How to Master Ableton

[claytoncarmen]

So I recently got an Ableton Push a couple months ago. One thing I definitely appreciate is the simplicity in user interface (at least in relation to its competitors).

I'm still pretty young and I have lots of options in front of me for a career path, and I really strongly feel that music production could be the direction I should head in. In the months before I got my Ableton I kept a journal any time an idea popped in to my head, so that by the time I figure out how to really use my Ableton well, I'd be set.

The main thing I'm wondering is -
For a beginner, and I mean really a beginner, what is the best way to familiarize yourself with not only Ableton, but moreover music mastering and production in general? I'm only 16, and I don't have much of a base of knowledge in music production, although my dad, who is a musician, has a pretty nice collection of potential resources at my disposal (mic's, keyboards, mastering equipment, ProTools).
Essentially, how would you best recommend I, as a complete beginner, work towards mastering the Ableton, and music production in general? I understand it won't come easy, but I want to be able to bring my ideas to life more than anything else.

Website tutorials, resources to look into, etc.

Thanks so much,
Clayton C.

[H20nly]

for Ableton Live itself... start with the tutorials. move on to youtube.

as for mixing and production... reading up on traditional methods can be really good reference... books like this one by Bob Katz can help
http://www.amazon.com/Mastering-Audio-S ... 583&sr=1-1

as can good websites like this one:

http://tarekith.com/helpandsounds/

[102455]

Read the manual, go through the built in lessons/tutorials. Watch YouTube videos. Buy books and magazines about Live and/or recording studio tech. Read those.

Experiment. Try stuff out. When you hear/read about a particular method/tip/technique, try it.

Ask your dad.

[Tarekith]

I'd start here, for $19 a month it's a great deal for a LOT of Live knowledge:

http://www.warpacademy.com

[re:dream]

Brian Jackson's book The Music Producer's Survival Guide is great. He does get very involved in chaos theory and similar esoteric topics, but it contains good advice, and the chapter on skills is excellent.

The big thing is just to practice. Tutorials are all very well, but practical experience is how they bed down into your knowledge. Use Live every day. Learn keyboard skills. Everyt new hing you learn today will lead to two new things to learn tomorrrow. It's exponential.

Have fun

[TomViolenz]

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[Samuel L. Jizzle]

This is my go to resource: http://www.macableton.com

[TomViolenz]

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[sowhoso]

Two things:

1: Considering to make music a career, should come after you mastered your tools and you are reasonably certain that you have anything of value to add\

that is bullshit!

do what you wanna do now, don't wait

don't pay any mind to TomViolenz elitist crap

[TomViolenz]

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[sowhoso]

...after you mastered your tools and you are reasonably certain that you have anything of value to add

how the fuck did you decide you had anything of value to add?

[sowhoso]

music is art, not a value you can quantify

[re:dream]

Learn as you play with it. Turn knobs to see what happens, drag in an audio file and see in what funny ways you can mangle it. Drag an instrument in and see how turning parameters changes the sound. In short experiment with your new toy. If you run into roadblocks, look into the manual. Also, in the beginning, it's a good idea to constantly have the little info text box in Lives lower left corner open. It will tell you the function of all of Lives parameters as you mouse over them.

Two things:

1: Considering to make music a career, should come after you mastered your tools and you are reasonably certain that you have anything of value to add. Otherwise it will lead you to a lot of suffering during your live time.
Music can also just be a great hobby, without the threat to your livelyhood constantly dangling over your head.

2: The software is named Live, the company who makes it is called Ableton, and saying my Ableton just sounds corny (Unless you'd be named Gerhard Behle I guess )

3: don't get too involved in the Ableton Live forum & the spats between the members.

[Valiumdupeuple]

There are great tutorials included in the program (look at the help menu).
It will take you an evening to know how to use Live, or at least enough to what to do with it in the first place. You'll find a lot by yourself after. It's a really opened architecture. Your needs and imagination will guide you.
Then... just have a fun with, it's an instrument, so play... that's how music is done.
Don't bother about mixing or too much technical stuff for now. What you need is to enjoy, and Live is a wonderful toy, just make some noise with it, questions will come naturally when they'd need to.

[[stm]]

Guys, let's keep the tone polite.