hi all. i am getting a new computer running on windows 8 64 bit. can anyone tell me which version of live i need to use x64 or 32bit?

 

Either one will work. Typically you will want to use the version that most of your plugins are in. Since most already have 64 bit plugs for win I would go with a 64 bit version of Live to maximize RAM use. Live does not have a native bridge to port over 32 bit plugs on 64 bit and vice versa. You can use 3rd party apps to do this though.

 

You can use both, if you want. You can choose on second install if you want to overwrite first install or want to install to another place. I am using both on Windows 7 x64 with the same Library-Path, so there's no need for installing Library two times.

But it is not possible to use the Library in 32 AND 64 at the same time.

You can use every 32 Bit Application on a 64 Bit Windows (Folder "Program Files x86", but not a 64 Bit Application on 32 Bit Windows.

Edit: Yea Cruzmeyers is right. 32 Bit Plugins don't work natively in 64 Bit Host and vice versa.

 

Yea, Ableton and its tools are very good on the CPU that you could get away with just the 32 bit version easily. I myself rely a lot on Kontakt and will use many instances of the plug so utilizing all 16gb of my RAM is necessary so I need the 64bit version.

 

thanks to everyone for the swift replies really helpful.