I don't know about the other DAWs but I know Reason has very similar functionality to all of this (Combinators = Racks). Racks presumably have a few features Combinators do not, but given the non-linear insanity patches you can build in Reason I'm assuming Ableton misses a few features there. It's largely personal preference.
@@Kaitain Too bad Reason is more focused on becoming a VST than a DAW now because I used to live in Reason, but Live is just much more optimized, less CPU hungry, and with the Session view (clips/ scene launching/ launch sequencing) I don’t know of any other DAW or software that is as good for live jamming and performing.
@@HelicopterRidesForCommunists I remember like 20 years ago that reason was the best companion for ableton live to play live through rewire, when reason was only a very good plugin, now it looks like a very complicated "daw wannabe".
For anyone that is new or moderate at DAW music making - this is an insanely powerful tool if you can wrap your head around it and utilize it. The potential is staggering.
How do you add existing tracks to an instrument rack within the same project? For example, I have three seperate tracks, each with their own softsynth plugin and I want to group them into one, single instrument rack for macro purposes. Why can't I select all three tracks, right-click and Group them into a single Instrument Rack? Or drag and drop the tracks into an existing instrument rack? Am I missing something here?
I'm considering to switch from Hollyhock Usine to Ableton Live for my real time processing needs and Effect Racks seem to be a quick way to set up my routing and processing scenario. One of my main needs is switching through scenes (where a scene is considered a combination of settings with a combination of plugins) via midi, exactly what you would do in an old-school rack filled of hardware effect processors. Is this possible? Thank you!
In the Instrument Rack I can switch from one instrument to another using a MIDI controller or computer keyboard. I am controlling the parameters of my instruments that are inside the Instrument Rack using a controller. Each instrument has its own parameters. To switch from one instrument to another, in the Instrument Rack, I also use a MIDI controller, but when I switch instruments, in order to control the parameters of the respective instrument to which I switched, I have to click (inside the Instrument Rack) with the mouse on the instrument I am using, so that I can “activate” it, and thus be able to control its respective parameters. Is there a way to do this operation of switching instruments, and at the same time keep it “activated”, without using the mouse?
I have a question. Is it possible to have a reverb or any other effect on an audio or midi track, and put an equalizer which would only affect that reverb but not the audio track or the vst instrument?
I've been benefitting enormously from the series so far but after twice through this one I still get lost. For example: nesting a rack within a rack. How?
Can Ableton Live Lite save all those self created racks as presets? From trying out the Lite demo version, all aspects of creating sophisticated racks is there... :) Any limitation on how complex can i go in Lite vs. Standard/Suite? Thanks!
Yes, you can save an instrument rack and drag it back whenever you need it, that's what I do in my band (80s tribute band), I have an instrument rack for every song I play with all the sounds I need.
I’m having trouble with Instrument Rack automation. Everytime I save one and import it again, the automation in the rack is gone. What am I doing wrong?
Hi there. Thanks for reaching out. It sounds like you're applying automations to a Live set containing an Instrument Rack. However, automations are applied to the set, not the device. To continue using whatever automations you prepared, you would need to open that specific saved Live set to access those automations again. Here's some more info: bit.ly/3FofxE4 Thanks - Ableton
Reason invented the Combinator. Then Ableton took the idea and nearly perfected it with Racks. Today, Reason is still crying in a corner, wondering what happened.
No, they don't. They actually introducing Combinator Mk2 with Reason 12 which lets you create your own GUI for the instrument or FX you've built. Also, Bitwig perfected the racks :)
So convoluted. I’m gonna find a random youtuber to actually explain it in a way that makes sense. Probably someone who says “right-click” instead of “call up the context menu”
Racks are the reason why Ableton is arguably the best when it comes to the creative process. There is just so much you can do.
I don't know about the other DAWs but I know Reason has very similar functionality to all of this (Combinators = Racks). Racks presumably have a few features Combinators do not, but given the non-linear insanity patches you can build in Reason I'm assuming Ableton misses a few features there. It's largely personal preference.
@@Kaitain Too bad Reason is more focused on becoming a VST than a DAW now because I used to live in Reason, but Live is just much more optimized, less CPU hungry, and with the Session view (clips/ scene launching/ launch sequencing) I don’t know of any other DAW or software that is as good for live jamming and performing.
