3 Ways To Use A Hardware Synth With Ableton Live

Mad Zach shares three ways of working with a MIDI-conntected hardware synth in an Ableton Live production environment. Read more: bit.ly/abletons...

[@cutdafukup]

i like this dude hes got the funk

[@HotelEdenMusic]

cutdafukup agreed, funk is present

[@usdjxavi]

Achievement unlocked - the woo force

[@-RXB-]

straight funkadelic

[@sandgaijin]

Is this the actual human embodiment of Reid Stefan??

[@douglasmcclose7773]

this is seriously singlehandedly one of the most informative videos. sick techniques thank you

[@streetpyramids]

I like how you combined the 3 different approaches all in one. I searched fruitlessly for something like this awhile back. Great video, thanks!

[@theglovefactory]

pure gold. best video and vibes I've seen on Live.

[@graphene1487]

everywhere i turn, Mad Zach is there. always one step ahead man

[@peri252]

mateee, thank you so much for this video. Not enough people out there actually stripping it back and explaining stuff well.

[@lap01nte]

dude...i am about to get my first analog synth...and u just summed up my 3 top questions in 10 minutes what i couldn't find in 10 days.....with a funky chill groove to go in my lunch box cause i just got schooled....thank so you much

[@Splinter5k]

that drum rack was sick

[@fadilelmansour9487]

Been waiting for a video on hardware synth vs ableton for YEARS. Well played M.Z. !

[@danielcho2698]

I know this is an old video. But thanks for this. I was trying to decide between the Sub Phatty and the Grandmother. I was already leaning towards the Phatty. But this sealed the deal. Great video!

[@peterjohnjoseph]

So this is what Freddy Kruger did before the serial killing...

[@ClayF403]

Dude, you just drained my bank account with this video. THANKS A LOT :/

[@jeffkerestes]

That was a fantastic video. I was looking for some help to use my Sub 37 with Ableton. Mad Zach, you're the man. Thanks for taking the time to put this on the webs.

[@polzki81]

Really great vid! Please can you make an extra vid of the sample editing and chopping you've done there?

[@thomas_rellum]

Best video about Hardware on Live

[@graphene1487]

oh snap!! You've got the Freddie in full affect man!!!

[@toddtrulock6809]

Freddy

[@ProjectGagarineBand]

Very inspiring techniques, especially the second one. Cheers mate.

[@johndeggendorf7826]

thanks, zach. new school meets old school (I'm old school). Gotta watch this again.

[@dlandguth]

I've just got you say YOU ROCK!! those jams were dope!

[@AshleyLewisHolden]

This is seriously the best.

[@tiptop9972]

Your tutorial is awesome. I learned more than in a 6 hrs course. Please more maybe a Push 2 tutorial? Thanks👍👍

[@grimmsbrothersgirl]

Thanks for this, not one of these videos out there! Moog doesn't even have tutorials on this. Amazing!

[@mattylevo]

Thanks Zach.....Great tutorial and communication with your audience. Can you make a similar video using an Ableton Push por favor?

[@erich.p.2854]

Ayo just found out about your videos today. REALLY GOOD content ;) I was especially looking for more intermediate/advanced techniques for ableton and your videos are full of useful stuff to get those creative juices flowin Large ups mate

[@CamxCam.]

He reminds me of this quiet kid back in high school who could dance really well, but nobody knew it because he didn't talk much. I felt like I watched that kid bust out dancing in the middle of class when this guy started twisting knobs. Didn't know he had it in 'im.

[@kb420ps]

Nothing sounds as good as TRUE ANALOG!!!!!!! The Sub Phatty is awesome!!!!!

[@michaelwiggler511]

Meh... it sounds really decent. There are synths that cost half price of sub phatty and sounds the same or even with extra functionality. If you want moog that is moog, sub37 is the one. Mother 32 can join the game.

[@blixx87]

MIchael Wiggler can you name the other synths? I’m in the market for one right now. I also checked out the Korg Minilauge

[@-RXB-]

Well no synth really sounds "the same" as a moog. The filter and warmth of moog is not something I've heard any other synth even come close to. I would probably say that moog mother 32 or perhaps a second hand moog of the same pricerange is enough though. More than that is not worth the price at all. I'd rather get for example a moog m32 PLUS several other synths than just one moog.

