Deconstructing an Ableton Live Performance Set

Рет қаралды 101,910

3 жыл бұрын

Once upon a time I took a bunch of my tracks and turned them into a "playable" Ableton Live set. This video goes over how that works, what I did, and what I would do differently.
Patrons can download the entire set here: / 48580009
The album I made with this set, In Control, is here: soundvision.bandcamp.com/albu...
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Thank you for watching. My name is Jeremy, and this is Red Means Recording. I've been making music for a few decades now, and this channel is a place to make music and to talk about the tools and techniques to make music with. We'll use synths, drum machines, modular gear, and software.
If you'd like to support the channel, I have a Patreon: bit.ly/rmrpatreon
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Пікірлер: 191

@matt_r_w 11 ай бұрын

Finally a video that properly explains a good way to lay out a set!

@chafaisimo 2 жыл бұрын

the song using Thom's vocals from Nude is GOLD !

@ben_burnes 3 жыл бұрын

I've spent like a decade in Ableton and I so rarely jump into the live view. I need to change that. Thank you for this breakdown!

@MarkoTakovac-MadBear Жыл бұрын

I'm always starting in clip mode and when track evolve enough i'm switching to arranger 😎

@Mr.Thermistor7228 Ай бұрын

this is freaking unreal. of all the "dj live in ableton how to videos" this is imo the best method of doing it and the best explained on how to do this method. this just makes so much more sense compared to how alot of others have explained it

@Cebollaverde 3 жыл бұрын

“Maybe we’ll learn something, idk, what do you want from me?” -RMR

@osrthejourney 3 жыл бұрын

Holy ish you dropped a lot of gems here. A lot of what you said appears to be fundamental and transfers across anything that has clip triggering functionality. Thank you so much for the education. Also, life exists where it can- no real meaning other than what we give and make of it. Yes, lots more please😁.

@fierywatery 3 жыл бұрын

This video rocks. I’ve been thinking a lot about how to adapt some of my more pop structured work to a live set that won’t kill me but also won’t feel like hitting play on an iPod. This has given me a lot of ideas - thank you!

@edgarm6017 3 жыл бұрын

This is invaluable! Just started dipping my toes into the software world, and got a Push 2 a couple days ago. Thanks so much, Jeremy!

@Davnak 3 жыл бұрын

So inspiring. I feel like for years I've been wanting to use my Push for live performance but never was able to get it in a spot that worked well for me. Really cool seeing how you've done it and it's given me some new ideas.

@cpiersonk 3 жыл бұрын

this is insanely useful! thank you for all of the great content (and circuit packs) cheers from austin.

@torstenjensen4708 3 жыл бұрын

This whole set is sick! Especially liked how you have bass notes on each cell during the Nude remix so you can improv a bassline during the set!

@Ywz816 3 жыл бұрын

I have a hardware setup and a use ableton but I’ve been struggling to find use for my push. This video showed me how I can organize my song parts and perform with them to creat the full track I really want. Great video as always. Thanks for posting.

@JoshIsMakingMusic 3 жыл бұрын

Love seeing a breakdown like this. It's super fascinating.

@rmshifthotlap 2 жыл бұрын

I am working on a live set and this video is pure gold for me right now. Thanks!

@joe__ 3 жыл бұрын

Who knew one could chop the lyrics of Nude into a banger? Love it!

@briknole3455 2 жыл бұрын

Just subscribed to Patreon and got all the fx and racks he uses at this video + all the samples to play it live. Subscription is worth it and this man is needed.

@mhediseltana 3 жыл бұрын

Really inspiring, liked the way how you use the effects rack to have some real live performance. I'm a live keyboard player and I used to have an arranger connected to my live setup to change the harmonization. Great experience for playing on stage.

@user-ku4rh5kt2m Жыл бұрын

Awesome Jermey! Thank you for sharing. I recommend a Midi Fighter 3-D twister for plenty of knobs. It's classic and portable. Looks like you put a lot of work into this particular set. Music is the elixir of life!

@Tcrain4 3 жыл бұрын

Been looking for something like this for a while. Great video!!!!

