This is not only an excellent tutorial on the specific subject, it is also an excellent tutorial for all the RUclips "tutors" on how to do tutorials. Calm, simple, accurate, with perfect rhythm, and without a single word more than needed.
Thanks to you, I was able to connect my Roland MC-909 and now it has a brand new life. Not only are the sounds on this box fantastic, the Dance Expansion card makes my productions superior to what theyt once were. Your teaching style, as commented previously, is on point and very easy to follow. You've gained a new subscriber and will check out your other videos. Kudos!!!
This right here is one of the reasons I still use Logic for projects with a lot of outboard gear, it has automatic PDC and you don't have to spend time doing all this. Just click one button on the external instrument or i/o plugin and you're good to go.
I've struggled with understanding this for years, thanks for making clear. This tutorial was very easy to follow and I feel i'll have no problem with connecting hardward now : ) Thanks
This is great,, does anyone know if stuff like a drum machine (lest say tr8) can be recorded using a external instrument for each perc at the same time? Lest say for example one for the kick and one for the snare at the same time on separate channels ..
Very nice explained! Do you know a way to record MIDI and the audio simultaneously? If you noodling around with the external instrument and some external effect, it could be handy to have the MIDI recording beside the audio recording. I know, that I could arm a MIDI and an audio track but it isn't very convenient during a live jam. It would be great if the External Instrument Device could do that because it already knows the relevant MIDI and the audio inputs.
Subscribed just for this tutorial - I have a Moog Sub 37, and it was driving me crazy. The issue I had, was my output device was selected as the Moog Sub 37, and not the Midi out, of my interface. You cleared up my error, thanks so much!
Another cool thing is to use midi capture with external Instrument, it will capture your audio recording also. I think that is next level from Ableton. No idea lost. It's daunting at first figuring out the routings tho. Thanks for sharing your knowledge
THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU This is the best tutoria l I have found since I started doing this. I have never been ablee to get a waveform in the audio even though the audio levels were shpowing that the audio was returning. I am deeply in your debt.
I just executed the instructions in your video using Ableton Live 11, a TX7 and a Roland Duo-Capture soundcard but there seems to be absolutely zero latency. When I record the audio from my TX7 into an audio track as suggested, the audio actually starts bang on at 00:00. Weird.
Helpful videos! Can you somehow assign midi control messages to external midi devices? It would be nice to be able my Ableton Push to to control my devises in the box through a live set
Thanks. Excellent tutorial and great step by step guide. Do you have a guide showing this process for Ableton live 10 intro? I believe it is a slightly different process.
@@MusicTechOfficial Hi, in the instruments section of Live intro, the external instrument device selection is not present. I believe this is only available in Standard and suite apparently. Not completely sure though.
wow main thing i aded hardware synth that goes back into ableton and want to know best way to not mess up bpm sync with my vocal prosessor when messing with latencies from synth so think delay compensation is out window ...trying with external syth will i have to adjust bpm sync to the vocal prosesor also like this ?? thought it only afected chanel it was on SO THEIR IS NO CHOICE FOR NOT HAVING TO TOUCH CLOCKS OF OTHER MACHINES
Fantastic, thank you. I have a question: when i record a track in this mode with a specific sound of my Yamaha Mox6 and i want to record another track with a different sound of the same synth, in ableton the sound of first track become the same of the new track. In general all tracks then i record from Mox6 have the same sound and if i change the sound in one track, all other traks take the new sound.
I have studio monitors connected to my push 2, but have no sound. Can you advise..Is there a setting on the push 2 as I did have sound but now it's directed through imac.
When I use the external Instrument device instead of two tracks (midi+audio) my other devices receiving clock for stop/start go a whole beat behind out of sync, what am I missing? This doesn't happen using the normal midi channel approach, but with external Instruments they all start playing midi before the other devices receive start messages.
hi. im new to abelton. im not getting that audio from. the box is empty inside. what can i do?i can play notes with the external. i can record them, but im not able to hear anything! i use a firesace uc as an audio imterface and a motu as amidi interface. everything is set on in the configuration section. what im doing wrong here?
