How to use your Hardware Synth in your DAW! | Ableton Live External Instrument Tutorial

Using a hardware synth with your DAW can be a bit confusing if you've never done it, today I'll show you how to do it in just a few easy steps!
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00:00 Intro

[@aleji0]

I love it when I look up a "how to" for something music related in general terms and the example device that the person is using is the same piece of hardware Im using. I just love that shit.

[@matthewmizachi5286]

AMAZING TUTORIAL DUDE, WELL EXPLAINED AND EASY TO UNDERSTAND. And I can tell how passionate you are about all of it, so KUDOS!

[@youngmemory604]

Excellent explanation, using exactly the hardware and DAW I'm using. Thanks!

[@FRIZZA201]

Thanks man, exactly what i was searching for!

[@philipsheard624]

Excellent tutorial. You've gone over everything necessary for a beginner to understand the process, thank you.

[@sachamerzian6640]

This is the one you are looking for. No more furrowed eyebrows after this comprehensive walkthrough. BRAVO HUNTER

[@bombasted876]

Great video man! Even having had a music teacher show me this, you made it easy to understand, and put things in terms people with less experience like me can get!

[@denizatalay]

Thank you. It really helped me!

[@davidstyer7377]

Hi Hunter, have you experienced difficulty with the MicroFreak's Arp/Seq function within Ableton Live? Would love to see a video of that being covered!

[@marcin41310]

Try this, go to microfreak Midi control center and set midi clock source to auto. It solved my arp problems.

[@bowlofrice7214]

​@marcin41310 is that solving the problem where the arp isn't looping when you hold it down ?

[@alexjcorona2605]

I have this same issue! @@bowlofrice7214

[@AVCOME]

Hi Hunter, that way you can play with plugin such as valhalla or other abelton effect with your hardware synth?

[@MiloMaze-i6t]

brilliant thank you I didnt know about the external instrument ableton setting

[@gastgast7852]

Great Video, finaly understand the usb connection and din. As I understand it will not be problem to redirect the audio to a other external mixing console? So that the DAW will send the midi only to the keyboard..😎

[@Lady_karagan]

Where did you find those adapters? And how can you make it USB?

[@domasedelectronica]

Is it possible to add automation for filter and other controls on microfreak to that midi track with external instrument?

[@kateleenf3290]

Wow there are some phasing issues

[@Lady_karagan]

Where did you find those adapters?

[@taczie_tah--5573]

Hello from Japan. I followed your explanation but the MIDI to port of Ext. Instrument device didn't show Arturia Microfrerak. I don't understand. So well that I hear the sound but Live is not sending MIDI data to Microfreak. Do you know how to solve it?

[@Dubree]

Hi! You need to enable "Output: Arturia MicroFreak: Track/Sync/Remote" in the "MIDI ports" section of the preferences. I use Ableton 9.

[@taczie_tah--5573]

@@DubreeI'll try that😊

[@thesnowleopard66]

I have everything connected as you do but for some reason live 10 does not recognize the moog minitaur in "midi to". Strange because in logic I have no issues

[@MULLIEGRAF]

I cant get my Behringer Neutron to show up in my external instrument, any idea how to get that to show up?

[@sanjinans]

If its hardwarw it needs audio, so you need to plug the audio outputs from the synth into your soundcard. Then just pick the outputs from the soundcard as inputs in ableton(if you have more than 2 inputs on soundcard go into ableton options and select input/output in " audio" section and add desired inputs).

[@OfficialMarlo]

Hi hunter, noob here, when you say you plug the audio into your interface, what do you mean? Can i plug that straight into my computer or do I need another piece of hardware? Cant seem to get this part to work

[@jansburiak94]

you need an audio usb interface in order to hear the output from your synth on the computer, or in this case in your daw. you can connect it with a typical guitar cable and plug it into one of the ins on the interface and then the other end of the cable to the output of your synth.

[@drTinta]

Hey Hunter, great video! Can you simultaneously use microfreak as a midi controller and record the knob movements on a midi track?

[@grxyrxse666]

Same question here… I think is possible if you do it that way, it will get recorded into the midi expression, velocity and all that if you use it as a conteoller

[@luciendemoulin6297]

i cant make the sequencer/arp of the microfreak work properlly plz help

[@johnchemla1989]

same problem here

[@thompsonbertschy7453]

Hey there, super helpful video, especially because I am trying to set up my Microfreak into Ableton Live 11. I'm getting lost right at 6:17, on 'audio from'. I have my audio cable running out of my Microfreak and into the headphone jack on my computer, but can't seem to get it to recognize it/set up. Do I need any other equipment to get audio running into my PC? Thanks in advance!!

[@eduardozacariasmartinez6362]

You will need an audio interface so you can route from the output of the microfreak into one of the channels of your interface, I recommend the scarlet series for a first interface it will last you a lifetime

[@thompsonbertschy7453]

@@eduardozacariasmartinez6362 thanks for the quick response! I'll look into it.

