keyboard.. This is my one;



I got it about 2 years ago I'd say.. Hasn’t seen much use to be honest, and not even entirely sure of it’s capabilities! But it works with Live and I can play a tune

I'm not even sure what you mean by "going between Session and Arrangement view"… I have a lot to learn!! Perhaps I have done it already and just not aware of the terms

I was only on it for literally a couple of hours so far. In terms of the tunes I would like to make I guess that would be Electro House (seeing as it is my favourite). I'm gona be the next Deadmau5

If you have stuff made, I would love to hear it!!

My friend sent me a synth last night called the Dominator. LOADS of cool sounds to use with my keyboard.

[THE_FORCE]

Perfick controller keyboard that ! To be honest, I haven't really delved into what mine can do either, as I tend to program the controller data on the software itself rather than use the knobs/sliders on the Edirol :



There she is ! I used to have a shedload of synths, modules, outboard etc. back in the day and flogged it all. Now it seems I can do it all with this and a laptop. How times have changed ! (Though if I had the room I think I might setup a studio again)

So you're into Electro-House ? Sweet. I've just been dabbling with Electro...as in the real old skool electro sound: Hashim, Egyptian Lover, Planet Patrol, Newcleus , Paul Hardcastle etc. style. 808 beats, synth bass and some old funk leads.

I'll PM you some links to some wicked VST's if ya like ?

[garlad]

Haha you are showing your age now!

Yeah if you could send them on that would be cool! Much appreciated!!

So hard to know where to start in making a tune.. I mean.. where DO you start?!

I've another mate who is pretty handy with it so I am calling in to him next week (if the weather improves!) so will learn plenty off him. Guess Youtube might have some good video tutorials?

This blew my mind..

Making The Prodigy's Smack My B*tch Up in Ableton

THIS is the power I now possess!! Just need the creativity to go with it

[mikejet]

I've played with both Ableton and Fruity Loops and kind of like Fruity Loops more.

[mikejet]

What do you use for your midi pad? My brother in law and I might invest in a AKAI but right now I just have a Kaos NanoPAD.

Here's what I want:

[garlad]

Originally Posted by mikejet

I've played with both Ableton and Fruity Loops and kind of like Fruity Loops more.

Originally Posted by mikejet

What do you use for your midi pad? My brother in law and I might invest in a AKAI but right now I just have a Kaos NanoPAD.

Here's what I want:

Yeah I got fruity loops too.. Looks a bit easier to use?

What does the pad do? Can you literally hit it as and when you want drum beats?

Can the likes of Reason, Fruity Loops and Ableton all be used together? Like, can I make something in Fruity Loops and use it in an Ableton track?!

[mikejet]

Originally Posted by garlad

Yeah I got fruity loops too.. Looks a bit easier to use?

What does the pad do? Can you literally hit it as and when you want drum beats?

Can the likes of Reason, Fruity Loops and Ableton all be used together? Like, can I make something in Fruity Loops and use it in an Ableton track?!

That's exactly what it's for. Here's the pad I have:



The buttons are all velocity sensitive so you can adjust how soft or strong each sound is. Also, the trackpad can control flam so you can have tons of fun with it. I was even able to use it to control Traktor.

The AKAI is so much better though because if you look at Ableton or Fruity Loops you will notice their drum controller is the SAME EXACT layout. You can setup multiple profiles, switch on command and then even run playback and other controls through the pad.

It's tons of fun and while they are more geared towards hip-hop, they can be used for anything really.

I think it was Peanut Butter Wolf and a few other DJ's that did an entire show with pads and no decks.

Check out some of the youtube vids of the NanoPAD. It's really quite vesatile.