Re: Ableton & Odd meters (was: Is it Ableton Live - or is it me?)

[Per Boysen <perboysen@gmail.com>]

On 12 jun 2006, at 16.10, Buzap Buzap wrote:

> Hi Per
>
>>> [on Ableton:] How am I going to switch from 4/4 to 7/8?
>> Manually, by using the mouse. Unfortunately.
> Yeah, just figured that out. I'm not able to set any keyboard or  
> midi shortcuts for global meter.  :-(  (maybe some Mac Automation  
> workaround?)

I don't think so. Since there is no computer keys for changing the  
meter I don't think it can be done with the help of MIDI Stroke  
http://www.charlie-roberts.com/


> I'm still experimenting with Ableton Live & Odd meters.
> Some success:
> - You can set a tempo for each scene. This way, you can duplicate a  
> scene, assign different tempo to it and every time you switch scene  
> global tempo will adjust. (Nice stuff, alas, no key/midi mapping  
> possible)

Oh, you can assign different key/MIDI to every scene! Simply assign  
it to the corresponding cell on the master track column at the right.

> - I have created a file with default scenes where each scene has a  
> midi clip with 4/8, 3/8, 5/8, 7/8 or 11/8 meter. This sounds much  
> better than the obnoxious metronome and can be good starting point  
> for an odd meter loop. (i.e. close/open hihat 7/8: one-two,one- 
> two,one-two-three).

Yes, that was the way I handled odd meters when looping with the  
hardware combo EDP/Repeater. Simply dividing the loops/bars/cycles  
with anything that goes with the meter. Like, if you want to play and  
loop in 5/4 you can still use Ableton set to 4/4 but you can not  
quantize to one bar or a half note etc. You may quantize to 1/8 and  
then make the loops ten eights long. Like I was using the divisor  
"8ths per cycle = 10" on the EDP to play in 5/4.

>
> - When I launch a scene, all other tracks playback and the mounted  
> track starts recording - sweet! (you need to select global  
> preference "record on launch ON" to be able to do this, though)


Yes, that's nifty. Ableton is a good looper if you like to create  
stable loops that stay the same over time. Personally I like it  
better to loop with maybe only one to three loops going at the same  
time and then instantly changing the loops by either overdubbiing  
layers or punching in/out slices (or transposing pitch). Those are  
two general concepts of looping that differ a lot in praxis.

>  So, I'll wait for my RC-50 and give it a chance. Still, Ableton is  
> very tempting. Especially combining loops with the effect section  
> is very attractive.


Ideed! Ableton is an fx box on stereoids!!! ;-)

> Now I need to experiment with effects. If the Ableton setup works,  
> I could get a footcontroller.

Don't forget to check out Abletons Ping-Pong delay plug-in! It has a  
Freeze Loop function that you can assign to any foot pedal and also a  
feedback knob that you can assign to a MIDI pedal. So you can  
actually run plenty of tracks with one Ping-Pong delay each and use  
it as a "rack of stereo loopers". Like a rudimentary Mobius but with  
loads of cool effects thrown in ;-)

Greetings from Sweden

Per Boysen
www.boysen.se (Swedish)
www.looproom.com (international)
http://tinyurl.com/fauvm (podcast)