KVR Audio

jebudas · Post by **jebudas** » Thu Dec 02, 2004 7:23 pm

Any feedback from people who have used Ableton Live and/or Logic (or Logic Express, more my price range!) would be greatly appreciated.

The fact is I would mostly be doing home-studio recording, so is it a waste to go with Live? I have now heard good things about Live in and out of KVR. Havent heard enough about Logic...

Thanks a million,
Jebudas

jebudas · Post by **jebudas** » Thu Dec 02, 2004 9:47 pm

No one, huh? Ok...

meister eder · Post by **meister eder** » Fri Dec 03, 2004 12:42 am

Logic used to be my host for more than a decade. These days I am more and more migrating to Live.
Now make your decission!

Well, honestly, in short it would be...

Logic:
- advanced MIDI handling & editing
- advanced command structure (lots of options for any kind of task)
- fantastic sound
- more than 50 top notch effect plugins
- top notch instruments included

Live:
- intuitive
- fun
- realtime timestretching
- best audio routing matrix there is
- get work done in 1/4 the time you would in Logic

Andywanders · Post by **Andywanders** » Fri Dec 03, 2004 1:16 am

I would have to agree with the good doctor about Logic. I too have used it for years, so I know it well and therefore find it easy.

I just got the demo of Live and I haven't had much time to play with it yet. First impressions...

At the moment I wouldn't say it's intuitive, but that's probably because it's just different to what I'm used to and I haven't spent much time with it yet.

It is definitely fun though...

The timestretching gets a thumbs-up.

As does the routing.

So far, I haven't got anything done in it. The Doctor says "1/4 the time you would in Logic". Maybe when I've played with it some more, there's a lot to learn in Live, and for me the workflow hasn't 'clicked' yet.

The great thing is though, there is a demo..! No Logic demo...

I will probably end up buying it (after Christmas) and use both. Logic suits my style of working - I tend to write songs on guitar or piano before recording them. If I sit in front of the software without a song in my head, I'll just fool around and have fun, but I'll rarely actually write something. Maybe Live will change that.

olafmol · Post by **olafmol** » Fri Dec 03, 2004 11:11 am

hmm if you're just looking for basic multitracking i wouldn't go for live..... it is possible to do in live, but f.e. crossfading of audio isn't possible...it's more aimed at using the sequencer as a creative instrument...

take a look at the free tracktion...it might be all you need

meister eder · Post by **meister eder** » Fri Dec 03, 2004 11:23 am

olafmol wrote: but f.e. crossfading of audio isn't possible...

Perfectly possible and easy to do with Clip Envelopes!
Not as elegant as Logic's crossfade tool, but e.g. not any different from Tracktion's crossfade function.

meister eder · Post by **meister eder** » Fri Dec 03, 2004 11:35 am

olafmol wrote:hmm if you're just looking for basic multitracking i wouldn't go for live..... it is possible to do in live, [...]...it's more aimed at using the sequencer as a creative instrument...

And that's one of those myths around Live, since it started as a "sequencing instrument".
Yet, even linear arranging in Live is the best thought out of all DAWs I have worked with*, as is audio recording and - after all - re-recording!

It's the MIDI part that lacks functionality as of now. Put the myth about Live being an enferior multitracking software is just that - a myth.

*(Logic, ProTools, Cubase, Tracktion, Muzys, Digital Performer, Vision, Deck)

kovacs · Post by **kovacs** » Fri Dec 03, 2004 12:19 pm

Never used logic (although I do use reason

) but after buying Live 4 my way of making music has totally changed. I also own Tracktion and although it is an incredibly capable sequencer Live is immensely fun to work with.

The good things about Live are that it handles just about anything you throw at it, it is intuitive, comes with a good manual, VST works well (DX support would be nice), nice and clean gui, good support from Ableton, plus there is a very dedicated userbase.

Another thing to keep in mind is that Live runs perfectly well on both PC and Mac, and you get a dual license to run it on both (as long as you don't use both at the same time). I do this - I have Live on my Apple Powerbook and also on my PC DAW.

For the price Live is an incredible tool.

And btw I never use it for live playing - I only use it for home studio recording and production.

