Ok — you know who you are.
You are like me.
You came to Ableton from GarageBand (or something similar), 100 years ago.
You jumped right into the software, read no manuals, and learned Ableton ..... backwards.
Yup.
No clips.
No scenes.... nah... that was too strange.
A million play buttons... pfft. Don't need it.
... So instead, you (and me) just sat there in Arrangement View, happy as a clam, adding tracks to a 4 or 8 bar loop, triggering each track on and off, and tweaking the sounds as you loop over and over, because arrangement view made sense. It was familiar.
And now... you (and me) are stuck.
We have the perfect loop.
One that, if you can get all the triggers and automations and volume settings just right, it will make a great song!!
Welcome ....to being stuck, in the Great Loop!
My Question:
How on earth do people go from that 1 epic, dance floor shaking, loop... to a full song?
What I've done in the past was just duplicate the loop enough to fill 6 minutes, and then cut, extend, set automations, adjust volumes... etc. etc... but... it's not the same. There's no flow. Just labour. Which, in the end, feels like the juice isn't worth the squeeze... but after creating 50+ loops over 10+ years... just hanging out ... never to actually be songs... I figured it's time to seek advice from others in the same boat. And maybe there is no shortcut... that's cool too.
Either way I'd love to hear your tips on how you break free from the Great Loop, and go from idea, to song and keep the flow.
Stuck in the Great Loop
Re: Stuck in the Great Loop
find a professionally released track you like, in the mood of your song. Put it in arrangement view, analyse it (order of sounds, modulation, automation,...), make visible markers, turn off sound on this track, and try to put your own sounds in place of the reference track, and mix to taste.
It is work though...
a more fun way, but not applicable to all genres, is to zero all faders, all clips playing, and just start jamming. Edit later, and don't be afraid to call it quits, the job is done. It will not be perfect, but do this for your 50+ tracks and you will get better at it. Goes also for the first method (you soon won't need the reference track).
It can't be all fun, you also need to put in working hours. no shortcut.
It is work though...
a more fun way, but not applicable to all genres, is to zero all faders, all clips playing, and just start jamming. Edit later, and don't be afraid to call it quits, the job is done. It will not be perfect, but do this for your 50+ tracks and you will get better at it. Goes also for the first method (you soon won't need the reference track).
It can't be all fun, you also need to put in working hours. no shortcut.
andy
2023 Mac M2, Live 12, Push3, RME Fireface 800
2023 Mac M2, Live 12, Push3, RME Fireface 800
Re: Stuck in the Great Loop
Ohh those are great tips! Thanks!
I do know I have some work ahead of me - and its fun work don't get me wrong. Just trying to get past that mental hurdle.
I was just jamming with my loop - playing it as if it were a live performance. I think at one point I saw someone redirect the output to a new track so you can at least capture a performance, but then it’s not editable because it’s recorded audio.
Would be cool to somehow capture the performance as editable but …. then… thats clips and scenes… I should probably just buckle down and build with clips and scenes. Kicking myself for not learning that way all those years ago.
Not sure how many other loop based creators are out there, but keep the tips coming!
I do know I have some work ahead of me - and its fun work don't get me wrong. Just trying to get past that mental hurdle.
I was just jamming with my loop - playing it as if it were a live performance. I think at one point I saw someone redirect the output to a new track so you can at least capture a performance, but then it’s not editable because it’s recorded audio.
Would be cool to somehow capture the performance as editable but …. then… thats clips and scenes… I should probably just buckle down and build with clips and scenes. Kicking myself for not learning that way all those years ago.
Not sure how many other loop based creators are out there, but keep the tips coming!
Re: Stuck in the Great Loop
I’m no expert in this field but I do sometimes consider the possibilities of considering musical ideas as ‘moments’ or snapshots. You already have the perfect loop… but how do you get there? What is the framing? Is the loop the song? Is the loop a moment people only get to enjoy for particular periods? Does the loop evolve like a Pokémon?
Is it an easy, smooth flow? Is it a frustrating journey? How do you reintroduce the loop late into the song so it feels the way it should feel all over again. Imagine if a track had everything Against that moment of serenity, and then it just comes back? What kinds of moment or moments can give a person a break from it…. Such that it is inevitable that this loop must return?
It’s not necessarily so much about structure. But ideally spending enough time with your friend that you can tell their story.
Is it an easy, smooth flow? Is it a frustrating journey? How do you reintroduce the loop late into the song so it feels the way it should feel all over again. Imagine if a track had everything Against that moment of serenity, and then it just comes back? What kinds of moment or moments can give a person a break from it…. Such that it is inevitable that this loop must return?
It’s not necessarily so much about structure. But ideally spending enough time with your friend that you can tell their story.