This is all well and good, but how do I send midi cc to my external instrument from the arrangement view? That's all I want to know and none of these tutorials seem to show me that.
See 21.1 Recording Automation in Arrangement View in the live manual - www.ableton.com/en/manual/automation-and-editing-envelopes/#21-1-recording-automation-in-arrangement-view - you can also record CC into a session view clip, and then record the session view clip into arrangement view, see ruclips.net/video/8krWkxoBvv0/видео.html
thanks for the info! do you know how to add audio effects to the external instrument midi channel? the audio effects i add do not make any changes to the sound.
Subbed! Excellent tutorial, but it seems the impossible has happened: at zero latency compensation my synth is coming in 8ms early! Anyone know what might be going on here?
thanks for this, ive connected my minitaur now, and it plays back the midi from ableton, but for some reason I cant add any effects - ie they are not effecting the track. what am I doing wrong? In fact I can hear the recording even when the track is not armed!
First off, thanks so much bud. I have a question about using my 2 Akai S3000XL's with ableton. My audio interface has one midi in and out, so I daisy chained my Akais to the back of the audio interface which works in tandem with my midi keyboard. So, lets say C1 to G1 is kicks and snares and C2 to G2 is pads and bass sounds, how will this work with the External Instruments, will Ableton Live 10 recognise both Akai's or only one seen as they are daisy chained? Sorry if i worded this bad, its just been a bit of a headache. Thanks
There are 16 MIDI channels. So set your AKAI 1 to receive on MIDI channel 1 and the second AKAI to receive on MIDI channel 2. Then set your DAW to send to either MIDI channel 1 or 2 depending on which device you want to receive the MIDI notes! We think this is what you meant?
@@MusicTechOfficial Also, if I have assigned a Kick to C1. Snare to C1#, does that mean I need to make 2 different midi tracks in ableton, or can all my akai drums be placed on one midi track
@@h.hholmes3118 If they are both on the same MPC and MIDI channel, one MIDI track will be fine. If you want the notes to send on different MIDI tracks (i.e. channel 1 or 2 as above) you'll need to assign the track in your DAW to that MIDI channel output.
Hey bro! ive been watching all your tutorials. Thanx for the work, mate! simple and strightforward. I have a question for you, maybe you can help me out: I have a hearing loss problem. I lost around 30% of my capability on my left ear, and though im still able to work, i feel it is affecting my mixes, since i find myself trying to compensate with my right ear all the time, or else raising the volume. I was wondering if there is anyway to set up my monitors volume individually. If there is any built in tool or external plugin that can help. Thanx again, Peace!
Thank you .There are some interfaces that use USB C and even thunderbolt .Would this reduce the latency ? Does new hardware reduce latency compared to old hardware ?
Hi Mark, latency depends on a few factors including sample rate (higher rates mean lower latency), buffer sizes (smaller = lower latency), and connection protocol. The confusion around USB-C is that it's just the name of the physical connector rather than the data transfer protocol. So, the best thing to do is check whether your audio interface is USB-2 (with a USB-C connector) or a faster protocol such as USB 3 or Thunderbolt.
@@MusicTechOfficial Thank you .I have in mind for the next PC build to use a USB C mainboard with a Steinberg UR 816 C .To connect some hardware .I also have a MOTU microlite for midi .I appreciate your good communication skill .I upgraded Ableton today because I found what you said easy to understand .