[@MrMargaretScratcher]

@@-RXB- *cough* Behringer Model D *cough*

[@lk0707]

well done. many thanks for advice with automation.

[@Lets-Drone-With-Bone]

great tutorial, ive always wanted to know how this is done, i cant wait to try this with my Roland Gaia :-) :-)

[@MadZach]

also guys if you want to check out an Ableton project where I used all analog sounds from the Moog check out (and help out with...) my crowdsourced EP project here: bit.ly/LUErO6

[@Phobos2085]

Great editing. Thanks for the info.

[@zedster911]

As always... absolutely amazing

[@welcome2insanity]

Very helpful thanks, love Mad Zachs videos he's a great tutor

[@TheTFSstudios]

Awesome video. Could you do a video or explain how to use multiple control devices in Ableton? I want to use a Tr-8, Apc40 MkII, Beatstep Pro, Mpk49, Akai Advance, and a Push. I can not figure out how to lock a device on a certain channel. I.e. dedicating the Advance to a strings channel and let the push move to channels as needed.

[@AntidoteAudio]

Mad Zach is an ableton guru!

[@S4SK__1]

gosh hardware equipment sounds soooo NICE...

[@ArcAudios77]

Great work Zach, got ideas now so thanks for the guide on hardware integration. regards

[@ProfessorSaibertin]

Thanks for the awesome tips.

[@TylerANDBABE]

much respect to this dude.

[@ethberd]

Damn example 2 sounds like early bassnectar and I'm here for that

[@YNGDYE]

Mad Zach, you're the best man

[@andrewtrushinski3848]

This is good info. Thanks Mad Zach!

[@JaysonDavidspace]

Another great video MaDzaCh.... 'ThanX

[@FelixDegenaar]

Or: you could just go ahead, record your knob-twiddling in Ableton and when you're done, check in the MIDI Ctr list of that clip which parameters got automated. Saves you the hassle of finding the synth manual (who knows where they are anyway?).

[@Jenia_Clouzer]

great tutorial bro, aspecial step 3, thanks!

[@LouisSerieusement]

thanks those hardware synth tutorial are hard to find, plus I like the way you explain and I really loved your acid line ^^ great video !!

[@03isub]

This was very informative thanks I didn't know it was that easy to Intergrate a hardware synth and how much control you can have with these really powerful synth apps on iOS coming out I it's gonna get more fun creating random sounds in the future I want a hardware synth now lol

[@ceeroo6736]

U changed my life bro :D

[@carinasagittariusproject4764]

yeah, yeah,yeah! many thanks you are great!!! more please!!!

[@grzesiek13307]

Amazing video man, big ups! Some real usefull knowledge, clear explanations and good vibes, thx!

[@JasonDeeCaldwell]

thanks zach great job!! big help!! i def need to invest in an audio interface before i purchase the arturia microbrute!! any suggestions on something affordable?

[@djvar94]

Very great tutorial Mad thanks for sharing :)

[@GuitarsAndSynths]

Dude such an awesome helpful video! I've been looking into getting a hardware synth for old school sounds and how to use with Ableton. Do you know a way to integrate with the Ableton Push 2 controller to switch between Moog and Ableton Push 2 controller?

[@austinacevedo1]

Hey guy I love your videos and I've learned so much from you so thank you for all of your help! I am attempting to send midi information from 3 different controllers and I wanted to know which audio interface you might suggest to do so. I will be using a midi keyboard for live keys, the Akai APC40 for live sampling, and my Moog Sub 37 all in alignment with effects and the masterclock in Ableton. Any help with this would be greatly appreciated! Thank you!

[@lennardvillasenor5151]

Such a great video. Subscribed.

[@Sinetskiy]

I didn't know about CC msgs, thanks

[@DankBrisket]

Good tutorial. Thanks.

[@TheEddevil]

Hey mate ! Thanks for the tutorial! Can you explain to me how syncronize the drum loops with the synth? Thanks

[@AJC19811]

Can I do this with volca sample

[@mrsluhlee]

Andrew Crump im about to get one , I too was wondering this, have you gotten any answers?

[@josehaya6362]

Amazing video! I was wondering if there could be quality loss because of the audio output of the external hardware going through the audio interface. I am willing to use a Nord Drum 3P with my Komplete Audio 6. I guess it would always be possible to connect the Nord audio directly to the mixer without going through the interface. Of course that wouldnt allow me to mix the sound on ableton.

