Re: how i'm looping these days

[Zoe Keating <cello@zoekeating.com>]

sometimes yes, sometimes no. i turn it on when i need it.

On Jan 22, 2007, at 9:18 PM, monk wrote:

> yeah, but are you getting a click or metronome from ableton?
>
>
> On Jan 22, 2007, at 4:00 PM, Zoe Keating wrote:
>
>> ok, FINALLY i am in one place long enough to write this email. i'm  
>> in london, where it is COLD.
>>
>> i think fabio asked how i am looping 12 tracks with minimal foot  
>> swtiching.
>>
>> so...
>>
>> dummy clips in ableton live
>>
>> the setup goes like this:
>>
>> - my foot taps a button on the FCB1010
>> - the FCB1010 sends PC messages to Ableton
>> - PC messages launch clips or scenes or a sequence of clips
>> - some of the clips are midi clips containing notes
>> - midi notes are translated in midipipe and sent back to  
>> Repeater1, Repeater2, and Ableton*
>> - these midi clips work like sequencers, sending batches of timed  
>> commands to the Repeaters (record, stop record, next track,  
>> record, pan, mute, etc)
>> - some of the clips are blank audio clips
>> - the blank audio clips contain envelope information for the audio  
>> coming in from Repeater1 and Repeater2 (like an automated mixer.  
>> for example to fade out the audio of a Repeater)
>>
>> Sounds complicated, but its actually very simple. whereas before  
>> every button of the FCB1010 controlled a single function of a  
>> Repeater, now i have a button to do the batches of things I tend  
>> to do, but i only have to press the button once.
>>
>> Snags:
>>
>> - Repeaters can't deal with midi messages fired at them in close  
>> succession. i have to space things out so no messages are sent  
>> simultaneously, however, with clever spacing of the sequenced  
>> events, it "seems" simultaneous.
>> - I think it might be my midi interfaces (emagic) but sometimes  
>> notes are dropped. i can still "take control" of the repeater at  
>> any time when an error occurs though by using the same old banks I  
>> always used on the FCB1010.
>>
>> anyway, that's the long and short of it. its been pretty  
>> revolutionary for me because i can spend more time playing the  
>> cello and less time worrying about hitting the right sequence of  
>> footswitches.
>>
>> my time is about to run out on this internet access (so expensive  
>> over here!!) or i would write more.
>> ask questions if you have them.
>>
>>
>>
>> *Note about Abletone: my intention was to use the Looperlative for  
>> the extra 4 loops, but I had some difficulties using the unit and  
>> found it quicker to program Ableton. also, since i have to travel  
>> pretty far and wanted all my gear to fit in a 5 space rack, i  
>> decided to lose the Looperlative and use the computer (have my  
>> motu and power supply in the 5th space). this is not to say i  
>> won't use the Looperlative later, i just ran out of time and had  
>> to move on to a tool i was more familiar with.
>>
>