How did you learn how to use Ableton?

[miyuru]

I've been DJ'ing with Traktor for almost a year now, and overall been DJ'ing for about 1.5 years. I tried Ableton out and went through the first tutorial but I finished it feeling like I don't remember a thing...

Is there a better way to start? I want to produce and DJ with it, it doesn't really matter right now, it's just to see how it works and better imagine what would be possible with it.

[BentoSan]

I used FL studio for several years before learning Ableton, so it was not that large a step as compared to say going from Traktor to Ableton. In-fact in someways its a step backwards

Anyway i found the small tutorials to be enough to teach me the basics so i could fill in the rest myself. However as you have found out far from everything is covered by the tutorials, checking out peoples tutorials on YouTube might help you out where the Ableton tutorials have failed

[Krilikz]

Thats good to hear....cause if ableton takes as long as it took me to teach myself FL studio im gona be 93 years old....

[djxsquizet]

yea i used youtube to learn abelton and also abletonlivedj.com has good faqs especially on warping. The hardest part in ableton

[midian]

Ableton imo the best way to learn (especially for DJs) is primarily to learn how to beatmap a track (which is really easy once you know how). Youtube is best for that.
I can beatmap a track in 20-30 seconds most of the time.

Once youve done that just start throwing down 2-3 tracks in the arrangement view and then practice using the EQs etc to mix the tracks together. Pretty much like DJing except your laying the tracks out.

At that point you can then start throwing effects into the mix and playing round.
Once you get the hang of that move into the session view and practice using it to cue tracks and trigger samples etc.

Ableton in general is V easy and fluid, far more then I found FL.

[miyuru]

Thanks for the tips, I'll let everyone knows how it goes

[VoOFA]

Also ASK Video has made a tutorial dvd for beginners;

Live Tutorial DVD Content:
40 High Quality Videos:

1. Installation
2. Setup
3. The Menus
4. Browser
5. Getting Started
6. Library
7. Control Bar
8. The Mixer
9. Arr. vs SessionView
10. Clip Track View
11. Warp - example video
12. Recording Audio
13. Audio Effects
14. Beat Repeater
15. Track Automation
16. Transport
17. Clip Transport
18. Recording MIDI
19. MIDI Editing
20. MIDI Effects - example video


21. Editing Arr. View
22. Remote MIDI/Keyboard
23. Control Surfaces
24. Rewire
25. Cue Mon/Crossfader
26. Launching Clips
27. Simpler - example video
28. Operator
29. Impulse
30. Sampler 1
31. Sampler 2
32. VST Instruments
33. Freeze
34. File Management
35. Video in Arr. View
36. Routing I/O
37. Clip Envelopes
38. Follow Actions
39. Sync
40. Tips and Tricks - example video

ASK Video - Live Tutorial DVD

It's 40$ though...

[midian]

^ I downloaded that, its pretty good in terms of the tutorials, but I wouldnt buy it over anything online imo.

ALSO, the 'intro video presenter' chick is fucking AWFUL! They take the piss out of her in the bloopers reel. Fucking cracks up me.

[tekki]

I learned the basics by myself in one day.

But than again, Ableton has everything where I expect it to be.