sequencer + music playing software

[nu-tellar]

hey what`s up? fellow vse members what software sequencer, and music dj player would you recomend me. i am planing to use this set up live. and i will be using about 6 instruments wich will be connected thruoght my motu traveler audio interface. and motu midi interface.
what i want to do is play music live and possibly do live performances remixes, and electronic music. i am currently using dp in my mac. but i will use a laptop computer, running windows vista 160 gb hardrive. and 2 gb of ram.

i am no looking to spend any money so preferably a free software, and i will like to have, a software, which tells me what tempo the song is in and time streching if possible no a must.

thank you guys for your input.
very much appreciated.

[Stab Frenzy]

Sounds like you want Ableton Live, but it's not free. There is an LE version available, but I think Live is definitely worth the full price anyway.

Download the demo version from http://www.ableton.com and have a play with it to see how it works for you.

[nu-tellar]

yeah, i did think of that one, stap i once got a demo of it. matter fact, it should be laying around here. in a cd from computer music. i did not like the look of it. and i try to started withought reading the starting guide. and i didn`t started. so i just let it. is ableton a easy to use if i give it a try.

i will give it another try and see how it work, and if i like it.

if i can play songs and sequence midi track with ableton lite. i think i be find i just want it for that purpose, i will use digital performer on my mac for any production work. i just wanted to play live, and experiment.

[Stab Frenzy]

yeah, i did think of that one, stap i once got a demo of it. matter fact, it should be laying around here. in a cd from computer music. i did not like the look of it. and i try to started withought reading the starting guide. and i didn`t started. so i just let it. is ableton a easy to use if i give it a try.

Yes, it's much easier than any other sequencer IMO. The only times I had trouble working out how to do something was when I was overthinking things, like looking for a sample load button on Simpler rather than just dragging a sample in. It has really good lessons bundled with it as well, do them and you'll have a great understanding of how to use the software.

Another one worth considering for live use is Audiomulch. Version 2 just came out and I've been beta testing it, it's really great to use, much more of a live instrument to me than any other sequencer I've used. It's a lot cheaper than live and there's a 90 day evaluation period with it so you can see how you go working with it before you decide whether or not to buy.

[blitzdj86]

I also recommend Live..

it comes with a bunch of lessons to help you figure it out, and it is really simple.

[nu-tellar]

i will try the demo of live, and if i like it i will purchase it later. i kind of wanted a free app. i am broke, specially now that i purchase the machinedrum uw.

[GeneralBigbag]

Have you tried using the MDUW for sequencing live?

[nu-tellar]

Have you tried using the MDUW for sequencing live?

if i no, i haven`t even open that as now, i just got it. i got to check that baby out when i get home.

i have done the nbasexxx 999, and i like it. i have also use the 4 part midi to sequense external synth. but, the software that i want is more to route all the synth, the same way as i do with the set up i have now.
like now i have a motu midi express wich i have connected all the gear, then that is connected to the mac, and i sequence the xbase 999, from its sequencer, and moog from xbase 999. but i route everything withing dp. the is the easy way for me. i don`t if midi in and them trought, and so on, will be any easy, with more 6 synth. would it.

[ned-ryarson]

Ableton Live till i die..

[nu-tellar]

Ableton Live till i die..

can ableton if i load a song recongnize is tempo.so if i wanted to use as a music player it will automatically set the tempo to the song. or at least reconigze, and show it somehow so i can make the cue song in that tempo.

i want to use this software to dj and synch my groove box, to perform exrerimental hip pop, and electronica. i try to do this in dp. load a song but, they play at the project tempo. no useful for me. and i try to use the audio beat detection engine. and it doesn`t work. plus is no a common pratices.

i look at song dj software like rane scratch live.but, it does`t seen to have a way to synch my external gear.

that is what i am looking for plus easy of use. oh, and the ability to route, my midi channels from inside the computer since. i don`t have a midi patch bay.

i do not need any extra other than this feature. as most likely i will be using external synth for sequencing.

[nu-tellar]

Yes, it's much easier than any other sequencer IMO. The only times I had trouble working out how to do something was when I was overthinking things, like looking for a sample load button on Simpler rather than just dragging a sample in. It has really good lessons bundled with it as well, do them and you'll have a great understanding of how to use the software.

hi, stab i been reading petty much all of the software sequencer topics, or as matter of facts even hardware. i am no doing that because i want the most popular hadware but, because i can see what people like using it have help me find whats easy to use. and some things all popular for a reason.

i didn`t think i wanted to try other soft sequencer after i put the effor to learn dp, which is what i been using for about 2 years and i only done a bunch of loop. and maybe like one some.

now, i also see that you are very loyard to ableton in all the post. but, you also use pro tool. is it that ableton is more of a live sequence? what are is strench. i also been demoying this last of a few week. i also try to demo it, before but didn`t even try after i see the interface. i was thinking that it was going to be like dp.
even thought i been demoying it, is not much fun with the noise it make also i can record.


so what do you like so much about? i am real close to getting it but, i like to know what others like?
i was no really looking for another soft sequencer but, this want is different. if i have to swap dp for want like logic or pro tool, i just don`t going to spend the time to learn it how to use it. unless i have to do some collab.

seen, this want is differnt and, seen easy to use can it spark me some inspiration. and is ableton a good product, for finishing ideas?

