Ableton Live has become the DAW of choice for many top songwriters and producers. Flume, Diplo, Skrillex and Deadmou5 are some of the biggest names in electronic/pop music using the software. Keep reading to for an Ableton Live Lite tutorial and review.
- Ableton Live Won't Quit Working
- Ableton Live Won't Quit Playing
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3) Force Ableton to rescan the plugin: (Example with FG-X below) #1 – Move the FG-X Mastering Console.vst file out of your vstplugin folder #2 – Restart Live #3 – Close Live #4 – Move the FG-X Mastering Console.vst back into the vstplugin folder #5 – Restart Live and hold the Option / Alt key on your keyboard. Live should now rescan.
Ableton – the Berlin-based company released the first edition of Ableton Live in 2001 and was used exclusively for electronic live performances. Fast forward to 2020 and the company has revolutionised the way in which music is created and performed.
Whether you’re a songwriter, looking to record some simple demos, or a seasoned producer looking for a fresh perspective and production workflow, by the end of this article you’ll have a solid understanding of how best to get started using Ableton. We’re going to be looking at Ableton’s Live 10 Lite edition. It’s the perfect stepping-stone into electronic music, music production and live performance.
- Ableton Live - just as other DAWs - only references those audio files. This means they are not included in the als-file of the Live Set, but only linked. If you add samples from a USB stick or elsewhere on your hard drive, Live will only save the information of the file path into your Live Set.
- I'm stuck in full screen mode and I can't see the small green arrow at the bottom right of the Live screen. Does anyone know how to get back to regular screen mode. I've tried pressing F11 (changed expose to CTRL + F11) and it still won't work. I've maneuvered the window around everywhere and still the small green arrow is out-of-site.
Note: For readers who are already familiar with music production, feel free to skip the sections covering audio equipment and setup.
What Is Ableton Live 10 Lite?
Ableton Live 10 Lite is a basic, stripped down edition of the full Ableton Live 10 Standard and Ableton Live 10 Suite editions. The difference between the basic and full editions comes down to functionality. More specifically, Ableton Live 10 Lite has a limited array of synthesizers, plugins, miscellaneous effects and sounds to choose from.
The 4 Different Ableton Editions
- Ableton Live 10 Suite – The full version: all software instruments, plugins, sound packs. No limitations or restrictions.
- Ableton Live 10 Standard – The full version: most software instruments, plugins and sound packs. Some restrictions or limitations.
- Ableton Live 10 Intro – Like the Lite edition: Intro is also a basic edition. In fact, the differences between Lite and Intro are so incremental that it’s not worth considering purchasing Intro. Just go straight to one of the full editions if you ever decide you want an Ableton Live Lite upgrade.
- Ableton Live 10 Lite – Similar to the full editions but with less of everything. Despite Ableton Live 10 Lite being the inferior version overall, it’s still incredibly versatile and powerful. You could still produce records with just this version.
We’ll be looking at Ableton Live 10 Lite because the software is an industry standard and it’s free to get started.
Let us know if you’d like an Ableton Live Lite vs Standard or Ableton Live Lite vs full review!
Note: Go to www.Ableton.com to see a comprehensive guide of features included in the 4 different editions and their price listings. Also, check out our article on free Ableton sound packs!
Installation
Before you download a version of Ableton Live 10 Lite, please check the system requirements:
System Requirements for Mac
- OS X 10.11.6 or later
- Intel® Core™2 Duo Processor (Intel® Core™ i5 processor or faster recommended)
- 4 GB RAM (8 GB or more recommended)
System requirements for PC
- Windows 7 (SP1), Windows 8 or Windows 10 (64-bit)
- 64-bit Intel® Core™ or AMD multi-core processor (Intel® Core™ processor or faster recommended)
- 4 GB RAM (8 GB or more recommended)
Basically, make sure your computer’s operating system is up to date and that you have enough space on your internal hard drive to install the software.
