Ableton Live

djl · Post by **djl** » Wed Nov 30, 2005 11:25 am

Has anyone used this software for DJ-ing out? Is it any good?

andythetwig · Post by **andythetwig** » Wed Nov 30, 2005 11:34 am

yeah i use it.

It's great in principle, you can chop out sections of tunes and repeat them ad infinitum, have as many channels/tunes running as you like, remix them, add/change effects, add your own midi lines really quickly, it all syncs in on the fly, including the effects, which is great for dubstep if you're adding in samples with triplet delays.

there's multiple types of timestretch, for changing the BPM without changing the pitch, ones better for beats, or better for tones/speech etc. The best one for mixing is re-pitch of course, as there's no noticable drop in quality, even if you pitch it 50%-200%. beat that vinyl junkies!

The only problem I have with it at the moment is that their implementation of the crossfader is too basic- there's no curve control, so the volume drops off really fast either side of centre. You have to watch your levels like a hawk. It so sensitive I would actually say it's almost unusable in a big club situation.

There are two solutions: buy a midi crossfader controller with curve control (if you find one let me know where it is!!!), or wait until ableton sort out the feature (it's earmarked for a future patch I believe).

elemental · Post by **elemental** » Wed Nov 30, 2005 11:39 am

I use it for production now, as well as for preparing and performing my live set... watch this space!!

andythetwig · Post by **andythetwig** » Wed Nov 30, 2005 11:45 am

which midi controller do you use elemental?

I have an evolution x-session with the crossfader and rotaries, but I'm looking to getting an Evolution UC33e with the upfaders, or go the sample route with the M-Audio Trigger Finger.

legba · Post by **legba** » Wed Nov 30, 2005 12:17 pm

I use live for production, I've not properly got into using it live but it's more than capable. I find the interface really easy to use. You can download a version from the live site (minus the render and save functions) so you can try it out. It runs well on reasonable low speced computers as far as i can tell. Live 5 handles mp3 as well as .wav which makes in more versitile yet again. We might have to have the old "are mp3 ok the play out discussion" later.

I know lots of producers/DJ who are really getting to grips with DJing/playing live with it

As far as controllers go the Faderfox modules are the nuts

http://www.faderfox.de/Erweiterungen/Pi ... t0085.html
http://www.dolphinmusic.co.uk/page/shop ... s_id/e/307

and i think you can get a deal to buy one with live 5 to save some cash.

elemental · Post by **elemental** » Wed Nov 30, 2005 12:21 pm

I'm using a 2 faderfox LV-1 (www.faderfox.de) and also a BCR-2000.
A lot of peeps use the UC-33 and x-session aswell.
There's gonna be a new version of the Faderfox LV-1 (LV-2) out early next year. Its gonna be a sick lil controller.

There's loads of stuff about this on the ableton forum www.ableton.com/forum/

andythetwig · Post by **andythetwig** » Wed Nov 30, 2005 12:21 pm

legba- cheers for the link! I now know what I want for christmas!

[b]racket · Post by **[b]racket** » Wed Nov 30, 2005 12:46 pm

[quote="elemental"]I use it for production now
[quote]

I use it too. I have done since it first came out. I have managed to convert a few people too..

dj $hy · Post by **dj $hy** » Wed Nov 30, 2005 1:06 pm

So do you guys mix with records?

I never thought of using a squencer for mixing lol Interesting move.

I perfer the live thing myself but I may try this

legba · Post by **legba** » Wed Nov 30, 2005 1:13 pm

DJ $hy wrote:So do you guys mix with records?

I never thought of using a squencer for mixing lol Interesting move.

I perfer the live thing myself but I may try this

if you haven't used Ableton is not really like mixing using a sequencer, it has some rather tasty feature that make it more like producing on the fly in my opinion or at least it can be. Download the demo and have a go.

[b]racket · Post by **[b]racket** » Wed Nov 30, 2005 1:40 pm

DJ $hy wrote:So do you guys mix with records?

I never thought of using a squencer for mixing lol Interesting move.

I perfer the live thing myself but I may try this

I still mix vinyl but whenever i get a new 12" it gets ripped into the computer just in case i ever want to use the laptop.

I love the way you can re edit tracks on the go in Ableton.

zefa · Post by **zefa** » Wed Nov 30, 2005 2:32 pm

I use ableton with reason and must say it's a great tool...although still getting to grips with it for live use, i mainly use it as a production tool. Those Faderfox controllers are the shit!!

The man that in my opinion uses Ableton head and shoulders above anyone else is Surgeon, his ableton sets are awsome...really creative stuff...

elemental · Post by **elemental** » Wed Nov 30, 2005 2:53 pm

I caught a Surgeon set end of last year at some Warp night down Plastic People. Was very slick, the way he just plonked his powerbook and his little box of faders on top of the deck. It was more a of a DJ set than live p.a. but sounded like he was mixing in loops over tunes aswell, and cutting up loops etc.

The only thing about Ableton is u have to watch the sound quality if you're warping tracks ... If you're DJing unless u want tunes to be in key, you're better off using the "re-pitch" warp setting to save it mashing up the sound.

djl · Post by **djl** » Wed Nov 30, 2005 2:58 pm

Thanks for the links and experiences of your useage. I can't produce music to save my life but have DJ'd for a fairly long time and want to try something new like Ableton. Is it it worth it for purely playing other peoples tracks and what is the basic set up cost for someone like me?

djl · Post by **djl** » Wed Nov 30, 2005 3:09 pm

Also, what is it like compared to Traktor DJ software?

andythetwig · Post by **andythetwig** » Wed Nov 30, 2005 3:11 pm

andythetwig wrote:there's multiple types of timestretch, for changing the BPM without changing the pitch, ones better for beats, or better for tones/speech etc. The best one for mixing is re-pitch of course, as there's no noticable drop in quality, even if you pitch it 50%-200%. beat that vinyl junkies!

elemental wrote:The only thing about Ableton is u have to watch the sound quality if you're warping tracks ... If you're DJing unless u want tunes to be in key, you're better off using the "re-pitch" warp setting to save it mashing up the sound.

beat ya to it

andythetwig · Post by **andythetwig** » Wed Nov 30, 2005 3:13 pm

DJL wrote:Also, what is it like compared to Traktor DJ software?

traktor is a simpler interface, probably easier if you're making the transition.

zefa · Post by **zefa** » Wed Nov 30, 2005 3:20 pm

You need to check their site www.abelton.com for more info...check the forum their as well, quite a lot of useful info there too..

Possibly try and d/l the demo...and if you like go get...its quite a steep learning curve, i havent got to grips with the DJ'ing possibilities of, but i havent tried that hard to be honest, just been using it to arrange tracks etc...

Its deffo a very powerful tool and well worth a gander...if your not sure have a go on Traktor's DJ tool, also very good, i believe they have released a new one...if its straight DJ'ing on a 'puter your after this aint bad at all...

[b]racket · Post by **[b]racket** » Wed Nov 30, 2005 3:28 pm

Luke Vibert is also pretty nifty at Djing with Ableton...

zefa · Post by **zefa** » Wed Nov 30, 2005 3:42 pm

[b]racket wrote:Luke Vibert is also pretty nifty at Djing with Ableton...

yeah saw him a while back at Deadbeat and he was using computer and decks...dunno whether it was Ableton or not but he was pretty damn good!!

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