DJing with Ableton Live Course

DJing technology has taken giant leaps in the past decade and the awesome Ableton Live has been at the forefront. This course will teach you how to use Ableton Live to mix and manipulate tracks in real time using a MIDI controller, DJ mixer or keyboard. You will also make the transition from DJ to producer through learning how to make mix cds and mash ups

Course Materials:

Weekly webchat with an experienced pro producer

Personalised project feedback via video

Over 20 Quicktime video tutorials

300 pages of notes

Song files and audio samples

24/7 access to student / tutor discussion forums

Course Breakdown:

Introducing Ableton Live

• Explaining MIDI
• Session & arrangement view
• Clips and scenes
• The browser
• Basic rhythm concepts

MIDI Clips

• Programming your drums
• Recording MIDI
• Editing MIDI
• Routing MIDI (utilising the in/out matrix)
• The basic Ableton instruments: Impulse and Simpler
• MIDI Clip envelopes

Audio Clips

• How to work with audio clips
• Warp marking
• Creating loops and warping entire tracks
• Playback algorithms
• Tidying up loose loops
• Audio clip envelopes

Creative Browser Use / Audio and MIDI FX

• How and where to use MIDI FX
• How and where to use Audio FX
• Keeping your projects, clips and channels organised
• Understanding the file management system

Recording Arrangements and Audio

• Recording arrangements
• Consolidating audio/ freeze/ flatten tracks
• Recording audio into Ableton
• The analogue to digital process

Automation/MIDI Controllers/MIDI Mapping

• What is Automation?
• Using a MIDI controller
• MIDI Clock and synchronisation
• Setting up MIDI controllers (MIDI mapping)

Keeping Your Music Organised

• What is your DJ style and technique?
• How to organise your tunes
• How to warp accapellas

Performance Set Ups

• Advanced techniques in MIDI Control
• How to fire samples

Creating Your Compilation Mix

• Preparing and creating a ‘DJ mix’ CD
• Introduction to the arrangement view

Creating Your Mash-Up Mix

• Golden rules of EQ and compression
• How to build an arrangement
• How to create a ‘Mash-Up’

Creative DJ Mixing and Production Techniques

• Glitching
• Using the Drum Racks creatively
• What is sidechaining

Final Exam

• OCN accredited test

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Tutor profile

JC Concato
JC's previous projects include production, engineering and remix work for the likes of Bjork, Portishead, The Cure, Erasure, Allister Whitehead, Galliano, Pressure Drop, Raggatwins and Renegade Soundwave.