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Go at your own pace
9 Sessions / 6 hours of work per session
Price
Premium membership $20/month (Preview session 1 free)
Included w/ premium membership ($20/month)
Skill Level
Beginner
Video Transcripts
English, Spanish; Castilian, Chinese, German, Portuguese
Topics
Ableton, Digital Audio Workstation, Sampling, Sound Design, Production, Mixing

Not available for purchase in India

Open for Enrollment

Ableton Live Course: Sound Production for Musicians and Artists

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Go at your own pace
9 Sessions / 6 hours of work per session
Price
Premium membership $20/month (Preview session 1 free)
Included w/ premium membership ($20/month)
Skill Level
Beginner
Video Transcripts
English, Spanish; Castilian, Chinese, German, Portuguese
Topics
Ableton, Digital Audio Workstation, Sampling, Sound Design, Production, Mixing

Not available for purchase in India

Course Description

This course provides hands-on experience in producing, mixing, and sound design with a digital audio workstation. Students will learn the fundamentals (physics) of sound and digital audio, proper gain staging, where and how distortion enters recordings and mixes, how to set levels and panning, effective sub group mixing, and an introduction to signal processing such as equalization, compression, delay, and reverb. In addition to core audio and mixing concepts, students will learn various production techniques, such as sequencing, arranging, automation, using virtual instruments (e.g. synths, samplers, and drum machine plugins), working with MIDI, plugin formats such as VST/Audio-Units, and mapping digital USB controllers for the studio and live performance.

The material covered in this course will range from the foundations of producing music and sound design, to more advanced topics such as Ableton "racks" (Audio Effect Racks, MIDI Effect Racks, Instrument Racks, and Drum Racks), multi-band effects processing, advanced modulation, warping, time-stretching, and mangling audio, as well as taking advantage of Live's audio analysis tools for extracting grooves, melody, harmony, and drums from recorded sound.

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schedule

This course is in adaptive mode and is open for enrollment. Learn more about adaptive courses here.

