Live 6

[blortblort]

the fact that you'll be able to route multiple controllers to a given knob is one of the biggest advantages that I see so far in the new features.
the "ableton combinator" thingy is a cool deal, but so far- I think money's better spent on adding eXT to your toolbox than forking out for the L6 upgrade (...though I've already got eXT- I'll still probably upgrade to 6 meself ) seriously- eXT and Live solves a lot of problems.

eXT is not available on Mac so it is no solution at all for me, but I would still rather have some of the functionality in Live itself than have to use another program.

the first tests posted show about a 60% cpu increase with the dual processor support. That is big

...pardon my "PCentricity"
....60% cpu increase ? increase???
hope they fix *that*...yikes.

[munchkin]

Looks good! I may update Live 4 to 6.

[shamann]

A full upgrade from Live 5 to Live 6 + boxed content + sampler is $420!!!!

Speaking of price, the MSRP for the v6 box listed on the M-Audio page is $599.95. That's $100 more than the current price. Seems a bit steep, no?

I suppose getting the download v5 at $450 right now would be wise for any fence sitters.

[edit]Oh I see now, there's an extra $50 added to the box for the Essential Instrument Collection. How exciting.

[Voodu]

I definately don't wanna bash this release before I've tried it, but add me to the list of people that are disappointed they didn't overhaul the midi editing!! This is a major issue and I love Ableton, it's really unlike any other software. I've been using it since version 3 and find new ways to produce/perform with it all the time.

The dual core support seems like it will be nice, and the deep freeze will be a nice feature for people using older computers.

I'm absolutely not buying that sampler!! Not that I'm against Ableton making another add on program but you can find comparable samplers cheaper. It also may be bad timing because people are adding up all the extras you can buy with the Live 6 upgrade and it comes to a total of $420. That's about what i paid for it in the first place.

Of course it didn't have that huge library or sampler but christ I'm not paying over 400 bux again. Guess it's time to look into Short Circuit.

[kuniklo]

Speaking of price, the MSRP for the v6 box listed on the M-Audio page is $599.95. That's $100 more than the current price. Seems a bit steep, no?

Very much so. For that kind of money there needs to be mork work on the core app. Midi editing really hasn't changed much since Live 4. It was ok then as a first attempt but it's really not acceptable two versions later and for that price. I must admit it makes me a little angry. That doesn't include the the Sampler, right? With the sampler it's $799 which is just shy of Logic Pro and at that point the comparison is pretty absurd.

Oh I see now, there's an extra $50 added to the box for the Essential Instrument Collection. How exciting.

I guess I'm glad that the extra GM samples and the sampler are optional and I don't really consider the base upgrade price of $110 or so to be that far out of line but as far as I'm concerned the only thing I'm getting for that $110 is dual core support.

I wish they'd make a dumbed down Live lite with just the session view and sell it for $299.

[shamann]

Guess it's time to look into Short Circuit.

Might want to have a look at Directwave, too. Only $100 and it has a broader set of format import capabilities, can record audio in, and has really good wave editing. Doesn't have as many effects/filters or as deep modulation as Shortcircuit, though.

(can you tell I've been considering one or the other a lot lately?)

[kuniklo]

Of course it didn't have that huge library or sampler but christ I'm not paying over 400 bux again. Guess it's time to look into Short Circuit.

There's the problem right there. Operator costs as much as Octopus and Sampler is going to *MORE* expensive than the far, far more capable ShortCircuit. And because of the stupid way Live handles automation in session clips their "integrated" features actually make them *less* usable than VSTs. And really, am I really supposed to be excited about a bunch of GM samples? Do they consider parity with Garageband as part of their claim to innovation? I can't find a single innovative feature in this release, unlike all their previous work. A lot of me-too catch up junk and workstation-style layering that only professional preset designers care about.

[fgimian]

I've just been watching all the vids and must say I'm very surprised to see no mention of new audio features, for instance ... basic fade in / out / crossfade between audio clips aint there, this is a function that is expected in any DAW and thus holds Live back a lot.

energyXT, Cubase, Logic, Sonar, Reaper, ACID ... and probly all other programs that are classified as DAW have simply fade in / out / crossfade for audio clips.

