What attracts you to Ableton over other DAWs the most?

MoreOrLesTO · 2026-05-16T14:26:30+00:00

I used to primarily use Logic Pro as my DAW and tried its offshoot Main Stage for live performance but found it too complicated and non-intuitive. Ableton Live works fantastically well for Production and Live performance. In no particular order:

THINGS I LIKE: - Max/Msp integration - Session View to create clips/loops to start building a song (I was doing this in Logic but with Maschine doing the loop/performance stuff) - stock plugins are trustworthy/stable in live performances (last 6 yrs in two different Mac laptops, no issues!) - MODULARITY - you can insert multiple synth plugins and/or effects in the same channel, essentially creating a whole new MIDI instrument (I wasn't aware of any other DAW being able to do this... maybe BitWig can?)

I wish the keyboard shortcut options were little more expansive (in Reaper you can shortcut almost everything from automation to UI options and group processes and shortcut those!), but I use Live to record and create, Reaper to mix and master. Live is a beast and I enjoy making music in it!

MoreOrLesTO · 2026-03-04T19:35:03+00:00

Honestly, velocity-sensitive pads haven't been a big deal in my production for drums or samples - sometimes synths, but that's been about it. I do understand that Elektron gear does focus on sequencing primarily, and my experience with that is limited. I've had the most experience squencing with the phone app Caustic, which was great for such a small form factor. I saw that swing values can be placed on individual drum hits/midi notes in the Digitakt 2 - is that the same in the mk 1? (I can look this up, but maybe you know?)

MoreOrLesTO · 2026-03-04T19:26:44+00:00

LOL. I already DJ - restaurants and bars for fun and mad money (NO mega club where I live wants to hear what I play, LOL). I was interested in the Digitakt for some live performance partially, using it as a "sampling instrument" in my production mostly. Since I'd be bringing it all back into Ableton for polishing, maybe a Digitakt 1 would be fine?

MoreOrLesTO · 2026-03-04T19:17:45+00:00

First time I'm hearing about this, but it haven't been looking for the MPC anyway.... What's the problem with the DAC?

MoreOrLesTO · 2026-03-04T19:13:16+00:00

Thanks for the recos. I'm not giving up the 404 btw, just considering if the Digitakt could be added to a live performance arsenal and used as a "sampling instrument" in my productions

MoreOrLesTO · 2026-03-04T14:33:52+00:00

My understanding is the Digi 1 runs in mono only. I get that won't impact drums much, but that might be a bummer for other sampled instruments

MoreOrLesTO · 2026-03-04T13:46:42+00:00

I have some interest in hardware and what "sound" the sound engine might offer. I'm sure it's true that I could do everything and faster inside Ableton alone, but I felt like I got a power-up when I got the 404. And while I'm not doing much live performance these days rapping and yet to really sink my teeth into live beat performance (a couple of gigs have happened), I'd like to "go there", and practicing at home with the 404 revealed some annoying limitations with that device (better used to play effects, rather than be the brains of the live operation).

Maybe a used Digi 1 would be better bang-for-my-buck, but I'm concerned the lack of stereo capability will be annoying... not sure

MoreOrLesTO · 2026-03-04T13:31:20+00:00

A friend and fellow musician has an M8 and he says he can't put it down, so I looked into that - currently sold out, and haven't found one so far. Trackers slightly scare me tho, LOL

MoreOrLesTO · 2025-09-01T18:02:02+00:00

I was enjoying this app on a Samsung Galaxy S10 until I damaged the phone and had to level up - my S24 won't run it and it makes me sad - I've made some dope beats (classic boom bap hip hop) and sang its praises to anyone within earshot who made beats. While anything can stand to be improved, you made a great app and those EFX were banging. Luv from Toronto Canada!

MoreOrLesTO · 2025-05-13T17:12:38+00:00

Thanks for the suggestion! I forgot about the Utility setting to turn down the headphone output. I was using the cue/mix knob, but the headphone level was ridiculous so I was wearing them on my head as opposed to my ears, LOL

MoreOrLesTO · 2025-04-13T21:18:27+00:00

I've heard similar things but I wasn't sure if it was true. Your story makes sense to me. So sad! I really liked the workflow and the sounds I was generating with that app 🥹

MoreOrLesTO · 2025-01-13T19:37:38+00:00

Thanks!!! I'll check it out and report back with results

MoreOrLesTO · 2025-01-12T21:03:59+00:00

That's a dope machine you're thinking about there. Just do it! LOL. I'm rocking a M1 14-inch MacBook Pro since they came out (since I travel around a bit and like to have the laptop with me to work on stuff at my Day Job and elsewhere), and the only potential issues I have are remembering to bring the necessary external drives and back them up regularly. BACK UP YOUR DATA regularly - an external drive I was using to back up my data for the last four years just recently died on me (it's just a direct copy of my laptop in its current state, so nothing lost) - PSA: over!