[@thisdjdada]

mad zack is the truth

[@tonybucks5709]

The collaboration with his buddy "G. Jones"... LOL

[@markm4496]

how can you set this up if your soundcard doesnt have a midi? I am using the uad apollo twin with the sub phatty and ableton. I cant get the midi routing right and when i do it the way you do it in the video my midi is double tapping and out of time. The audio records great. Any suggestions I cant find an answer anywhere? Thanks

[@esoteric6178]

Mark M mess around with track delay to get the timing right. If the track delays aren't on underneath each track click the little D on the bottom right. This will get your midi in time with the other tracks. Make sure your synth is set up to remotely controlled. Turn off local control. Also session view works poorly for recording instruments. Use arrangement view. Ableton does a much better job there.

[@bstephen9]

Great video man, can't wait to get home and set everything up! Great sounds loving the moog. What drum sounds are you using?

[@SunShingles]

very very useful! thanks G!

[@ledeReini]

you really make nice tutorials! greets from greynotes

[@therealrussellsmyth]

So informative, thank you sir

[@Jordissan]

FANTASTIC THANKS

[@ThurstanTV]

Great stuff, was really looking for something like thise

[@markquavertune2003]

Thank you for explaining CC automation .I find that not all synth brands are friendly to cc implementation via DAW automation .

[@JONASYNTHESIS]

Very usefull indeed. Cheers!

[@tobiasbraun7635]

Hey Mad This is a very useful video. Thanks a lot. But I got a little problem trying to control my moog slim phatty with ableton. As soon as the moog gets the midi-signal from Ableton, the internel control buttens of the moog don't work anymore. Means nothing happens when I move the control buttons on the moog. Any Idea what I need to change in the settings? Thanks and all the best, Tobi

[@LohPro]

the filter automation he is doing at 10:04, is the filter sweeping coming from the actual Moog filter or is it from Ableton Live? Is him drawing it in in Ableton like that, the same as if he was physically turning the filter knob on the Moog? The filter itself is actually from the Moog? I suppose the drawing in just allows you to get way precise doing it visually instead of with your ears?

[@TwistedMentality089]

this saved my life ! thanks

[@drahmdahl3014]

Thanks for the video! Is it possible to move away-from-keyboard by recording knob tweaks on the synth as automations in Ableton? (with a midi-cable connected on the out from the synth to the in on the i MIDI interface)

[@simonlabelle6065]

HI i'm new to ableton and I just got my microbrute which is really awesome and i got that set up.. Line out from microbrute to input 1 roland cakewalk soundcard and midi in from microbrute to midi out soundcard and usb to pc. When I set up my external instrument I can hear the microbrute but when i press play on the track with a midi loop i can't hear it.. I don't know if its clear enough to see the problem I just can t wait to produce with that baby.

[@Ast3rixMusic]

Hey groove at 2:31

[@Dachef313232]

this is great stuff thank you!

[@lanipurkis7479]

Thank you!

[@TheShonycollins]

This is great, thanks!

[@ioannist.5568]

I'm new to daws so excuse me if my question is silly. I did the exact same setup and created a loop that was sent to my sub phatty via midi. However when I hit recording, all the changes/automations I do to the sound using my hands on fiter, resonance etc cannot be recorded. What's wrong with it?

[@diegoortega8737]

Hi man, recently i recorded my Microbrute through an Scarlett Focusrite 2i2, and noted that the sound changed a little, kind of less warmth and bassy, did you have exactly the same song of the original or noticed some changes

[@TPTE5]

Ive always used VSTs and recently decided to buy a synthesizer (deepmind 12). If I wanted to use this for multiple elements, different tracks, is this possible with just midi? I imagine not so would i have to boubce everything to audio once happy with it? Like if i had a nice pad patch for one track and then a lead patch with the same hardware then both of then would change right? Can i have both tracks retain the patch in midi so they can both play as separate patches? It sounds impossible which i inagine it is but if its not id love to know! Can't find a thing on Google.

[@demolitionkid2]

Mad Zach rocking the Freddy Kruger sweater lol

[@Viseversa444]

thanx you were very helpfullll

[@queefburglar6996]

Which audio interface would you recommend? I have yet to pick mine up. I got myself a sub phatty a few months back and have been playing with it since, but I think I'm ready to test it on my computer now.

