Do I need Ableton Operator if I have the R3?

hannes · Post by **hannes** » Mon Oct 27, 2008 2:20 pm

I've been looking at Ableton's "Buy Live and get Operator for free" offer and it does look enticing. But I'm wondering, since Operator is basically just a software synthesizer, if I really need Operator if I already have the R3?

Would it help me at all by having Operator - could I do something I normally wouldn't be able to do with just Ableton Live and R3?

- Hannes

meatballfulton · Post by **meatballfulton** » Tue Oct 28, 2008 11:19 am

Operator is an FM synth, so it can create different kinds of sounds than the R3.

If you're planning on getting Live anyway, might as well take Operator too. That's exactly what I did. Never know when it might be useful down the road

musikmachine · Post by **musikmachine** » Tue Oct 28, 2008 12:11 pm

Well, you can run multiple instances of operator which you can't the R3! Try the demo, see if it you like the sound. And yeah, if your thinking of getting live anyway...

hannes · Post by **hannes** » Tue Oct 28, 2008 3:59 pm

OK, good to know that I'll be able to do some additional fun stuff with Operator - looks like it has a lot of cool features...

I actually have Ableton Live Lite 4 already (got it with a Behringer unit) - but I'm thinking about getting Live 7 LE (probably the box edition). Do you know what differences are between 4 and 7?

musikmachine · Post by **musikmachine** » Tue Oct 28, 2008 8:54 pm

hannes wrote:OK, good to know that I'll be able to do some additional fun stuff with Operator - looks like it has a lot of cool features...

I actually have Ableton Live Lite 4 already (got it with a Behringer unit) - but I'm thinking about getting Live 7 LE (probably the box edition). Do you know what differences are between 4 and 7?

Well you've got the integration with live and you can use the R3 as a controller.

There's a lot of differences as they've added a lot of new features since version 4. Honestly try the demo, you get a 14 day trial now so you can fully test it out. Racks, drum racks, drum tracks, a slicer, new effects, new complex warp mode etc. They're some of the core features but they've also added a lot of extras which can be bought seperately. Have a look in the shop on the website. Btw i'm talking about the full version but i think LE has most of the same features but with a limit to the number of tracks/vsts you can use in a project. I could be wrong so don't quote me on that!

I can't comment on operators sound cause i haven't played it for a while but it's FM so it'll contrast the R3.

kibbels · Post by **kibbels** » Wed Oct 29, 2008 8:55 pm

Just be aware that with the LE version (and lite versions) you will not be able to SEND midi notes to the R3 for playback. As mentioned you can use the R3 as a controller and record midi notes for operator to playback (among other live software instruments) , but the R3 sounds you will need to record as audio tracks unless you go with the full version of live.