Ableton Forum

I don't even mess with the Arrange view myself except for automation. I program all my arrangement in session view using follow actions, so when I want to track everything out I just trigger the first scene and start twisting knobs.

Way faster that trying to bounce back and forth in my opinion.

JEpic wrote:I don't even mess with the Arrange view myself except for automation. I program all my arrangement in session view using follow actions, so when I want to track everything out I just trigger the first scene and start twisting knobs.

Way faster that trying to bounce back and forth in my opinion.

That's a great way to work, but for more complicated parts, or with things outside 4/4 it becomes a bit of a mind fuck.
I have a couple songs that aren't even using follow actions, I trigger the whole scene with a foot controller, but some songs like ones that change time signatures and have a lot of bridges etc. I'll have it in DP or Live's Arrangement window. My two biggest requests for Live 9 would be dual monitor support, (be able to have either the Session, Arrangement, Clip view or the MIDI editor on the other screen), and some improvements to Follow Actions.

Machinesworking wrote:

JEpic wrote:I don't even mess with the Arrange view myself except for automation. I program all my arrangement in session view using follow actions, so when I want to track everything out I just trigger the first scene and start twisting knobs.

Way faster that trying to bounce back and forth in my opinion.

That's a great way to work, but for more complicated parts, or with things outside 4/4 it becomes a bit of a mind fuck.
I have a couple songs that aren't even using follow actions, I trigger the whole scene with a foot controller, but some songs like ones that change time signatures and have a lot of bridges etc. I'll have it in DP or Live's Arrangement window. My two biggest requests for Live 9 would be dual monitor support, (be able to have either the Session, Arrangement, Clip view or the MIDI editor on the other screen), and some improvements to Follow Actions.

Agree 100%

Never personally had to use any other time signatures myself. I love follow actions for the simple fact of launching that first scene triggers 40 or so clips as the whole song progresses. Very rewarding.

JEpic wrote: Agree 100%

Never personally had to use any other time signatures myself. I love follow actions for the simple fact of launching that first scene triggers 40 or so clips as the whole song progresses. Very rewarding.

Oh hell yes, I don't use them that often in a finished song, but I use them all the time in setting two parts to rotate back and forth. Great stuff, should be expanded upon IMO.

It solved an issue I had with a live set where all backing tracks had been recorded, and I needed to have all songs in a single Session View.
On one song I play three different keyboards: Absynth, Massive, and Kontakt with Akoustic Piano loaded.
Loaded into presets in Kore they conserve CPU and can be fired with Follow Actions, so I don't have to stop playing, or load them into Arrangement, which is crucial to the Set.

Machinesworking wrote:

JEpic wrote:I don't even mess with the Arrange view myself except for automation. I program all my arrangement in session view using follow actions, so when I want to track everything out I just trigger the first scene and start twisting knobs.

Way faster that trying to bounce back and forth in my opinion.

That's a great way to work, but for more complicated parts, or with things outside 4/4 it becomes a bit of a mind fuck.
I have a couple songs that aren't even using follow actions, I trigger the whole scene with a foot controller, but some songs like ones that change time signatures and have a lot of bridges etc. I'll have it in DP or Live's Arrangement window. My two biggest requests for Live 9 would be dual monitor support, (be able to have either the Session, Arrangement, Clip view or the MIDI editor on the other screen), and some improvements to Follow Actions.

I agree.

This is just confusing because I'm not using loops. Not everyone here creates dance music or techno. I do mostly ambient and experimental. I would have to hear something other then 4/4 loops to be convinced of Session view. I know Session mode serves its purpose don't get me wrong. But I love being able to see when a clip starts and stops and slicing audio on the fly in Arrangement. It just gives me a better visual on how my tracks are layed out. I feel so blind otherwise. I guess it depends what your doing.

I use Live because it's very Artist friendly, only one Window, instant gratification etc etc.. I've bought retail versions of other software like Logic, Cubase and Reason. But I always come back to Live. The only problem I have is getting the Spectrasonics plugins to open.

clank72 wrote: I agree.

This is just confusing because I'm not using loops. Not everyone here creates dance music or techno. I do mostly ambient and experimental. I would have to hear something other then 4/4 loops to be convinced of Session view. I know Session mode serves its purpose don't get me wrong. But I love being able to see when a clip starts and stops and slicing audio on the fly in Arrangement. It just gives me a better visual on how my tracks are layed out. I feel so blind otherwise. I guess it depends what your doing.

I use Live because it's very Artist friendly, only one Window, instant gratification etc etc.. I've bought retail versions of other software like Logic, Cubase and Reason. But I always come back to Live. The only problem I have is getting the Spectrasonics plugins to open.

I dunno, it really depends on what you're trying to achieve really, but Session is not just for 4/4 don't get me wrong, you can set up follow actions in other timings, it's just a little more difficult IMO than it should be. Follow actions actually have some cool features for generative music, if that's at all part of your ambient songs it's useful.

I work on a lot of tracks at the same time... duhhh its just part of being an electronic music fiend. Ummm deadlines really help like really really help but they can be stressful. i usually pick up too many projects and get overwhelmed and spend more time learning more about ableton live and tweaking on random videos that i see than actually composing... however... if you start getting urself into a routine,,, which i havent yet,,,, and set aside certain hours every day.... and write on a dedicated basis for those hours u should be straight...

also... back up ur shit,,,, not only on an external hd,,,, fucking sugar sync that shit online and u will never lose presets or tracks again!!!

SOUND REMEDY

soundremedy wrote:also... back up ur shit,,,, not only on an external hd,,,, fucking sugar sync that shit online and u will never lose presets or tracks again!!!

+ 100.000.000

this is something that can't ever be mentioned enough! ever!

backup, backup, backup, all the freakin' time, back it up!!!, data loss is worse then getting cancer or loosing a limb.

especially all of us using primarily laptops.

I love to work without rules and compromises when writing music. My Live library is almost empty of my own presets and even at my hardware synths I don't save too many sounds, only for backup purposes. I started to organize my samples, to a "style-usage" structure but I really love working from scratch.

I write something like IDM-drum n bass, with techno-trance elements, so most of times I start by constracting a beat loop and a rolling bassline. Then I add some rythmic effects and percussive loops. So I start by manipulating 5-6 tracks with various versions using scenes. When I got the main idea, I go back to arrangement and develop the sequencin. Most of the times it goes completely different in comparison with the earliest versions of the track.

AND that's why I love Live!!! U can alter and change anything at anytime, just like u are improvising with a real instrument.

At one point though you have to kiss all the bullshit goodbye and realize that just making incredibly hot tracks is all it is about!!! Seriously

Just
Kick
The
Hottest
Shit
And
You
Will
GOOOOOOO

I obsess over one track at a time, if I have another idea I bang it down in 5 minutes flat and never come back till the current one is done.

I frequently hide from Ableton in video games, down the shops, surf until it's gelled in my head. It's a process I call "Snufkin'ing", only Moomin readers will understand the reference. Keep the tune under your hat till it's ready to go and then let it all out in a flood.

S

create a copy of your project so you can do whatever you want safely with it and you will probably get it done quickly... if you stop again create a new copy and do the same... this way you can always play around, be creative and get things done... worst case, you have the previous copy

it depends on inspiration:) sometimes i smoke weed, then project is done not so fast, but i have a lot of creativity...but sometimes, you have an idea, just layer a few beats and thats it - a track is ready) i even take my laptop with me in wc..and trust - the best moments are there...

How do you think Handel came up with his Water Music? Flushed with success?...

I always make one track at a time Even though I start on a bunch, they either get trashed or saved in a folder (and never get worked on again)