When ready, go to www.ableton.com/en/products/live-lite/ to get your Ableton Live Lite download.
Note: If the link doesn’t work, search for “Ableton Live 10 Lite download” in your browser and you’ll be directed to the Ableton website download page.
Installation & MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface)
Along with your edition of Ableton, you’ll also need a MIDI controller to interact with the software and program/play music with.
A MIDI controller (Musical Instrument Digital Interface) is any hardware that transmits or receives data to and from a DAW – sounds complicated and sophisticated but it’s not.
In simple terms, a MIDI controller is just a pad or mini keyboard with extra buttons that you plug into your computer to trigger sounds and perform live with – that’s all! Learn more about MIDI controllers by clicking on it above!
Authorise Your Ableton Live Lite Software
At this point, open up Ableton Live 10 Lite on your computer and you’ll be prompted to authorise the software.
I recommend authorising your edition of Ableton Live 10 Lite for 2 reasons:
- It will allow you to save your work.
- It will enable you to export your songs and productions.
So, authorising your Ableton Live 10 Lite is a very important step.
To do this you would need to purchase a license from Ableton, which comes in the form of a serial number. Fortunately, this serial number comes free with a lot of controllers already, so all you need to do is purchase a MIDI controller.
Note: Make sure you purchase a controller that includes an Ableton Live 10 license.
Ableton Account
During the installation and authorisation process, you’ll most likely be prompted to create an Ableton account. It’s worth creating an account as it keeps all your Ableton licenses in one place. It also serves as your own cloud storage system for Ableton products. Such as additional Ableton Live Lite plugins, sounds and instruments.
For further help with the installation and authorisation process, go to the help section of the Ableton website.
Note: For any readers who already have MIDI controllers, chances are you’ll find an Ableton Live Lite free license in your controller’s original packaging.
Finding The Perfect MIDI Controller
When choosing a controller, keep your musical background and what you hope to create in mind. For example, if you’re big into beat making, the Launchpad or AKAI MPD218 are great choices. They have a simple pad grid layout that makes it easy for “finger drumming” and for use with Ableton’s Live performance mode (Session View).
If you’re a piano/keys player, go for a MIDI controller with a keyboard that has multiple octaves, like the Launchkey 49.
I recommend a controller that includes a pad grid and a keyboard. That way you’ll have one piece of hardware for all music production purposes. It also means less clutter in your studio.
Once you’ve got your MIDI controller ready and your Ableton edition open on your computer. Connect your controller to your laptop using the provided USB cable. Ableton should recognise your controller and make any configurations automatically.
If for some reason the controller is not working right away, you’ll need to set up the MIDI controller manually. It’s very easy.
Ableton have created a video tutorial for configuring MIDI controllers manually:
Audio Interface Setup
If you’re going to be working with raw audio, recording acoustic instruments like vocals or acoustic guitar for example, you’ll need to make sure your audio interface is communicating with Ableton Live 10 Lite.
Modern technology has increased audio hardware quality overall and made it inexpensive to acquire. You’ll have no trouble finding an audio interface that suits your budget.
Before buying an interface, you need to have a rough idea of what you want to record with it. For example, if you just want to record an electric guitar or vocalist, go for a straightforward interface like a Scarlett Solo. It has a single D.I. (Direct Input) and Audio input. If you want to record a live band however, you’re going to need multiple inputs.
To set up your interface to work with Ableton, make sure your interface drivers are installed. Next, in Ableton, go to preferences > audio > go to “Audio Input Device” and from the drop-down menu, select your interface. Then go to “Audio Output Device” and from the drop-down menu select your preferred output.
You’re all set! Now, let’s actually get into using Ableton Live Lite.
How To Use Ableton Live 10 Lite
Ableton is unique from other DAWs, primarily because it has two different modes, referred to as “Arrangement view” and “Session View”.