[@Guuuutn]

Very good tutorial man, thx =)

[@JamesSumners]

It's tough to reach for that MoPho when you got a Moog right beside it, isn't it? Oh, and stretch the hell out of those Moog samples. The Slim Phatty stretches out _real_ nice.

[@giov5342]

very informative. other ppl that make videos should learn how to inform viewers from this guy

[@louismelancon79]

i been trying for so long to hook up my rane 56 to ableton to record scratches (hardware wise).... can t beleive there NO videos on the topic. If one thing... one should make a video on how to do that im sure thats what most old school scratch djs would like to do first in ableton, BEING ABLE TO RECORD YOUR ANALOGUE TURNTABLE/MIXER IN ABLETON. I can do it in reaper through rewire/rearoute and virtual dj BUT THERE MUST be a way to do it in ableton too!! I have a midi turntable (numark ttx) with a timecoded vinyl, also i have a rane 56 ttm analogue mixer, with an audio 4 dj card with an rme audio interface. How to make all of that work in ableton to record scratches ? please help, thanks for the video, quite instructive! cheers

[@avenlanemusic]

I plugged in the midi the exact same way with my subphatty, but it’s not recording the midi when I’m playing it from the synths keyboard , I can only draw it in from ableton via midi track, any reasons why that’s happening?

[@gnarwhalbeats2403]

yo you should do an updated 2017 version of this video with new techniques and cool sound design shit

[@brianwarner308]

thanks mad zach

[@millsmixx5080]

I like the look of the arrangement. Where did you get that awesome skin for Ableton? I don't think that's in the Ableton 9 preferences. Details please!. I notice you don't answer any of the comments on this video post.What purpose does that serve? please get back to some of the people on this thread and their questions. thanks!

[@tvd-theremedy2515]

I see you asked this a year ago, so you've probably either found it or moved on-- but just in case (or if anyone else looks for it), the skin I'm using in Live 9 looks pretty much exactly like this. It's called "Monolake". I've downloaded some skins, but I think this one came with Live. Idk what the default settings are, but mine is set to-- Brightness- 120%, Color Intensity- 0%, and Color Hue- 0. Those might be the default numbers... I can't remember.

[@millsmixx5080]

+kingcrawford thanks! I just tried it out now and looks good.

[@PulledPurk]

Thanks funky shamwow guy!

[@julientarot7470]

Thanks for the vido man!! You rocks! I have a question, how can I recording knob tweaks on the synth as automations in Ableton?? I use An usb audio interface linked like you but it doesn't work. Can you help me? Thanks

[@ronnicol2642]

I think the expert sleepers eurorack audio interface(es-8) is the only thing that can do what you're requesting. The use a set of algorithms to convert incoming control voltage to MIDI

[@LYPSTEBARZ]

Midi preferences - midi ports - input - Remote on

[@drahmdahl3014]

I am also interested in how people set this up. It sounds like a simple setup whereas you use your midicontroller connected to ableton and map knobs/sliders to midichannel + cc on the midi interfaces output (which is connected to the midi in on the synth first in the chain)

[@coretrupp]

Hi MZ, thanks for your Video. The way you show at 4:25 min. I get a lot of noise sounds if I play cutted loops from my recording. I work with the Korg minilogue, Ableton Live and Focusrite Scarlett 2i4. Do you have a tipp for me how I clear the noise sounds? I have read a lot of this toppic (zero point, etc.) but nothing helps.

[@mcgrealtube]

Hi, I am having problems doing this. I have a saffire pro which I use with ableton and ableton recognizes it in the audio preferences but not in the external instrument midi to. I can tempo trigger my hardware synth but cant get it to recieve midi notes. Thanks for any help

[@paulbyrnesrmt2929]

Ok trying to sync analogue audio effects from a nord into ableton 10 and have midi 808 sync up with a tremolo or pan. Do I also need a midi cable with my audio? Currently running stereo 3/4 into focusrite into mac.Thanks

[@puma8373]

What automation can u change in the audio clip it’s self?

[@ELCONDUCTOR]

I'm starting to integrate a MiniNova into my setup so this helps a lot. How were the midi notes created in your project? Meaning, did you use a different controller, did you use the Sub Phat, did you copy paste them from another clip, did you draw them in or use a midi template?