Problem with workflow

[disco.infiltrator]

I have finally started making music (successfully) on my setup, finishing songs and everything, but I have run into a problem.

My setup is like this. Macbook, with MPD26, Korg R3 running into an Audiobox (midi and audio) and then the monitors run out through that as well. Just in case that helps. Oh. And Ableton.

My issue is that I am having problems recording my synth parts. The way I do it, is I have an external instrument going out through my audiobox to my synth. I'll program a sound, record the midi, freeze the track and then flatten it. Then I'll go on and do other tracks that way.

The problem is, when I do it this way, every part is set in stone. I can't tweak the sound if I need to, I can reorganize the rhythm or anything. So sometimes I have problems getting all the parts to sit together rhythmically as well as in other ways.

So how do I fix this? Is there any possible way to get multiple sounds coming out of the synth at once, by telling it which channel on the synth to access or something? I'm assuming not, because I'm guessing you can only get one sounds coming out of the 1/4" output at once. Or is there some other way to freeze/flatten tracks that I don't know about?

Or do I just have to give up and use VSTs? I have tried to find ones that I like, and I've tried massive and all sorts of stuff, but none of them are as straightforward as my R3 and I just really love the way it works. They all seem to have crazy complicated things, when really, 2 osc, 2 filters, 2 lfos, and 3 egs are all I really need.

So, what do I do?

Thanks

[amphibian]

I haven't used a hardware synth yet so take what I say with a grain of salt, but what I've heard from many is that what you sacrifice in workflow with hardware, you make up for with pure awesome. Make sure you save your presets (if you can) in your synth so you can re-load them for tweaking.

[contakt321]

I am not even using an "external instrument" I am making a midi pattern in a midi track, sending it out, and then recording that as audio.

From there, I name that midi clip w/ the synth and the patch name I used/created (in case I have to revisit it).

To me, I like being limited. Worst case: record it over, or chop it up and move it around. Don't be scared!

[staticcast]

I haven't used a hardware synth yet so take what I say with a grain of salt, but what I've heard from many is that what you sacrifice in workflow with hardware, you make up for with pure awesome. Make sure you save your presets (if you can) in your synth so you can re-load them for tweaking.

More or less this. If you want to retain the tweakability, I'd suggest "prototyping" your synth parts in software until you've got the song structure and melodies (and maybe even most of the mix) down, and then recording your hardware at the end when you know you're happy with the synth part itself.

[Basic A]

They all seem to have crazy complicated things, when really, 2 osc, 2 filters, 2 lfos, and 3 egs are all I really need.

Surely ableton has someting relative to the 3xOsc?

Elektro?

Oatmeal?

Massive's lame.

[staticcast]

They all seem to have crazy complicated things, when really, 2 osc, 2 filters, 2 lfos, and 3 egs are all I really need.

Surely ableton has someting relative to the 3xOsc?

Elektro?

Oatmeal?

Massive's lame.

operator, analog

[deadly_habit]

when i'm working with a hardware synth i name the audio track after the patch name i'm using and make sure to utilize the notebook feature of the track for any level settings or routings i did through my rack.
i make sure to save the midi file in case i want to go back and revise it or switch sounds later.
but as far as having to do multiple takes to record tweaks from hardware, that's kind of the nature of the beast.

[narcissus]

They all seem to have crazy complicated things, when really, 2 osc, 2 filters, 2 lfos, and 3 egs are all I really need.

Surely ableton has someting relative to the 3xOsc?

Elektro?

Oatmeal?

Massive's lame.

operator, analog

i've made every bassline i've ever been proud of on one of those two devices.. no vst's necessary.

[jobbanaught]

when i'm working with a hardware synth i name the audio track after the patch name i'm using and make sure to utilize the notebook feature of the track for any level settings or routings i did through my rack.
i make sure to save the midi file in case i want to go back and revise it or switch sounds later.

This. Just make a copy of your track (Ctrl + D) before freeze and flat and de-activate it. Name it with the patch numbber. If you want to change something in the long run, just delete the flattened track, activate the old midi one, set the right patch on your synth and tweak away.....

[disco.infiltrator]

when i'm working with a hardware synth i name the audio track after the patch name i'm using and make sure to utilize the notebook feature of the track for any level settings or routings i did through my rack.
i make sure to save the midi file in case i want to go back and revise it or switch sounds later.

This. Just make a copy of your track (Ctrl + D) before freeze and flat and de-activate it. Name it with the patch numbber. If you want to change something in the long run, just delete the flattened track, activate the old midi one, set the right patch on your synth and tweak away.....

I don't know why I never thought of this. Thank you all very much for your help. That really seems like a great way to do it. Won't keep me from downloading a few virtual synths though... hahah.

[mks]

I do a lot of recording of hardware synths into Ableton. I pretty much do what other people here have said, but for me my main workflow is to record the midi parts. Then record the audio from that back into Ableton. I then make several passes of recording the audio with subtle (and not so subtle) tweaks on the synthesizer until I have several clips recorded. I will then just mute the midi pattern in case I need it again later and just start working with the audio. It's been a pretty good workflow for me.

EZ