@gabsarmento 2 ай бұрын

What a great lesson! Thanks for the knowledge. Cheers from Brazil

@benzmobil 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks for sharing your setup. I want to start performing after the pandemic and this is a good video to see the possible way of doing it!

@theromanshow Жыл бұрын

There are sooo many people that teach and have natural talent for playing and have a great ear and a great way to communicate but never all in one particular person at the same time. You do! AND you have that “it” factor for making REALLY good music. I’m taking your course (if you’re still giving them) thanks for all these years of videos u op1 are my faves

@RedMeansRecording Жыл бұрын

❤️

@JimboKennedy 2 жыл бұрын

So good, especially that vocal drop at 20:45

@danielpirone8028 3 жыл бұрын

Next level! Thank you mr recording!

@SevenBeatsmusic Жыл бұрын

man, you're killin' it! I accidentally stumbled across your channel and clicked at 23:22, and I can't stop listening to that part haha, what a vibe!

@Loghtar2391 29 күн бұрын

Finally. I feel that most of the people explains in a way that they assume everything is "common knowledge" when it is not. Thank you, this gave me great insight and ideas on how to live perform!

@SuperPapaman Жыл бұрын

This is amazing, i already downloaded it, Please do more!!!

@poporowyo 3 жыл бұрын

This has always been a bit of mystery for me. If you were to show a ‘how to convert your songs to an Ableton clip/DJ set’, that would be next level.

@samthesupreme5752 Жыл бұрын

2:40 You can just flatten or resample particular tracks and put them in live view

@diegopalomarelectronicmusic Жыл бұрын

just export and select - Render Track - All Individual tracks, then add to session view on a new project, then select all and loop inside a clip (all clips will loop) after start looping to complete your track layout

@drwhalemusic Жыл бұрын

@@diegopalomarelectronicmusic when doing this, wouldn't you now risk messing up any compressors that are sidechained to other tracks? Maybe I am unique in relying on these as a common component of mastering my songs, but i've wondered if/where/how compression would be handled when swapping to a live setup

@diegopalomarelectronicmusic Жыл бұрын

@@drwhalemusic sound should be on audio so sidechained and compression wont be affected

@shockdog0784 Жыл бұрын

Hi! I checked out your album on your website. Absolute class! Incredible!

@bvrbvs 3 жыл бұрын

Yes!!! Please more ableton stuff!

@caydilemma3309 3 жыл бұрын

Ableton live sets are arcane wizard magic to me but the sounds and flashing lights are pretty

@thesecretisyouaddreverb 2 жыл бұрын

Took a second to notice where that bass in the "jam" section came from. Neat choice!

@xtremejumpy 3 жыл бұрын

i tried doing this a decade ago and did not quite have the same success. You've re-inspired me to try again, and this might actually get me on the patreon. The first go around was inspired by M4SONIC and Robert Delong, played off of 2 launch pads and a keyboard. on the outsides of the launchpads I had live samples, on the inside I ran clips, then the keyboard I had split into like 3 different sections. I didn't have a lot of physical knobs to work with so I ended up automating it on LFO's and bouncing it out. This is definitely about where I should have ended up but just didnt have the expertise at the time. Really cool stuff man, this is always what I personally envisioned as the fullest form of electronic music performance, just a man and gear jamming for an hour

@therealtaxman6471 6 ай бұрын

So great video man! thanks a lot for all this data !!! Cheers

@nieimjetzt 2 ай бұрын

Thanks again for the helpful and sympathetic explanations :-) Would love to dance to this killer set all night long!

@Sixtehn 3 жыл бұрын

This is super useful. I've been thinking about setting a set like this with my launchpad. Still need to get my hands on the Midi Fighter Twister. This video will be super helpful to learn from. Funky tracks aswell.

@sebpix2000 10 ай бұрын

Hi Jeremy ! Great live set and thanks for your video. That's funny because i've set up a live set very similar to yours. 8 tracks, almost the same labels ! And FX controlled by knobs. BTW a controller suggestion : Faderfox PC12. The only main difference is that i'm mostly midi with synths but since you had the tracks in the first place it makes sense doing audio chops the way you did. Keep up the good vibes bro

@DontWakeMeUpPlease1 9 ай бұрын

Man. Im already yor Patreon: Thanks for this beatiful resource!

