Is Ableton good for anything other than DJ/electronica?

[harmonik]

I'm brand new to Ableton. Got a Lite version with the audio interface I purchased recently but don't really know how to use it yet. I find it a little bit intimidating actually as it's very different to Cubase which I've used before. I've heard the full version is great, but I only ever seem to read about Ableton in the context of DJ'ing or electronica/dance composition. I want an easy, intuitive DAW for creating backing tracks and natural-sounding arrangements for lead guitar including ballads, funk, blues and rock. Does anyone out there use Ableton for similar purposes or even just for creating realistic compositions rather than DJ/electronic music?

Cheers.

[djerikschouten]

I've used cubase before I decided to switch to Live. So I know why it is intimidating to you.

Actually ableton has the session view, and cubase has not. This makes Live fun and easy for musicians, but for me in the beginning this was confusing. Now that I've got used to the session view, I would have a hard time missing this functionality. And probably you will too within a while.

But you don't need to use the session view, but stay in the arrangement view like cubase has and it works the same way.

Now that I think of it:
Watch the ableton tutorials. They will help you out, like they helped me out

All the best.

[cacti]

Its all just notes mates. And to Ableton its just ones and zeros. Its only us humans that categorize it any further.

[Silwolffe]

I create a lot of ambient, new-age type sounds and performances (a lot of textural sounds that progress and grow with no discernible time signature), and Live has been absolutely wonderful. I can't compare it to other DAWs, since I've only ever used Live and I don't think I'll ever switch unless necessary.

Session view is where a lot of magic happens. If you want to create backing tracks for any genre, you're able to do it and play it out here. Don't read too far in to live being an exclusive 'DJ/Electronica' piece of software, it really can be fitted and tailored to any genre out there.

[Anubis]

I create a lot of ambient, new-age type sounds and performances (a lot of textural sounds that progress and grow with no discernible time signature), and Live has been absolutely wonderful.

My sentiments as well. For example.

[mihai]

live's session view i think would offer a much better platform on the creative side of things. arrangement... any daw can do that so whatever.

[Rinsemeister]

Yes, it's quite good at digital masturbation although the lack of auto jizz
in session view can sometimes be a bit of a let down.

Zed.

[eggnchips]

No it is not. I saw it play some rock n' roll once and it made a fine mess off it all.

[Tone Deft]

weird question, how old are you?

anything with record and play buttons can be used to make any kind of music. electronic and dance are the most talked about because they're the easiest to make.

[regretfullySaid]

I do rock and electronic stuff with ease in Live.
I put my ideas in session, then either record the session sequences to arrangement or drag them to the arrangement.
It's capable, including time sig changes.

Sure, one can get philosophical about "it's not the tool, its how you use it" but there can be some programs that aren't capable for certain things, depending on your requirements.

I would invest in spending a lot of time learning Live from watching tutorials (on the net and/or for purchase) to learn what you can do with it and how you can do it.
Live goes pretty deep and there can be a variety of ways to do the same thing, depending on the situation.
You'll save yourself a lot of time and effort knowing the workflow and how to go about certain things ahead of time than just learning trying to solve each problem as you go along.

After that, there are no rules, only guidelines!

[smaucher]

it's great for pornpop/elevatorfunk.

[Angstrom]

I use Ableton for making music as diverse as Gleen, Flugelpomp and Jizzturkey (in the style of David J. Malmsteen).

As you know these genres have no "drums" or "bass", or even any glockenspiel, and I've had no problems due to the unique refarbulation matrix encoded in the under-trumpet system of Live. I can totally recommend their Meta-bassoon for a beginner, or an expert.

Hope this helps.

[leedsquietman]

Live is only good for minimal tech, tarnce and dubstep. The session view for Live 9 will come with special templates for easy preset production of those genres only. Instrument racks will be split into wobble bass, epic ARP, tarnce supersaw and minimal bleeps only.

[shinysideup]

LIVE can be used to create every style of music. Dance/electronic is what's always talked about
because any 7 year old with cut-n-paste skills can use LIVE to create a track like this. Likely,
the ones who create true "compositions" (ie, not a bunch of loops strung together) probably are
out getting paid to make music, rather than standing around screaming "look what I can do" like
the majority of electronic artists I know. Just my .02.

[nylarch]

If I hear another Jizzturkey track with that f*cking gobble bass...