Arrangement View
This is the classic layout that you’ll see in most, if not, all DAWs. It’s the composing, recording and arrangement UI (user interface). This is where you see your audio or MIDI being recorded, where you’ll edit audio, midi and arrange your productions.
Session View
This is the Live performance mode. When you see producers and bands on stage with laptops, there’s a fair chance they’re using Ableton’s session view.
This mode allows you to take your mixed and mastered music on to the stage and manipulate it any way you like.
The idea behind this is that, whilst on stage, using your controller(s) of choice, you can launch loops of audio known in the Ableton world as “clips”.
Session view is a feature that puts the Ableton DAW ahead of its competitors. It’s unique to Ableton and one of it’s selling points.
Note: Shortcut for Mac and PC – switch between the Arrangement and Session view by pressing the Tab key.
MIDI And Audio Tracks
To create music with your MIDI controller or record audio you’ll have to create a channel or “track” for each. If you create a MIDI track, you’ll only be able to play MIDI instruments or use MIDI effects from the sound library located on the left of the DAW.
Similarly, if you create an audio track, you’ll only be able to play/record raw audio or use audio plugins for that track.
Create A MIDI Track
Go to the menu bar at the top and choose Create > Insert MIDI Track
Create An Audio Track
Go to the menu bar at the top and choose Create > Insert Audio Track
To play and record music, select the appropriate track (MIDI or audio) “arm” it by clicking the small “clock” icon, located at the bottom of the track channel.
At the top of your Ableton Session you’ll find a menu bar with the play, stop and record (the circle) icons.
That’s it. That’s all you need to know to start tinkering with Ableton Live 10 Lite.
You’re good to go!
Tips To Ease Into Ableton
It’s A Learning Curve
Give yourself permission to feel overwhelmed. If you’re new to Ableton Live 10 Lite, it’s easy to get frustrated. Accept this fact and the learning curves will be less intimidating and you won’t be disheartened if you can’t do something right away. It just makes the whole learning process easier.
Get Started
Start making music immediately. Get your hands dirty. The more often you get stuck trying to do something, the more often you will get unstuck solving the initial problem and the faster you’ll learn.
Don’t Be Afraid To Ask For Help
Youtube, Google and Social Media are your friends. It’s safe to say that you can find a solution to any Ableton problem with a quick Google search. Similarly, there are tens of thousands of Ableton tutorials on Youtube, for beginners to advanced. Join Facebook groups and Reddit subreddits etc. Take advantage of the online community.
Shortcuts
Shortcuts will be your saving grace when learning how to use Ableton software. You’ll become a pro in no time. They speed up your workflow immensely and will compliment your outbursts of inspiration. Seriously, there’s nothing worse than being inspired to try a new musical idea and it taking 5 minutes to execute…because you don’t know or can’t remember a short cut. Also, check out our article on Ableton Templates to help make your music making even more efficient.
Piano Roll
Learn to use the piano roll. This will help you edit your midi recordings and allow you to experiment with harmony, melody and rhythm.
Sound Synthesis
Sound synthesis. Learn about it. It’s the first step in mastering this software. A lot of the instruments and plugin features are based on the basic concepts of sound synthesis. It’ll set you apart from the rest of the crowd.
Start Small
Don’t purchase any of the advanced editions until you’re comfortable with the Lite version, or at least know that you’re going to commit to using Ableton frequently. The full editions are expensive for multiple reasons: they are far more powerful and harder to manage.
5 Stars
Some other big artists who produce and perform with Ableton products include Chet Faker, FKJ, Masego, Jack Garrett, and Mura Masa.
Over the past 20 years Ableton has become an industry standard for record producers and musicians. Ableton Live 10 Lite is the perfect stepping-stone into music production and live performance. The Lite edition is free to download and has plenty for you to play with. It’s easy to install and set-up.
Ableton has a vast online community to engage with and reach out to if you ever find yourself struggling with something. Online learning resources are endless. You will have no trouble getting familiar with this DAW and you’ll master it in no time.