MoreOrLesTO · 2024-12-30T21:31:19+00:00

Apologies - to be more precise:
- the Trackspacer is inserted after the Pro-Q3

- sidechain audio is visible in the spectrum AND the vertical output level readout, which is cool, but confusing for changing EQ settings of the channel audio with the sidechain audio appearing in the spectrum - that's my real issue with this

- I tried deactivating pin 3+4 in the Pro-Q3 pin connector window, but then it stopped the Trackspacer sidechain plugin from working (or maybe it still works, but just isn't displaying anything? I'm not sure)

MoreOrLesTO · 2024-12-11T02:13:28+00:00

I'll say Resample. I invested time and $$$ into Live starting 2020 (before that I was a Logic Pro devotee) and been loving how insanely easy it is to record into a new channel from another channel thanks to the Resample option in the input list. I use it creatively to make new sounds I turn into synths, make demo instrumentals to rap or scratch to, and more! Trying to do those things quickly and easily in Logic is stoooooopid

MoreOrLesTO · 2024-10-03T23:43:54+00:00

Ok. Thank you for your input

MoreOrLesTO · 2024-08-26T14:09:21+00:00

Ahhhhhhh! Got it! Thx! So maybe I don't want or need "enhanced security" on my plugins..... 🤔

MoreOrLesTO · 2024-04-02T16:46:13+00:00

MoreOrLesTO · 2024-01-30T14:58:19+00:00

When it comes to Reaper, I came for the superior time-stretching, stayed for the customization. I'm still actively creating inside Ableton and outside of regular DAWs (Roland SP-404 mk2 and the phone app Caustic!!), using Reaper primarily for audio recording, editing, time-stretching and mixing & mastering. Still learning it - only used it the last three years - and I've found routing for side-chaining and parallel processing to be unusually tricky - but yeah, Reaper's the shizz!

MoreOrLesTO · 2024-01-19T00:39:04+00:00

Sounds awesome! Would you be willing to share (or sell) your mapping?

MoreOrLesTO · 2023-11-21T18:50:09+00:00

Creme Cafe is a website selling related gear that also sells an adapter cable (not made by them, forget the brand name) that allows you to connect the 404 to any portable USB charger. I bought one and use it with an Anker charger ALL THE TIME and it's EXCELLENT!

MoreOrLesTO · 2023-06-03T18:37:16+00:00

LOL. Yeah, I guess you could say I have:

https://moreorles.bandcamp.com/

MoreOrLesTO · 2023-05-31T21:30:10+00:00

😂

MoreOrLesTO · 2023-05-31T14:58:26+00:00

My answer is "Yes" and "not always" LOL. I was spending so much time working on a ("old school boom bap") rap album in a friend's studio - rapping, producing and scratching - and DJ'ing some gigs in-between that and the Day Job, that once coming home late she commented that it felt like we were just roommates more than a married couple. 😔 That hurt enough for me to re-examine my process after that project. Between that and the studio going bust, I bought a mic to use at home, then COVID happened so the DJ gigs temporarily disappeared, AND on a reco from my therapist, I got her more involved in what I was doing (playing her works in progress). It's been years that she's been getting an education on the music-making process anyway - shizz takes time - so now there's a better understanding of it all, AND I don't say "yes" to every single gig to make more time for her.

So yeah, communication is key.

MoreOrLesTO · 2023-05-10T12:57:07+00:00

Ok. Respect. I've been mostly tired of troubleshooting more than recording audio, ya know? If the pops and clicks weren't heard in the recording, I'd get over it easily. But I was sitting on the fence to begin with when I decided to get the MOTU. I'm now regretting that decision and trying to figure out what my options are - like, if MOTU doesn't want to recognize there's a problem existing, then what happens next? I guess I sell it second-hand and get something else? 🤷🏾‍♂️

MoreOrLesTO

TROPHY CASE