You lost me early on. Went through configure tab on external instrument device -- my Scarlet Focusrite is not listed under "MIDI Ports" in that Preferences window. I see 4 things listed under yours. The only thing listed under mine is Out: Microsoft GS Wavetable Synth. I don't know what that is. That is not a device I own nor did I ever set anything like that up. My actual Scarlet Focusrite that I own and set up (I use it with Ableton for everything except external instrument, like I'm trying to do now) is not listed in this Preferences Window. sad sad very sad
Not 100 sold on the second "more accurate method" perhaps its my set up. I couldn't seem to get much difference dialling it in.... It didn't seem to change the latency in the tut nor on my computer either- check 7.17mins in... Yeah its slightly ahead but if you're attempting to program some tight percussion thats way off (for my liking) and warp's still engaged which always throws me a bit (as everything you're recording is essentially getting its tempo further manipulated.... It's a bit of a head fuck :)) gotta love it! Perhaps i'm missing something. I think i'm gonna trust my ears.
Yes you could if your synth is connected to speakers / headphones or has built in speakers. Just send MIDI out from Ableton to your synth. You'll need a MIDI interface or a synth with USB MIDI though...
hmmm all tutorials mention it, but I can't find external intrument in the list. But I can play audio from my old Kawai even without that "external instrument" thingie, though the Kawai clearly is one. Pretty confusing software^^
Thx for this really good tutorial. Just one question. If I do this in a live set and use the same hardware each time, will it be the same latency level every time I open Ableton or could it be, that latency changes from time to time?
Mine keep changes minute to minute. And I don’t want to even get started about when I add another external device. I have been tweaking track delays and every other setting for literally a week and recorded hundreds of tracks to get it right. Then I put a delay on a synth and I a;most smashed everything I own.
@@B0rnT0L05e I am trying out the trial version of Ableton. Same issue with the latency constantly changing. I get it set right and a bit later it’s off again. Set the new value and it changes again. I spent weeks trying to get it right and am about to quit trying. I have so much fun with my BeatStep Pro and 2 analog synths controlled via CV. It all works so well together but is a mess with this sync issue. The latency is a buzz kill for inspiration l.
I'm having a strange issue. No matter how adjust the Hardware Latency value in the External Instrument, my recorded latency of my hardware device remains the same. ??? ideas anyone?
Monitor choice is incredibly subjective - what you consider to have a better sound may not be what I consider to be better. It also depends on your budget. The best approach is to try and get a bit of time with the models you're thinking about - this may be possible at a dealer - and play back your tracks and a few commercial tracks that you like. Here are some other options to investigate in our round-up of 12 best budget monitors: www.musictech.net/guides/buyers-guide/best-budget-studio-monitors/
This is not only an excellent tutorial on the specific subject, it is also an excellent tutorial for all the RUclips "tutors" on how to do tutorials. Calm, simple, accurate, with perfect rhythm, and without a single word more than needed.
Glad it helped! Please support us by subscribing and sharing :-)
I realize it's pretty off topic but do anyone know a good place to watch newly released series online ?
@Paxton Zayd Flixportal :P
@Wilder Gibson thanks, I went there and it seems to work :) I really appreciate it !!
@Paxton Zayd you are welcome :D
Thanks to you, I was able to connect my Roland MC-909 and now it has a brand new life. Not only are the sounds on this box fantastic, the Dance Expansion card makes my productions superior to what theyt once were. Your teaching style, as commented previously, is on point and very easy to follow. You've gained a new subscriber and will check out your other videos. Kudos!!!
This right here is one of the reasons I still use Logic for projects with a lot of outboard gear, it has automatic PDC and you don't have to spend time doing all this. Just click one button on the external instrument or i/o plugin and you're good to go.
Thank you, I have been trying to link my microbrute for ages. This was so clear it took me 5 minutes. Now for some fun:)
Thanks Jimmy! That's great to hear. Do let us know if you have any other requests for topics. Also, hit that subscribe button if you've not already :)
I've struggled with understanding this for years, thanks for making clear. This tutorial was very easy to follow and I feel i'll have no problem with connecting hardward now : ) Thanks
This wasn’t exactly the video I was looking for but the tutorial was so impeccable I had to subscribe.
