Learning Songwriting: Ableton Live

Learn how to use tried-and-true workflows for Ableton Live 11 alongside its new production tools to create music of all kinds.

Introduction

• Learn the essentials of Ableton Live 11
• How to use the exercise files

1. Getting Started

• Connecting your system
• Audio I/O setup
• MIDI controller setup
• Optimizing performance
• The Ableton Live user interface

2. The Browser

• Browser categories
• Browser places
• Searching and auditioning
• Customizing the browser
• Working with Live Sets

3. Working in Arrangement View

• Track controls
• Zooming and selecting
• Controlling playback
• Loading and saving presets
• Preparing to record MIDI
• Recording MIDI in Arrangement View
• Punch record MIDI
• Computer keyboard as a MIDI controller

4. Working in Session View

• Session View overview
• Clips and playback
• Scenes and playback
• Recording MIDI in Session View
• Click and Pencil MIDI entry
• Step entry

5. Working with MIDI

• MIDI Editor
• Grid config
• Editing rhythm and quantizing
• Groove quantization
• Editing pitch and duration
• Editing velocity and chance
• Editing expression
• Session View: Copy and paste
• Arrangement View: Copy and paste

6. Working with Audio

• Preparing to record audio
• Record and punch record audio
• Clip editing
• Fades
• Take comping
• Linked track editing
• Warping audio, part 1
• Warping audio, part 2
• Quantizing audio

7. Working with Arrangements

• CPU management, track freeze
• Locators
• Section editing in Arrangement View
• Section editing in Session View
• Moving from Session to Arrangement View
• Moving from Arrangement to Session View

8. Working with Plug-Ins

• Plug-in basics, part 1
• Plug-in basics, part 2
• Instrument plug-ins
• Audio plug-ins
• MIDI plug-ins

9. Working with Racks

• Effects racks, part 1
• Effects racks, part 2
• Instrument racks
• Drum racks
• Zone editors
• Rack macros

10. Live Mixer

• Mixer setup
• Sends and returns
• Drum rack sends and returns
• Group tracks

11. Mapping

• Key mapping
• MIDI mapping
• Instant mapping

12. Automation

• Graphic automation
• Editing automation
• Clip automation, part 1
• Clip automation, part 2
• Real-time automation

13. File Management

• Managing files
• Arrangement View audio export
• Session View audio export

Conclusion

• Next steps