Rebuilding My Ableton Live Rig
So, my performance computer crashed and I was having the agony of choice to either “Try again” or “Reset computer to factory defaults”.
After many tries on the Try Again to get my computer to start up again, I was always stuck at a blue-screen. After 2 hours I decided to make the plunge and get my computer to be reset to the Factory Default... and I’m glad that I did.
My old files were left intact, my music, my documents... untouched. Phew.
But all my software was gone. So I spent 3 days figuring out what I really needed on the machine and I managed to get it down to the basics. I would be able to (as in ABLEton) write music on the go and put all my wind-synthesizers, basses, pads and drum-loops at my fingertips. But I also bought a new sound-card which acts like a pedal-board which opened up new possibilities.
The name of this MINI Pedal board is “Tone Shifter Mega” and its an awesome thing. Small, rigid and full of metal, that also has 2 expression pedal ports which will come in handy later down this article. It also functions as a Direct Box if that is a thing that is required. It also supports microphone with phantom-power.
I’ve dived back into Ableton to setup my instruments, but this time I’m adding 2 channels with different effects chains that I can bypass on and off with my fingers on the launchpad with the last 2 rows. So I visualize that as my “guitar-fx-board”. -But hey! What about that pedal-board hardware you were talking about? Aren’t you gonna use it?
-Yeah! I am. I’m coming to that now.
The physical pedal-board in front of me has none of the FX routed to it, but it’ll be perfect to make a loop-machine out of it. The pedal consists of 2 rows of 4 buttons each. So let’s take it in this little tiny graphics reference here:
1. Undo/Redo 2. Half-Loop 3. Double-Loop 4.*nothing assigned here yet
5. Tap Tempo 6. Loop start/Stop/Clear 7. Loop Overdub 8. Loop Play.
Plus from the pedal I have 2 expression pedals connected (A pair of ZOOMs). One of the pedal will handle an EQ-sweep filter, in reality that is exactly what a WAH-WAH does. The other one actually triggers a DJ fx that basically let’s me fade a dreamlike delay/fade in a looping session before going back to playing back-songs karaoke style. I would only use the looper meanwhile my partner is having a chat with the audience. SO I can build up layers of cool stuff while waiting for the next song. I also managed to have a “Chordlike” / “Midi-rotator” effect as well on some of the polyphonic instruments. I feel a lot more satisfied with this new setup and I hope videos will follow soon on my setup.
Wishing you all a great day!