@mychemicaljojo 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks for making this video. I’m a hobbyist Serato DJ just getting into Ableton exactly for this setup. I’d love to see you perform this. I like David August’s Boiler Room set as inspiration. The Akai MIDI Mix has been quite nice, although it’s only 3 knobs per channel.

@soupiedee 3 жыл бұрын

Dude, “Bees” is so lit bro! When the pandemic is over please do a concert in LA or something, that track was crazzzzyyyyy!!!

@doflamingo85 2 жыл бұрын

Amazing work

@kalubandali2241 3 жыл бұрын

This was fun, thanks!

@dimitrichatzis8856 3 жыл бұрын

Amazing mindset behind this.

@harryjiang73 3 жыл бұрын

This is GOLD!!

@pchangsta 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks for the walkthrough! Btw, for stopping clips (when the whole column is filled up), you can hit "Stop Clip" and the corresponding track button (right below the LED screen).

@3lackwoodmusic 3 жыл бұрын

Or set the clips to toggle vs trigger

@juniorthomson5972 Жыл бұрын

Your tunes are ace mate. 🙂

@samprock 3 жыл бұрын

looks like an average size song I make in Live :) Gems and action packed, real cool project, Jeremy! Just a look of it a music to me :)

@AngelicDirt 3 жыл бұрын

Interesting. You can definitely see hints of your more performative style in this setup. It's certainly a good start, if you have the correlating gear. Thanks for this. :3

@marcomamoto 8 ай бұрын

Man, your music is dope. Old good house

@johnholdun 3 жыл бұрын

I remember reading about DJing with Live on DJTT a long time ago. The amount of preparation required and number of ways it can all come crashing down kept me away, and even looking at this set makes me incredibly nervous, but you play it really well! I'm glad you made this work for you, and now I'm wondering about ways to make a Live clip launching-based set more improvisational beyond manipulating effects. The only commercially-available controller I can think of that might replace the BCR is the Faderfox PC12. The Novation Launch Control XL could also work if you can map some parameters to the faders in a way that makes sense. Maybe two Midi Fighters Twister side by side?

@ZayneUpton 3 жыл бұрын

Great video Jeremy and LOVE the music and the effects chains you’ve got on there. I realise it’s not as tactile as physical buttons, but have you considered using your iPad as a secondary controller? You could use Touchable, for instance and create your own interface that is mapped to your effects. I tend to design the interface with sliders instead of rotary knobs, as it’s easier to use on an iPad. Physical knobs rule though.

@mattskinner5432 2 жыл бұрын

Mind blown 🔊🎶♥️

@ftm5713 3 жыл бұрын

I like the idea of interspersing some jam sections so it's not all just rows and rows of scene launching that was a great idea. Also, have a look for an Evolution UC33e, theres usually loads knocking around second hand with plenty of knobs and faders

@doflamingo85 2 жыл бұрын

amazing... more live set like this. i am trying to make them on my own song but it take a lot of practise as u point out.

@Anarchy303 7 ай бұрын

This is awesome

@KunchangLeeMusic 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks for this knowledge

@mindmuzic88 3 жыл бұрын

Have you considered the Midifighter Twister or how about something like the Launchcontrol XL for some added knobs/faders?

@tablaninja 3 жыл бұрын

Inspiring!

@brahimsmida8967 Жыл бұрын

You are amazing bro

@choodane1844 3 жыл бұрын

Pleeeeeeease perform this thing! I’d live to hear that!

@peaceful_1 3 жыл бұрын

Consider Novation Launch Control XL for a midi assignable controller similar to the Behringer one. It has three rows of knobs and one row of decent faders. It also has track select and mute/solo features. It has paired well with the Push 2 for me.

@HIFI1965 3 жыл бұрын

^^^ THIS

@jowen15 3 жыл бұрын

was going to rec this too, I too looked forever for a BCR2000 and settled for a launch control. Its great

@jasperc5209 3 жыл бұрын

Damn shorty okay!!! imma fw it !!

@user-ql9hp7xy6v 7 ай бұрын

COOL, MAN!!!

