Ableton live

hi, im looking for a new workflow and a new way of making beats.
i just want to try something else. So i have ableton live 5 on my computer and it looks verry interesting. What are the possibilitys with this program and what should i start with? (How to set it up?)
I got mpc 1000 and a keyboard.

I personally find ableton to be pretty weak for making stuff when you have an MPC, it isnt bad for live performance, especially when used in conjunction with an MPC (use it to cover the times when you have to load new samples or sequences on the mpc). But it doesnt really add to much to the MPC as far as purely creative possibilties.
But as far as making beats and workflows here is a link to what i said last time someone asked.
http://www.mpc-forums.com/viewtopic.php?t=58262

i want to use it for the bass sounds i think and for tracking my beats out.
I'm used to do everything with the mpc.
im trying this program for a couple of hours now and i like the workflow of the program.

Od3rus wrote:I personally find ableton to be pretty weak for making stuff when you have an MPC, it isnt bad for live performance,

please explain.

thanks

Tip 1 of 8,343,343:
Make an 8 bar loop with drums, loops, and any other instrument on the MPC1000.
Record "Clips" of each individual instrument/loops into LIVE. (use track mutes.)
Now you have your whole 8 bar loop in Live. Play it. If you have your BPM set the same as the original 8 Bar loop from from your MPC it wil sound the same (or close to it.)
1 You can easily change tempo now.
2. You can "record" track mutes.
3. Drop in some more samples/or loops - they will SYNC magically.
4. You can create a slightly modified version of your 8 Bar loop and "DJ" mix between them.
5. Every little tweak and change you make can be recorded and played back! And then tweaked again.
6. Make "arranging" your 8 bar loop to a "Song" so easy.

Ummm ... I could go on for days. Ableton LIVE is the single most important piece of Music software that has ever been invented. Seriously.
It can do anything you can think of. I've been using it for years. (Never "live" though.) I can always find something new an interesting to do with it.
Sometimes LIVE feels like cheating. It makes everything so easy. And Fun.

mwalker wrote:

Od3rus wrote:I personally find ableton to be pretty weak for making stuff when you have an MPC, it isnt bad for live performance,

please explain.

thanks

I find ableton is more useful as a performance tool than as a multi-tracker/DAW, it isnt even really a DAW its more of a custom program for live looping and semi-sequencing. I dont really like it for the same reasons I dont use song mode when i can multi-track. It just doesnt have the visibility of the tracks and their interaction that a real DAW has, like i said, i prefer linear timeline editing when im trying to "finish" a beat/track for release and mastering. Thats just my 2p though, i know lots of people love LIVE and use it very well.

I've been using Ableton Live since version 4 and I can tell you that it can go as far as your imagination can travel. Don't think because it doesn't sequence like Cubase, Sonar, Pro Tools or whatever that it isn't a DAW, because it certainly is. Don't believe the hype try it for yourself and see if you like it or not that's all I can say. Oh and version 6 is coming out very soon!

i feel that live 5/6 is not a DAW like cubase, sonar, logic, dp, tracktion, etc but more of a tool to compliment cubase, sonar, etc.

i would put live 5/6 in the same class as fruity loops, project 5, reason, orion, acid, etc. it compliments a DAW.

just my 2 cents.

interesting... version 6 is not even out yet but you claim it's not a DAW how would you know that? How much have you used version 5? You can do everything inside of Live, record vocals, track, sequence, edit, master, etc. Plus you have the capabilities to use it as a DJ tool or for studio production or of course Live performances. Project 5 is good but can't compete with all of Live's features, Orion give me a break... Acid was the kind of looping a few years ago but not anymore (although still a great tool). Live has changed the way people make music and doesn't follow the traditional way that DAW's work but in my opinion if you can get most of your work done in one tool then you can call it a DAW. But to each his own... as long as we're making dope music and getting the job done!

cubase/sonar/etc = sequencing daw
ableton = performing daw

although you can arrange a live show in cubase, its not the same as 'playing' ableton. and although you can arrange a full song in ableton its not the same as sequencing it in cubase. it wasn't until live 3 that ableton started dealing with midi. i followed the program when it was in beta, and it was a software instrument that used loops as its medium. although these days its strayed far from that concept, ableton is first and foremost a playable loop sampler. its a great instrument. far more expressive (read: not capable) than any sequencing daw.

Infinitarchitect wrote:interesting... version 6 is not even out yet but you claim it's not a DAW how would you know that? How much have you used version 5? You can do everything inside of Live, record vocals, track, sequence, edit, master, etc. Plus you have the capabilities to use it as a DJ tool or for studio production or of course Live performances. Project 5 is good but can't compete with all of Live's features, Orion give me a break... Acid was the kind of looping a few years ago but not anymore (although still a great tool). Live has changed the way people make music and doesn't follow the traditional way that DAW's work but in my opinion if you can get most of your work done in one tool then you can call it a DAW. But to each his own... as long as we're making dope music and getting the job done!

i have been using live since version 4 and i think i am pretty good with it. before using live i used cubase starting with verision 1.5 up to sl3. yes you can record vocals, track sequence, edit, master, etc but not on the same scale as cubase, sonar, logic, tracktion, etc.

yes live has changed the way people make music and doesn't follow the traditional way that DAW's work but my definition of a DAW is a vst/rewire host only and not a client or both.

basically, you could call anything a DAW but a "real" professional would not call live5/6 a DAW.

how many studios have you been to that live is thier DAW?

again, live is a music making tool just like fruity, acid, orion, reason, and the mpc and it compliments DAW such as cubase, pro tool, logic, sonar, etc.

p.s. i have been a beta tester with live 6 since the beta started.

what about acid pro

i use it to strecth samples to make it fit a certain tempo..and pitch shiftimg aswell..then i dump it to the mpc

Ableton combined with an MPC is a powerfull combination.

It is not like traditional DAW's but it can do most things that the others can do and more.

People often think that Live is only for live but don't understand it enough. It is very powerful compositional tool. Remember it has two windows in which you can construct your beats.

It's midi is the best for drum composing I have used particularly if you don't use quantize all the time. The fold function is genious.

If you want a really good sequncer on the cheap give Tracktion a go. It looks cheap but it can do almost everything the others can. Its overly simple look is deceptive and is a little in the vein of Live but more in line with the traditional sequencers.

Just to the answer the question Acid Pro 6 is multi tracker now, not just a loop based sequencer...Like MWalker said I find Ableton useful inconjuction with ACid Pro..I use Acid Pro to mix all my beats down..And usually I just use ABleton to route my ASR 10, EMu mk-6, or mpc and use the effects to resample..I tried using Ableton soley all on its own, and really didn't enjoy it..I