This is great,, does anyone know if stuff like a drum machine (lest say tr8) can be recorded using a external instrument for each perc at the same time? Lest say for example one for the kick and one for the snare at the same time on separate channels ..
Thanks for the in depth teaching. Very appreciated the practical hands on, instead of theoretic Blabla.
Very nice explained! Do you know a way to record MIDI and the audio simultaneously? If you noodling around with the external instrument and some external effect, it could be handy to have the MIDI recording beside the audio recording. I know, that I could arm a MIDI and an audio track but it isn't very convenient during a live jam. It would be great if the External Instrument Device could do that because it already knows the relevant MIDI and the audio inputs.
Subscribed just for this tutorial - I have a Moog Sub 37, and it was driving me crazy. The issue I had, was my output device was selected as the Moog Sub 37, and not the Midi out, of my interface. You cleared up my error, thanks so much!
Thanks for the sub! Please share :-)
Another cool thing is to use midi capture with external Instrument, it will capture your audio recording also. I think that is next level from Ableton. No idea lost.
It's daunting at first figuring out the routings tho. Thanks for sharing your knowledge
I’m sorry can you explain midi capture? Like audio to midi in real time?
THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU This is the best tutoria l I have found since I started doing this. I have never been ablee to get a waveform in the audio even though the audio levels were shpowing that the audio was returning. I am deeply in your debt.
I just executed the instructions in your video using Ableton Live 11, a TX7 and a Roland Duo-Capture soundcard but there seems to be absolutely zero latency. When I record the audio from my TX7 into an audio track as suggested, the audio actually starts bang on at 00:00. Weird.
Helpful videos! Can you somehow assign midi control messages to external midi devices? It would be nice to be able my Ableton Push to to control my devises in the box through a live set
Thanks. Excellent tutorial and great step by step guide. Do you have a guide showing this process for Ableton live 10 intro? I believe it is a slightly different process.
We do not, but it should be very similar. Which components are you missing in Intro?
@@MusicTechOfficial Hi, in the instruments section of Live intro, the external instrument device selection is not present. I believe this is only available in Standard and suite apparently. Not completely sure though.
@@MusicTechOfficial Additional point. I am looking to hook up a Korg Minilogue XD and a Yamaha Motif 6.
@@cds8137 yeah, unfortunately you will need to upgrade from Intro if you want to use the External Instrument device
Absolutely fuckin excellent explanation. Seriously. Thank you...
Super helpful! Very concise and well formed tutorial, just what I needed. Thanks dude! :)
wow main thing i aded hardware synth that goes back into ableton and want to know best way to not mess up bpm sync with my vocal prosessor when messing with latencies from synth so think delay compensation is out window ...trying with external syth will i have to adjust bpm sync to the vocal prosesor also like this ?? thought it only afected chanel it was on SO THEIR IS NO CHOICE FOR NOT HAVING TO TOUCH CLOCKS OF OTHER MACHINES
Nice one. Helped a lot with the latency issues I was experiencing
Fantastic, thank you. I have a question: when i record a track in this mode with a specific sound of my Yamaha Mox6 and i want to record another track with a different sound of the same synth, in ableton the sound of first track become the same of the new track. In general all tracks then i record from Mox6 have the same sound and if i change the sound in one track, all other traks take the new sound.
I have studio monitors connected to my push 2, but have no sound. Can you advise..Is there a setting on the push 2 as I did have sound but now it's directed through imac.
This was an excellent made tutorial! Thank you very much
This video made me forget what I was trying to do in the first place
Is this the same using USB to MIDI?
i can't find my uad midi from. and where do i need to put audio in my uad ?
When I use the external Instrument device instead of two tracks (midi+audio) my other devices receiving clock for stop/start go a whole beat behind out of sync, what am I missing? This doesn't happen using the normal midi channel approach, but with external Instruments they all start playing midi before the other devices receive start messages.
