Electronic Music Production

Getting Started with Ableton Live

• An overview of Ableton Live
• Ableton Live's user interface
• Introduction to the arrangement view
• The aesthetics of music production
• Music production analysis

Exploring the Session View

• An introduction to the session view
• Launching individual clips in the session view
• Launching clips from tracks and rows
• Key and MIDI map mode

Song Production, Part 1: Introduction and A Section

• Developing a song production (first steps)
• Adding clips (creating an intro scene)
• Audio clip properties
• Adding and modifying clips (creating a second scene)
• Clip launch programming

Song Production, Part 2: B Section, Variation and End

• New song sections
• Creating the breakdown section
• Variation of A Section
• The ending
• Clip envelopes
• Creative clip envelope editing

Song Production, Part 3: Adding Effects

• Effect processing in Ableton Live
• Setting up effects
• Determining where effects are needed
• Effects as inserts
• Effects on return tracks
• Creative possibilities using built-in effects

Song Production, Part 4: The Arrangement View

• Session view recording to the arrangement view
• Using locators
• Editing in the arrangement view

Song Production, Part 5: Creating a Vocal Track and Mixdown

• Adding a vocal sample
• Mix automation
• Rendering a mix
• MP3 file format

Creating an Original Ableton Live Production, Part 1: Establishing Style

• The production process
• Designing parts
• Working with MIDI
• Using Ableton Live's software instruments
• Making beats
• Importing and editing samples to create customized drum libraries
• Slicing

Creating an Original Ableton Live Production, Part 2: Developing the Groove

• Instrument racks
• Creating a groove
• Developing a song section
• Using the session view to develop a song section
• Building a scratch vocal
• Higher fidelity audio

Creating an Original Ableton Live Production, Part 3: Expanding the Sound Palette/Perfecting Musical Parts

• Expanding the sound palette
• Designing sounds 
• Sound sources
• Submixes
• Finalizing musical elements

Creating an Original Ableton Live Production, Part 4: Advanced Techniques

• Advanced drum programming techniques (audio and MIDI)
• Sample manipulation in Ableton Live: chopping, editing, warping / timestretching, pitch shifting, and rearranging samples in Ableton Live to create a new musical piece
• Utilizing KONTAKT for sampling and sound design: slicing drums and sampling, micro sampling, granular synthesis, ADSR (attack, decay, sustain, release), using effects in KONTAKT, etc.
• Recording and creating a customized sample patch in KONTAKT: utilizing the Map Editor, the Group Editor and effects in order to create a customized sample patch instrument in KONTAKT
• Advanced synthesis and sound design: creating advanced instruments using synthesis; kick drum, percussive instruments, bass guitar, organ, lead, etc.

Creating An Original Ableton Live Production, Part 5: Song Arrangement and Mix

• Song form
• Developing the arrangement
• Refining the arrangement
• The aesthetics of mixing
• Mixing the production

Other Uses for Ableton Live

• Remix production
• Video production
• Stage performance
• The Akai APC40
• MAX for Ableton Live

The Basics and History of DJing and Turntablism (Scratching, Beat Juggling and Mixing)

• Serato DJ Pro and how to use the software to DJ a set