ABELTON LOOP IMPORT SET UP

[sax_onaip]

For Abelton (or any DAW) what are the settings for using a pre-exsiting loop?

1. What format (MIDI wav, etc.) must the loop be in, or does it matter?

2. What track settings (input, monitor, record arm, etc.) are required?

3. Which is better (or does it matter) -

A. Using the JS3 internal "import" drummer style, or
B. Creating a separate track for JS3 and the MIDI loop in question?

I tried both methods; neither of them work.

In "A", when I try to import a loop, Windows Explorer yields no resulting available loops to import. I assume this is due to the file extension being different. So, what are the possible permitted file extensions (types)?

In "B" (I can drag a loop into a track), setting the monitor of the (in this case, "audio") track (since that is what Abelton deemed the loop in question, "audio") to "in" means I hear nothing. Setting it to "auto" means JS3 is not involved.

I have to admit that I am "routing challenged." Such matters confuse me. I'm a Jazz saxophonist-pianist, so I'm not used to the flow of devices and how they interact.

Thanks!

[Ralph @ Rayzoon]

It sounds as if you're using audio loops, which will not work with Jamstix. If you have MIDI drum loops, you can use the 'Import' style, select MIDI in the 'Groove' box of the brain and then 'click to load' to choose the desired MIDI loop instead if using the loop in Ableton.

[sax_onaip]

It sounds as if you're using audio loops, which will not work with Jamstix. If you have MIDI drum loops, you can use the 'Import' style, select MIDI in the 'Groove' box of the brain and then 'click to load' to choose the desired MIDI loop instead if using the loop in Ableton.

Thanks, Ralph. Alternatively, can one utilize a separate track for an AUDIO drum loop, with Audio M8 as an effect (Manual, Page 53)?

I found an online conversion tool for wav to MIDI. I'll see if it works...

[chill_human]

I import loops in Ableton all the time! The trick to doing this efficiently is to have all of your midi in some base folder that JamStix points to as the folder for finding midi parts. You create the loops using the midi editor in ableton, right click, and export as midi. Then in JamStix, select "Import" as the part type, click the label for importing midi, navigate to the midi you just exported, and voila, you're there.

One thing I would strongly suggest is to create a drum kit that is only midi, and have this trigger the drum rack in Ableton (if you have drum rack). This way you can have JamStix sending midi to drum rack, and also have parts where you have JamStix sending midi to drum rack at the same time as a clip is sending midi, or have parts where JamStix is playing silence:silence and a composed clip plays. You get a lot of flexibility this way. Depends what Ableton plugins you bought tho.