Ableton Live 10 – Audio Effects Tips

[Richard G]

During this overly tedious lockdown period I have been experimenting with the DAW software, Ableton Live 10 Lite that comes bundled with Focusrite 2i2. I’m no expert here but my initial trials with Ableton Lite doesn’t appear to be producing the acoustic guitar tones I’m looking for.
I’ve tinkered with the 3-Band EQ and Reverb options etc. but are there any Ableton Lite users out there that always use certain settings in the ‘Audio Effects’ area that produce reasonable tones.

I’m looking forward to trying out some different settings.

Richard

[sunjamr]

I would be less concerned about adding in various effects, and more concerned about actually experimenting with how you feed the audio into Ableton. In the end, Ableton just accurately reproduces whatever you feed into it. As an experiment, you could try feeding in a mic input and a direct pickup input (assuming your acoustic guitar has a pickup) simultaneously into two different Ableton channels. Then crank the mic input 100% onto left channel, and the pickup input 100% onto right channel and compare the two. Also, experiment with different mics. My Rode condenser mic gives a great sound, but my Shure SM-57 dynamic mic gives a rubbish sound. If you are after that massive resonating bass tone that some acoustic guitars produce in Youtube videos, I have found that piezo pickups or internal mic pickups alone don’t seem to get it. But I have a Martin (watch for it in the June challenge) which has a combination piezo/mic pickup, and the bass it produces is way more exaggerated than what your ear hears while playing it. You could check with Jola, because she installed an awesome sounding pickup (LR Baggs, I think) in one of her acoustics.

Sunjamr Steve

[Richard G]

Thanks Steve, I agree with you regards a good quality sound IN to start with is important. In that respect, I use, a Martin D35, LR Baggs Anthem, Focusrite, Shure SM57 (considering your findings) So input quality is OK. I’ll get there, I was just looking for a fastrack.

Richard

[JohnStrat]

I see that Brian uses a Rode NT1 I believe or perhaps a !a with his Martin. I have a new version the NT2a but have yet to get it into action but it has great reviews. I note Brian’s Martin looks to have Ebony Bridge pins which can affect tone quite a bit I believe. Sorry not to be an Ableton user I can use very basically Steinberg Cubase but am looking to move into Reaper which I have had a toy with and the NT2a.

[Richard G]

Thanks for your thoughts John, I’d be very interested in your finished results regards, Reaper and NT2a.

Richard

[charjo]

Richard,
Check out the Paul Davids video in this post thread of mine for some great acoustic recording tips.
John

EP 263 – Willie Nelson

[Richard G]

Spot on John, I’ve seen his other video on acoustic recording but not this one, good find, many thanks.

Richard

[sunjamr]

Yeah, if you do a Youtube search for “Ableton Live recording an acoustic guitar” you will also find many good tips.

Sunjamr Steve

[Richard G]

I’ve certainly watched many of the YT clips, but the only ones I’ve found referencing ‘Audio Effects’ so far, are not using the Lite version but relying on third party software, some at 200/300 dollars a pop. My search continues while I can’t go out and play golf.

Richard

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