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| FL or Ableton Live |
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Monday, July 19 2010 @ 08:22 AM BST
Contributed by:
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I just recently started playing with the demo version of Ableton Live 8, as I hadn't looked at the product for quite some time. It was always a great product for doing live takes and worked seamlessly with loops (like Acid). However, I always thought that it lacked the versatility to create new material like FL Studio. As you know I have been an avid FL Studio fan from way back to version three and when you take money into consideration it is still the best value product out there, bar none. The negative side for me was I was getting in a rut, all my songs were sounding the same and I needed a new direction of workflow ,to create something new, hence I tried Ableton Live.
I was so impressed with version 8 that within a week I splashed out £300 for a full license. Within another week I was totally converted to this product. Everytime I touch it, to run through some presets or try a new tutorial, I end up creating something unique that will go on to be a full song. Most products have one method of workflow and they try and stitch other methods on as selling features. Ableton works well no matter how you choose to work, whether you start with loops, midi or live. It's like having a big table in front of you and just throwing scraps of ideas all over it. You can then arrange and play them how and when you like with such simplicity that you can produce a new song everytime you try it. These scraps you can make on the fly or pull in and they will automatically adjust to suit your song. I cannot impress on you how good this product is. It took me a week to get used to a new style of working, that isn't totally sequencer based, but after that I was flying.
Is it worth the £300 tag?
Well if you go for the full suite you are going to pay nearer £500. That's compared to £99 for FL Studio (more if you want all the add ons). Let's not beat about the bush. I couldn't have afforded Ableton years ago, I can now. You could still produce the same quality of song on FL Studio just not so quickly and with the same versatility that Ableton offers. FL studios live functions aren't quite there yet. So, if you plan on playing live then there is no substitute for Ableton.
What about your previous investments?
My hardware works well with Ableton. All the extra VSTs that I bought for FL work in it so my investment in Directwave and orchestra sample packs is still available to me.
Am I happy that I am £300 poorer?
Absolutely - no quibbles. My wife says it's the best stuff I have written for years. I have started about 10 tracks and they all sound different, the are richer in quality and general substance.
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