Ableton Live 11 Suite
The immensely popular DAW enters its eleventh chapter with an array of new features. Tim Cant goes Live
The latest update of the performers’ staple gets our once-over
CONTACT KEY FEATURES
WHO: Ableton WEB: ableton.com Comping and track linking, MIDI Polyphonic Expression, audio tempo following for live performance, new randomisation features, enhanced macro controls, beefed-up follow action functionality, more instruments and effects, enhanced CPU performance monitoring, MIDI scale modes
Ableton has a long-held tradition of incrementally improving its software rather than radically altering it. Live 11, in that vein, features a large number of changes and improvements. These can be broadly split into three categories: enhanced tracking capabilities, new tools that will be primarily useful in a live performance context, and upgrades to Live’s existing sound generation, processing and sequencing capabilities.
For those who use Live to track MIDI and audio performances, the new comping and linked track capabilities will be the most exciting addition. Comping works in a straightforward manner: record audio or MIDI over a looped section of the project and the data will still be recorded to a single clip, but each cycle will be placed on a new take lane. Take lanes can be viewed by right-clicking on a track header and selecting Show Take Lanes, and they’re displayed under the main lane in a fashion similar to multiple automation lanes. To comp the recorded material one selects the desired section of a track lane, and presses the enter key to place it on the main lane. Alternatively, draw mode can be used – just drag over part of a clip and it will be placed on the main lane. It’s an easy-to-use solution to a long-requested feature that will no doubt delight those eagerly awaiting it.
Linked tracks work in a similarly unfussy fashion. To link tracks, one selects multiple tracks, right-clicks one of their track headers and selects “Link Tracks”. When tracks are linked, selections made on one of the tracks will be reflected on the others, making it possible to edit audio on multiple tracks at once. This is useful when working with multiple copies or related versions of the same material, and will likely prove invaluable to those dealing with multi-track vocal and drum recordings, but its functionality is limited to affecting clips at the same time position. For example, you can adjust the relative fade time of two clips that play at the same time on different tracks, but you still can’t adjust the fade times of multiple clips on the same track simultaneously. Still, a powerful feature, and one that can be used in conjunction with track lanes, making it possible to quickly create and edit complex multitrack layers. It even works with warping, making it easy to time-correct multi-track elements.
Live performance-wise, Live now has the ability to select an audio input channel and use it to control Live’s internal tempo. This is simple to set up, just select an audio input channel in Live’s Preferences > Link/ Tempo/MIDI panel, then set the Show Tempo Follower Toggle to Show and a ‘Follow’ button will appear to the left of the familiar ‘Tap’ button at the top left-hand corner of Live’s interface. Activate this and Live will analyse the audio input and adjust the project tempo accordingly. We had mixed results attempting to have Live follow along to various recordings and live