Course 7: Ableton Live Course - DJing

Take your DJ Skills into the 21st century with the awesome Ableton Live. Learn how to use Ableton to mix and manipulate tracks in real time using a MIDI controller, DJ mixer or keyboard. This course will show you not only how to perform with Ableton Live, but also how to make mash ups, mix cds and help you make the transition from DJ to producer.

Press play to watch a preview from this course (half actual size).

Try this course for free - click here

Course materials include:

20+ Quicktime video tutorials

300 pages of course notes

Audio samples and song files

Personalised video feedback on your music

Weekly webchat with a pro producer

Student forum - post your questions & discussion topics

Ableton Live Course contents

Week 1: The Basics

• Session & arrangement view
• What is MIDI?
• Basic rhythm concepts
• Clips and scenes
• The browser

Week 2: MIDI Clips

• Basic drum programming
• MIDI recording
• Impulse and Simpler (The basic Ableton instruments)
• MIDI editing
• MIDI routing (utilising the in/out matrix)
• Clip envelopes (MIDI)

Week 3: Audio Clips

• Working with audio clips
• Warp marking
• Warping entire tracks and creating loops
• Playback algorithms
• Tightening up loose loops
• Clip envelopes (audio)

Week 4: MIDI and Audio FX/Creative Browser Use

• MIDI FX: how and where to use them
• Audio FX: how and where to use them
• Organising projects/ clips/ channels
• Understanding the file management system

Week 5: Recording Arrangements and Recording Audio

• Recording arrangements
• Consolidating audio/ freeze/ flatten tracks
• The analogue to digital process
• Recording audio into Ableton

Week 6: Automation/MIDI Controllers/MIDI Mapping

• Automation
• What are MIDI controllers?
• MIDI Clock and synchronisation
• MIDI controllers and setting them up (MIDI mapping)

Week 7: Organising your tunes

• DJ Styles /techniques, how do you want to DJ?
• Organising tunes
• Warping accapellas

Week 8: Performance set ups

• Advanced MIDI Control
• Firing samples

Week 9: Creating A DJ Compilation Mix

• Setting up and creating a ‘DJ mix’ CD
• Working in the arrangement view

Week 10: Creating a Mash-Up Mix

• Mixing tips (basic EQ and compression)
• Building arrangements
• How to create a ‘Mash-Up’

Week 11: Tips for Creative DJ Mixing and Productions

• Sidechaining
• Creative Use of the Drum Racks
• Glitching

Week 12: Final Test

• OCN Test