@huoket 3 жыл бұрын

This is so beautiful ❤️ How do you feel about xone K2 for knobs and faders? I've seen Ben bohmer performing in a similar way and I believe he was using a few of those connected to each other

@hunterjonesf1 2 жыл бұрын

Please do a performance on this! Currently in the process of switching from a typical pioneer DJ nexus 2 setup to ableton live performance driven setup for my gigs. The initial challenge for me is being able to perform seemless transitions with the various stems I have loaded into the session. Would be great to see a full set of this and see how you go about it!

@polvere98 3 жыл бұрын

Midi fighter twister is a good one, easy replicatable in your was, but that one is perfect for these things

@joshua5887 3 жыл бұрын

I would love to see you do a performance with this

@HIFI1965 3 жыл бұрын

I’ve performed in a similar way. It’s fun. Ultimately, it comes down to what you want to or can do on stage. There is only one of you. For me, I did some clip launching - mixing and matching, and some longer tracks that I’d jam to on keys. I’ve definitely found that longer clips - like 8,16, or even 32 bars allow you to build in tension and release - even into a repetitive phrase. If you can step away for a bit and the music still breathes, it helps a lot. Also, if it is a piece that is already in song form , I.e. intro , verse, chorus, etc then there is no reason to launch clips. Just make them long clips and let them play. Focus on dynamics and efx.

@HIFI1965 3 жыл бұрын

One of the other things that I forgot to mention is to create a drum kit with hits/fills/percussion/and risers for each song. Grouping those kits into a rack, and then automating a clip to change the chain selector means that you have up to 64 pads of samples at the ready to perform. (Those sounds can be samples from existing piece, but chopped and processed). I've been trying over the pandemic to try to get this type of performance feel without using a DAW.......with varying degrees of success...but that's a different story.....;)

@fierywatery 3 жыл бұрын

The only reason you may still want to launch clips in a defined arrangement is that it’ll be easier to recover if you make a mistake that throws off the arrangement.

@HIFI1965 3 жыл бұрын

@@fierywatery Fair point, but follow actions can do it for you as well. I just found that if the piece already had a structure that was not going to be varied....it was better for me to focus on something else..... but different strokes for different folks..... cheers ;)

@sailingshadowfax7518 2 жыл бұрын

@@HIFI1965 Long sections and follow actions that lead to an improv section with loops is a great compromise.

@ob1quixote 3 жыл бұрын

The meaning of being alive is that since there is no great mystery beyond the veil, one must enjoy themselves here and now.

@sharkby7e 3 жыл бұрын

Love this a lot! I feel like I'm getting a glance at a wizard's spellbook

@SoniaRay 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you!!

@erickr4ndom 3 жыл бұрын

awesome job! my approach was very similar using the apc40

@playamaqui Ай бұрын

Thank you!

@dataphreak 3 жыл бұрын

Clearly, the novation launch control is the winner for knobs in your hands, but have you considred using VCV Rack to control the effects via midi?

@Thedrumsthebass 3 жыл бұрын

As a Renoise user for the last decade, I’m not sure if I can ever give up the tracker workflow. Never tried Ableton seriously but gonna download the trial now.

@cursedsound 3 жыл бұрын

You wont regret it, the new update is amazing

@Thedrumsthebass 3 жыл бұрын

@@cursedsound I like it a lot actually, very tidy!

@dreamspyiceland Жыл бұрын

Truly an inspiring feast to watch! I'm wondering about your approach with the BCR2000. Was the whole controller always with the same functionally, no matter what track was selected. Or did the buttons change function based on what track is selected?

@tiimm0002 Жыл бұрын

Hello there, thanks for posting this video, it's really good!! I was just wondering, couldn't you also just keep the live set with the midi tracks in the session view, instead of exporting the stems?

@frostwise87 Жыл бұрын

Great video and thnks for being so open and honest. I have a similar ableton setup but for each song go horizontly and down so it can be difficult to navigate though I use iPad midi controllers to trigger clips. HOWEVER after just getting a Push I'm looking for alternatices :)

@frostwise87 Жыл бұрын

ps your musics wicked

@plumcharlie 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks for showing this. DJing with Ableton and APC40 was how I used to do it as well. I never came up with a creative solution as comprehensive with EFX as you did though. I had everything mapped to APC40 knobs. Also how you stemmed out your own stuff was more deep than I got with it. Are you thinking of incorporating Ableton back into your live modular jams with expert sleepers? Where my head is at for future self... I would love to see how your approach to incorporating CV tools.

