pax-eterna

6 hours ago, abacab said:

Not really.  Here are some quick tutorial videos that cover Live setup and the basics of the interface. There are also truckloads of other tutorials around the net covering all aspects of Live workflow, from beginner to advanced. https://www.ableton.com/en/live/learn-live/

But just using it as a plugin host should be very easy and straightforward.

Just install it, setup your audio and MIDI hardware, add your plugin scan path, and let it scan your plugins. Then you can insert audio or MIDI tracks as desired by dragging and dropping an audio clip or an instrument plugin from the media browser onto the workspace. Audio clips create audio tracks and instruments create MIDI tracks.

The most different thing to learn about Live is that it is essentially like two DAWs in one.  You can toggle between the two views by hitting the "Tab" key.

The default is the Session View, which is like the Cakewalk Groove Matrix on steroids. You can arrange existing clips in here, or record them live, and they will loop in sync as you playback. Triggering individual clips or clip groups (scenes) from a pad controller is one of the strengths of this view.

The alternate view is the Arrangement View, which is a traditional linear DAW track timeline. You can record an improvised arrangement here by setting it to record your Session View as you play with that. Or you can record, arrange, and mix tracks here in a traditional linear way.

 

Main reason I am looking is so I can load up MIDI files as my play tracks so that if I get bored with one or for some reason want to drop instrument count, or to try and do a small combo deal it's as easy as muting a track on the night. Problem with audio tracks is it is a p.i.t.a. having to re-do the whole track again and subsequent mixdown etc etc AND you end up with a shitload of different variation versions of the same song.

Second reason is, and I hope this is true, that I can use Ableton to "jump" to markers (using MIDI) so that if the crowd starts dancing in the last 16 of a song I can extend it simply by jumping back to a verse or chorus or whatever.

EDIT: Sorry meant to add a big thanks for the links I'll check them out!

Thanks for that abacab - I'll have a look at that. In fact I think I MAY have a code somewhere for the Live Lite!! I seem to recall getting a coupon with some gear I bought.

Is Live particularly difficult to run?

Thanks Starship Krupa

Sampletank 3 (VST2 and VST3) the interface is the Yamaha MG10XU Mixer.

thanks davet!

Thanks.  I mainly use IK Multimedia Sampletank, Addictive Drums 2, Pianoteq 6 and Lounge Lizard 4. I am using the Yamaha Steinberg ASIO drivers, i5@3.2 8gig RAM and an SSD.

Reason I am asking is I have had several random crashes on the desktop (pretty much only with Sampletank - and IK deny it is anything to do with ST they keep telling me it is a Cakewalk issue!) however as these crashes require a full reboot, I am hesitant to use Sonar live....unless others can report a glitch free time on stage.

I am considering jumping to Ableton Live but I'd rather avoid the expense if I could.

Has anyone been using Bandlabs version of Sonar in a live setting? If so, can you report on reliability issues, if any? I am thinking of using a laptop for gigs, and rather than create WAV/mp3 backing tracks I thought using Sonar might make it easier to make dynamic changes, run markers (for repeating sections - using MIDI files- when necessary) and other stuff. I am currently using Cantabile as a host app (not live yet) but it gives me no freedom to vary arrangements or mute out parts etc if I felt like it.

Thanks

Thanks Scook. That was it - "enable MIDI output"

I am trying this drumbeats VST but I need to route it's MIDI data out to another drum VST (AD2 in this case) however the only option under the VST "out" tab is either Master or a bus (if one is created. There is no option to send it to the other VST. Can it be done?

thanks