KVR Audio

EnGee · Post by **EnGee** » Mon Sep 05, 2022 9:00 am

Hi there,

Some have experienced with a 4 tracks tape recorder and could make their music (I actually did some noise with a normal tape recorder!) and some don't need more than 8 tracks.

With all the updated features in Live lite 11, can you do your music with it if you already have your instruments and effects?

chk071 · Post by **chk071** » Mon Sep 05, 2022 9:12 am

The question is if you want to limit yourself to 8 tracks. I wouldn't.

Not to mention that I absolutely hate Live's workflow.

It talks alien to me.

EnGee · Post by **EnGee** » Mon Sep 05, 2022 9:45 am

Well, I rare exceed 8 tracks excluding drums which I tend to have it as one track if it is already EQed and Compressed (like Addictive Drums). So the lite version of Live 11 might be enough for me and for some others! The problem with many lite versions of other DAWs is the restrictions (even with previous Live lite versions).

I don't have a problem making music with Live or Bitwig. The only two DAWs that I couldn't do music with are Reaper and FL Studio.

The benefit is to focus and it also can save us lots of money and upgrades

I don't know, I think I will give it a go

chk071 · Post by **chk071** » Mon Sep 05, 2022 10:05 am

If you own a Steinberg hardware, check out Cubase AI. You can have 16 VST instrument tracks, 32 audio tracks, and 48 MIDI tracks. That would probably close to what I'd ever need (as, of course, you can also bounce the instrument tracks to audio). Unfortunately, unlike Cubase Elements and upwards, it lacks sidechaining, which is a bit of a bummer.

EnGee · Post by **EnGee** » Mon Sep 05, 2022 10:35 am

I have AI. It comes with the MODX keyboard, but I already have the Pro version and selling it is a hassle, so I just kept it installed.
But I have sold my licenses for Live and Bitwig. So, I don't have access to the full versions. I already have 8-track Bitwig but it is too limited because of only two VSTi allowed in the 8 tracks and there is no external hardware way to route. Live lite has no such limitations, although it requires two tracks for the external instrument (midi and audio).

But thanks for reminding me about the AI. I might use that if I sell my Pro license

GaryG · Post by **GaryG** » Mon Sep 05, 2022 11:25 am

I'm pretty sure I could.

I'd guess most of my experimental/ambient/sample mangling stuff is less than eight tracks. If a drum track just counts as one (a while since I used Live) then almost certainly.

I started on a four track and can't say I'm that nostalgic for those times, trying to record just my mates guitar/vocals/bit of keyboard and percussion lead to bounce hell. Jumping to an 8 track was a revelation, sure some limitations but seemed we could get everything we fundamentally needed recorded fine.

dellboy · Post by **dellboy** » Mon Sep 05, 2022 11:56 am

Its more than possible because of Abletons generosity and digital bouncing which does not degrade the audio quality like tape did. You can also export the stems to a free DAW such as Bandlab Sonar or Waveform free and work on the song there. if you need more tracks then export 8 more.

pdxindy · Post by **pdxindy** » Mon Sep 05, 2022 1:53 pm

I'm sure Live Lite would be sufficient. Doesn't mean it would be as enjoyable and free-flowing but I could get my music done. I always have 16+ tracks in a project so it would add a bunch of housekeeping work I would not find fun.

I would never actually do it. No reason to limit myself to some stripped down DAW. Bitwig is my main DAW and there is the 16 track version of Bitwig. There is no situation I would not keep using the full version.

chk071 · Post by **chk071** » Mon Sep 05, 2022 2:10 pm

For me, an important point to consider about such stripped down DAW's is that you might miss a feature which you don't miss now in the future, which is only available in the full version. I had that with sidechaining in Cubase Elements. Drove me nuts that it doesn't have it (it has it now. They added it to Elements some versions ago.).

rod_zero · Post by **rod_zero** » Mon Sep 05, 2022 2:37 pm

The lack of external instrument/effect and only two return/sends would be huge in many cases, it does include drum rack now so that basically free tracks for drum parts. I think I could work with it a little, but would prefer to have standard.

GaryG · Post by **GaryG** » Mon Sep 05, 2022 3:03 pm

dellboy wrote: Mon Sep 05, 2022 11:56 am Its more than possible because of Abletons generosity and digital bouncing which does not degrade the audio quality like tape did.

That's a good point, and you can always save copies before bouncing or at least you have ctrl+z, nothing like wiping out a track with a badly balanced bounce you can't undo.

jonljacobi · Post by **jonljacobi** » Mon Sep 05, 2022 7:46 pm

Loaded question. Of course it could, but less limited software will make your life easier.

Azbest · Post by **Azbest** » Mon Sep 05, 2022 8:20 pm

Sure, why not. I've used Live Intro for like 2 years and I quite liked the challenge of 16 track limitation. You can do just fine with 8 tracks and some trickery, but I personally found that, for example, trying to fit all the drum samples on one track, while doable, is not very time efficient.

syntonica · Post by **syntonica** » Mon Sep 05, 2022 10:14 pm

Yes.

That said, do you really really want to? Live does its own thing and if you don't get on with it, well...

8 tracks is awfully tight though, even if they are stereo. Why force yourself to bounce when you don't need to? Might as well get a Zoom R8 then. If you can spend $100, then Studio One, Bitwig, Reaper, Mulab, Cubase, FL Studio all offer relatively unlimited software, especially if you are BYOP (bringing your own plugins.

)

EnGee · Post by **EnGee** » Mon Sep 05, 2022 11:06 pm

I already have unlimited solutions

I'm curious if 8 tracks are enough for your music

Well, I bought a used license of Live lite 11 and it is really a wonderful 5 euro that I spent! I might have somewhere another license but I need to dig in here and there and see which of my hardware comes with one!

Anyway, I've spent some time and I think I need 5 tracks as basic tracks (Drums, Bass, Chords, Lead and effects). That leaves me 3 tracks as headroom. I don't sing, so that makes it easy.

The only bummer is that it doesn't come with External Instruments tracks, so I need two tracks per hardware. I have two stereo hardware synths, so that 4 tracks already (Midi and Audio), leaves me (Drums and 3 other tracks). Still manageable

I don't know, I think for 80's pop synth style can be a good focused setup. Maybe even for a garage band. Just a thought!

KVR Audio

If you only need A DAW, can Live lite 11 do it for you?

Can you do your music with Live lite 11 if you already have your 3rd party plugins?