The Ableton Q&A Thread

[djwhupass]

the distortion is back, and its lurkn in the drums. Its a crackling staticy sound. Its not attached to a track though, it seems to happen when i go over 50% cpu and get my master at about -2db. AHhhhhh????

This sounds like a buffer issue to me. the same kind of thing used to happen to me on my laptop.

try playing with the output buffer and see if that helps. (i think thats what i did, if i remember correctly)

[symmetricalsounds]

to make something louder in the mix you could just turn the volume up, not taking the piss but instantly going to compress something witth the aim of making it louder isn't the best way to use a compressor.

[Redderious]

I might try some phase out, i forgot to mention i have delay running through one of the sends to that track.
This is a stupid question but what do the returns do? I've never messed around with them ever, is it something like feedback?

Return tracks are channels that can chain multiple effects that you can send the Noise of your instrument or such into so they can both play or just have the return play with the effects attached. It beefens up the sound generally if done right. Reverb is the most common return channel I use. ( Drum rack has it's own sends and returns on Ableton, trust me it's a lifesaver! )

Onto the distortion thing. It may be due to that your machine cannot buffer the audio fast enough and it causes those crackles and pops. There are ways to fix that in this part of the forum or possibly in this thread.
Also is your drum sounds compressed and limited? ( Could just be down to too much compression/distortion but not likely )

I was under the impression that that's what the sends were used for, i could just have my terms mixed up but just incase what is the big difference between the two?

That is most likely what it is yeah. I own a macbook pro, and the crackles are alot more noticible when its running hot. Almost not even there when its running at a cool temperature. I have my kicks and snares compressed, but besides that nothing else on the drum rack.

[jaimelee]

Sends are the bit that "Sends" the audio to the "Return" channel where it is recieved.
Sit your macbook somewhere it can attempt to remain cool, and possibly use ASIO4ALL or something equivalent so the processing isn't eating up your CPU ( Not too sure how myself but there should be a way to turn it down to maximize performance )

Sorry I use Windows and not too sure about Mac's.
Hope it helps otherwise.

[Redderious]

Sends are the bit that "Sends" the audio to the "Return" channel where it is recieved.
Sit your macbook somewhere it can attempt to remain cool, and possibly use ASIO4ALL or something equivalent so the processing isn't eating up your CPU ( Not too sure how myself but there should be a way to turn it down to maximize performance )

Sorry I use Windows and not too sure about Mac's.
Hope it helps otherwise.

Okay i heard a clicking noise after i read that, i think its coming from my head . I get that i felt like i should of known that already haha.

I googled ASIO4ALL, looks like it only runs on PC. What is your opinion on getting an external hardrive? I know it is a MUST for backing up samples/live projects and what not, and with the way my macs been lagging i need to get one soon. I should do a longgggg virus scan to check for things that could be screwin with it, way overdue for sure. But would getting that extra hardrive do anything for CPU usage, or more importantly do you think it would increase the buffer rate problem im having?

[jaimelee]

no it won't affect the problem, Ableton temporarilly stores the sound files for the project so they will run just the same once dragged from file chooser into the software.

[Redderious]

I'm not much of a computer guy, haha sorry.

I don't think purchasing anything would really be neccesary to fix this, im listning to a project now right after a i booted my computer. No distortion at all. It is kind of annoying, but maybe i just shouldnt run my laptop too long. I want this baby to last me for plenty more years, and running it so hot with so many programs up must NOT be good for its lifespan. Laptop cooling station? hahaha i hear those things do wonders.

[jaimelee]

They probably do, I've no clue. You don't really have to purchase anything mate, maybe monitors if you haven't already got some ( Unless you got good headphones ).

Think you'll do just fine.

[Redderious]

I got a pair of ATH-M50s by Audio Technica. Best damn headphones i've ever had that's for sure. Thats all i can use to produce, unless i resort to my laptop speakers (haha, no). My monitors have gone belly up after a good like 8 years i think?

Bout time to check out some monitors, i need some differant speakers to listen to my tunes too. Can't mix netiher =[

[symmetricalsounds]

i highly recommend a cooling tray for your laptop, those things can really extend the life of your laptop as can not moving it when it's on but who ever listens to that one lol.

you don't need to worry bout things like asio4all if you're running on mac, afaik the default music drivers for macs are on a par with asio ones so that should be fine.

what speed is your internal hard drive? most laptop drives are 5400rpm, you'll want 7200rpm for audio stuff. there's a fair chance this is the reason for the laggin you're getting on large projects. so yes having your samples and ableton save folders on an external 7200rpm drive is a good idea.

[paradigm_x]

Anyone else syncing external gear to Ableton?

Im having massive issues with out of time sync

Reading thru the Abe forums it seems either people have no issues at all or its completely fuxxored like me. Any ideas?

Its legit and latest version 8.2.2 btw

[jaimelee]

Anyone else syncing external gear to Ableton?

Im having massive issues with out of time sync

Reading thru the Abe forums it seems either people have no issues at all or its completely fuxxored like me. Any ideas?

Its legit and latest version 8.2.2 btw

Yes I have my Midi Controller synced to Ableton 8.2.2 aswell.
What is it you have connected to it, and also what is your computers specs?

[contakt321]

Anyone else syncing external gear to Ableton?

Im having massive issues with out of time sync

Reading thru the Abe forums it seems either people have no issues at all or its completely fuxxored like me. Any ideas?

Its legit and latest version 8.2.2 btw

Yeah, I have had issues as well, TBH, I haven't been bother since Live 7 b/c I was so annoyed.

