Subsections of Resources
Keyboard Shortcuts
A very personal selection of shortcuts, cf. Live Keyboard Shortcuts for a complete list.
Panels
| Shortcut | Description |
|---|---|
| shift + tab | toggle clip device view |
Create & Edit
| Shortcut | Description |
|---|---|
| F10 | back to arrangement |
| cmd + L | LOOP selection! |
| cmd + T | insert new audio track |
| cmd + shift + T | insert new midi track |
| cmd + shift + M | insert new midi clip (over selected range) |
| 0 | deactivate clips |
| <- -> | works on loop bar and clips |
| cmd + I | insert time (+ shift for delete) with range selected or single point for menu |
| cmd + 1 | narrow grid |
| cmd + 2 | wide grid |
| cmd + 3 | enable triplets |
| cmd + 4 | turn grid off |
| cmd + J | consolidate clips |
| cmd + E | split clips |
| cmd + D | duplicate clips |
| cmd + G | group track & devices |
| cmd + shift + R | export |
Playback
| Shortcut | Description |
|---|---|
| shift + space | continue playback |
New in 10
| Shortcut | Description |
|---|---|
| H | show all tracks & midi in heigth (also toggle back to previous state) |
| W | same for width |
| Z | zoom into selection |
| X | zoom out |
| + / - | zoom in & out (hold alt for height) REDEFINED |
| cmd + . - | |
| S | solo tracks |
| U | fold/unfold tracks |
| alt + U | fold/unfold all tracks |
| <- -> | navigate the arrangement |
| TRACKPAD | for zooming! |
Bibliography
Official Ableton Documentation
- Ableton Manual
- ableton.com/en/manual/welcome-to-live/ (fr) (de)
- Ableton Knowledge Base with most asked questions
- help.ableton.com/hc/en-us/categories/201129405-Using-Live
- Get started making music, excellent web based introduciton to DAWs and Ableton, also fun for students
- learningmusic.ableton.com
- Learning Synths easy intro into synthesis, works best in the Chrome browser
- learningsynths.ableton.com
- Theory Hack excellent classroom project by Ethan Hein “Many producers struggle with music theory. In this module, we make concepts like chords and scales intuitive using the MIDI keyboard, Push, and Live’s MIDI devices.”
- ableton.com/en/classroom/support/theory-hacks
- Live and Push in the Classroom webinar series for educators
- ableton.com/en/education/education-resources/webinars/
Ableton Youtube Channel
- Ableton Youtube Channel
- youtube.com/channel/UCgWZYUZjiidjWgfs95pJrWg
- Learn Live 10 some excellent intro videos and more advanced features
- youtube.com/watch?v=c5Sn0Kibu2w&list=PLoh4MB-kbBmJGLjNwRNr5qAtDr1V3zcNr
- Learn Live 11 new features and advanced topics in a compact format, worth watching
- youtube.com/watch?v=uSzDKw-GFIU&list=PLoh4MB-kbBmK9r0uGkd9Js9EZ225zHxRx
Books
- DeSantis, D. (2015). Making music: 74 creative strategies for electronic music producers. Ableton AG.
- Several free chapters are available
- Manzo, V., & Kuhn, W. (2015). Interactive composition: Strategies using Ableton live and max for live. Oxford University Press. : Also a good introduction to Max by cycling74
Kuhn, W., & Hein, E. (2021). Electronic Music School: A Contemporary Approach to Teaching Musical Creativity. Oxford University Press.
Ableton Live Built-In Tutorials
Finding them might be obvious but they are often overlooked:
