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On Tue, Oct 21, 2008 at 11:01 AM, Nick <ParadoxQuine@gmail.com> wrote: > Thanks for all the advice Per, it sounds like my goals are more realistic > than I thought :) The challenge these days is not to find good tools but to figure out the best ways to use them to get the results you envision. > One thing I've been wondering is: I love manipulating audio with the >kaoss > pad, but there are two things I'd really like to do: 1) manipulate only >PART > of the incoming signal (ie the vocals, the bass, etc). I know a lot of >the > effects can target a frequency range, but would it be possible for me to > send the audio to some kind of mixer, which would then send a signal to >the > kaoss and another to my speakers, and would also let me only send a >certain > frequency range to the kaoss pad at a time? Ableton Live already IS that kind of mixer. Given you are using it with a multi in/output audio interface. All inputs and outputs are displayed in Live for routing. So as long as your vocals go into the computer through one particular audio interface input channel you should be able to rout it anywhere, duplicate it for parallel routing and further processing. 2) is there any way I can get > the audio out from the kaoss into my computer and then, somehow, to my > speakers (I'd assume i'd set the kaoss pad to send, resulting in the > speakers playing the original track + kaoss effected track just like my > current comp->pad->speaker setup). That way I could process sound via the > pad but still record it via ableton live so I wouldn't have to buy a $1k+ > hardware looper. Same answer as above applies here as well ;-) However, you should be aware of the fact that a live audio input is being a bit delayed (latency) by the digitizing process. Same goes when making the signal analog at the output. This is a matter of about twenty milliseconds and may or may not be an issue, depending on the situation. Most audio interfaces offer a direct monitoring output of input streams (mic/line inputs), normally through the phones output. So there you have a workaround to snag a live input with almost zero latency if going for parallel processing in the Kaoss Pad. If latency is not an issue you might as well use Live's software mixer to route a live input to any audio interface output. > If it's not possible to do 2) up there, and I can't get audio from my >kaoss > back into my comp to be looped, what is a good hardware looper to look >at? Only you can answer that. Depends on what functions you need. Go to a music store and try them out so you can buy the one that you like. > Also, any recommendations on firewire audio boxes? I'd prefer >inexpensive, Inexpensive audio interfaces means less good mic pre amps. If not using acoustic mic inputs you will not suffer from that though. I have an Ecco AudioFire2 that sounds as good as my RME FireFace400 (most bang for the buck when also considering mic input pre amp quality) as far as analog output fidelity goes. That's one of the least expensive boxes that still offers a digital input, something I wouldn't want to miss out on because it makes the box compatible with other gear now and in the future. Other good audio interfaces in that lowest price range are also available - but the AudioFire2 looks cool! ;-) I regard the RME FireFace400 as most bang for the buck when also considering mic input pre amp quality. It sounds really good and to get a better mic input sound you would have to pay a lot more. > but I'll wait until I can afford a $1k one if that's the only way to >ensure > insanely small lag and drift (I'm very particular about everything being > perfectly on time). Latency is not smaller with a more expensive audio interface. As said, what the bigger price tag brings are better mic input sound and useful utility features. Software like Ableton Live automatically compensates for the latency when playing back audio. This means both AD/DA conversion latency and locally created latency due to software effect plug-ins on the channel. Software loopers usually compensate for the AD/DA conversion latency. But this compensation does not apply to a real-time live audio input signal! This is because the software needs to know in advance what audio is incoming (lookahead functionality) in order to time shift the playback. > Lastly (sorry if my email is too long!), are there any other devices out > there for effects/sound manipulation that are similar to a kaoss pad? I > would really like to stack effects (I think two would be plenty though) >but > the x-y touch pad is, for certain, the most natural way to manipulate >sound > for me. So, be it another kaoss pad (if that's actually useful) or >something > totally different, I'd love to hear of anything else that fits my style. You should read the Ableton Live manual, the chapter on its built-in effects! Live has some really nice effect plug-ins that can be controlled by the Kaoss Pad over MIDI. You can also do a search at the Live forum for inspiration: http://www.ableton.com/forum/index.php -- Greetings from Sweden Per Boysen www.boysen.se (Swedish) www.looproom.com (international) www.myspace.com/perboysen www.stockholm-athens.com