Basic video tutorial of using ADSR envelopes to synthesize sound in Ableton Live with the Operator device.

Interview with a 5th grade educator who uses Xtranormal in her classroom as a writing tool for students.

When in session view and pressing the global play button I hear music that is not in the session view. What is happening and what can I do?

What is happening:

This may happen when you have content in the arrangement view. Ableton is set up so that anytime music is in the arrangement view it will play when the global play button is engaged. Since the tracks in the session view correspond to one another, playing a clip in a session view track will override anything in the corresponding arrangement view track.

What you can do about it:

If you are still in the process of creating your music and are not looking to have a final product in the arrangement view there are several options:

• You can cut and paste the material from the arrangement view into a clip in the session view ensuring it will not play in the arrangement view any longer


• You could create a new track in the arrangement view, paste the material into that track and mute the track

 

Some additional tips on switching between what is played on the session and arrangement views (You might need to select the text in the site so that is highlighted to make it easier to read)

 

Related information:

• The relationship between the Arrrangement and Session views is on p. 14 of the Live manual (p, 16 of the pdf version)

• Arrangement view information is on p. 73 of the Live manual (p. 73 of pdf version)


• Session view information is on p.89 of the Live manual (p. 91 of the pdf version)

Noise Gate technique to eliminate noise when recording.

Information for Using a MIDI Controller with Ableton Live

Go to the Help View in Live (located under the help menu)

Click the "MIDI Hardware" link under "Setup" in the help view

Information is also located in the Live Manual  Chapter 25 "MIDI and Key Remote Control" p. 458

 

Setting Up a MIDI Controller to Use with Live

- Once the MIDI Controller is plugged into the computer open the Live preferences and the MIDI tab

- Once the controller is recognized (if it is supported by Live) it should map automatically to the 16 pads visible in a drum rack

- If the pads do not map correctly try the following:

- Check to make sure you are on the default preset (usually preset #1)

- If this does not work check the documentation of the controller and look up how to carry out a "preset dump"

- Go to the MIDI preference tab and click the dump button located next to the controller

- As you scroll up and down the octaves of the pads within the drum rack the controller should trigger the pads that are visible

Ways to view MIDI assignment information

- After loading a drum kit into a MIDI track click on the small "show/hide chain list" button located on the left side of the device

- Then click the "show/hide input/output selection" button located under the "A" on the left side of the device. (alternatively you can click the "In-Out" option under the main "view" drop down menu)

- The "Receive" or  MIDI pitch that triggers a particular instrument sound is now displayed in the "chain" box of the device. 

or

- Click the MIDI Map Mode Switch button located at the top right of Live (in between "key" button and CPU load meter represented by a percentage sign and number in a rectangle.

- Then click the Mapping Browser button that appears on the very lefthand side of Live under the other icons that open up browsers

- The MIDI mappings browswer will open and you can view and change the note/Control information

or

- After loading a drum kit into a MIDI track right click on the title of the MIDI track in Session view and click the "show chains" option at the bottom of the drop down menu

- This opens a seperate track for each sound loaded into your drum set/rack

- You can find the "Recv./Play" information under the clips in the track

- The "MIDI in" pitch can be viewed and changed by using the drop down menu in the "MIDI In" rectangle  You may also need to click the "In-Out" option is selected under the main "view" drop down menu.

Manually setting up a MIDI Controller to use with Live

Changing software parameters

- Use the above information to check the MIDI "note in" or "receive" that triggers a sound and then chanage it

Changing hardware parameters

- Use MIDI controller editing software to remap the MIDI notes each pad is set to use to trigger sounds within Live

For example if the first pad is set to trigger "C1" then change it to "C3" or any other note that you wish to have it trigger.

 

 

Additional tutorials can be located using the tags: abletonlive midi controller 

Video tutorial that outlines how to slice an existing music file or sample.  Covers:  - Cropping a large loop into a smaller loop - Slicing the cropped loop - Setting up the drum rack device - Working with MIDI clips - Grouping slices - Building chains - Creating a groove - Sound design

Explanation of how to use instant mapping features in Ableton Live with unsupported MIDI controllers:  Includes:  - Setting up scripts and files for unsupported MIDI controllers

Approach to changing global tempo in Ableton Live for live performance

Approaches toward MIDI Mapping using banks for live performance with explanations and pros/cons. 

midimon is a free command line MIDI monitor for OS X. You can monitor any MIDI device connected to your Mac, or another application's MIDI output by using midimon's virtual mode. midimon should work with any Mac running OS 10.4 or later. farmpad is a free application for OS X which lets you customize how you use your Korg padKontrol MIDI controller. You can use pads as toggles that light up when switched on, the setting buttons can be used as extra switches and triggers, and the settings dial can be used as a rotary encoder. The controls can be customized using config files. A Windows version is planned for the future once the features in the OS X version are complete. farmpad should work with any Mac running OS 10.4 or later.

Collection of Ableton Live Tutorials

tutorial outlining process for setting up MIDI preferences in Live

An explanation of how you can record any audio on your computer for use in sampling. (Does not address copyright issues related to this process)

Tutorial for triggering any sample on a MIDI controller with Live and having it repeat a predetermined rate for as long as it is held.

Information for Using a MIDI Controller with Ableton Live

Go to the Help View in Live (located under the help menu)

Click the "MIDI Hardware" link under "Setup" in the help view

Information is also located in the Live Manual  Chapter 25 "MIDI and Key Remote Control" p. 458

 

Additional tutorials can be located using the tags: abletonlive midi controller 

A tutorial for dividing an audio sample or track into slices so that each slice can be triggered via a MIDI signal.  Includes how to: - import the sample - identify the BPM - warp the sample to prepare it for slicing - slice the sample according to the warp markers

Site with Ableton tutorials, tips, and news