**Took The Plunge Into Ableton Live 8...Now I'm Lost...Lol**

**Dustin V** · 11-17-2011, 04:15 PM

Hey guys so after debating for months about whether to get Logic or Ableton, and after reading hours of reviews, opinions, and forum related threads, I decided to download the Ableton Live 8 demo, and I activated the 30 day free trial license, now I'm able to save, and export whatever I want for one month.

Now after opening it up and having a look I feel so lost! Ya know?

I've started watching some youtube vids about Ableton, and beginners etc. Some of the video's seem pretty helpful, but most of them just seem to touch on the surface of Ableton. I can see this will take hours, and hours of playing around, and searching, trying to find out what everything does!

So far it looks good, the workflow looks pleasant enough, albeit a little confusing, but so did Traktor the first time I used it!

I'm really hoping that in this next month I'll be able to find my way around pretty easily, and at least learn how to manipulate a track or edit it, and remix it?

So.... Do you guys with Ableton experience have any advice or suggestions for me to check out, which would help me out a lot? Any things you found along the way that really helped you to become more Ableton friendly?

Thanks!

**jprime** · 11-17-2011, 04:17 PM

It has built in tutorials that are perfect for getting started - go through those first I'd say.

**xyloft** · 11-17-2011, 08:34 PM

start out simple. i sat with a friend who had never seen it before and we put together a simple groove. when i wanted to do something to it, i was able to search specifically for it.

The most recent thing I've looked up was side chaining bass.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nQnOQWLURFU

there are also vids on the ableton site that will be helpful.

my advice is to start working on a song/remix or whatever so you have more specific things to search for to learn. there's a LOT so it's not like you can watch a 30 mintue vid and master it.

**Towner** · 11-17-2011, 10:09 PM

I was so overwhelmed when i first got it. Times when i couldnt get any volume from midi clips. or understanding why my keyboard wouldnt play a certain instrument track. It really took me a lot of time to figure out what each button did.

I watch a ton of tutorials, sometimes on things I'm not even looking for. Most of the time I will learn at least 1 trick/tip that i wasnt looking for. Sometimes just watchings someones work flow is helpful

besides searching youtube here are some links

http://www.looptv.net/archives/categ...live-tutorials

http://www.quantizecourses.com/pages.php/?cat=3

Good luck

**Dustin V** · 11-18-2011, 08:58 PM

Thanks for your suggestions guys.

I have started watching some vids from a site called Abletonlife.com and some vids from abletonlivetutorial on youtube. they seem pretty informative so far.

I also took your advice jprime and I started reading the Ableton tutorial in the Live program. I've come to see that Live is a very in depth complicated program, but its very interestng, and lots of fun.

I've been playing with clips, and sounds, busy making a lot of noise in the process, but getting to understand it better. so far so good!

**xyloft** · 11-18-2011, 09:27 PM

Originally Posted by Dustin V

I've been playing with clips, and sounds, busy making a lot of noise in the process, but getting to understand it better. so far so good!

that's all it takes! have fun in there.

**Croma** · 11-18-2011, 11:26 PM

I was in the same boat just a few months ago. I suggest you try making a track from scratch because I found that really helped me figure out what knowledge I was missing. Remixes are slightly harder in my opinion because not only do you need to warp acapellas (which can get quite tricky if you don't have the original track to help) but you'll also need to know a few things about playing things in key and all that. This was what worked for me, but they're merely suggestions. Oh and check out some of the books out there on Ableton or print the manual out. If I find the book I was talking about (can't remember it's in my library somewhere) I'll pm you the title and author. It was Ableton Power or something like that. Hope this helped.

**Kayzee** · 11-18-2011, 11:39 PM

Originally Posted by Croma

I was in the same boat just a few months ago. I suggest you try making a track from scratch because I found that really helped me figure out what knowledge I was missing. Remixes are slightly harder in my opinion because not only do you need to warp acapellas (which can get quite tricky if you don't have the original track to help) but you'll also need to know a few things about playing things in key and all that. This was what worked for me, but they're merely suggestions. Oh and check out some of the books out there on Ableton or print the manual out. If I find the book I was talking about (can't remember it's in my library somewhere) I'll pm you the title and author. It was Ableton Power or something like that. Hope this helped.

Not truying to hijack the thread or anything but if you wouldn't mind pming me the title to As I am in the same boat and wouldnt mind purchasing a book on it.

Thanks