Whats the point of using a DAW live?

[Jscherz]

I hear people talking about that. i always thought you just load your finished tracks onto a deck and mix it when you perform live?

[BiggChev]

I don't think it's most DAWs but Ableton or Maschine in specific.

Both of these DAWs allow you to launch loops, and play in live instruments. The point being to do completely new, chopped, remixed versions of your tracks, and others on the fly. This allows people to be more creative and spontaneous with their mixing.

[botstein]

I don't think it's most DAWs but Ableton or Maschine in specific.

Both of these DAWs allow you to launch loops, and play in live instruments. The point being to do completely new, chopped, remixed versions of your tracks, and others on the fly. This allows people to be more creative and spontaneous with their mixing.

Right.

I hear people talking about that. i always thought you just load your finished tracks onto a deck and mix it when you perform live?

I know what you meant, but to me, mixing and performing live (singing or playing an instrument, etc) are two very different things.

[Tarekith]

This is one way I take orginal songs and "play" them live with Ableton:

http://tarekith.com/ableton-live-apc40-live-pa-set-up/

Lots of things you can do in Live that you really can't in DJ software or other DAWs.

[R01]

Well, the gap is getting smaller. I remember when NI announced the Remix Decks thinking: "Wow, now you can launch samples, without needing a DAW".

I'd say producers use DAW's because it gives you more control over your performance, and all the other things people above me have said. You are definitely more limited changing tracks using finished stereo files and DJ software.

[dtrostli]

One of the reasons DJ's and producers use Ableton is to have access to an original production layer by layer. For instance you could throw the hi-hats and vocals of one track over the bassline and kick of another seamlessly. Deadmau5 is the best known example of a producer that exclusively performs like this.