Is Ableton Live Lite Worth It?
As someone who has produced in multiple genres, alternating between what are arguably the three most used DAWs in the industry, Ableton Live 10 is an excellent choice for anyone interested in learning music production for fun or for starting a music career with. Start by experimenting with the Lite edition, once you’re comfortable with it and if you want more functionality, just upgrade. I initially used Pro Tools 11 HD and Logic Pro X, I downloaded Ableton Lite to try out one day, got hooked, upgraded to the Suite edition within a week.
So, if you’re just starting out with music production, then this is a really good option.
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Hey, I just bought the Focusrite Scarlet Studio. I am recording with Abelton Live Lite and it will only let me record 8 tracks. Is there a way to “upgrade” my software so I can continue to record more tracks. Please help! I have tried to reach out via email to Abelton Live Lite and have not gotten any response. Thank you in advance!
Best Regards,
Nicholas Fennel
[email protected]
313.858.0455
Hey Nicholas, If you visit the upgrade page on their website you should be able to get some more information from there. Sorry that we couldn’t help more!
These 11 Ableton tips and tricks are often overlooked, yet extremely useful.Some of these ableton tips are interesting production techniques and others are features which can save you some time and speed up your workflow. Keep in mind that this is an Intermediate guide, so if you are new to Ableton Live, this may be difficult to understand.
Note: If you’re using Mac, “Ctrl” = “Command” for all keyboard shortcuts.
Ableton Tip #1. Delay “Repitch” mode for tape stop effect
Ableton’s delays offer 3 different modes which change the delay’s processing behavior. The “Repitch” mode can be used to simulate a tape stop effect.
To change the delay mode, right-click on the delays title-bar and select “Repitch”. This works with Ableton’s Filter Delay, Ping Pong Delay and Simple Delay. I’ll use Simple Delay to demonstrate. You can get some interesting results when trying this with the other delays too.
To hear this effect, the “delay time” needs to be automated. When the delay time is static, we won’t hear any difference, but when the delay time is being changed, while a sound is going through the delay, we will hear a pitch increase or decrease. The cool thing about this is that when the delay time isn’t being changed/automated, the pitch of the sound will glide back to it’s regular original pitch.
To create a tape-stop effect, the delay time needs to be automated from a low to high value. It’s possible to create a pitch increase when automating the delay time from a high to low value.
Keep in mind that the pitch change only happens when the delay time is being changed/automated while processing a sound.
Note: The entire channel will be delayed by the value of the delay time when it is static. It’s important to keep the delay time at 1.00 ms when this effect isn’t being used. Alternatively, use feature #10 to turn the delay off when it’s not being used.
Ableton Tip #2. Transfer frozen tracks to audio without using “Flatten”
Freezing a channel in Ableton is a great way to save CPU and is also useful to quickly bounce MIDI channels into audio, by “flattening” a frozen track. The only problem with “flattening” is that it overrides your original MIDI track with audio and it also gets rid of all the effects you have on that channel, as they will be baked into the frozen audio file.
What if you want to keep the frozen track with your MIDI clip and effect chain?
Here’s what you can do:
- Highlight the area of the frozen track you want the audio from.
- Hold down “ctrl” click + drag the clip into an audio track.
You will now have an audio copy while the frozen track remains the same.
Ableton Tip #3. Using a placeholder to scroll through audio
Do you ever have a long audio clip, but only want to audition certain parts of it to find which section sounds best? Here’s a great way to “scroll” through an audio clip by using a clip of silence as a placeholder.
- Create a clip of silence or “place holder” by using any audio sample and turning it’s gain down to “-inf dB” in the sample editor.
- Put the placeholder after the audio clip you want to scroll through.
This placeholder prevents the audio clip from expanding when dragging the start marker forward.
- Double-Click on the title bar of the audio clip to open the sample editor.
- Drag the “end marker” to the end of the audio clip.
