Large Project (Ableton + Launchpad) NEED LOTS OF HELP

[Stratos]

Okay, so, for starters, I'm Stratos.

This is All Background Information, "Skip to the "So Here is What im Really Asking" if you dont want to waste your time

Im an underground 14 year old artist working on getting big before I turn 16. Thats about a year, considering i'll be 15 next month. This project im working on is going to be an hour long mix of my songs, my remixes of other people's songs, and a few mash-ups. alot of the songs i'm using in the mix are not finished yet. I plan on learning how to mix using Launchpad and Ableton. I decided to use launchpad instead of a regular turn table because the only turntable i would be able to get my hands on for this is an Ion Discover DJ turntable, which is a joke that professional DJ's would get in their stockings on Christmas. so here's where things get interesting. I've only used my launchpad a few times, mostly for a post-hardcore band i was in as the synth player. This only consisted of recording my produced sounds in FL Studio (I produce in FL Studio and Plan to perform live with Ableton, like artists Porter Robinson, Deadmau5, and Skrillex) and then simply putting them into the columns of Ableton's live session view. navigating my way through the launchpad from here was fairly simple and i really enjoyed using it. When using the launchpad in this fashion, i had all of my drum clips in one column, and all of the synth parts in separate columns. So all i really do know how to do is build a song based off of sample clips i have laid out, it all came down to the memorization of the order of the buttons.

So Here is What im Really Asking

1. How does DJing in Ableton Live 8 usually work without a Launchpad?
(I figured if i want to know how to DJ using the launchpad, i have to know how to without it)

2. How does the Launchpad change this process?

3. Do i want to actually build the songs using the launchpad, or do i simply want to have the main songs + the transition prepared?
(What i mean by this is; Should i place the elements of each song, [lets say drums, vocals, and several synth tracks] each in columns, so that i build the song by sequencing the parts to play together

Or

should i place the main song clip i will be using in the mix in one column, the transition to the next song in the next column, and then the song im transitioning to in the column next to that, in order to make an easy, clear workspace and mix?)

4. Is this setup even reasonable? or is there s better way to do things?

5. How well does ableton manage tempo changes between songs? What is the best way to Manually handle this?

6. Will i need more than just the launchpad to do this task? (I have an Oxygen 49, Axiom 25, and Ion Discover DJ)

7. When holding down the "Session" button on the launchpad, it sends me to another menu. What is this and how can i incorporate this into my mix?

8. What is the best way to transition between songs while DJing

That is all of the questions i have for now, if i have any more i will ask!
Thanks Alot! All of your comments and answers will be very much appreciated (: Thanks!!

- Stratos

PLEASE CHECK OUT MY MUSIC IN THE LINK BELOW
http://www.soundcloud.com/theofficialst ... cametorock

[oddstep]

1. How does DJing in Ableton Live 8 usually work without a Launchpad?

tracks or sections of tracks as clips (maybe looping if they're just sections of tracks). multiple columns used as decks.

2. How does the Launchpad change this process?

you can see what clips are playing without looking at a screen. its easier to launch multiple clips simultaneously.

3. Do i want to actually build the songs using the launchpad, or do i simply want to have the main songs + the transition prepared?
(What i mean by this is; Should i place the elements of each song, [lets say drums, vocals, and several synth tracks] each in columns, so that i build the song by sequencing the parts to play together

how you write a song and how you play it within a live performance could be completely different. the performance set will have to take account of what you can and can't do with your controller setup.

5. How well does ableton manage tempo changes between songs? What is the best way to Manually handle this?

Live's default behaviour is to make everything the same tempo, well sort of.. check out forum posts on warping. tempo shifts are best handled through putting bpm information in the relevant scene name. i think the manual gives some information on this.

6. Will i need more than just the launchpad to do this task? (I have an Oxygen 49, Axiom 25, and Ion Discover DJ)

You've plenty of stuff there, practice with a minimal set up, everytime you run into a problem, think if one of the other controller s you have have could solve it.