I must have this knowledge.
Did you make a switch from a hardware sequencer to Live?
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Did you make a switch from a hardware sequencer to Live?
If you made the switch from a hardware sequencer to Live and thought it improved your ability to do stuff, I need to know.
I must have this knowledge.
I must have this knowledge.
EMX-1, ESX-1, MS2000R, Radias-R, XV2020, KS4, BassStation Rack, Live 6
Visit my music page on MySpace!
Visit my music page on MySpace!
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Stab Frenzy
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I use Live and my Alesis MMT8.
It's possible to use Live pretty much like an MMT8 (MMT8 pattern = Live scene) if you assign the channel mutes to something physical. And of course Live can do *so* much more. I like Live a lot, but I also like the immediacy and simplicity of the MMT8. I often start a track by sequencing some stuff with my MMT8—not a computer in sight—and then when I've taken it as far as I can with purely hardware, I print the individual parts into Live for further processing, arranging, editing etc..
So my answer is: get into Live, it very much does improve one's ability to do stuff; but keep your hardware sequencer(s), assuming you like it (them). (If you hate your hardware sequencer and love Live, then, of course, dump it.)
It's possible to use Live pretty much like an MMT8 (MMT8 pattern = Live scene) if you assign the channel mutes to something physical. And of course Live can do *so* much more. I like Live a lot, but I also like the immediacy and simplicity of the MMT8. I often start a track by sequencing some stuff with my MMT8—not a computer in sight—and then when I've taken it as far as I can with purely hardware, I print the individual parts into Live for further processing, arranging, editing etc..
So my answer is: get into Live, it very much does improve one's ability to do stuff; but keep your hardware sequencer(s), assuming you like it (them). (If you hate your hardware sequencer and love Live, then, of course, dump it.)
I don't like my hardware sequencer all that much. It's a pain. I'll still be using the sequencer in my EMX and ESX, and the rest can be driven by Live. With Live, I could also, conceivably, control my 01V (digital mixer), so that when I change tracks, I don't forget to change scenes on my mixer. Different tracks have different EQ and compression schemes.
I can only see Live making life easier. I intend to use it as a pattern sequencer for nonstop live performance. I have a few questions.
How does Live handle PC and MSB/LSB messages when they occur in a pattern... should I not expect to be able to build the program change into a pattern with notes? Not a huge problem, I have no problem making empty patterns to put PC's into.
How processor intensive are VSTi's? I'm mostly dead set against using the computer for any audio, but a few of my tracks use the sound generator in the MC307, which means replacing the MC307 leaves me without some sounds. I mostly use it for things like simple pads and a piano in one instance. I'm debating whether to use VSTi's to take over some of the responsibility or to pick up a module like the JV1010.
BTW, I ordered a touchscreen for use on the computer which will be running Live. I also already own a Korg microKontrol, with plenty of ways to control stuff.
I can only see Live making life easier. I intend to use it as a pattern sequencer for nonstop live performance. I have a few questions.
How does Live handle PC and MSB/LSB messages when they occur in a pattern... should I not expect to be able to build the program change into a pattern with notes? Not a huge problem, I have no problem making empty patterns to put PC's into.
How processor intensive are VSTi's? I'm mostly dead set against using the computer for any audio, but a few of my tracks use the sound generator in the MC307, which means replacing the MC307 leaves me without some sounds. I mostly use it for things like simple pads and a piano in one instance. I'm debating whether to use VSTi's to take over some of the responsibility or to pick up a module like the JV1010.
BTW, I ordered a touchscreen for use on the computer which will be running Live. I also already own a Korg microKontrol, with plenty of ways to control stuff.
EMX-1, ESX-1, MS2000R, Radias-R, XV2020, KS4, BassStation Rack, Live 6
Visit my music page on MySpace!
Visit my music page on MySpace!
I'm not sure how Live handles prog change messages—I never use them.
How processor heavy software instruments are varies from hardly at all, to very heavy. E.g. the built in Simpler and Impulse instruments in Live are very light on any computer from the last few years. At the other end of the scale, a complex Reaktor ensemble might be too much for your computer unless it is very up-to-date and fast.
But the MIDI side of Live is very light in processor load, so if you aren't using any effects plug-ins you've got basically all the processor for soft synths. Also, you can always 'freeze' soft synth parts to free up the processor, i.e. print them as audio, whilst keeping (disabled) the original MIDI parts and soft synth settings so you can go back and change stuff if necessary later.
Quite a few soft synths (e.g. NI ones) have demo versions so you can try them out on your system before you buy. This will give you an idea of how things would work (or not).
Having external controllers to use with Live is a very good idea. You can also assign keys on the computer's keyboard to do things (I often use a row of keys for track mutes, or for triggering clips/scenes). Doing stuff like this means you don't have to use the mouse so much. Live can almost 'disappear' sometimes when you are using it, rather than suck you into a bad kind of computer world.
How processor heavy software instruments are varies from hardly at all, to very heavy. E.g. the built in Simpler and Impulse instruments in Live are very light on any computer from the last few years. At the other end of the scale, a complex Reaktor ensemble might be too much for your computer unless it is very up-to-date and fast.
But the MIDI side of Live is very light in processor load, so if you aren't using any effects plug-ins you've got basically all the processor for soft synths. Also, you can always 'freeze' soft synth parts to free up the processor, i.e. print them as audio, whilst keeping (disabled) the original MIDI parts and soft synth settings so you can go back and change stuff if necessary later.
Quite a few soft synths (e.g. NI ones) have demo versions so you can try them out on your system before you buy. This will give you an idea of how things would work (or not).
Having external controllers to use with Live is a very good idea. You can also assign keys on the computer's keyboard to do things (I often use a row of keys for track mutes, or for triggering clips/scenes). Doing stuff like this means you don't have to use the mouse so much. Live can almost 'disappear' sometimes when you are using it, rather than suck you into a bad kind of computer world.