[@eastsidegangsta320]

Hey dude love the content! Can you please let us know what room lighting you use? Aesthetics looking FIRE homie!

[@ricosong5983]

bro the phase is upsidedown

[@serenussol]

this is super helpful. Thanks!

[@pratiksingh1094]

Can we automate the effect knobs in the synth

[@wickedmelodiesent.2051]

I'm having trouble bouncing the beat when I use my external hardware . Any help? Thx for video 🤙

[@johnnytacos5529]

Damn those are some wiiiiiiide vocals lol

[@Razsound]

Yes bro this is hurting my ears😂

[@joannehorrex7548]

Great tutorial

[@MeblIkea]

Hey, your vid is great, only problem is your mic not being mono :(

[@wmjoers]

Thanks! Can you use this technique in the Intro version as well? :)

[@MentalBlue]

what if you use spdif ? I cannot select it in the external instrument

[@gamblesgroove111]

Surly if you do the automation at the end the presets will change

[@nigelreadon8381]

Hi there....I have a Yamaha E463 plugged into Ableton lite 11 it can record many sounds but how do create a midi arp your playing on the keyboard into midi. It can be done with an audio track but not midi. Thx

[@itshunterking]

Are you plugged in midi or just with an audio cable?

[@derekshantz]

Great job! Solid demo

[@jasonmaggard3829]

Thank you

[@shpongled587]

How come FX VSTs don't work with the audio signal? I only hear the audio from my Freak.

[@MegaShowmaster]

Logic tutorial please!!! :)

[@VinceFinemMusic]

Does anyone know if this works with the Intro version or just Standard and Suite? Trying to find a low cost way out of Garageband which doesn't let you do midi out.

[@itshunterking]

I don’t believe the external instrument plugin is included in intro! But they have a full list on abletons website comparing the different versions

[@peterlustig2521]

midu to usb adapter is also possible

[@brucemillar]

Useful. Thanks mate!

[@dannydwyer6890]

what the hell was happening with the first 5 minutes of audio

[@ElectronicChateau]

Thought it was just me 😂

[@TomislavRupic]

inverted phase

[@dominiquesanders9626]

Out of phase AF

[@drewemerson7294]

Do you know if this works with GarageBand??

[@wmjoers]

You can record midi and audio in Garageband, but as far as I have found you cant send midi out. Garageband on MacOS, that is :)

[@dylan7669]

Hey i dont have the "external insturment" option on ableton, anyone know how I can fix this?

[@arcticmonkeys59]

It’s only available for standard and suite I believe

[@MikeRenouf]

Hey - I did a video on this recently using a method which doesn't require the external instrument. kzbin.info/www/bejne/l2rYkIeZpbd6Y7M

[@splatunion2100]

im a noob and i can't find external instrument in ableton live 11 lite help me pls

[@MikeRenouf]

Hey - I did a video on this recently using a method which doesn't require the external instrument. kzbin.info/www/bejne/l2rYkIeZpbd6Y7M

[@shamax2201]

Thank you !!

[@Ambientnauts]

Ableton Noob question. Do you need Max for live to hookup a Hardware Synth to Ableton live? Or will the Standard version alone do it?

[@dudleyhughbanks9287]

I’m almost positive you can in standard. I think standard reads midi from outside hardware too.

[@Fonkemman]

Even the lite version can use midi. It is just the "external instrument" device inside ableton that is only in standard and suite. But it is not necessary really.

[@Ambientnauts]

@@Fonkemman thanks so much I’m good on Standard for now.

[@MrCoyoteculler]

I get no audio on this video.....

[@heres_the_sauce]

very quiet for me too

[@WhoIsAlexElliott]

5:41 for the Ableton part

[@i_am_zion2449]

thank you！！

[@OrmondbeachDaniel]

Sorry bro Great audio don’t be lazy and make sure you put put is working lol

[@ChaosTherapy666]

👍🏻

[@Caldoric]

the first 2/5ths of your video is muted, my gamer. you should fix that.

[@izhh666]

have only my right airpod in and can’t hear the vid 😂

[@mburakurnaz]

Audio problem alert

[@voreshbo7031]

Wtf is happening with your sound? Extremely resonant 😢

[@tukushtacos2518]

Hardware? What year does this vodeo take place in? was this made in the 1900ss lol the century known for rockstars rapping terribly and always trying hard to gain street cred that only chubby 12 year old kids could stand behind. Anyways the only hardware you need is compooter and that's just ethical way of composition that attracts musical purists. Save your space and money and download any synth u can think of fot free from non political Russian dudes

[@luciendemoulin6297]

u can do sounds with analog gear/hardware that cant be replicated and it have a very specific sound that a computer cant create with just digital

[@257ian]

NO AUDIO