Syncing Ableton Live to AudioMulch

This was discussed on the mailing list in regard to syncing Logic Audio. On Mac, the same instructions should apply, although I havn't tried it myself. Thanks to Steve Adam for additional hints which I've merged below:

1. Set up an IAC bus MIDI device in Apple's Audio/Midi settings and use that to send MIDI sync between AM and Ableton (or Logic, whatever). Make sure you are sending MIDI clock from Ableton/Logic to AM2 (therefore set up AM to chase MIDI sync).

2. Set up JACK for routing audio between AM and Ableton/Logic(http://www.jackosx.com/). Jack/ Jackrouter may initially be a tad confusing to get going, so read the docs.

Note for setting up ports: Jack will *not* see AM's audio inputs/outputs while audio is disabled in AM2, although JackRouter does seem to resume dropped connections when audio is enabled again after disabling. When audio IS enabled, Jack will see all the audio I/O ports in the current AM document...

Steve added::
>>>
I found it useful to route AM's audio out through Logic (and a bus or two feeding AM from Logic too ) so it can be used as a "live fader controlled input", or alternately route AMs audio to the computer audio outputs via a MIDI controlled audio "master fader" (ie Gain unit) in AM2 that can be used *instead of* enabling/disabling audio.
<<<

Let us know how you go. This is a common question so if we can clarify the steps I might set up a tutorial page about it.

Someone told me that JACK is much better than soundflower for this kind of synced operation. I don't know how true that is, but I also don't know anyone who has successfully synced AM and Live using Soundflower.

i thought the thing with ReWire was that it was the ONLY code that syncs supporting transport. ie, its the only code that allows you to start, stop, timecode, time signature one app to another.
Thats why ReWire is the holygrail and only option for this kind of thing, and also why AM desperately needs it to get it to the same level as the other guys out there with similar products. (?)
Or maybe im totally wrong on that? :)

ReWire is not the only way. But, it is the most common way to do transport sync + audio between apps. This can also be done between VST plugins and a host.

Most other solutions either support inter-application audio (eg JACK, VAC, etc) or inter-application transport sync (eg MIDI clock sync via MIDI Yoke or Apple IAC bus) but not both. So you have to combine an audio sharing solution with a transport sync solution -- which is what this thread is about.

[begin rant]
As I've said in the past, I don't consider AM's main use as being combined with other products -- first and foremost it's a stand alone performance and improvisation software. When I see people saying "AudioMulch desperately needs ***" I think it is like saying "AudioMulch desperately needs to be something it isn't". I am constantly trying to communicate clearly about what AudioMulch is. If you don't like what it is, I don't mind, but you need to understand the futility of your requests -- I'm all about putting resources into making a better AudioMulch -- I don't really care about "getting to the same level as the other guys out there" whatever that means -- I strongly believe it's important for music software to express diversity ... the less "similar products" the better as far as I'm concerned.

I know from experience with supporting VST that integration is the most resource intensive development task I can undertake. I hate to imagine how many original, interesting contraptions AudioMulch would have if I had decided to make new contraptions instead of support VST. ReWire is a similar beast and I am thinking very carefully before I support it.
[end rant]

Now of course, if you've read the road map, you will see that I am hoping to develop some kind of integration solution this year. But that's the future.. a new use for AudioMulch. best not to think of AudioMulch as having anything to do with that at present.

Ross.

Strangely enough, I still use Audiomulch for arranging my loops into compositions. Even being aware that most of the musicians I really like combine their material in a kind of multi-track view, I have never liked working that way, no matter how much it is the industry standard. I like making loops with wave blocks, but when i'm trying to "compose" a piece so to speak, the last thing I want to do is have to drag wave blocks around so they will play when I want them to. That's the beauty of something like Ableton where you just hit a button and the loop plays. They probably got the idea from Audiomulch. Ableton is super, but it's for people who jive with having some tiny button somewhere for everything. I like the idea of some kind of super DAW, but I've always like that Audiomulch is like sitting down with an instrument made of effects with sliders and potentiometers. If AM was an actual piece of gear, i think it would be like one of those classic old modulars or a mellotron, but more like one of those almost mythical pieces of gear that someone built in their garage and 50 years later all the electronic musicians would sell their everything for it because nothing gives you that sound and feel. Some audio hardware companies make most of their money selling gizmos to people who heard or read that you can't make music without it. Anyone who thinks they need rewire in every program they use is thinking like so many guitarists who believe they can't play without distortion or pedals, cause really they can't make music. They just put on a bunch of distortion and hit power chords. Old story of people with no real musical talent. I'm not naturally good at music theory/notation, and some people can't make music at all. There are people who want a studio with every amp and effect who are tone deaf and can't accurately hear or play music, and yet they're sure a computer or a practice amp can't do what the fancy new pedals can, cause they're tone deaf. they don't even know what a good guitarist sounds like, or care.

I believe with the many different ways users of AudioMulch put this program to task its just a shame to not have a native solid sync interface with full transport control that helps you push it to its full potential. 9 times out of 10 whatever i create in Mulch ends up in another application. Most often Reaper ...or Live. And the ability to be able to have 'Mulch run in real time sync'd into Reaper would be huge, as well as a real time saver.
Currently im recording wavs of Mulch performances, opening with WaveLab to edit the 8-128 bar sweet spots to then import into Reaper so i can integrate them will all the other great VST DSP DAW stuff and mix with recordings of hardware synths, samplers, guitars, drums, etc.... The goal being to end up with a fully realised, polished, mastered track.
At the moment i can employ any number of methods described above, which i have tried and none work like Rewire. Theres no true solid transport control, no multitrack output where each mixer channel from Mulch ends up in a seperate track in Reaper. Yes, i can use seperate Outs, but these are limited and theres still no sync.
Ive also found that ReaRoute, MidiYoke etc also interfere and in some cases play havoc with Native Asio from my AD/DA interface.
ReWire would get around all of this.
And yes. all the "other guys" have it Native. I mean Plogue, Usine and Reaktor, the big three whom your application is in market with.( Mulch being the Big Fourth!)
Yes, AudioMulch is a different beast, and as Creator I fully respect your choices, Ross. But surely you can see that theres a market for it, many many reasons to implement it, at no crippling disservice to your "Baby ", and it would also most certainly lure other would be users out there who dont currently use Mulch because of these shortcomings.
It was never my intention to cause offence or raise your ire, I just want to see Mulch be all it can be and ReWire would be one of its most sought after features, in not just my opinion.
Whatever happens, I will continue to use this fine (registered!) product.
All the best.

i love how AM does its own thing.

personally i enjoy the rabbit hole, and i enjoy not having the option of rewire. It forces the brain to make different decisions than normal.