I used to hope that Reason would implement its own version of Session mode, but I doubt that’s going to happen.
Honestly I prefer Reason’s Arrangement view to Live’s.
@@HelicopterRidesForCommunists I remember like 20 years ago that reason was the best companion for ableton live to play live through rewire, when reason was only a very good plugin, now it looks like a very complicated "daw wannabe".
Do not sleep on this feature. Stacked not linear. Changed my life 🧬🧬🧬
For anyone that is new or moderate at DAW music making - this is an insanely powerful tool if you can wrap your head around it and utilize it. The potential is staggering.
This is brilliant! Thank you Ableton!
Is there a place where racks are being shared? I‘m interested in what people came up with
that's a great idea
Two Year late, but there's a reddit for that. R/Ableton Racks
How do you add existing tracks to an instrument rack within the same project?
For example, I have three seperate tracks, each with their own softsynth plugin and I want to group them into one, single instrument rack for macro purposes.
Why can't I select all three tracks, right-click and Group them into a single Instrument Rack?
Or drag and drop the tracks into an existing instrument rack?
Am I missing something here?
I'm considering to switch from Hollyhock Usine to Ableton Live for my real time processing needs and Effect Racks seem to be a quick way to set up my routing and processing scenario.
One of my main needs is switching through scenes (where a scene is considered a combination of settings with a combination of plugins) via midi, exactly what you would do in an old-school rack filled of hardware effect processors.
Is this possible?
Thank you!
In the Instrument Rack I can switch from one instrument to another using a MIDI controller or computer keyboard.
I am controlling the parameters of my instruments that are inside the Instrument Rack using a controller. Each instrument has its own parameters.
To switch from one instrument to another, in the Instrument Rack, I also use a MIDI controller, but when I switch instruments, in order to control the parameters of the respective instrument to which I switched, I have to click (inside the Instrument Rack) with the mouse on the instrument I am using, so that I can “activate” it, and thus be able to control its respective parameters.
Is there a way to do this operation of switching instruments, and at the same time keep it “activated”, without using the mouse?
Well explained in great detail. There are some guys out there selling Ableton Live courses. You are ruining their business lolololol 😂😂
I have a question. Is it possible to have a reverb or any other effect on an audio or midi track, and put an equalizer which would only affect that reverb but not the audio track or the vst instrument?
great feature
how do you handle octaves ? So I can play for instance an instrument a octave above or bellow but not the others.
I've been benefitting enormously from the series so far but after twice through this one I still get lost. For example: nesting a rack within a rack. How?
Can Ableton Live Lite save all those self created racks as presets?
From trying out the Lite demo version, all aspects of creating sophisticated racks is there... :)
Any limitation on how complex can i go in Lite vs. Standard/Suite?
Thanks!
Yes, you can save an instrument rack and drag it back whenever you need it, that's what I do in my band (80s tribute band), I have an instrument rack for every song I play with all the sounds I need.
very cool
this is so complicated, all I've understood is the key and velocity. but, this is why ableton got a lot of fans
Racks are just fantastic. Super racks are even more fun - in depth video here: ua-cam.com/video/PwLmS1dAyNg/v-deo.html
I’m having trouble with Instrument Rack automation. Everytime I save one and import it again, the automation in the rack is gone. What am I doing wrong?
Hi there. Thanks for reaching out. It sounds like you're applying automations to a Live set containing an Instrument Rack. However, automations are applied to the set, not the device. To continue using whatever automations you prepared, you would need to open that specific saved Live set to access those automations again. Here's some more info: bit.ly/3FofxE4 Thanks - Ableton
racks on racks
Wait, so Ableton has an official YT channel?!
👌
I never understood the chain feature. Now I do...
What kind of witchcraft
Reason invented the Combinator. Then Ableton took the idea and nearly perfected it with Racks. Today, Reason is still crying in a corner, wondering what happened.
No, they don't. They actually introducing Combinator Mk2 with Reason 12 which lets you create your own GUI for the instrument or FX you've built.
Also, Bitwig perfected the racks :)
God bless German engineering lol
So convoluted. I’m gonna find a random youtuber to actually explain it in a way that makes sense. Probably someone who says “right-click” instead of “call up the context menu”