KVR Audio

ZooTooK · Post by **ZooTooK** » Thu Sep 09, 2004 12:30 pm

Now that Live 4 has been out there for a few weeks... any user report on the MIDI editing capabilities? Is it complete, good enough or just a hack?

ocp · Post by **ocp** » Thu Sep 09, 2004 1:00 pm

I'm quite happy with it although I still miss a Cubase type program change.

Beardedone · Post by **Beardedone** » Thu Sep 09, 2004 1:14 pm

This is only problem I have with this update. The pianoroll is OK but feels foreign and clunky to me. A lot like Cubase's horrible pianoroll. I still find FruityLoops pianoroll is the best in terms of ease of note/chord entry and editing. I do wish Live made use of the right click button. It is I know an annoying consequence of being a cross-platform app. However we must feel sorry for the poor Mac users who are missing out on the ergonomic advantages that a full function mouse offers.

I do quibble as Live works beautifully and I do like the midi assignment funtionality and the way every VST and VSTi I have is at home in this host - automation is a breeze. Bravo Abelton!

WillieJenkins · Post by **WillieJenkins** » Thu Sep 09, 2004 1:49 pm

Just as a counterpoint, I personally love the new piano roll, its very basic and intuitive to me

It's definitely built for performance based opportunities as opposed to extensive editing.

ZooTooK, there is a demo you can download, you should try it

Amberience · Post by **Amberience** » Thu Sep 09, 2004 2:12 pm

There isn't anything I don't like about the program. I love it in its entirety.

Joxer the Mighty · Post by **Joxer the Mighty** » Thu Sep 09, 2004 2:14 pm

I also like the piano roll a lot. It's a matter of personal working style, really. As was suggested, try the demo and find out for yourself if it suits you.

kuniklo · Post by **kuniklo** » Thu Sep 09, 2004 2:40 pm

It's pretty basic but it's certainly adequate. Quantization is destructive, which is kind of a hassle sometimes, but I don't have many complaints about it.

ZooTooK · Post by **ZooTooK** » Fri Sep 10, 2004 7:27 am

Thanks for the replies!

Yes, I'v tried the demo a bit, will do some more testing but usually it's only after extensive work you realise if there are some important stuff missing or if there are work-arounds.

I'v read the review in SOS magazine and understand that the MIDI editing capabilies are not complete (user groove quatisation not possible e.g). I'm sure there will be updates but just wanted to know if it's good enough as of now...

stale bread · Post by **stale bread** » Fri Sep 10, 2004 7:39 am

I undo quantization all the time, don't know why you say its destructive, but anyway as far as user groove goes it doesn't get better than 'warp marker manipulation' much user groove to be had.

meister eder · Post by **meister eder** » Fri Sep 10, 2004 8:42 am

Beardedone wrote:I do wish Live made use of the right click button. It is I know an annoying consequence of being a cross-platform app. However we must feel sorry for the poor Mac users who are missing out on the ergonomic advantages that a full function mouse offers.

Good morning! Most Mac users nowadays work with 2 or 3 button mice. Putte even uses a 8 button mouse. No problem there. And for those who don't, the right mouse button is doubled by the ctrl.-key in most cross-platform programs. (the PC ctrl.-key yet again in most cases translates to the command-key - in case you were wondering).

meister eder · Post by **meister eder** » Fri Sep 10, 2004 8:51 am

ZooTooK wrote:Now that Live 4 has been out there for a few weeks... any user report on the MIDI editing capabilities? Is it complete, good enough or just a hack?

Although the basic editing procedure is quite similar to that in Logic (my main host), for some reason that I can not yet appoint, I don't feel as comfortable using the piano roll editor.

It might be because a shortcut for maximizing the view is missing. And then I do find the zooming a bit tedious, as it is always two different actions to zoom vertically and horizontally.

stale bread · Post by **stale bread** » Fri Sep 10, 2004 8:55 am

cntrL+1
cntrl+2

meister eder · Post by **meister eder** » Fri Sep 10, 2004 9:28 am

stale bread wrote:cntrL+1
cntrl+2

meister eder · Post by **meister eder** » Fri Sep 10, 2004 9:37 am

stale bread wrote:I undo quantization all the time, don't know why you say its destructive,

In Logic you can always return to the original unquantized version of your sequence. You can also jump between quantisation values as you like, Logic always does it based on the original unquantized version, not on the previous quantisation (e.g. in Ableton Live it wouldn't make any sense to quantize by 1/16th if previously you quantized by 1/8th).

Yes you have undo, but that's not the same, because once you've worked in another area of the program (e.g. done some changes to the arrange) you would have to undo all that until you come back to the point where you quantized your sequence. The quantisation is 'processed' - or fixed if you want so - into the file, that's why it is a 'destructive' edit, or you could say 'offline' edit. In Logic it is just a playback parameter - online.

Beardedone · Post by **Beardedone** » Fri Sep 10, 2004 10:57 am

Beardedone wrote:
I do wish Live made use of the right click button. It is I know an annoying consequence of being a cross-platform app. However we must feel sorry for the poor Mac users who are missing out on the ergonomic advantages that a full function mouse offers.

Good morning! Most Mac users nowadays work with 2 or 3 button mice. Putte even uses a 8 button mouse. No problem there. And for those who don't, the right mouse button is doubled by the ctrl.-key in most cross-platform programs. (the PC ctrl.-key yet again in most cases translates to the command-key - in case you were wondering).

Interesting. Thanks for correcting me. THe only MAc I have seen lately is my wife's old G3 iMAc. I guess I have to get over my Mac loathing and bring myself to enter the doors of an Apple dealer.

MIDI editing in Live 4?