Mannnn!!! Thank you so much!! So helpful 🙂🙏
hi. im new to abelton. im not getting that audio from. the box is empty inside. what can i do?i can play notes with the external. i can record them, but im not able to hear anything! i use a firesace uc as an audio imterface and a motu as amidi interface. everything is set on in the configuration section. what im doing wrong here?
Hi would this be the same if I was to record my TR8s drum machine live. No note data just record live into Ableton.
Concise, clear instruction. Perfect!
This is all well and good, but how do I send midi cc to my external instrument from the arrangement view? That's all I want to know and none of these tutorials seem to show me that.
See 21.1 Recording Automation in Arrangement View in the live manual - www.ableton.com/en/manual/automation-and-editing-envelopes/#21-1-recording-automation-in-arrangement-view - you can also record CC into a session view clip, and then record the session view clip into arrangement view, see ruclips.net/video/8krWkxoBvv0/видео.html
Very, very helpful!! Thanks!
Thanks, this will help down the road.
Do check out the rest of the series if you're looking for more Ableton tips and hit that subscribe button for a new tutorial every Wednesday
thanks for the info! do you know how to add audio effects to the external instrument midi channel? the audio effects i add do not make any changes to the sound.
Subbed! Excellent tutorial, but it seems the impossible has happened: at zero latency compensation my synth is coming in 8ms early! Anyone know what might be going on here?
Yes. Mine is early too. Can it see the future? Maybe we should uninstall the flux capacitor M4L device?
thanks for this, ive connected my minitaur now, and it plays back the midi from ableton, but for some reason I cant add any effects - ie they are not effecting the track. what am I doing wrong? In fact I can hear the recording even when the track is not armed!
First off, thanks so much bud. I have a question about using my 2 Akai S3000XL's with ableton. My audio interface has one midi in and out, so I daisy chained my Akais to the back of the audio interface which works in tandem with my midi keyboard. So, lets say C1 to G1 is kicks and snares and C2 to G2 is pads and bass sounds, how will this work with the External Instruments, will Ableton Live 10 recognise both Akai's or only one seen as they are daisy chained? Sorry if i worded this bad, its just been a bit of a headache. Thanks
There are 16 MIDI channels. So set your AKAI 1 to receive on MIDI channel 1 and the second AKAI to receive on MIDI channel 2. Then set your DAW to send to either MIDI channel 1 or 2 depending on which device you want to receive the MIDI notes! We think this is what you meant?
@@MusicTechOfficial Thanks so much man, exactly what I need. Sub for u
@@MusicTechOfficial Also, if I have assigned a Kick to C1. Snare to C1#, does that mean I need to make 2 different midi tracks in ableton, or can all my akai drums be placed on one midi track
@@h.hholmes3118 If they are both on the same MPC and MIDI channel, one MIDI track will be fine. If you want the notes to send on different MIDI tracks (i.e. channel 1 or 2 as above) you'll need to assign the track in your DAW to that MIDI channel output.
Hey bro! ive been watching all your tutorials. Thanx for the work, mate! simple and strightforward.
I have a question for you, maybe you can help me out: I have a hearing loss problem. I lost around 30% of my capability on my left ear, and though im still able to work, i feel it is affecting my mixes, since i find myself trying to compensate with my right ear all the time, or else raising the volume. I was wondering if there is anyway to set up my monitors volume individually. If there is any built in tool or external plugin that can help. Thanx again, Peace!
Thanks for a great explanation. However, should the delay compensation under options be on or off when doing this?
Good question
Thank you .There are some interfaces that use USB C and even thunderbolt .Would this reduce the latency ? Does new hardware reduce latency compared to old hardware ?
Hi Mark, latency depends on a few factors including sample rate (higher rates mean lower latency), buffer sizes (smaller = lower latency), and connection protocol. The confusion around USB-C is that it's just the name of the physical connector rather than the data transfer protocol. So, the best thing to do is check whether your audio interface is USB-2 (with a USB-C connector) or a faster protocol such as USB 3 or Thunderbolt.
