Looping with Taetro – A New Groove in Ableton Live

Taetro kicks things off by revealing a fresh way to loop in Ableton Live, a feature debuting with Ableton Live 12. It’s the kind of trick that makes you wonder how you lived without it. He starts by demonstrating the new pre-arranger device, custom-built for intuitive looping magic. The scene he paints is mesmerizing; one second, he’s laying down a riff, the next he’s weaving an entire performance without so much as glancing away from his Synido TempoKEY K25 controller. This device, interwoven with the pre-arranger’s max for live capabilities, ensures that those loops keep groovin’ silky smooth. No extra mapping headaches here, just straight-up music flow. And Taetro’s demo makes it crystal clear and catchy enough that even a toaster could catch the beat.

Taetro’s trusty sidekick in this audio adventure is the Synido TempoKEY K25, and it’s got street cred. While it might not outrun more sophisticated controllers in a footrace of features, it’s lean, mean, and ready to get your music vibe on the move. Taetro highlights its mobile prowess with a dedicated power port that liberates its MIDI magic from the constraints of USB C. That’s one less cable to worry about when you’re hustling from studio to stage or busking in the subway. It’s the everyman’s controller with MIDI outputs and easily modifiable control settings, making it a pal for both hardware heads and DAW devotees alike.

He dives into its ability to change MIDI CCs and channels directly from the encoders, which is a game-changer when you’re trying to keep your hands in motion and off the laptop. Imagine being in the middle of a live gig and needing a quick switch without interrupting your flow – that’s the TempoKEY in a nutshell. This is all about how the hardware keeps pace with the artistry, making it a dynamic duo in Taetro’s hands. Its performance today underlines a core principle: simplicity that supports creativity, rather than overwhelming it. It’s like the perfect diner burger: not the fanciest, but you can’t argue with the taste.

Now, like any workaround that spikes your dopamine in performance, the pre-arranger isn’t without its quirks. Taetro’s honest breakdown of its limitations is as refreshing as a summer breeze. Whilst it’s buttery smooth for most applications, he drops some wisdom on potential bugs and caveats that could trip you up if you’re not prepared. First up, there’s a slight lag when switching instruments during fast loop sequences, something that might require some creative timing or pre-planning if you’re mid-piano but wanna jump to drums.

He talks about the occasional hiccup – a loop that doesn’t quite stick the landing or a momentary lapse in recording – diagnosing these as bugs that need a bit more testing. It’s a low-risk high-reward tool, but you’d better make sure to have a backup plan if you’re trying to dazzle a packed club. This segment is a nod to the DIY ethos that permeates beatmaking culture, where innovation often comes with a side of unpredictability. “It’s like when your dollar slice of pizza has too much crust, but hey, you’re still getting fed,” he jokes. Real talk from Taetro keeps it genuine and grounded.