Ableton Live
Ableton Live: A Comprehensive Production and Performance DAW
Every DAW has its strengths. Some are designed primarily for recording and editing in mind. Others are more focused on production. Ableton Live manages to accomplish both feats, all while facilitating real-time live music performance.
With Ableton Live DAW, the possibilities are endless. Whether you're triggering clips and backing tracks with your band or generating loops with a combination of software and hardware instruments, Ableton Live has you covered. Plus, as a creative tool, its huge range of virtual instruments and effects will never leave you lacking.
A DAW designed for creative artists with two complementary workflows
Ableton Live has always been as much of a creative tool as it is a DAW. That has much to do with Live's ability to build tracks and play with sounds in real time. Ableton Live offers two different but complementary workflows to accommodate all artists: Arrangement View and the Session View.
Arrangement View: a traditional linear DAW
Arrangement View is essentially a linear DAW, with time on the X-axis and tracks on the Y. Users of traditional DAWs or producers who cut their teeth on tape machines and digital recorders will feel right at home in Arrangement View.
Session View: perfect for experimentation
Session View, which puts individual tracks on the X-axis and Scenes on the Y-axis, distinguishes Live from other DAWs. Each channel in a Scene has a spot for a clip. Clips are usually short chunks, typically a few measures, of audio or MIDI that loop to produce grooves. When used separately, these loops allow you to play around with your compositions, experimenting with different combinations of grooves and riffs.
Because everything from modern electronic music to classic rock and blues relies significantly on repeated portions, Live's Session View is a perfect creative tool for songwriters of all types. The songwriting tools don't end there, either. You can launch full Scenes, complete with automatic progression to following Scenes, Scene repeat instructions, and other logic choices, in addition to individual clips.
Define your song structure with Scenes
It's simple to organize full songs according to sections (verse, chorus, etc.) when you use Scenes. When you've settled on a structure and are ready to record your progression to the linear Arrangement View, you also have the option of overdubbing lead lines and adding expressions (such as filter sweeps and modulations) that aren't part of the song's structure. Furthermore, all loop/riff-based arranging options remain available on the timeline, allowing you to alter and build on your song even after it has been recorded to the Arrangement View.
All standard DAW functions included
Although Ableton Live presents a unique production environment, it still has all the usual DAW features you'll need, including nondestructive multitrack recording at up to 32-bit/192kHz and sophisticated signal-flow capabilities, including bussing and return tracks. On top of the fantastic tools included with Live, you can use all your favorite VST and AU plug-ins. Live's MIDI sequencing capabilities are unrivaled, and its easy access to automation curves, MIDI learn, and other features make it one of the most robust DAWs available.
Choosing your Ableton Live package
Ableton Live is offered in three packages: Ableton Live Intro, Ableton Live Standard, and Ableton Live Suite. Which version is right for you depends on your needs as a musician and producer.
Ableton Live Intro: a great place to get your footing
If you're new to Ableton, we highly recommend getting your feet wet with Ableton Live Intro. Intro is the slimmest version of Ableton Live. It allows for up to 16 tracks and Scenes. It's a great place to start when you're first learning DAW-based music production.
On the other hand, if you already know Ableton Live is the platform on which you want to create music, you'll benefit from stepping up to the added features and higher track count of the Standard and Suite versions of Ableton.
Ableton Live Standard vs Ableton Live Suite: which version is right for me?
Both Ableton Live Standard and Ableton Live Suite remove the cap on tracks and Scenes but are differentiated by the number of software instruments, effects, and content packs available. Ableton Live Suite also comes with Max for Live, a sound designer's dream platform for creating custom virtual instruments and effects. Ableton Live provides upgrade packages that make it easy to move from one version to the next. So, you have the power to choose the Ableton Live that's right for you!
Ready to supercharge your music productions?
Explore your options on Sweetwater's website or call your Sales Engineer. They're happy to answer all your Ableton Live-related questions.