Ableton Live 4 versus Cubase

[visa tapani]

Thanks for the pointers pHz. Yes, I just downloaded the demo. I played around with the midi some, and some questions arised:

- Is there a quick "transpose +/- 12 semitones" function for a selected region?
- Is it possible to expand the midi-editor to a larger size?
- Are there functions for "half tempo" and "double tempo" where it stretches and compresses the notes accordingly? (not essential at all, but fun)
- What are the smallest quantization settings for both straight notes and triplets? Can I quantize midi data to varying tuplets, like when there are 6 evenly distributed hits per 1/4 or five hits per 1/2 etc? You know, 5-lets and 7-lets and 9-lets (I don't know what they call them in english...)
- Is there some kind of step-input?
- can I draw a linearry or exponentially increasing/decreasing velocity curve for a series of notes with some kind of ruler etc?
- Is it possible to select a group of notes so that when I draw into the velocity-lane, only the velocity of the selected notes change?

I'm worried its midi-implementation might run short when programming something like complex drum fills. Would you program something like this in Live?

[kuniklo]

Is there a quick "transpose +/- 12 semitones" function for a selected region?

no

Is it possible to expand the midi-editor to a larger size?

Yes. Drag up on the thick bar at the top of the midi window.

Are there functions for "half tempo" and "double tempo" where it stretches and compresses the notes accordingly? (not essential at all, but fun)

Yes for audio, no for midi but you can fake it by turning off loop mode and changing the tempo of the clip and then turning loop mode back on.

What are the smallest quantization settings for both straight notes and triplets? Can I quantize midi data to varying tuplets, like when there are 6 evenly distributed hits per 1/4 or five hits per 1/2 etc? You know, 5-lets and 7-lets and 9-lets (I don't know what they call them in english...)


You can quantize at up to 64th notes with or without triplets. Quantization is destructive in Live so you can select a group of notes, quantize to one value, then select another and quantize to a second value. These changes are permanent though, unlike cubase.

Is there some kind of step-input?

no

can I draw a linearry or exponentially increasing/decreasing velocity curve for a series of notes with some kind of ruler etc?

no

Is it possible to select a group of notes so that when I draw into the velocity-lane, only the velocity of the selected notes change?

yes


I'm worried its midi-implementation might run short when programming something like complex drum fills. Would you program something like this in Live?


Sure. No problem.

[hardy slicer]

Live is only a tool, just as all software/hardware is a tool - the choice is determining if that tool can accomplish what you want. For me, it can do anything I throw at it, such as deep house, rock, fusion (jazzy funk/funky jazz) or italianio speghettio gypsyio.

[pHz]

Are there functions for "half tempo" and "double tempo" where it stretches and compresses the notes accordingly? (not essential at all, but fun)
Yes for audio, no for midi but you can fake it by turning off loop mode and changing the tempo of the clip and then turning loop mode back on.

not quite right - just use the *2 and /2 buttons in the clips tempo properties - does exactly this

can I draw a linearry or exponentially increasing/decreasing velocity curve for a series of notes with some kind of ruler etc?
no

but using clip envelopes you can add a point at the beginning and end of the clip or group of notes and then drag one of them to create a linear fade / crescendo (obviously adding and dragging more points allows more complex curves to be created)

slainte rob

[soulkraka]

And lastly, just for fun on the question of "Is a DJ a musician". In my world that would be no. For some of you the answer is yes. To quote Frank Z.

SJ, I respect your opinion BUT have you ever heard DJ Qbert or DJ Craze? If not, please do some research and check them out. They may make you reconsider. I'd suggest watching the movie "Scratch".

[kuniklo]

Are there functions for "half tempo" and "double tempo" where it stretches and compresses the notes accordingly? (not essential at all, but fun)
Yes for audio, no for midi but you can fake it by turning off loop mode and changing the tempo of the clip and then turning loop mode back on.

not quite right - just use the *2 and /2 buttons in the clips tempo properties - does exactly this

Right you are. That's what I get for answering questions from memory.

