The Ableton Q&A Thread

[Ocelots Revolver]

Q: Is there a way, or a plugin, that lets me see how much CPU a given device or track eats up? I have a shitty, blazing hot 2007 macbook and huge CPU problems. Also any advice concerning heat and CPU is appreciated.

I'm not aware of such a plugin. For advice though, if you have long effect chains, you should just resample. After resampling, what I would do is close the project, make two copies of it in finder, and then open up one of the copies and delete the MIDI track with the effect chain. That way you still have the original MIDI and effect chain in another project in case you feel like going back to it.

Here is my advise for you my friend: Save multiple versions of the song as it progresses, especially before and after flattening a track.


Q: Anyone know if effects that aren't being currently used take up CPU? Like if 5 tracks are playing, does it matter if there are 6 idle tracks or 600?

[titchbit]

Q: Anyone know if effects that aren't being currently used take up CPU? Like if 5 tracks are playing, does it matter if there are 6 idle tracks or 600?

I think it does matter if you have a lot of complex tracks that aren't currently playing, but I can't say for sure. It's a very inexact science.

[Nickelwound]

Hi guys,

I have a problem, you could maybe help me on. I have two tracks open and grouped them together because I wanted to apply auto filter to both of them at the same time. Now when I do this, I notice that auto filter doesn't seem to werk as well as when I do it seperately, and I don't want to do that because I grouped them together for less hassle. So why doesn't auto filter work that well on a grouped track?

I hope you guys can help me,

thanks in advance.

Cheers & smiles for miles

Really? This shouldn't change it at all!
Stupid question, but you are using the same settings on the filter, right?

Are there plugins on the group chain before the autofilter? If there are then this will effect it as the original way, the filtered sound was going int the group, then hitting the other FX. If the filter is on the group but after other FX then the filter is affecting what comes after these FX.

Ofcourse I have the same settings! It is noticeable but not like applying it on the tracks seperately.I dont have any other FX on the group track, so it seems really weird..

Nevermind, resolved the issue; I had both of the tracks going through a parallel digital preamp, compression, and reverb. So I heard both the affected track and the unaffected track. So now I'll put those return and send chains values to their original values through the grouped track. Thanks anyhow guys

[titchbit]

Is it just me or does simpler simply suck ass? It's got good features, but the quality of the sounds that come out of it is absolutely terrible IMO. Anyone else agree?

[Mr 50]

Is it just me or does simpler simply suck ass? It's got good features, but the quality of the sounds that come out of it is absolutely terrible IMO. Anyone else agree?

I don't use it that often these days but it's always been good for me... hold on, do you mean the stock instruments that come with the library or do you mean the sound of the filters, envelopes etc?

[RmoniK]

Ableton's library is very limited as far as realistic instruments go, if that's what you mean. That's not simpler's fault, you're welcome to download banks all you want.

[titchbit]

I mean the sound of the LFO specifically. It sucks ass. I thought it would be a great idea to record pure massive wavetables and then import them into simpler and use simpler's LFO, because I can't automate massive's LFO in ableton's envelopes section (old version of massive). But it turns out that simpler's LFO just has a bad sound to it. Do you think I'm doing something wrong?

[Gusto]

Do you think I'm doing something wrong?

Yeah. You don't know what you're talking about.

[titchbit]

Uhh whadduya mean? If you're going to say something like that, then at least explain and say something constructive.

To clarify what I meant, in case I wasn't clear, whenever I take a wave, put it in simpler, and apply simpler's filter LFO, it sounds really bad, especially compared to the LFOs in other VSTs. It pops and squeaks and shit like that.

You know how you can automate the parameters of VSTs in Ableton's envelope box? I cannot automate Massive's synced LFO rate. I'm pretty sure it's because it's an old version of Massive (according to this guy, at least - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hTNrWzoHI4k).

Oh, by the way, I can automate the rate when it is unsynced, but I would like to sync and automate it, which is why I thought it would be cool to record the waves in Massive and then use simpler's LFO - because I can automate that.

So. What do I not understand?

[Coolschmid]

he's saying that he doesn't like the filter in simpler. how is that doing something wrong.

[RmoniK]

it's just a basic low pass really, i'm not sure what could sound bad about that. It certainly doesn't sound worse than any other sampler.

[sidi]

Is it just me or does simpler simply suck ass? It's got good features, but the quality of the sounds that come out of it is absolutely terrible IMO. Anyone else agree?

no

[Simulant]

Is it just me or does simpler simply suck ass? It's got good features, but the quality of the sounds that come out of it is absolutely terrible IMO. Anyone else agree?

no

Isn't there an HQ mode? There is on one of them, I don't remember which. Simpler is useful tho!

[sidi]

i use simpler all the time. in every track. couldn't live without it

[sidi]

and i dont think there is an hi-quality mode

[titchbit]

it's just a basic low pass really, i'm not sure what could sound bad about that. It certainly doesn't sound worse than any other sampler.

it pops and squeaks

[mtl6]

anyone have any advice on freezing tracks when you've got a sidechain compressor on it? i've reached my limits with my cpu and i can barely even listen to my music in ableton without exporting it now

[titchbit]

you need to resample bud. if you are already resampling and still having such a huge problem, then i might venture to say you need a new computer m8. good luck

[mtl6]

ya i figured i would have to resample more. usually i just freeze and flatten the track, but compressors complicate things. i guess i have to freeze and flatten before i sidechain?

[titchbit]

ya i figured i would have to resample more. usually i just freeze and flatten the track, but compressors complicate things. i guess i have to freeze and flatten before i sidechain?

yeah that would probably work depending on the circumstances