Using Ableton Live as a Rewire Slave with Logic

In this video, I want to show you how you can use Live as a rewire slave. In this case, I'm going to rewire Live with Logic.

Setting Up the Environment

1. Initial Setup: If you've done a fresh installation of Live, it needs to be launched first in standalone mode. This allows it to install the rewire engine, after which you can quit it again.

2. Master and Slave: When Live is used as a rewire slave, the other software (the master) needs to be started first.

Step-by-Step Guide

1. Open Logic: Start by opening Logic and creating a new project with a new stereo track.

2. Open Live: Now, let's return to Live within Logic.

   • You need to open the mixer.
   • Under options, choose Create New Auxiliary Channel Strips.
   • Let's create one for now.

3. Processing Settings: Live processes everything internally in stereo, which generally works best for this setup.

   • As an input, select Ableton Live and either the stereo mix from the master or individual buses.
   • I'll choose the mix first and click OK.

4. Routing Individual Tracks: If you want to route individual tracks from Live into Logic:

   • Create the appropriate amount of auxiliary channels.
   • Choose different buses for each track.
   • Maintain a certain order for best results.

Working in Ableton Live

1. Open Your Live Set: In Live, open the set you have been working on as an example, and turn on the in/out section.

2. Master Output: In the master output, you should see that Mixlr is chosen. Now, when you go back into Logic, you can simply play the mix.

3. Setting Up Group Tracks: Alternatively, you can set individual or group tracks to rewire out to the respective bus.

   • For example, create a new auxiliary channel strip in Logic, select Stereo from Ableton Live, and then select bus three and four, then click Create.

4. Solo and Test: Now, if you solo that channel, you can hear the Beats group track.

Routing MIDI Instruments

If you want to rewire Live's MIDI instrument to Logic:

1. MIDI Track Setup: Ensure you have MIDI tracks with MIDI instruments set up in Live.

2. Creating MIDI Track in Logic:

   • In Logic, go to Track > New.
   • Choose the amount of tracks you want (I'll choose one).
   • Set the type to External MIDI, make sure Open Library is checked, and then click Create.

3. Selecting MIDI Instruments: Select Ableton Live, and you'll see the MIDI instruments available in the Live set you currently have open. Choose the desired instrument.

4. Recording MIDI: Now you can record MIDI in Logic.

5. Audio Output: Create another auxiliary channel strip to route back the audio output.

   • Set it to Three Wire Out (5 and 6), for example.
   • Create a new channel strip: Stereo 8 from Live (5 and 6) and click Create.

Closing the Applications

When you are done with music, remember to quit Live first and then Logic, first the rewire slave, then the master.

Important Notes on Live as a Rewire Slave

• Plugin Visibility: In Live, under plugins, you will see nothing is shown because plugins are disabled and can only be used in Logic.

• External Inputs: You will not see any external audio inputs available; they are grayed out since all audio in Live is managed by Rewire.

• Sample Rate: The sample rate is set by the rewire master (Logic).

• Rewiring Other Applications: If you wanted to rewire another application like Reason, you would have to do it through the master (Logic).

• MIDI Control: You can still control Live via MIDI with MIDI controllers, but there is no external MIDI output available since the MIDI is sent from Logic to Live's MIDI tracks.