Ableton Live till i die..

what you like so, much about it.

[pflosi]

ableton is a very nice sequencer, both for audio and midi, live and studio. easy to use, and the session view is awesome for loop-based music. in the latest version there is also a very neat audio quantization function, which is great for rather not that good keyboard players that rather use gear without midi (like me ). it recognizes the tempo of tracks one loads (quite accurate), and it has a nice warping function to stretch the time without pitching. the effects that come with it are also good (except the distortion, but i dont know of any good digital distortions...).

I only miss a few things in live, and this might be off topic but i'll use this space to b***h about that:
I want a loupe tool, like in logic for example. I hate how one has to zoom in ableton.
I want a scissor tool, also like in logic. I hate how to cut loops.
And this one REALLY annoys me, just realized this one: why the F**K is it not possible to draw Midi CCs in the automation lane to send it to hardware synths?????? WHAT THE F**K???? only in the loop envelopes. really annoying.

nevertheless the most intuitive sequencer out there.

[nu-tellar]

And this one REALLY annoys me, just realized this one: why the F**K is it not possible to draw Midi CCs in the automation lane to send it to hardware synths?????? WHAT THE F**K???? only in the loop envelopes. really annoying.

ok pflosi, i demo it and, really like how fast you can set up any track midi or audio, and start playing. i has to ask what you meant about the automation lane no letting you draw midi CCs. oh wait a minute can you record control change for external synth in the sequencer al least.

ok, so you also use logic, what do you like using ableton live for and, logic for?

how good is the seccion view for jamming, and putting ideas together.

seccion view i don`t even know how it work but, it seen like a very fun way to putting song ideas together. i seen a few video in the ableton web page.

i am not much into demoing stuff so, i will probably get it next paid check, and dive in. i hope if i do it don`t take me long to learn. cause i got to start putting song together.

[pflosi]

about the midi cc: there are 2 possibilities to draw automations in live. in the clips themselves (called "loop evelopes"), as well as in the arrangement (automation lane). and it is not possible to send midi cc out to hardware in the automation lane, only in the loop envelopes. that's annoying because like this i have first to arrange the whole track, then make one loop (region) out of all the loops that are on the track from which i want to send out midi cc, to be able to see the whole track in the loop view, to draw the automation. just realized this recently and it annoyed me. at least it's possible anyhow, i guess.......

the session view is THE BEST for jamming and intuitive elaboration of song ideas, as well as for what it was made: livesets. the big advantage is that the different loops dont have to be at the same lenght, all are just looped without using the arrangement view at all. and, in addition, one can make as many different loops per track as one wants, as well as play / stop them (in time!) on the fly. also, for you a good point, if u load tracks into it, it will be warped to the master tempo that u've set (obviously this wont work well with jazz or classical tracks that change their tempo all the time or dont have beats...). that's very nice, try it out a little and if ur making loop based music, u will fall in love with it. in general, live is not that complex and shouldnt take to much time to get into.

i used to use logic, but now i'm more and more just going with ableton. i think the onboard effects that come with the DAW are better in logic, though those in live are nice too. and i think logic is more complex than live, you can do more stuff, but most of it isnt necessary for me. i miss the loupe and scissor tool in live, which is very nice in logic IMO. logic has also some constraints if you work with hardware, for me one big point was this: logic can only send out the midiclock to either 2 different midi outs, or to all that are available. i need more than 2 midi clock outs, but i cant send it to all outs cause my midified juno 60 goes nuts when it receives clock data. so i had to add another thing in the chain (midipipe) to filter out the clock data on that out... that was annoying, in live you can choose for every midi out / in what it's supposed to do...

[nu-tellar]

thanks pflosi for your answer it is very helpful for me, to decided if i will like it or not.
i won`t comment on something i don`t know about but, something i really like about digital performer is its midi editing capabilities. you can do pretty much anything same all control changeof all parameters of the synth. i think that is something that should be fully inplemented in every soft sequencer.

i think i am going to dig the seccion view, as well seccion view. i like to play my owns loop and them compose my track from that. i have never found it very fun to do that in dp since i got to plan ahead of time. i am neither a jazz, or classical composer. i am influences by hip pop, and rap, electronic music, pop, and popular music. i am now, starting to understand important is loops to those music style.

ok, i will purchase ableton and get down to bussiness.

thanks everyone for you help!