Hi, I'm thinking of using Ableton as part of a live show setup. Now I'm not interested in using it as a producing DAW, but more of incorporating as a setup to trigger clips, run VSTs, incorporating it with Maschine and traktor while also playing instruments via a MIDI keyboard using my macbook pro. My main draw for using ableton is not so much for triggering clips, but more as a hub to route all my audio/midi together. I will be using microphone live inputs, external synths and controllers as well.

Now I'm curious as to whether if it's worth ponying up the cash for the Suite version or if the Live version is sufficient. It just seems like Suite provides you with a bunch of extra samples and effects that I don't really need. I'm not afraid to buy Suite if it provides me with additional options and tools to play with.

Also other questions. Are you able to run Ableton as a MIDI slave or have it send MIDI clock? Currently I'm working with a traktor/maschine setup where I run maschine as a slave to traktor and route maschine as deck D on traktor.

On the other hand, I'm open to other alternatives to Ableton if someone has any other suggestions.

And finally, yes, I am not a real DJ who doesn't beatmatch manually with the pitch fader, bla bla bla. (I guess that's why I posted in the producers forum instead)

Cheers.
Jean-Luc

Although I've never done it, I'm pretty sure you can run live as a midi slave. This video might give you some ideas, Pitch Black are pretty mad..
As for suite, personally I wouldn't bother unless you know you really are going to use the extra instruments.

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yup it is pretty easy.

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Hmm. Although using 2 laptops are probably more reliable, I can make do with one.

I'm currently able to run maschine synced to traktor using only 1 laptop using traktor's virtual midi out and JACK OSX to run a virtual audio output from one application to another.

Ableton is great. I've been playing around with the version that came with my Launchpad, and while that version is limited as hell, Live 8 is more than enough, esp when you have a Maschine.
Suite is just Live 8 + Operator and alot of latin samples. Oh and of mallets too.
Routing midi stuff can be all out in the open, and midi mapping is so nice, and alot of the fx stuff that comes with Live 8 just sounds great.

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Originally posted by dj_alfi Ableton is great. I've been playing around with the version that came with my Launchpad, and while that version is limited as hell, Live 8 is more than enough, esp when you have a Maschine. Suite is just Live 8 + Operator and alot of latin samples. Oh and of mallets too.

Oh...and uh...SAMPLER!

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quote:

Originally posted by dj_alfi change your avatar for fucks sake.

quote:

Originally posted by dj_alfi Ableton is great. I've been playing around with the version that came with my Launchpad, and while that version is limited as hell, Live 8 is more than enough, esp when you have a Maschine. Suite is just Live 8 + Operator and alot of latin samples. Oh and of mallets too. Routing midi stuff can be all out in the open, and midi mapping is so nice, and alot of the fx stuff that comes with Live 8 just sounds great.

if u have the launchpad version u can get a discount to upgrade to the full version, thats what i did.

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Hmm, the launchpad + Ableton combo looks tempting for sure.

Thanks for the suggestion.

Now I'm just wondering if it's possible to directly somehow have ableton's output routed to a deck in traktor. Right now I use Jack OSX, but it always gives me a headache having to route and manage so many things together at the same time.

The main thing I"m wondering right now is if people tend to run 2 outputs of 2 different programs simultaneously into their audio card or do they route the audio of one program into another and only run 1 output to their audio card.

Essentially I'd want all the audio and MIDI routing to be internal to reduce latency and quality degradation and then just have one Digital/Audio conversion out traktor into my soundcard, which makes it easier to record as well. Also it allows me to preview stuff in Ableton and check if it's in sync prior in my headphones, since with my experiences with MIDI so far is sometimes things just fall out of sync and sound terrible

Finally, since I only have 2 USB ports, 1 running my sound card, I'd probably want a powered USB hub. Anyone have any experiences with running MIDI devices through a USB hub and have it run successfully? I know typically you'd want to keep your audio card with its own dedicated USB.

If Native Instruments somehow gave what everyone wanted and allowed VST functionality as a deck inside Traktor, I think I'd pretty much be satisfied, but until then...

I'm also wondering if there are any other options other than Ableton, such as Reaper or some other lesser known DAWs. Keep in mind I'd be working with OSX.

I'm a bit confused and curious... If you are doing everything on ableton, why are you trying to route it to traktor?

I'd you just get something like this and trigger yor clips on live.
http://www.akaipro.com/eiepro#

Midi in/out, xlr for your mics, plus USB ports. Running everything through ableton would make everything much easier it seems.

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Originally posted by TyeDynamite http://www.akaipro.com/eiepro#

Can someone explain the appeal of this? Spidey sense is telling me it's high-end looking and made of shit components

It's definitely the looks to make people seem like its "professional". I wouldn't use it in studio for audio recording. However for a live performance with ableton it seems to solve his needs. USB, midi, xlr. Plus akai products are consistently made for ableton. Would be easy for him to route all audio and midi through it.