Cheap or Free alternative to Live

I'm looking to use an app, like Live, just to host multiple instances of another app to handle live performace, crossfading, and basic master fx.

Is there anything else out there?

I don't really want to drop $600 to only use about 20% of the software.

Bidule?

http://www.cakewalk.com/OEM/Project5_LE.asp

http://www.livelab.dk/liveslice.php

maybe you could try Reaper ? it's free (after 30 days you just gotta live with a pop-up, which isn't really that bad) and seems pretty full of possibilities. they recently updated to their version 3 which seems to have a few major updates. havent tried it fully but it seems pretty nice and cool to use.

  On 7/2/2009 at 4:53 PM, blicero said:

I'm looking to use an app, like Live, just to host multiple instances of another app to handle live performace, crossfading, and basic master fx.

 

Is there anything else out there?

 

I don't really want to drop $600 to only use about 20% of the software.

So, are you looking for 1 or 2 apps? Anyways, I reccommend http://www.sensomusic.com/usine/ which has live features

you could also looking into using the old (1.4) version of energyXT, which has a live mode.

Both of these programs I just mentioned have the ability to be loaded into a VST host as well, so it fits both your requirements(did you really mean that?) of being able to host, and being hosted. If you are looking for just a VST host that just plain old loads a VST, minihost is one good way to go: http://www.tobybear.de/p_minihost.html

I'm going to expand on the energyXT live mode. Basically, it lets you create parts with one or more intruments which loop(certain number of times if desired) which are triggered by midi notes, and lets you mute/unmute parts with assigned midi notes. It is pretty powerful, but the problem is that this needs a lot of home preparation, you can't time-strech or anything like that, which sucks. The good news is, the developer has stated that they are currently actively developing a new live mode for energXT2 which has time-stretch. But that may take months, given their track-record.

I don't know very much about the Usine live features but I have heard plenty of good things, even for the free version of Usine. Usine is also being rapidly developed so you can expect to find new features all of the time.

pirate it

I was able to pick up the Ableton live 8 Academic version for $250 but maybe all you need is the light version which is $79 for academic and $139 for regular.

edit... that is if you want to be legit about everything

Buzz is free...

You can set up audio or midi patterns then trigger them on the fly in a ableton session type view.

maybe Live Lite will do. i think i already have that... came with a novation controller, methinks.