For imprecise stuff, synth pads, slow melodies, etc it's not a big deal, but I found it really disturbing how much jitter there was when trying to use the SP1200 to trigger midi drum programs (to get SP1200 swing).

I was at a workshop w/ Soul Clap a few weeks ago, and they don't even use midi to sync, the just get things in time w/ a clicktrack manually and then record which I thought was pretty interesting.

[Redderious]

i highly recommend a cooling tray for your laptop, those things can really extend the life of your laptop as can not moving it when it's on but who ever listens to that one lol.

you don't need to worry bout things like asio4all if you're running on mac, afaik the default music drivers for macs are on a par with asio ones so that should be fine.

what speed is your internal hard drive? most laptop drives are 5400rpm, you'll want 7200rpm for audio stuff. there's a fair chance this is the reason for the laggin you're getting on large projects. so yes having your samples and ableton save folders on an external 7200rpm drive is a good idea.

Honestly, i couldn't tell you. I've tried looking in the 'about my mac' pop-up, but all it tells me is the available space i have on my hardrive. Nothing about hard drive type or speed. It wont even tell me what version im running. I either have snow leapord, or lion i believe.

[paradigm_x]

Yes I have my Midi Controller synced to Ableton 8.2.2 aswell.
What is it you have connected to it, and also what is your computers specs?

Sorry, i mean syncing midi clock. I have 2x x0xboxes and a tr909, and a rs7000 sequencer. All the plastic usb midi controller stuff works fine.

Yeah, I have had issues as well, TBH, I haven't been bother since Live 7 b/c I was so annoyed.

For imprecise stuff, synth pads, slow melodies, etc it's not a big deal, but I found it really disturbing how much jitter there was when trying to use the SP1200 to trigger midi drum programs (to get SP1200 swing).

I was at a workshop w/ Soul Clap a few weeks ago, and they don't even use midi to sync, the just get things in time w/ a clicktrack manually and then record which I thought was pretty interesting.

Yeah its shit, was having a jam with the rs7000, 909s and x0xboxes and it was rocksolid for hours. Thought id try to record one jam and it was all over the fucking show. Bag. O. Shite. Not tried running abelton in slave mode yet but from what ive read its even worse than master.



I was well into ableton when i first got it, but it pisses me off more and more as i find its limitations. Audio editing is a joke. Mixing is painful. Its fun and flexible to jam ideas out with but not much of a serious production tool IMHO. If only there was a bastard offspring of cubase and ableton. Ablebase.

Cheers

Ben

[contakt321]

If I were you, I would just record it all as audio with the RS7000, or the 909 as the master and not sync to Ableton at all.
After recording, I would select all the tracks at once, and trim the first kick drum and slide that all to 0.0.0
(of course set Ableton to the same tempo as the track)

I am fine w/ audio, mid, and mixing - I am just disappointed I can't have rock solid midi sync w/ no drift or jitter.

Another idea for you:
Use a recording of SMPTE (warped) and send that track as an output to the 909 into the Tape In. Apparently it works for the 202, it should word for the 909 as well.

[symmetricalsounds]

@paradigm - are you using the external instrument plugin? was a thread on another forum with someone with similar stuff to you (albeit not as much) and after he used the external instrument thing it sorted it all out.

studio one does seem to have lots of the flexibility that ableton has programmed by ex-cubase people, might be worth you checking that out.

[paradigm_x]

@paradigm - are you using the external instrument plugin? was a thread on another forum with someone with similar stuff to you (albeit not as much) and after he used the external instrument thing it sorted it all out.

studio one does seem to have lots of the flexibility that ableton has programmed by ex-cubase people, might be worth you checking that out.

mm, did try external instrument once but for some reason icant remember it wouldnt do what i wanted... have to give it another go. AFAIK tho thats only for midi events; im only using midi clock, not sending midi notes, but ill give it a try.

Theres also ways of using short audio pulses to trigger it, as contakt suggested (cheers). Will give that a try too.

Strange how it seems almost 50-50 whether it works or not, lots of people have o issues.

I have another USB Midi port i can try, cant hurt either.

Yeah, might check Studio1, but have spent about £600 on CB and AL im a bit reluctant to shell out even more, plus apparently issues with UAD plugs, although this may have been fixed by now.

Many thanks

Ben

[Grime Syndicate]

i highly recommend a cooling tray for your laptop, those things can really extend the life of your laptop as can not moving it when it's on but who ever listens to that one lol.

you don't need to worry bout things like asio4all if you're running on mac, afaik the default music drivers for macs are on a par with asio ones so that should be fine.

what speed is your internal hard drive? most laptop drives are 5400rpm, you'll want 7200rpm for audio stuff. there's a fair chance this is the reason for the laggin you're getting on large projects. so yes having your samples and ableton save folders on an external 7200rpm drive is a good idea.

Hey, my lappy doesn't have firewire ports, just usb (i'm sure 2.0)... So, my question is this: Will one run into an issue of bottlenecking when using a 7200 rpm external drive connected via usb? I really wanna get a quick external HDD (I got one, but it was right before i learned that 7200 was the number to shoot for, so I got stuck with a Seagate Freeagent Go drive), but don't wanna waste the money on it if usb isn't quick enough to facilitate the increased speeds.

[Grime Syndicate]

Oh, and I only have 3 usb ports on my lappy, which tend to fill up fast in the studio. Got the midi controller/keyboard, wireless mouse, audio interface, and potentially the external HDD. So, I wanna get one of those powered usb busses. The ones that plug into the wall so they don't draw too much power and fuck your motherboard, and give you a ton of more usb slots. My question is, though, how do those units affect performance? And if performance is affected, is each (new) port affected evenly, or are some slower than others or what????