Using a hardware effects pedal with Ableton Live

Performance & Techniques Music Production
1

Using a hardware effects pedal with Ableton Live

Hey guys,

I’m at a point where I have some money and it’s burning a hole in my pocket - I need some new gear asap!

My latest thought is that I would like an external (guitar maybe) effects pedal to affect my samples etc, record into audio strips that I can then use in my productions..

what I would like to know is, is this possible, and how? I’m certain it would have to be connected to my audio interface - but that’s as far as I could get haha!

thanks for any help you could offer!

2

If you have a sound card with more than 2 ins and outs, you could set up an effects loop with the pedal.

3

haha you’re always the one to educate me and all of my started threads - I thank you for that as I try to get to grips with the world of hardware..

So, to clarify, If I were to get a nice effect pedal, I would be able to run midi FROM Ableton, through the pedal, and record as audio back INTO ableton?

4

Why do you want to run MIDI to an effects pedal?

You would go from an audio output on your soundcard, to the pedal, then audio from the pedal to an input on the soundcard. Now in Live you can specific which tracks feed that specific output and thus the pedal.

5

Well, I know that I don’t NEED an effects pedal, but it would be nice to have a hands-on way to twist up my tracks, opposed to drawing it in using Ableton.. That and I know different pedals can offer different sounds to software effects

6

My question wasn’t why do you want a pedal, I get that and am buying a new one myself today :slight_smile:

I don’t understand why you want to run MIDI to it though, MIDI is a control signal, not an audio signal. Some pedals might have a MIDI input for clock sync, but otherwise there’s no need to involve MIDI.

7

Oh I suppose I worded it wrong, I just mean the signal from Ableton, through the pedal and back through to Ableton!

Out of interest what pedal are you looking at? For the same uses as me, or as an intermediate between a ln instrument - like a guitar? :slight_smile:

8

Xotic EP Booster, and yes it’s for my guitar.