How to DJ with Ableton
Configure your audio interface properly with Ableton., To select your interface in Ableton choose: Options > Preferences > Audio. , Under the audio device section, select your audio interface from the drop down menu., Select which output ports you...
Step-by-Step Guide
-
Step 1: Configure your audio interface properly with Ableton.
This is done within Ableton's options (located near the top left corner).
The default audio device will be your computer's built in soundcard, which needs to be changed to the external audio device you will be using.
Connect your interface to a computer and open Ableton Live.
Most interfaces will connect via USB or Firewire connection. -
Step 2: To select your interface in Ableton choose: Options > Preferences > Audio.
, If there is a driver associated with your interface, you will need to select the appropriate driver as well from the drop down menu.
The appropriate driver can be found in the instruction booklet that came with your interface, or on the manufacturer's website. , To do this select:
Channel Configuration > Output Config.
If you do not have intentions to cue tracks with headphones, the only output ports that need to be selected are 1 mono/2 mono, 1/2 stereo. , Studio monitors will need a balanced cable connection to your audio interface.
This means you will need to use 1/4 TRS to 1/4 TRS cables or 1/4 to XLR cables. , Turn down the master volume on your interface.
Engage the metronome by selecting it and press play.
Slowly turn up your volume until you hear the tick of the metronome.
Once you are satisfied with the volume, disengage the metronome by selecting it once more.
Press the stop button. , Most controllers connect via USB and may require an external power source. , If your controller is not recognized immediately, it will need to be selected as a MIDI device under Ableton's preferences. ,, The APC40 and Ableton Push are just examples of controllers.
The name of your MIDI device will be listed under the control surface drop down menu.
Simply select your device. , When you open Ableton, the default view is session view.
If you are using a grid based controller, you should see a colored box outlining specific clips that the controller is viewing. , To make performing easier, keep each clip consistent to the same length (ie. 4, 8, or 16 bars).
Group similar clips together onto the same track (drums, bass, synths, etc.). , Leave a space between each block of clips. , To do this, simply rename that button to your desired BPM.
Right click (CTRL+R) to rename the button.
Pressing a launch button with a BPM attached to it will launch that row of clips at your desired BPM.
This will allow for quick and easy transitions between songs of different tempos. , Select one or more desired clips by clicking on them (using shift+click to select a large amount).
Open the Launch section of the clip(s). , For example, if the clip is 8 bars long, set the follow action to take place after 8 bars have passed).
Select the drop down menu below the follow action and pick "next." This will play the next adjacent sequential clip after the current clip has finished playing. , This will prevent digital audio clipping during playback of your clips.
On the left side of the screen, select audio effects.
Drag a Limiter onto the Master channel. , To launch a clip, simply click on it.
To launch an entire row of clips (scene), click on the scene launch button. , Grid based controllers will make launching clips extremely easy. , Ableton has preset effect racks under Audio Effects > DJ & Performance.
Simply drag the effect rack onto the desired channel.
Performing with Ableton frees up time that a DJ would normally spend beatmatching every track.
This allows for the user to add live effects and remix with ease. -
Step 3: Under the audio device section
-
Step 4: select your audio interface from the drop down menu.
-
Step 5: Select which output ports you will be using.
-
Step 6: Connect your speakers to the interface (if they are not already connected).
-
Step 7: Verify that sound is coming through your monitors.
-
Step 8: Connect your DJ controller(s) to the computer.
-
Step 9: Set your controller if needed.
-
Step 10: Select Options > Preferences > Midi/Sync
-
Step 11: Under the list of control surfaces
-
Step 12: select your device and verify that it has input and output MIDI.
-
Step 13: Have the screen open on Session view and label each track.
-
Step 14: Populate the Session with audio and/or MIDI clips.
-
Step 15: Group songs into one block of clips.
-
Step 16: Attach the BPM to the first scene launch button of each song.
-
Step 17: Add follow actions to your clips.
-
Step 18: Set the follow action to play the next clip after a desired amount of bars have passed.
-
Step 19: Add a Limiter on the Master track.
-
Step 20: Launch clips from Session view.
-
Step 21: Use your DJ controller to experiment with launching clips from different songs or sections simultaneously.
-
Step 22: Add effect racks to different channels and experiment using them.
Detailed Guide
This is done within Ableton's options (located near the top left corner).
The default audio device will be your computer's built in soundcard, which needs to be changed to the external audio device you will be using.
Connect your interface to a computer and open Ableton Live.
Most interfaces will connect via USB or Firewire connection.
, If there is a driver associated with your interface, you will need to select the appropriate driver as well from the drop down menu.
The appropriate driver can be found in the instruction booklet that came with your interface, or on the manufacturer's website. , To do this select:
Channel Configuration > Output Config.
If you do not have intentions to cue tracks with headphones, the only output ports that need to be selected are 1 mono/2 mono, 1/2 stereo. , Studio monitors will need a balanced cable connection to your audio interface.
This means you will need to use 1/4 TRS to 1/4 TRS cables or 1/4 to XLR cables. , Turn down the master volume on your interface.
Engage the metronome by selecting it and press play.
Slowly turn up your volume until you hear the tick of the metronome.
Once you are satisfied with the volume, disengage the metronome by selecting it once more.
Press the stop button. , Most controllers connect via USB and may require an external power source. , If your controller is not recognized immediately, it will need to be selected as a MIDI device under Ableton's preferences. ,, The APC40 and Ableton Push are just examples of controllers.
The name of your MIDI device will be listed under the control surface drop down menu.
Simply select your device. , When you open Ableton, the default view is session view.
If you are using a grid based controller, you should see a colored box outlining specific clips that the controller is viewing. , To make performing easier, keep each clip consistent to the same length (ie. 4, 8, or 16 bars).
Group similar clips together onto the same track (drums, bass, synths, etc.). , Leave a space between each block of clips. , To do this, simply rename that button to your desired BPM.
Right click (CTRL+R) to rename the button.
Pressing a launch button with a BPM attached to it will launch that row of clips at your desired BPM.
This will allow for quick and easy transitions between songs of different tempos. , Select one or more desired clips by clicking on them (using shift+click to select a large amount).
Open the Launch section of the clip(s). , For example, if the clip is 8 bars long, set the follow action to take place after 8 bars have passed).
Select the drop down menu below the follow action and pick "next." This will play the next adjacent sequential clip after the current clip has finished playing. , This will prevent digital audio clipping during playback of your clips.
On the left side of the screen, select audio effects.
Drag a Limiter onto the Master channel. , To launch a clip, simply click on it.
To launch an entire row of clips (scene), click on the scene launch button. , Grid based controllers will make launching clips extremely easy. , Ableton has preset effect racks under Audio Effects > DJ & Performance.
Simply drag the effect rack onto the desired channel.
Performing with Ableton frees up time that a DJ would normally spend beatmatching every track.
This allows for the user to add live effects and remix with ease.
About the Author
Melissa Vasquez
Dedicated to helping readers learn new skills in lifestyle and beyond.
Rate This Guide
How helpful was this guide? Click to rate: