Ableton Live! What Is It?

[X-Trade]

What is all the fuss about it?

Personally I had the demo (actually lite edition - came with my ReMote37SL) but never really used it because it was confusing and I didn't like the limit of 1 VSTi on that version, although I don't really use VST instruments, only effects. I don't like working with software with limits - one reason why I'll never touch protools either, which is ridiculously expensive just to get a recording situation which is equivalent to what you can do with Cubase's midrange 'studio' package. (anyone ever notice I have a habit of going off on a tangent about things?)


Anyway, I've noticed I've been using RPPR lately to construct songs and set up performances on my KARMA, which is rather confusing and frustrating but quite handy. I was wondering if this was something which can be better achieved in ableton, even my 'lite' version (if I can find the disk and serial and all that). I've heard some stuff about 'launching clips', but I don't really get it. Is this similar to RPPR?

And a lot of people say they swear by it and find it amazing, although in the studio I would only use something like cubase as I mainly work in a traditional multi-track recording and mixing situation in the studio. I just can't figure out what it is about it, and what I might be missing out on?

[Daz]

That is exactly it, it's RPPR for the 21st century

What is so great about it is that you can record and compose music non linearly.

One way to approach using this software is thinking of each column being a specific instrument and each row being a particular part of your song (The first half of the first verse or the prechorus, or SOMETHING YET TO BE DETERMINED). Now you can create a whole of bunch rows (scenes in ableton terms) and then try triggering rows in different orders. Often building a single row might simply be copying an existing row (or just some clips from a row) and deleting some clips and recording new ones in their place to give alternatives. Alternatively building something complete new up.

So you jam out a bunch of scenes and then get to trigger them in different orders and see how they work together.

I like it a great deal. For that aspect anyway, I always take the clips and ideas and finish them up in Logic.

D.

[kanthos]

Of course, you can switch between session view (what Daz just described) and arranger view (your standard sequencer view). Live is great for a different creative workflow, and it's also the only DAW (other than Mainstage, which I believe is a part of Logic) that I'd ever recommend for any kind of live performance use.

[X-Trade]

I have to admit, I was pretty sceptical and usually look down my nose at Ableton and Reason/Record (which I think is a great idea, just can't imagine making any serious music with it, the dumbing down of features I don't like) and 'alternative' types of software.

That said, I found my details and got the download from the Ableton site, and I've been playing around.

Its certainly interesting. I'm actually not in my studio and don't have any instruments, but I produced some cool glitch stuff by recording audio and tapping the microphone on my macbook! Using the pitch shifting and grain FX...

My version here has a limit of two plugin tracks, and only four FX total for the whole project, which is fairly limiting. I imagine as a MIDI sequencer though it would really shine. There is still however the aversion to taking a computer on stage that I'd have to get over.

I'm actually thinking this would be really cool as a sketchpad/demo making software in the studio, maybe exporting to cubase for mixing. I'd like to get the full version but don't have the money right now. I think I'll be having fun though.

Any tips?
I have a nanoKontrol here too and I'm hoping they will play nice together.