ABLETON LIVE BASIC COURSE

Duration: 24 Classes (48 Hours)

This course introduces the basics of Ableton while maintaining the objective of you as a student to be able to navigate through the software with ease and to be able to finish your original track. Learn the fundamentals of song writing and using industry standard VSTS and plugins that will enable you to make the music of your choice.

Principles of Sound

  • Fundamentals of Sound 
  • Understanding Frequencies
  • Sample Rate
  • Bit-depth
  • Quality of Sound & its Formats – WAV, AIFF, MP3

Introduction to Ableton Live 

  • Understanding the Interface
  • Live Preferences
  • The Browser Menu – Standard Options, Packs, External Folders
  • Transport Controls, Overdub, Session Record, Capture 
  • Key & MIDI Mapping
  • The Mixer – Volume, Pan, Solo, Record Arm
  • Input/Output routing
  • Session & Arrangement Layout
  • Sends & Returns

Music Theory & MIDI Programming

  • Understanding MIDI – Grid Analysis, Velocity & Quantize Settings
  • Analyzing Rhythmic patterns, Bars & Beats
  • Time Signatures & Grooves
  • Drum Programming – Drum Rack & Impulse
  • Understanding Scales & Chords
  • Concepts of Chord Progressions
  • Ableton MIDI effect – Scale & Chord programming
  • MIDI effects – Arpeggiator, Note Length, Velocity, Pitch & Random
  • Using the Piano Roll – Editing & Quantizing MIDI
  • Multi-clip Editing

Audio Programming, Recording, Warping & Sampling Theory

  • Use of Loops & Samples
  • Warping Theory – Full Tracks/loops
  • Audio Editing & Quantization
  • Audio Recording 
  • Recording using Resampling & Routing Techniques
  • Sampling Theory
  • Slice Audio to MIDI modes
  • Sampling with the Simpler
  • Sampling with the Sampler

Ableton Effects 

  • Introduction to Ableton Effects
  • Time Based Effects – Reverb, Delay & Echo
  • Modulation Effects – Chorus & Flanger
  • Tone Shaping Effects – Saturators, Overdrive, Amp & Pedal
  • Understanding EQ & its Types
  • Understanding Compression, Gate & Side-chains

Basics of Sound Design

  • Synthesis Theory – Types of Synthesis, Envelopes, LFO Modulation, Filters
  • Synthesis with native plugins
  • Synthesis with external Vsti/Audio Units

Sequencing & Songwriting

  • Analyzing Song Structures 
  • Song Arrangement in the Session View 
  • Recording Session Arrangement into the Arrangement View
  • Editing clips in the Arrangement View
  • Understanding Automation 
  • Session Clip Automation – Recording, Writing & Editing
  • Arrangement Automation 

Finalize your Track

  • Balance the mix using the right levels
  • Balance of FX in the mix
  • Understanding Gain Staging
  • Basic Mastering
  • Exporting the complete track

Final Assessment

Equipment List

  • Native Instruments Maschine
  • Roland Tr-8
  • Korg Volca Bass
  • Korg Volca Keys
  • Ableton Push 2
  • AKAI APC40 Mk2
  • Moog Sub-37
  • Behringer ADA8200 ADAT
  • UAD Apollo Twin X
  • Roli Seaboard Rise
  • M-Audio Axiom 49
  • Novation Launchkey 49
  • Focals Alpha 80 Monitors
  • Yamaha HS 5 Monitors
  • Fluid FC10S
  • Rode K2 Tube Microphone
  • Shure SM7B
  • Shure SM-57
  • AKG – P120
  • Neumann NDH20
  • Audio Technica ATH M20x