Taetro Tames the Pre Arranger: A New Ableton Looping Legend?

Discovering the Pre Arranger: A Sonic Revolution

There’s a new contender in the Ableton Live 12 landscape, threatening to change the way we think about live looping—and no one’s chatting about it nearly enough. Taetro, who always knows his stuff, launches into a demo with this fresh, under-discussed feature: the Pre Arranger. He teases us with a demo, showing off his musical prowess using the controller. Not just any controller, mind you, but one that promises to shake things up without the faff of endless mapping.

"But if you notice I was basically able to not take my hands off the controller the entire time and here's how it works"

The Magic of the Pre Arranger Unleashed

Now here’s where Taetro pulls a rabbit out of the hat, detailing how the Pre Arranger lets you loop without the usual faff. It’s a Max for Live device, part of the Performance Pack by the single-minded genius Ifta. What’s the deal? Well, it’s not just about looping—it’s about transforming any live gig into an orchestrated masterpiece. Imagine playing with a controller that keeps you glued to the keys while orchestrating the whole shebang automatically. The device is nested in an empty MIDI track, working its magic by automating what would otherwise be a manual charade. Two tracks per instrument, that’s the ticket; one for arming and recording, the other for seamless duplication of your jam. It’s like having a ghostly hand performing a perfectly timed orchestration alongside you. Taetro lays this out with all the intricacies you’d expect from someone who lives and breathes electronic innovation, stripping away the mystique to reveal the raw power that can be yours. Stop, play, record—just like that, your performance loops appear at your command. “Performance to performance,” Taetro explains, and suddenly the chaos makes sense, a live set-up untangled with the precision of a surgeon. Sounds like the sort of gear even the most sceptical knob twiddler could fall for.

Synido TempoKey K25: A Perfect Match

"So I have featured this controller before and a couple standout features are the fact that it's got its own dedicated power port"

Of course, we can’t overlook the fact that Taetro isn’t just demoing with any old piece of plastic. The Synido TempoKey K25 is his companion in this musical marathon. This isn’t your run-of-the-mill keyboard, no sir. It’s got a dedicated power port making it a mobile maestro’s dream. Need to tweak your MIDI CCs or channels? Just dive in, as it provides direct control from the unit itself—it’s practically a one-man-band. Whether powering external synths or acting in tandem with Taetro’s Pre Arranger shenanigans, this gadget is versatile. Who knew MIDI machines could be so… responsive? Taetro’s enthusiasm here is as refreshing as a pint after a punk gig.

Setting Up the Musical Mayhem

The magic isn’t just in performance—setting up your gear is half the battle won. Taetro walks us through the nerve centre of this setup, demonstrating how easy it is to create a fresh Ableton set with the Pre Arranger. You just slap it onto a MIDI track, and bam, it’s creating musical mayhem—or order, depending on your style. Taetro makes it look as easy as pie, converting controlled chaos into layered artistry. Tracks come to life, clips fall into sequence, and every note is a testament to the power of the Pre Arranger. The beauty of it all lies in the DIY ethos—like customising your own beat-up Les Paul. With a bit of fiddling, this can handle anything from pounding beats to complex symphonies. Taetro’s facilitation is also a testament to his knack for stripping away complexity, revealing a setup that marries accessibility with sophisticated sound crafting. Even those with the attention span of a goldfish could follow along. Why? Because Taetro’s approach is simple: make excellent music, and have a laugh while you’re at it.

Pre Arranger Peeves and Potential

But hold your horses, it’s not all rainbows and roses. Taetro elucidates a couple of niggles that come with the Pre Arranger. Sometimes, it feels a bit sluggish, not keeping pace with instruments as deftly as one might hope. At times, the loops simply don’t do what they’re told. But despite these minor hitches, Taetro has a kind word to say; this device is a testament to what individuals can conjure when unhindered by corporate meddling. Developed by a single mastermind, it still manages to transform the messy into the magnificent, begging the question: what heights could it reach with more resources? Taetro’s gentle lament calls for Ableton to lean in, to listen, and to elevate tools like these into the mainstream. But at the end of the day, it’s a gadget that echoes creativity, perfect for the eccentric minds looking to embrace the experimental without tons of fuss. It’s the off-beat, off-tune anomaly that makes this tool not only useful but fascinating, waiting for a brave synth wizard to wield it.

"Do you want more features like this?"