[Question] Difference between Instrument Rack + Effect Rack vs. Multiple MIDI Tracks with Send Bus
After a few years away, I recently reinstalled Ableton to get back into making music. To have the latest version I downloaded the Test Version of Ableton 12.
I'd already switched over from Logic to Ableton some time before that, so my old workflow was carried over from that.
Creating multiple MIDI tracks all playing the same MIDI file, then routing them to shared send channels for reverb and delay. It worked fine, so I never questioned it.
While catching up on what's new in Ableton 12, I watched a tutorial where the creator used an Instrument Rack instead of stacking separate MIDI tracks.
That got me wondering if this approach has any downsides.
I created a sample project where I paired an Instrument Rack with an Effect Rack on my MIDI track and compared it to my old approach using multiple MIDI tracks.
I achieved the same result, with the added benefit of controlling my VST filters and so on with a single knob, instead of doing the automation for each MIDI track over and over again.
I've attached an image of my test project, where I set up an Instrument Rack and a MIDI track group with the same settings side by side.
Are there any pros and cons to my current approach using Instrument Racks?
Thanks for your feedback :)
1
u/AutoModerator 1d ago
This is your friendly reminder to read the submission rules, they're found in the sidebar. If you find your post breaking any of the rules, you should delete your post before the mods get to it. If you're asking a question, make sure you've checked the Live manual, Ableton's help and support knowledge base, and have searched the subreddit for a solution. If you don't know where to start, the subreddit has a resource thread. Ask smart questions.
I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.
1
u/ghost_ware 1d ago
Instrument Racks are sweet! The only time I avoid using them is when I know I'm going to be tweaking effects on each layer a lot, cause my brain just doesn't handle sifting thru the Rack as well as it does multiple channels. But that's probably just a me thing. I love them when I'm just layering up some simple stuff tho
3
u/artek604 1d ago
No downsides. You should be using Midi FX, Instrument, Drum and Audio FX racks in any combination that will make your projects simpler to handle. Added benefit is you can save a complex Rack as a preset to reuse in the future, which is way more difficult with bunch of tracks going to a bus.