[DHR53]

Messed around some more with it, (in arrange) and managed to get somewhere (farther than I did before anyway) and I noticed some things that are driving me nuts! The zooming, selecting, and scrolling can be used effectively for composing, but there is no way to do any of these with the kybd. And switching focus from one area of the interface to the other SHOULD be kybd. activated, in my opnion... Moving the loop region for instance is nice, but that area has to be selected, and can't be from the kybd. switching from instruments, to selection to browser for instance, should be a cmnd. tab or something?? ...just a thought? I keep trying to move around the interface with the kybd. but I can't!

[hardy slicer]

Read the manual under the section called KEYBOARD SHORTCUTS.

[SJ_Digriz]

SJ, I respect your opinion BUT have you ever heard DJ Qbert or DJ Craze? If not, please do some research and check them out. They may make you reconsider. I'd suggest watching the movie "Scratch".

Sorry man, I know who Qbert is and I saw about 14 minutes of scratch because a friend forced me to. I wanted to claw my ears off. They are not musicians, they are good DJs.

[soulkraka]

SJ, I respect your opinion BUT have you ever heard DJ Qbert or DJ Craze? If not, please do some research and check them out. They may make you reconsider. I'd suggest watching the movie "Scratch".

Sorry man, I know who Qbert is and I saw about 14 minutes of scratch because a friend forced me to. I wanted to claw my ears off. They are not musicians, they are good DJs.

musical instrument

n : any of various devices or contrivances that can be used to produce musical tones or sounds [syn: instrument]

musician


n : One who composes, conducts, or performs music, especially instrumental music.


keep in mind that the saxophone wasn't considered a "real" musical instrument for some time after its invention. Seems pretty absurd today right? Your opinion will be considered equally absurd tommorrow (today IMO).

http://www.us.oup.com/us/catalog/genera ... 0195165926

[quincy]

SJ, I respect your opinion BUT have you ever heard DJ Qbert or DJ Craze? If not, please do some research and check them out. They may make you reconsider. I'd suggest watching the movie "Scratch".

Sorry man, I know who Qbert is and I saw about 14 minutes of scratch because a friend forced me to. I wanted to claw my ears off. They are not musicians, they are good DJs.

Philistine!

As far as i'm concerned, if someone uses a tool or insrument or anthing else to make sound or music, then they're a musician.

I hate all this condescending crap, DJing takes skill, practise and dedication - just like any other instrument.

I've heard people who think that you could just pick it up in an hour and be the next member of the scratch perverts - wake up fools, its not that simple!

[SJ_Digriz]

Philistine!

As far as i'm concerned, if someone uses a tool or insrument or anthing else to make sound or music, then they're a musician.

I hate all this condescending crap, DJing takes skill, practise and dedication - just like any other instrument.

I've heard people who think that you could just pick it up in an hour and be the next member of the scratch perverts - wake up fools, its not that simple!

I'm not condescending at all. You can quote definitions and call me names all you want. I have never said it didn't take skill. But, playing records /= musician. You can think it does all you want. It's your right to have that opinion. I will keep mine.

[DHR53]

Read the manual under the section called KEYBOARD SHORTCUTS.

Hmmm... I would have never thought of that! ...I know every kybd. cmnd. in the program, but that doesn't adress the problem! Some areas of the interface have to be in focus for the cmnds. to work... and there is no way to do that without manually selecting the areas with a mouse!!!

[mauseoleum]

well o.t. but - I remember an old rule from 3d progs sayin left hand on kbd, right hand on mouse. imo works best if kbd is not really perpendicular to you.

[Rabid]

As far as i'm concerned, if someone uses a tool or insrument or anthing else to make sound or music, then they're a musician.

I hate all this condescending crap, DJing takes skill, practise and dedication - just like any other instrument.

I've heard people who think that you could just pick it up in an hour and be the next member of the scratch perverts - wake up fools, its not that simple!

By your definition anyone who turns on a computer and hears the Windows boot up melody is a musician. Anyone who turns on a radio is a musician. Anyone who makes their own compilation CD of favorite songs is a musician. Don’t confuse DJ’ing skills with musicianship. Some people are both, but not everyone. They are different, no matter how hard you wish them to fall under the same term. If you are limited to using Acid loops, MIDI loops, and rearranging music recorded by others, you are not a musician. Musicians are the people that played the instruments when those Acid loops were created.

Also note the difference between a musician and a composer. Most composers are musicians, but it is not always the case. Clicking notes into a piano roll while the sequencer loops is not the same as playing live. With current technology people can compose without being able to play.

Robert