Recording Audio with Ableton Live 7.0.3

[niallmhor]

Hi there. I am a relative newbie to Ableton, and have been having much fun making beats, the problem occurs when I try to record audio. I am just using my laptops Realtek Audio minijack input to record fiddle from an amp and using the laptops audio out to monitor.
It seems that when I record the audio track is re recording everything else in the tune too, with a half second delay. It is not from the fiddles pickup receiving the monitor, it is inside the computer setup, but I cant suss out how to sort it. Please Help!?!?!?!

[Cailyn]

That delay is called latency and it's caused by delays as the signal goes through your computer sound card and the software. Computer native sound cards are not really very good for recording sound in programs like Live. The best solution is to buy an audio interface that uses ASIO drivers (virtually all interfaces do). Otherwise, go into Preferences and reduce the Output Buffer Size until you start to get drop outs in the signal and then adjust the Driver Error Compensation until the latency = 0.

[niallmhor]

Sweet! Had a 2 hour debate last night with my band member as to what it was and it was latency!! Thanks

[niallmhor]

Well, Have sorted out the latency issues, but that isnt it. It is something to do with the routing of the setup. Im not sure where I should be sending the backing tracks so that they are just playing through the output rather than going back through the audio channel and being re recorded, creating the loop that is causing the problems?

[Cailyn]

There is one of two possibilities. Route directly to the master track or two a return track first (where people often add effects) and then to master. You should set the monitor to AUTO. Beneath that is the audio routing option. Hope this helps.

[evoplas]

I have zoom zfx software plug in and cant get the effects to record when i use Ableton Live 7?Any ideas please?

[Cailyn]

Originally Posted by evoplas

I have zoom zfx software plug in and cant get the effects to record when i use Ableton Live 7?Any ideas please?

Is it a vst plugin? Where have you put it in the signal chain?

[PierreXI]

Originally Posted by niallmhor

Well, Have sorted out the latency issues, but that isnt it. It is something to do with the routing of the setup. Im not sure where I should be sending the backing tracks so that they are just playing through the output rather than going back through the audio channel and being re recorded, creating the loop that is causing the problems?

I think I see the problem. Are you using headphones or do you have monitors/speakers on and hooked up to the computer when you're recording? If not, then the mic is picking up the raw recording as well as the feedback from the speakers. What you have to do is either record with headphones on or turn the setting beside the track you're recording on not on AUTO but on OFF.

[evoplas]

I have managed to get ableton to load the zoom zfx as a plugin,but not really sure how i did it as when i loaded ableton one day it was in the plugin section!Is there a method to do this with all plugins/vst instruments.I have another software package amplitude which i cant get to work in ableton.I am new to home recording so any help would be appreciated.

Dell Dimension 9200 2.13 ghz 2g ram
Vista 32bit Business
zoom s2t usb interface
Ny City Drumworks 2
Fender lonestar Strat usa
ibanez rdgr bass
Martin Auditorium Cutaway acoustic

[PierreXI]

1. Either find Ableton's VST plugins folder or create your own.

2. Install or put the .dll files for all your plugins into that folder.

3. In Live, go into Preferences, then to the Plug-Ins window, then click choose custom VST plugins folder.

4. Set that folder as the folder you created and put all the plugins in.

I think there is also an option in Preferences to scan your computer and find any plugins. Sorry I don't have Live open right now, it's on my other comp... Hope it helps, though...