@@MusicTechOfficial Thank you .I have in mind for the next PC build to use a USB C mainboard with a Steinberg UR 816 C .To connect some hardware .I also have a MOTU microlite for midi .I appreciate your good communication skill .I upgraded Ableton today because I found what you said easy to understand .
@@markquavertune2003 Ah great news, Mark! Enjoy your new setup!
You lost me early on. Went through configure tab on external instrument device -- my Scarlet Focusrite is not listed under "MIDI Ports" in that Preferences window. I see 4 things listed under yours. The only thing listed under mine is Out: Microsoft GS Wavetable Synth. I don't know what that is. That is not a device I own nor did I ever set anything like that up. My actual Scarlet Focusrite that I own and set up (I use it with Ableton for everything except external instrument, like I'm trying to do now) is not listed in this Preferences Window. sad sad very sad
Great help, thanks!
Not 100 sold on the second "more accurate method" perhaps its my set up. I couldn't seem to get much difference dialling it in.... It didn't seem to change the latency in the tut nor on my computer either- check 7.17mins in... Yeah its slightly ahead but if you're attempting to program some tight percussion thats way off (for my liking) and warp's still engaged which always throws me a bit (as everything you're recording is essentially getting its tempo further manipulated.... It's a bit of a head fuck :)) gotta love it! Perhaps i'm missing something. I think i'm gonna trust my ears.
Can you use ableton as a sequencer and listening in your synth? Or do you need the audio interface?
Yes you could if your synth is connected to speakers / headphones or has built in speakers. Just send MIDI out from Ableton to your synth. You'll need a MIDI interface or a synth with USB MIDI though...
@@MusicTechOfficial Thank you!
hmmm all tutorials mention it, but I can't find external intrument in the list. But I can play audio from my old Kawai even without that "external instrument" thingie, though the Kawai clearly is one. Pretty confusing software^^
Which version are you using?
really really thanks
Thx for this really good tutorial. Just one question. If I do this in a live set and use the same hardware each time, will it be the same latency level every time I open Ableton or could it be, that latency changes from time to time?
Mine keep changes minute to minute. And I don’t want to even get started about when I add another external device. I have been tweaking track delays and every other setting for literally a week and recorded hundreds of tracks to get it right. Then I put a delay on a synth and I a;most smashed everything I own.
@@B0rnT0L05e I am trying out the trial version of Ableton. Same issue with the latency constantly changing. I get it set right and a bit later it’s off again. Set the new value and it changes again. I spent weeks trying to get it right and am about to quit trying. I have so much fun with my BeatStep Pro and 2 analog synths controlled via CV. It all works so well together but is a mess with this sync issue. The latency is a buzz kill for inspiration l.
I'm having a strange issue. No matter how adjust the Hardware Latency value in the External Instrument, my recorded latency of my hardware device remains the same. ??? ideas anyone?
Have you turned monitoring off on the track that's recording?
Very Very Very Nice...Thanks Sir....
Gracias. Regards from ibiza
I SAW YOU HAVE A BOUTH MONITOR GENELEC AND ADAM IN YOUR STUDIO WHICH ONE MORE ACCURATE SOUND TO YOU
Monitor choice is incredibly subjective - what you consider to have a better sound may not be what I consider to be better. It also depends on your budget. The best approach is to try and get a bit of time with the models you're thinking about - this may be possible at a dealer - and play back your tracks and a few commercial tracks that you like. Here are some other options to investigate in our round-up of 12 best budget monitors: www.musictech.net/guides/buyers-guide/best-budget-studio-monitors/
MAN!!! THANKS A LOT!!!
Excellent thanks
Thank you
helpful. thanx.
that's one bad beard
I love you
fantastic thankyou