You do need a good audio editor, though...that is my biggest gripe about Live. The MIDI support is excellent although I think a lot of people have different opinions on that. I control Live remotely with an FCB1010 floorboard (which I also use to control my PodXT) and that is painless.

The way you produce music in Live is different than anything else I've tried - the entire program is simply made for experimenting and trying new stuff...

Just my .03 (after inflation).

DHR53 · Post by **DHR53** » Fri Dec 03, 2004 1:10 pm

My Logic 7.0 is collecting dust right now... (waiting for 7.1 to fix some of this stuff)... I'm using Reason for drumloops and audio clips, and bringing them into Live... Live for composing... If you have external hardware, record guitars or a band, Logic is great and has excellent built-in instruments and FX... If you just want to make music with virtual stuff, and audio clips/loops... Live is the wave of the future! I would suggest getting a book if you go the Logic route, though, or you'll be scratching your head more than making music

Live, you can probably figure out right away!

P.S. their both great..., but Live and Reason RULES!

kovacs · Post by **kovacs** » Fri Dec 03, 2004 2:29 pm

DHR53 wrote:If you just want to make music with virtual stuff, and audio clips/loops... Live is the wave of the future!

Just for the record - I use Live for recording all the time. Works great. I use my floorboard to activate recording and record clips on the fly. If necessary, I edit the clips. Or I do several takes in one go and use the best and ditch the rest. Etc. Live is great for recording.

drez · Post by **drez** » Fri Dec 03, 2004 2:50 pm

DHR53 wrote:My Logic 7.0 is collecting dust right now... (waiting for 7.1 to fix some of this stuff)... I'm using Reason for drumloops and audio clips, and bringing them into Live... Live for composing... If you have external hardware, record guitars or a band, Logic is great and has excellent built-in instruments and FX... If you just want to make music with virtual stuff, and audio clips/loops... Live is the wave of the future! I would suggest getting a book if you go the Logic route, though, or you'll be scratching your head more than making music Live, you can probably figure out right away!

P.S. their both great..., but Live and Reason RULES!

I have to agree with DHR. I've never used Logic, but Live4 and VSTs in combination with Reason have taken my music to the next level. Live's handling of audio is superb and, for me, the MIDI functionallity is right where I want to be.

I know that Logic, Cubase, and others have much more in depth MIDI capabilities, but like others have stated in this thread, its simplistic methods make workflow quick, easy, and for me FUN! I think the paradigm of the Session view takes a second to get your head around and version 4 adds some even cooler options, but I think its one of those things where all of the sudden you just have an epiphany and go

OOooohhh...THAT's how it works. Its linear editing is great. I find myself popping between the two to try out new ideas in session view and then dropping them in the linear view.

I love it!

AndreasE · Post by **AndreasE** » Fri Dec 03, 2004 2:52 pm

What does Live 4 distinguish from "Magix Music Maker 2005" which costs only 1/8 of the price for Live?
http://site.magix.net/index.php?12641&version=standard

meister eder · Post by **meister eder** » Fri Dec 03, 2004 2:58 pm

AndreasE wrote:What does Live 4 distinguish from "Magix Music Maker 2005" which costs only 1/8 of the price for Live?

What does distinguish a Mountain from a Horse?

Notron User · Post by **Notron User** » Fri Dec 03, 2004 2:59 pm

I mainly use Live and Logic as my hosts these days. Most of the time I run Live. Get Logic if you have a lot of external hardware--also the internal synths and effects are great in Logic.

kara · Post by **kara** » Fri Dec 03, 2004 3:01 pm

AndreasE wrote:What does Live 4 distinguish from "Magix Music Maker 2005" which costs only 1/8 of the price for Live?
http://site.magix.net/index.php?12641&version=standard

Hi Andreas,

A short answer here, I'm at work
1. Routing options
2. The session view (wich you don't really need for mixing)
3. I saw MMM 2004 and didn't see a midi editor in it, perhaps they have it now in 2005 ?
4. I friend of me has 2004 and it craches abouth 1 time an hour, especially when he uses the effects of it.
5. Rewire
6. VSTi support (isn't there in 2004 neither)

Rony

Feedback Request: Live vs Logic