- Drag the “start marker” back/forth to scroll through the audio clip.
This allows you to quickly listen through different parts of the clip and find which part works best. When you are done, you can delete the placeholder.
Ableton Tip #4. Using percussion loops to create rhythmic reverb
Ableton comes with a large selection of
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“Max For Live” plug-ins, one of which, is the convolution reverb. This type of reverb works by processing a recorded sample called an “impulse response” or “IR” and uses the acoustic reverberant behaviours unique to it’s space.The cool thing is that we aren’t limited to using a regular IR which is usually just some sort of impact or “impulse” sound, that was recorded in a certain environment.
It is possible to use percussion loops or foley recordings as an IR as well. This will yield interesting rhythmical reverb tails.
To do this, simply drag any percussion loop or foley sample into the convolution reverbs IR display, as shown in the picture below.
The transients in the percussion loop will act as new impulses and the reverb will now have a rhythmical tail.
Note: Use percussion loops that are at the same bpm as your project if you want the rhythmical reverb to be in sync.
Ableton Tip #5. Lock automation envelopes
Sometimes you might want to copy-paste or drag an audio/MIDI clip or section of your project without copying the automation. Using the “Lock Envelopes” feature is a great way to move anything around while the automation stays locked in it’s place.
Ableton Tip #6. Automation shortcuts
Automation can be a headache to work with. Here are a few keyboard hotkeys you can use to make things easier.
- Snap to vertical axis: Hold down “Ctrl” while dragging an automation point up or down and it will only move vertically. This also allows you to move the automation point at a finer value.
- Drag through automation points to delete them: Simply click & hold an automation point while holding “Shift” and drag it through other automation points to delete them. If you move the opposite direction while still holding shift, the automation points that were deleted will reappear at their original position.
- Delete a highlighted section of automation: Highlight a section of automation and press “Ctrl + Delete.” This deletes the automation only, without deleting the contents of the audio/MIDI clip.
- Draw-in quantized automation: Press “Ctrl + B”, to use the “Draw Tool.” This allows you to draw blocks of automation, according to the size of the grid.
Press “Ctrl + B” again, to exit out of draw mode. The automation points will re-appear.
Note: Using the draw tool will snap the automation to the grid size. To draw free-range automation, turn the grid off by pressing
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“Ctrl + 4.”Ableton Tip #7. Fold the MIDI note editor to a certain scale
Writing chords and melodies doesn’t have to be difficult, but with so many notes to chose from it can become overwhelming. A way to make this easier is to pick a scale and “fold” the note editor to that scale. The note editor will now only display the notes in that scale and any note you choose will be harmonically correct.
For this demonstration, let’s use a C minor scale.
- Draw in all the notes within the scale you are using and copy them to higher/lower octaves.
At the top-left corner of the note editor is a little “Fold” button. Clicking this will reduce the note editor to only notes that are being used. In this case, it will fold down to display only the notes in the C minor scale.
Note: Create the scale of notes before the start maker. This way they won’t all play out in your MIDI clip. Alternatively, you can highlight all the notes and press “0” to mute them.
Ableton Tip #8. A/B tracks using key mapping
Have you ever wanted to compare two tracks without having to “solo” them back and forth? Using Ableton’s key mapping feature is a great way to quickly A/B two tracks. Key mapping allows you to map keys from your computer's keyboard to toggle parameters on & off.
For this demonstration, let’s use Ableton’s key mapping to switch between two channels at the press of one button.
When we press our mapped key, one channel will activate while the other channel simultaneously deactivates.
To start off, deactivate any of the two channels, like this:
Next, press “Ctrl + K” to enable key mapping. You’ll notice that a lot of parameters become highlighted when you do this.
Alternatively you can click the “KEY” button as shown below.
Anything that is highlighted orange can now be mapped to a key on your computer’s keyboard. Simply click on a parameter and press the key you’d like to map to that parameter. In this case, let's map the number “1” key to toggle these two tracks on and off. One of the channels was off to begin with, so it will toggle on as the other one toggles off whenever pressing the number “1” on the keyboard.