Session 1: Introduction to Ableton Live (December 17, 2024)
This session will cover the fundamentals of Ableton Live, including Live Sets and Projects, tracks, clips, the Session View, the Arrangement View, exporting audio, and more.
7 lessons
1. Welcome
2. Live Sets and Projects
3. Browser
4. Session View, Clips, Tracks and Scenes
5. Arrangement View
6. Clip View
7. Bouncing Down, File Management, Collect All and Save (Premium Exclusive)
Session 2: The Nature of Sound (December 24, 2024)
This session will cover the basic properties (physics) of sound, an introduction to digital audio theory, and gain staging.
10 lessons
1. Introduction (Premium Exclusive)
2. Basics of Sound (Premium Exclusive)
3. Properties of Sound: Frequency and Pitch (Premium Exclusive)
4. Analog Audio (Premium Exclusive)
5. Human Hearing (Premium Exclusive)
6. Phase and Phase Interference (Premium Exclusive)
7. Digital Audio: Sample Rate (Premium Exclusive)
8. Digital Audio: Bit Depth (Premium Exclusive)
9. Gain Staging (Premium Exclusive)
10. Mixing Practices (Premium Exclusive)
Session 3: Levels and Panning (December 31, 2024)
This session will cover the fundamentals of setting up a basic mix, including balancing levels, placing sounds in the stereo field, and mixing into pink noise.
8 lessons
1. Introduction (Premium Exclusive)
2. Levels at the Source (Premium Exclusive)
3. Panning Overview (Premium Exclusive)
4. Panning Perspectives / Balance (Premium Exclusive)
5. Automation: Drawing (Premium Exclusive)
6. Automation: Recording (Premium Exclusive)
7. Pink Noise (Premium Exclusive)
8. Homework Reference File (Premium Exclusive)
Session 4: Sculpting Frequencies: Equalization (January 7, 2025)
This session will cover using EQ to shape your sounds and mixes. Learn about the different types of EQs (3-band, Graphic, and Parametric) and how to use them on different sounds, using EQs for dramatic effect, as well as creating dynamic EQs.
9 lessons
1. Introduction (Premium Exclusive)
2. Different Types of EQ: Two and Three Band EQs (Premium Exclusive)
3. Different Types of EQ: Graphic EQ (Premium Exclusive)
4. Different Types of EQ: Parametric EQ (Premium Exclusive)
5. EQ on Drums (Premium Exclusive)
6. Clear up the Mix (Premium Exclusive)
7. EQ on Bass and Kick/Dynamic EQ with Max4Live (Premium Exclusive)
8. Tips and Tricks (Premium Exclusive)
9. Homework Reference File (License in Session Content) (Premium Exclusive)
Session 5: Reverb and Space (January 14, 2025)
Learn about natural and analog reverb, sound reflections and absorption, and how to use Live's powerful digital 'verb to bring a sense of space and depth to your tracks. Additional lessons in using reverb for sound design and FX will be covered.
10 lessons
1. Introduction (Premium Exclusive)
2. Why Artificial Reverb? (Premium Exclusive)
3. Understanding Reflections (Premium Exclusive)
4. Different Types of Reverb (Premium Exclusive)
5. Overview of Ableton Live's Reverb (Premium Exclusive)
6. Reverb Sends (Premium Exclusive)
7. Gated Verb (Premium Exclusive)
8. Convolution Reverb (Premium Exclusive)
9. Tips and Tricks (Premium Exclusive)
10. Homework Reference File (Premium Exclusive)
Session 6: Compression and Dynamics (January 21, 2025)
This session will cover everything you need to know about dynamics processing and using compression to produce punchy mixes. Topics include an overview of how compression works using Ableton's "Compressor", buss compression with the "Glue" compressor, Parallel/NY compression, multiband compression with the "Multiband Dynamics" compressor, and Side-chain compression.
11 lessons
1. Introduction (Premium Exclusive)
2. What is Compression? (Premium Exclusive)
3. Why is Compression Used? (Premium Exclusive)
4. Types of Compressors (Premium Exclusive)
5. Compression Parameters (Premium Exclusive)
6. Drum Compression (Premium Exclusive)
7. Mix Bus and Parallel / NY Compression (Premium Exclusive)
8. Sidechain Compression (Premium Exclusive)
9. Multiband Compression (Premium Exclusive)
10. Compression Tips and Session Outro (Premium Exclusive)
11. Homework Reference File (Premium Exclusive)
Session 7: Slicing and Dicing: Sampling in Live (January 28, 2025)
This session will cover the foundations of sampling from a historical perspective (Musique Concrete to Hip Hop), and practical use of samplers and sampling including using Live's Simpler and Sampler devices for synthesis and sound design, chopping up drum breaks, etc.
9 lessons
1. Introduction (Premium Exclusive)
2. Some History (Premium Exclusive)
3. The Development of the Sampler (Premium Exclusive)
4. Overview of Sampling, and Live's Simpler Device (Premium Exclusive)
5. Live's Simpler Device: Additional Parameters (Premium Exclusive)
6. Overview Live's Sampler Device (Premium Exclusive)
7. Warping, Slicing and Dicing (Premium Exclusive)
8. Beyond Samples: Synthesizing Drums with Robert Henke (Premium Exclusive)
9. Session Outro (Premium Exclusive)
Session 8: Parallel Signal Processing: Ableton Racks (February 4, 2025)
This session will cover using Audio Effect Racks, MIDI Effect Racks, Instrument Racks, and advanced Drum Rack configuration for a wide range of applications including: dynamic audio effects, custom arpeggiators, multiband effect processing, and more.
13 lessons
1. Introduction (Premium Exclusive)
2. Signal Flow: Serial and Parallel Device Chains (Premium Exclusive)
3. Macro Controls (Premium Exclusive)
4. Types of Racks and Creating Them (Premium Exclusive)
5. Anatomy of a Live Rack (Premium Exclusive)
6. The Chainlist and Global Wet/Dry Mix (Premium Exclusive)
7. Audio Effects Racks: Preset Banks and Preset Fading (Premium Exclusive)
8. Audio Effects Racks: Multiband Effects Processing (Premium Exclusive)
9. MIDI Effects Racks: Harmonic and Melodic Arpeggio Stabs and Runs (Premium Exclusive)
10. Instrument Racks: More Zones (Keyboard Splits, Instrument Stacking, and Instrument Fading) (Premium Exclusive)
11. Drum Racks: Overview (Simplers, Instruments, Choke Groups, Return Chains) (Premium Exclusive)
12. Audio Effect Processing with Robert Henke (Premium Exclusive)
13. Session Outro (Premium Exclusive)
Session 9: Inside/Outside: Advanced MIDI, Syncing Laptops, Mapping Strategies, and Audio Analysis (February 11, 2025)
This session will cover a wide range of advanced production techniques including a deeper understanding of the MIDI protocol, syncing multiple Live sessions on different computers via a standard computer network (WIFI/Ethernet), mapping strategies for live performance, as well as advanced audio analysis in Live (extracting "grooves" from audio, and converting melody, harmony, and drums from audio-to-MIDI).
9 lessons
1. Introduction and the Development of MIDI (Premium Exclusive)
2. Introduction to MIDI (Premium Exclusive)
3. Outside the Box: Communicating With External Hardware and Controllers (Premium Exclusive)
4. Syncing Computers and Sending MIDI Over the Network (Premium Exclusive)
5. Mapping Strategies, Jamming Arrangements, and Introduction to the Ableton Push (Premium Exclusive)
6. Audio Analysis in Live I: Extracting Grooves, Melodies, and Chord Progressions to MIDI (Premium Exclusive)
7. Audio Analysis in Live II: Converting Melody, Harmony, and Drums to MIDI (Premium Exclusive)
8. Extended Interview with Robert Henke (Premium Exclusive)
9. Closing (Premium Exclusive)
Learning Outcomes

Below you will find an overview of the Learning Outcomes you will achieve as you complete this course.

Instructors And Guests
What You Need to Take This Course

• Equipment: Computer with installation privileges

• Software: Ableton Live (Discounts available for premium members including $70 off Standard, $100 off Suite, and $100 off Push. Please see Course Resources for more information.)

Additional Information

PLEASE NOTE: Taking part in a Kadenze course as a Premium Member, does not affirm that the student has been enrolled or accepted for enrollment by California Institute of the Arts.

If a student signs up for the Foundations of Music Technology program, it is recommended that these courses are taken sequentially.

Peer Assessment Code of Conduct: Part of what makes Kadenze a great place to learn is our community of students. While you are completing your Peer Assessments, we ask that you help us maintain the quality of our community. Please:

  • Be Polite. Show your fellow students courtesy. No one wants to feel attacked - ever. For this reason, insults, condescension, or abuse will not be tolerated.
  • Show Respect. Kadenze is a global community. Our students are from many different cultures and backgrounds. Please be patient, kind, and open-minded when discussing topics such as race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, or other potentially controversial subjects.
  • Post Appropriate Content. We believe that expression is a human right and we would never censor our students. With that in mind, please be sensitive of what you post in a Peer Assessment. Only post content where and when it is appropriate to do so.

Please understand that posts which violate this Code of Conduct harm our community and may be deleted or made invisible to other students by course moderators. Students who repeatedly break these rules may be removed from the course and/or may lose access to Kadenze.

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