Quick question... First, it's good to hear from you! Been working hard on music for a few months. Anyway, how well do sounds from 3rd party synths I use in Logic translate into Ableton? For example, if I build a really neat sound in Logic using Alchemy but want to manipulate it in Ableton, is this possible? Are you able to control basic parameters like filtering, attack, release, etc from the APC40 on that sound? What are the limits? Watching some demos on Live it seems that the workflow and creative process is much simpler that that in Logic (as good as Logic is). What do you think? Jamie

Hey Jamie, Good to hear from you! I thought the iPad and AC-7 + Logic combination had swallowed you up ;-) Well, Ableton Live is a different beast to Logic... both are great - but very well suited to their own way to creating/performing and producing. You can rewire Live & Logic - so use the both together. Personally, I find Logic quicker for some of what I like to do and others prefer Live... but it's apples and oranges and both are equally good :) Live will give you control over 3rd party synths too. Dig into some of Bill Burgess' great Live tutorials and you'll see more and more how cool Live is... If I had some more free time and I'd probably spend more time with Live :) Rounik

Hah! Yes, all my technology has been consuming my life, but I love it! Well, in the past year or so that I've been using logic, I've discovered that my personal musical style takes a really long time to realize in logic, simply because I have an affinity for slow, consistent morphing textures that I find take a LOT of automation work to make happen in logic's interface. I use trilian, stylus rmx and alchemy for a majority of the sounds I use, and trying to get them all to do exactly what I want them to do when I want them to do it is quite time consuming. It seems that once these sounds are loaded into live, the "trial and error" period of musical creation is quite short. I have enough experience with logic now to see exactly where logics strengths are, and I wouldn't completely abandon it for live's capabilities, but sometimes I feel like I miss a lot of opportunity because it takes me so long to actually hear the result of an effect, melody, or large scale form. Not sure if this makes sense, but I might try to see a demo of live in action to see if it's something I can use to speed up my workflow. Thanks!

Hey Jamie, Well, I'm still waiting on the iPad arriving on these shores... and undecided as to whether I should get one or not... I love it (have used one recently ;) - but still undecided. I'm not intending to keep you in Logic! Live and/or Live and Logic can be great for creativity... for me, my own templates I use keep me happy in Logic - but definitely Live is better in some ways. I just checked their site and looks like Ableton are offering 30 day free trial on all versions! Would be interested to know what you think... :) Rounik