Confused about connecting Novation impulse 25 MIDI keyboard to Garageband Via Abelton Live lite 8

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Level 1

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Confused about connecting Novation impulse 25 MIDI keyboard to Garageband Via Abelton Live lite 8

I am struggling to understand how to get my Novation Impulse MIDI controller keyboard working with Garageband via the software that came with it.

I have installed: Bass Station VST 2.4, Automap 4. Something and Abelton Live lite8.

Could some kind soul give me a 1 or 2 line about what Bass Station, Automap and Abelton Live (lite8 or Live 9) actually is. (What is does)

Please avoid abbreviations as I'm a novice in this area.

MacBook Pro, OS X Mountain Lion

Posted on Oct 27, 2012 11:33 PM

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Answer 1

Oct 28, 2012 4:57 AM in response to animist08

You need none of these programs, GarageBand should regocnize your controller once it's plugged in. Have you tried it?

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Answer 2

animist08 Author

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Oct 28, 2012 5:02 AM in response to Christoph Drösser

Yes, I know, but I want the benefit of Abelton's Live compositional software and more control over plug-ins.

I really need an answer from somebody who's been there, done that.

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Answer 3

Oct 28, 2012 8:35 AM in response to animist08

Your question was how to get your keyboard working with GB, and I gave you the answer.

You better go to the homepages of the other programs to see what they do. Something that has VST in the name most likely doesn't work with GB, since GB doesn't support that plugin format.

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Answer 4

gjmnz

Level 3

858 points

Oct 28, 2012 10:36 AM in response to animist08

animist08 wrote:

... I want the benefit of Abelton's Live compositional software ...

Ableton Live is a DAW (Digital Audio Workstation). Garageband is also. They approach composition very differently. They both however use pluggins like bass station.

animist08 wrote:

I want ... more control over plug-ins.

Garageband needs the AU (Audio Unit) version installed as it cannot use VST's. There will be neither more nor less access to pluggins between Live or Garageband.

Garageband cannot use MIDI contollers anywhere near as well as Ableton can. Its just not built to do so.

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Answer 5

animist08 Author

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Oct 28, 2012 2:23 PM in response to Christoph Drösser

Gjmnz's reply is a good example of a clinically, qualified answer because he/she addressed specific parts of my question.

"Via Abelton Live"

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Answer 6

animist08 Author

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Oct 28, 2012 2:26 PM in response to gjmnz

Thank you gjmnz, that is Definetley a start in the right direction.

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Answer 7

gjmnz

Level 3

858 points

Oct 28, 2012 2:34 PM in response to animist08

animist08 wrote:

Thank you gjmnz, that is Definetley a start in the right direction.

Your welcome. I use Ableton a bit as well as Garageband so might be able to answer a few more questions...

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Answer 8

animist08 Author

Level 1

53 points

Oct 28, 2012 3:04 PM in response to gjmnz

At this stage I'm just learning DAW technology with a basic DAW like Garageband.

Considering Live8 lite (supplied with Novation Impulse 25) is a DAW I thought best to use it just for creating chords and other sounds.

I know I can connect my MIDI controller keyboard direct to GarageBand but, as others have pointed out, with a lot of limitation.

To avoid any confusion I probably should upgrade to Live9 if that's what other community members use?

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Answer 9

gjmnz

Level 3

858 points

Oct 28, 2012 3:47 PM in response to animist08

Live 9 is not avaliable until next year - first quarter 2013. Use v8 for now and get used to it. It will be the same basic format as 9 if you upgrade.

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