Ableton Live... wow. How did i miss this for so long?

[Tibbon]

I was a Protools user, now a Logic user.

And now I'm thinking of seriously intergrating Ableton's Live into my workflow for electronic music, and composition in general. I've just installed the demo (Yea, yea... i've always had it come for free with PT versions as a demo or lite version, but never messed with it for some reason.).

This is one piece of software (like MAX/MSP) that seriously offers some new workflow possibilities that aren't offered at all. I'm sure someone's going to chime in about "the mix bus on Protools HD is clearer" or some crap, but for my workflow trumps audio quality any day (and I haven't heard any degradation yet).

If Logic's audio editing was only this cool. Or if Apple loops were this cool. Damn. Live seems to rock. I guess I'll be learning some new software this week.

[feyshay]

I started with Live and have always really liked the program. I added Cubase because it can do some things that Live could not do. For example, the audio and MIDI editing options in Cubase are much better IMO.
Most of the time when working with Cubase, I miss the ease of Live's interface. I'll usually go with Live for creating ideas and rough products. I'll go with Cubase to take it further.

[untitledtopher]

no denying live is awesome, i've been using it for a couple years, but now i'm looking for something to rewire it to, to get some more audio editing capabilities. and i don't think the 2 bus sounds bad at all, i've heard people say that but i don't believe it. the workflow is what i love, everything is just so easy.

[C_F_H_13]

I absolutely love this program. The whole "elastic audio" type engine they have is amazing, and with every release it gets better and better. I also really like some of the plugs that comes with it...specifically beat repeater.

[Tibbon]

One thing that I really love is that it's the antithesis of Logic. Yes you can do nearly anything in logic, but only if you have sat there and preconfigured a special environment setup, set up certain new key commands, and know the 10+ steps to doing a single multi-track drum edit. Plus, obviously, it's a breeze to use Live in a live situation. Sure you can do the same with Logic, but it's not really as "built for the task".

Multitrack editing drums in Live seems to be the easiest of ANY program using that elastic audio tool.

[untitledtopher]

tibbon i feel what you're saying, i've been using logic express for a while, but i just can't get my head around why everything has to be so complicated, when i want to record that's exactly what i want to do not sit there for a half hour to set up the session, with live it's plug in a mic and go, i certiantly feel there were some features in live, mono recording (only stereo, strange), crossfading clips for punch ins, but i'm going to stick with it becuase of the simplicity, i don't think a lot of people give it enough credit

[3rd world order]

Originally Posted by Tibbon

This is one piece of software (like MAX/MSP) that seriously offers some new workflow possibilities that aren't offered at all. I'm sure someone's going to chime in about "the mix bus on Protools HD is clearer" or some crap, but for my workflow trumps audio quality any day (and I haven't heard any degradation yet).

yes, Live's mixer sucks shit... just render each track as it's own file and blow it into protools once everything is written and arranged...

I use Live for just about everything when it comes to fleshing out ideas and arrangements... the ways you can twist audio into something totally different still amaze me... I love Live.

[statikcat]

I would love Live a lot more if you could use VST/AU instruments while in Rewire mode. Not sure if that is a Live or Rewire restriction though. It is great for ideas and writing but when it comes to mixing it isn't up there with most other DAWS.. but Live isn't really pushed as a mixing tool as much as other things.. hince it has Rewire.

[petessound@hotm]

ive created music in live that i never would have done in protools or logic. thats what its all about for me. i will love tools till i die and i may even warm to logic some day soon! but live is so intuative, hook it up to a kaos pad for some serious jamming!

[gsilbers]

love live! version 6 has the ability to bounce each track at once. nice! so i make something up in live in bed or just when chilling, bounce all track at once and import it in logic pro to make a real arrnagemtn with mmore details.


so live =fun
logic=work (sometimes fun)

[ande1718]

Hey, if I record audio into Live -which doesn't have as solid an audio engine as Pro Tools IMO- will I regain the pro tools sound quality after bouncing the tracks from Live to PT?

[Dysanfel]

Originally Posted by Tibbon

I was a Protools user, now a Logic user.

And now I'm thinking of seriously intergrating Ableton's Live into my workflow for electronic music, and composition in general. I've just installed the demo (Yea, yea... i've always had it come for free with PT versions as a demo or lite version, but never messed with it for some reason.).

This is one piece of software (like MAX/MSP) that seriously offers some new workflow possibilities that aren't offered at all. I'm sure someone's going to chime in about "the mix bus on Protools HD is clearer" or some crap, but for my workflow trumps audio quality any day (and I haven't heard any degradation yet).

If Logic's audio editing was only this cool. Or if Apple loops were this cool. Damn. Live seems to rock. I guess I'll be learning some new software this week.

This sounds like my story as well. I ditched everything else (002R) when I realized that Live does 99% of what those other DAWs do with a faster work flow. For me getting a vibe down quickly is essential to the composition process. Live works for more than electronica, although thats what it is best known for, it can do anything.

[Dysanfel]

Originally Posted by ande1718

Hey, if I record audio into Live -which doesn't have as solid an audio engine as Pro Tools IMO- will I regain the pro tools sound quality after bouncing the tracks from Live to PT?

I found the opposite to be true. When I imported my tracks from Live to PT I spent a week trying to recreate a vibe and sound that was already there in Live.

[LeMauce]

I use Live 7 for making and writing music/songs. Make instruments presets with it and samples triggerd on my drumpads. All this is rewired to logic 8 on a other G5 mac where i do all the mix/recording en mastering and buildup.
The best combo ever for me.

[Tibbon]

Originally Posted by LeMauce

I use Live 7 for making and writing music/songs. Make instruments presets with it and samples triggerd on my drumpads. All this is rewired to logic 8 on a other G5 mac where i do all the mix/recording en mastering and buildup.
The best combo ever for me.

I've gotta get that running. Never got past using the demo. Sad.

[edwonbass]

I got the Live 5 demo with my M-Audio Oxygen 8 which was upgraded to the Live 6 demo. I think I am limited to only 4 midi tracks and maybe two audio tracks. I finally loaded it and messed around with it last week and have a project going. I have all the parts ready and almost done arranging it. I will next try to rewire into Cubase. I am really liking it so far and I am slowly getting used to the way it works.

[Y-Studios]

well live has change me. it has really let me do music my way. anything goes with Live i love it! and the Saturation plugins they have are awesome.

[LeMauce]

Originally Posted by Tibbon

I've gotta get that running. Never got past using the demo. Sad.

Do that m8. You won't feeling sorry for trying to get it running.
Really, Live=For making/writing music and Fun, Logic= the proper ordering and mixx'en.

[Nahuel]

Live is designed for musical ideas, the work flow is excellent, everything is easy and intuitive, my fav piece of software by far, and it VERY powerfull. btw live 7 is the best live ever (use it since v4).

[ande1718]

Originally Posted by Dysanfel

I found the opposite to be true. When I imported my tracks from Live to PT I spent a week trying to recreate a vibe and sound that was already there in Live.

I have to admit I need to learn more about the principles of digital audio, just to know how digital info gets manipulated when its moved around, imported/exported, encoded/reencoded... any suggestions for gearslutz threads or books etc.?