I am aware you can automate the volume using per clip automation but that is not efficient enough, especially when you are working with 16 tracks of audio ... or more

Just my 2 cents, I hope it has been added but they forgot to mention it

Fots

[iskandar]

have they improved the interface as in being able to view the session mixer on one screen and arrange on the other ? or being able to drag the mixer into arrange view ? if not then i wont be upgrading

[nutsadamus]

as far as I'm concerned the only thing I'm getting for that $110 is dual core support.

I'm withya there, dual core support is the only attractive addition for me so far. However, performance improvements will have to be fairly substantial for me to justify upgrading. I guess we'll have to wait and see how well it's implemented.

[pdxindy]

I am quite happy with the announced new additions in Live 6. I have a dual proc machine and do a lot of video. The racks sound worth the upgrade price alone.

Since I own Kontakt, I would rather Ableton had spent the time on the core app rather than creating a new sampler I likely wont get. The one thing that tweaks my interest is the easy drag and drop. Record some audio, drag the clip right into the Sampler and away you go. Depending on the tools and GUI it could be more fun and intuitive for sound design than Kontakt. They will have to wow me at that price.

[kuniklo]

I am quite happy with the announced new additions in Live 6. I have a dual proc machine and do a lot of video. The racks sound worth the upgrade price alone.

The video part I find especially puzzling. What's the point of video when the linear arrange view is so primitive? It's going to be a real party trying to do detailed video syncing work without any of the tools other DAWs give you to navigate around a long linear arrangement.

Since I own Kontakt, I would rather Ableton had spent the time on the core app rather than creating a new sampler I likely wont get. The one thing that tweaks my interest is the easy drag and drop.

The drag & drop is a nice plus but it's a bitter pill to swallow at the expense of everything they could have done.

[pdxindy]

I am quite happy with the announced new additions in Live 6. I have a dual proc machine and do a lot of video. The racks sound worth the upgrade price alone.

The video part I find especially puzzling. What's the point of video when the linear arrange view is so primitive? It's going to be a real party trying to do detailed video syncing work without any of the tools other DAWs give you to navigate around a long linear arrangement.

Since I own Kontakt, I would rather Ableton had spent the time on the core app rather than creating a new sampler I likely wont get. The one thing that tweaks my interest is the easy drag and drop.

The drag & drop is a nice plus but it's a bitter pill to swallow at the expense of everything they could have done.

I like to keep the number of software tools I use to a minimum. I like Live. It is so fast and easy to put together musical ideas. I get out the mic, do some vocal treatment, play few synth parts, etc, throw in some ambient clips then I am playing with effects and clip envelopes all while the audio keeps playing. I got a rough idea sketched out faster than the software that is more full featured. I find live like an instrument. I feel creative with it. I don't mind that it takes bit more time on the polishing part if it does better for me on the creating part.

So yeah, Digital Performer has far better tools for video, but I will still be doing audio for video in Live. Digital Performer drove me nuts. It made me think too much. I also just want 1 host to fulfill my needs. Every aspect of it does not need to be the best, just overall good and some things can be passable and no show stoppers. So far Live is it on the Mac. I've tried everything on the Mac except Logic and I am not gonna drop $1000 to find out if I want to.

Sorry, not trying to talk you out of being very disappointed. Your reasons are sound. Your suggestions are good. I'm reserving judgement on Sampler until I see/try it. If it is great for quick and creative sound design then I may not be disappointed that Ableton spent their time on it.

I was quite annoyed when AAS announced String Studio. I wanted that work to be in Tassman making it better. Then I tried String Studio and now it is close to my favorite synth. Now I'm glad they put the time into it.

cheers

[headquest]

Hard to pick out all the highlights here, but overall this update looks fantastic. I can't wait.

Not yet sure about "Sampler" though - whether it will be worth the additional cost (having previously bought Operator and in all honesty not used it very much).

And I don't quite understand how the multisampled Essential Sound Library will work in Simpler, which only takes one sample?

(Just had eye surgery so only reading small amounts at present - sorry if this has previously been covered).

[diverdee]

apparently there are presets for simpler using the new 'racks' & midi effects which allow one to layer etc. in order to take advantage of the sound library.