IT TOOK ME 10 YEARS TO FIND THESE 5 ABLETON TRICKS

5 Secret Settings in Ableton Live to Improve Your Workflow

Introduction to the Power of Ableton Live

• The speaker emphasizes the power and complexity of Ableton Live, noting that many users may overlook hidden features that can enhance their workflow.

• After 10 years of experience, the speaker shares insights on five secret settings that can significantly improve music production.

Fixing Clip Edge Fades

• The speaker recounts a common mistake made during drum production: dragging in samples with unintended fades at the clip edges.

• To resolve this issue, users should disable the "Create Fades on Clip Edges" setting found under Live Settings > Record/Warp Launch.

• Disabling this feature ensures samples sound consistent when dragged into the timeline, preventing confusion over sample differences.

Understanding Quantization Settings

• The importance of quantization is highlighted; users are encouraged to review their quantization settings for both audio and MIDI clips.

• For audio clips, it’s recommended to set quantization based on grid size (e.g., 16th notes), allowing for more precise adjustments without sounding robotic.

Understanding Trigger vs. Gate Mode in Music Production

The Importance of Note Length in Programming Medi Drums

• The speaker discusses the significance of note length when programming Medi drums, emphasizing that while some notes may finish simultaneously, their lengths can greatly affect the sound.

• Demonstrates playing a sample on upbeats, noting that despite variations in note lengths, all rides sound identical due to the simpler being set to trigger mode.

• Explains the difference between trigger and gate modes: trigger plays the entire sample regardless of note length, while gate cuts off the sample when the note is released.

Quantizing Samples Without Losing Length

• Warns that enabling quantization with gate mode will result in uniform sample lengths, losing intended variations.

• Shows how disabling end settings allows for quantization while preserving original note lengths, maintaining musicality and expression.

• Highlights this technique's importance for other elements like basslines where preserving played nuances is crucial.

Optimizing Latency Settings for Recording

Adjusting Latency Settings

• Introduces latency settings and their impact on recording quality; suggests checking "reduced latency when monitoring" option as a first step.

• Advises saving this setting as a default to ensure it’s always enabled for new sessions.

Buffer Size and Sample Rate Considerations

• Discusses buffer size adjustments; lower values reduce latency but depend on computer power—essential for recording vocals or instruments accurately.

• Notes that typical buffer sizes range from 32 to 512 samples based on session complexity and computer capability.

Impact of Sample Rate on Latency

• Explains how overall latency can be affected by changing sample rates; higher rates generally yield lower latency but increase file sizes.

Warp Settings in Ableton Live

Understanding Warp Settings

• Ableton's warping algorithms are highly regarded, making it a preferred choice for many producers. However, many users may not fully utilize its features effectively.

• The warp settings can be found under "Live Settings" > "Record Warp and Launch." It's crucial to understand how to adjust these settings based on the desired outcome.

Loop Warp Short Samples

• The setting for short samples is set to "Auto," which is ideal for one-shots or very short loops. This ensures that samples are not warped unnecessarily.

• When importing a sample with a significantly different BPM (e.g., 80 BPM into a 130 BPM session), it's important to manage how the sample is warped to maintain its original length and sound quality.

Importance of Unwarping One-Shots

• If one-shots are automatically warped, they may stretch incorrectly, altering their intended sound. Keeping them unwarped preserves their integrity across different tempos.

Importing Long Samples

• For long samples where the BPM is unknown, enabling warp detection allows Ableton to analyze and adjust the sample accordingly.

• An example provided involves importing a song with known BPM (124), demonstrating how Ableton can accurately detect and warp it when settings are correctly adjusted.

Default Warp Mode Recommendations

• The default warp mode should generally be set to "Beats," especially when working with drums, as it best preserves transients.

• Different warp modes like Complex or Complex Pro might be more suitable for busy drum patterns or full songs where multiple elements need tempo adjustments.

Evaluating Different Warp Algorithms

• Using various algorithms affects audio quality; Beats mode works well for drums while Complex modes may degrade transient definition slightly.

• A demonstration shows that while Beats mode maintains clarity in drum sounds at varying tempos, Complex modes can lead to loss of detail.

Special Cases for Using Complex Modes

• In scenarios involving complex drum patterns or full tracks with vocals and instruments, using Complex Pro might yield better results than Beats mode due to overall sound preservation during tempo changes.

Repitch Mode Overview

Understanding Pitch and Tempo Changes in Music Production

The Effect of Pitch on Vinyl Playback

• Playing vinyl records at different speeds alters the pitch; slower playback results in lower pitch, while faster playback raises it.

• When using repitching at a lower BPM (e.g., 80 BPM loop in a 130 BPM track), quality is retained despite significant pitch changes, which can create interesting effects.

Vocal Processing Algorithms

• Discusses the best algorithms for processing vocals: Beats vs. Complex vs. Complex Pro.

• Original vocal tempo is 85 BPM; when played back at 100 BPM using the Beats algorithm, artifacts are noticeable, indicating it's not ideal for vocals.

• For changing tempo while maintaining vocal quality, Complex Pro is recommended as it eliminates artifacts effectively.

Differences Between Algorithms

• Switching from Complex Pro to Complex introduces metallic and robotic qualities to the vocals due to remaining artifacts.

• Emphasizes careful listening with headphones to discern differences between algorithms when altering vocal tracks.

Changing Pitch Without Altering Tempo

• Returning session tempo to 85 BPM allows for pitch adjustments (e.g., lowering by three semitones).

• Using Complex Pro provides control over formant and envelope parameters, affecting how close the altered vocals sound to their original tone.

Combining Pitch and Tempo Adjustments

• If both pitch and tempo need adjustment, priorities must be established—natural sound versus desired pitch effect.

• Example given of setting session tempo to 100 BPM while also changing pitch; adjustments can help maintain closeness to original vocals.

Setting Default Presets for Efficiency

• Introduces how default presets can streamline workflow in music production software (e.g., EQ settings).

How to Set Default Presets in Your Audio Software

Setting Up Default Compressor Presets

• The speaker demonstrates how to open a compressor and enable side chaining, allowing it to save as a default preset. This streamlines the process for future use.

• By saving the compressor settings as a default, users can quickly select the desired track without needing to reconfigure settings each time.

Configuring Default Audio and MIDI Tracks

• The speaker explains how to set up a default audio track that automatically takes input from a specified source (input 2 for the microphone).

• This setup is particularly useful when recording vocals, making it easier to create new tracks with pre-configured inputs.

Saving Custom Track Settings

• Users can customize their audio or media tracks by making necessary changes and then right-clicking to save these configurations as default settings.