@djellisdee 5 ай бұрын

I learned a lot by picking through this Ableton project and learning how you set things up in here, which was fantastic. Since you originally built this Ableton project about a decade ago, I am very curious to hear how you would approach this Ableton interactive live set building using 2024's technology gizmos, and what you might design differently from the beginning based on what you know now, and how you would change your MIDI hardware setup while still keeping it reasonable without too many hardware components (perhaps still keeping a lot of functionality in the laptop inside Ableton). So basically, how would you bring this clip launching project forward by 10 years using the latest 2023/2024 technology (eg. MIDI Fighter Twister to map to effects knobs, Novation Launch Control to get volume sliders and sends, or something exotic like the Yaeltex Live 15, etc.)?

@sharethevibe8702 2 жыл бұрын

"BCR32" from Behringer now soon to appear on the market (2-3 months). Same thing as the BCR2000 just sleaker design (+ sequencer functionality also built-in as standard)(dual functionality: controller/sequencer). About 150 euro's.

@maceo123 Жыл бұрын

Looks great, I have download the template, question, how you handle transitions when using the effects, for example I use the noise wash on kick and than want to move to next track, it should start without effect

@LyoshaLozhkin 3 жыл бұрын

I recently bought your pattern set for digitone. It's fantastic. I reworked some for video game music (you have major mostly progressions), and I needed minor and somber ones. How much time do you spend creating such fantastic sets?

@GabeWilliams 3 жыл бұрын

What I wouldn't give to have an ableton push :( I really appreciate you walking through this though, never really understood how to set something like this up

@k-g-p 3 жыл бұрын

Why do you not using the Novation Launch Control XL as a Midi Controller with a lot of knobs? I like it a lot and use it for my Ableton Live Sets....and yes I am crazy like you to do some crazy big projects with to many Clips and Effects. :-D Like it. Thanks for this vid...

@peterstrianus1790 2 жыл бұрын

The dog barking was perfectly synched. Seriously.

@LaurieGordon Жыл бұрын

There is meaning to being alive!!

@DowntownDigitalUK 3 жыл бұрын

Very insightful thanks. Did you freeze all the assets or needed to manage CPU resources (live FX..) And could you talk about any areas (groups, tracks, sections) that were not constrained to the clip / scene structure? I perso use the spark and touchable setup with Analog RYTM into a mixer to leave some space for craziness and live dubbing.

@RedMeansRecording 3 жыл бұрын

Effects intrinsic to the mix are frozen. Performance effects are realtime.

@bipedal_earth_roamer Жыл бұрын

Love the euro rack stuff but I miss the Ableton workflow vids.

@linuxbender 3 жыл бұрын

interesting, hem... you probably already know, "Behringer BCR 32" is a remake and then you can play again with your effects.

@lightintheart Ай бұрын

how much CPU percentage wise are you using when running ableton live with your set up? also, how many gb is your ram for your setup to function smoothly?

@Bigger-Circuitry-Bigger-SOUND 3 жыл бұрын

controller suggestion : DOEPFER POCKET DIAL is the most knoby controller, it is super dope 4 banks of 16 encoders i use it with Ableton and Eurorack too . and about wanting to see you perform this set, the answer is YES YES and YES 🍻🍻🍻

@EfeErdemOfficial Жыл бұрын

how do you reset the parameters after you use the fx's on the drum channel ?

@Fcosas Жыл бұрын

what would you do if you have delay or reverb in one synth and another none, or in your drums one has a send and in another song you dont....Thanks.

@5lanediver 3 жыл бұрын

will this set work with abelton 10?i want to do something similar with an apc40

@CiroTricking 3 жыл бұрын

Like that thom yorke remix xD

@mindofthepines9531 2 жыл бұрын

🔥

@jean-francoisduguay7592 Жыл бұрын

Thanks a lot for this very interesting tutorial. It help me a lot. Do you know a way (audio track in session mode) to Preserve "tail" when stopping clips?

@RedMeansRecording Жыл бұрын

Not off the top of my head