Keep in mind that you can choose any key to map to these parameters. For this example the number “1” was used but that doesn't make any difference at all.
Press “Ctrl + K” to disable key mapping mode.
Now you can use the mapped key to seamlessly A/B between two channels at the press of a button.
Ableton Tip #9. Morphing effect chains with chain selector
In Ableton, it is possible to create “Audio Racks” of effects. These racks offer some great features, one of which is the chain selector. The
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chain selector makes it possible to morph between different effect chains at the turn of one knob.To get your effects into a group, highlight them all and press “Ctrl + G”
Here’s how to set it up:
- Click the chain list icon to open the chain list display.
- To see the chain range, click the “Chain” button, to the left of the “Hide” button.
- Right-Click in an empty area and select “Create-Chain.”
- Drag both blue bars so they cover the full range. (see picture below)
- Bring your mouse cursor close to the fade-range bar until this bracket appears “]”
- Drag the thin “cross-fader” bars to the opposite ends to create the fade.
- Map the orange chain selector ruler to any macro.
This will be the macro you automate to morph between the two effect chains.
- You can save this empty rack as a default morph rack.
- Start putting your effects into the area at the right that says “Drop Audio Effects Here”
This is what it should look like:
This is a great way to crossfade between different effect racks. It is also possible to create more chains and set the blue bars to cover specific ranges, allowing you to morph between several effects chains.
Ableton Tip #10. Save CPU by deactivating effects that are not in use.
Limited CPU availability can be a huge setback when working on big projects. Freezing tracks is one way to reduce CPU usage. Here’s another trick you can use.
Often times there will be many audio effect plugins that are turned on, but aren't processingaudio. All of these effects are still using up CPU in the background. It would make sense to have them automatically disable, when they aren’t being used.
Keep in mind, this may not be applicable to all effects but it’s still a great trick to start using.
Let’s say we have are using Ableton’s Autofilter, but it’s only being used for low-pass filter automation. It is possible to setup the filter so that when the cutoff is all the way up, the filter is turned off, but as soon as the cutoff is automated below it’s full value, the filter turns on.
Here’s how to set it up:
- Map both ON/OFF and the filter frequency cutoff to the same macro. In this case they are both mapped to macro 1.
- Set the “Device On” Min value to 127.
This means that when the macro is at it’s full value and the filter frequency cutoff is all the way up, the filter will turn off.
- Set the “Device On” Max value to 126.
This means that when the macro reaches a value of 126
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or below, the auto filter will be turn on.If the macro knob is being automated, it is easy to turn the filter off by simply setting the automation value to 127.
Ableton Tip #11. Adjust track delay for samples with transient lead-ups
Some samples don’t start right at the main transient. For example, the clap in the picture above contains a transient lead-up. Trying to line-up this main transient with the grid can be time consuming, so here’s a way to make it easier.
- Highlight the area before the main transient. Use “Ctrl” for fine (not snapped to the grid) highlights.
- The status bar at the bottom tells us a few things about the highlighted area. What we want to know is the duration. In this case the highlighted area (transient lead-up) is 172 ms long.
- Click on the “Track Delays” icon at the bottom right hand corner to display the track’s delay settings.
- Set the track delay time to -(value of transient lead-up duration). In this case, it is set to -172 ms.
By setting the track delay to -172 ms, we can place the clap sample right on a beat, without trying to line up the main transient with the beat. Since the track plays 172 ms earlier, the transient will now line-up with the beat.
Conclusion
Thanks for reading this blog! I hope these 11 Ableton Features will help improve your sound design and/or workflow efficiency. It can take some time to develop the habit of using these features instinctively, though these shortcuts will help you out in the long-run and make music production more enjoyable!
Keep your eyes peeled for the part 2 of this series, coming soon...