Sampling fundamentals with Simpler for slicing/playing samples and building instruments
Converting audio to MIDI to extract notes/rhythm for editing, layering, or replacing sounds
Organization and navigation: renaming tracks, markers/locators, and efficient Arrangement workflow
Exporting finished audio: export length defined by the selected time range/loop region
Audio effects and routing: Auto Pan for stereo motion; serial vs parallel via sends/returns
Max for Live overview: extending Live with custom instruments, effects, and utilities
Mixing/automation: using automation for movement; depth via reverb/level/panning; automate volume with Utility
Course Description
Learn to turn musical ideas into finished tracks with Ableton Live, one of the most widely used tools for modern music production and performance. This free online course is designed for beginners who want to feel confident inside the software, understand how projects are built, and develop a workflow that supports creativity instead of getting stuck in settings and menus. You will get comfortable navigating the interface and making smart choices from the moment you open a new set.
You will practice the fundamentals that matter: setting up audio and MIDI hardware, managing latency for recording, and working smoothly with both MIDI and audio clips. As you move between the Session and Arrangement views, you will learn how Live’s non-linear approach can help you sketch ideas quickly and then shape them into a structured song. Along the way, you will build strong habits for organization, file management, and troubleshooting so your projects stay portable, clean, and easy to revisit.
The course also introduces core creative techniques used daily by producers. You will explore sequencing, quantizing, recording, sampling, and converting audio to MIDI for sound replacement or creative rework. You will learn why warping is essential for tightening timing, matching tempos, and remixing, and how to use clip properties to make precise adjustments when shaping audio.
To help you push beyond the basics, you will work with audio and MIDI effects, understand when to use serial versus parallel processing with send and return tracks, and begin building mixes with clarity and depth. You will also discover how automation brings movement and expression to a track, and how MIDI mapping lets you control key parameters hands-on for a more performance-friendly workflow. By the end, you will be able to confidently start projects, develop them into arrangements, and export your music with intention.
Course content
Video class: Introduction to Ableton Live: Welcome to the Course | Part 1/25 | Erin Barra01m
Exercise: What aspect of Ableton Live does the course NOT explicitly promise to teach?
Video class: Overview of the Ableton Live Interface | Part 2/25 | Erin Barra06m
Exercise: In Ableton Live, what is the purpose of the Track Activator according to the described introduction?
Video class: Setting Up Hardware and Software in Ableton Live | Part 3/25 | Erin Barra05m
Exercise: In Ableton Live, what should you enable for your MIDI controller to use it for tracking MIDI and for remote controlling functions?
Video class: Overview of the Ableton Live Non-Linear Functionality | Part 4/25 | Erin Barra06m
Exercise: What distinctive feature does Ableton Live offer that differentiates it from most other digital audio workstations (DAWs) like Pro Tools or Logic?
Video class: How to Sequence MIDI in Ableton Live | Part 5/25 | Erin Barra18m
Exercise: In Ableton Live, what function allows you to move MIDI events to their assumed closest positions on a grid?
Video class: How to Use Audio Clips in Ableton Live | Part 6/25 | Erin Barra03m
Exercise: What happens when you drop a MIDI clip onto an audio track in Ableton Live?
Video class: Ableton Live 101: Clip Properties | Part 7/25 | Erin Barra07m
Exercise: In the context of audio manipulation within Ableton Live's sample properties box, which of the following properties allows for changing the pitch of a clip in a finer and more granular sense than semitones?
Video class: Moving Between Session and Arrangement Views in Ableton Live | Part 8/25 | Erin Barra08m
Exercise: What is the function of the 'Back to Arrangement' button in Ableton Live?
Video class: Ableton Live Quick Tips: Organization and Workflow | Part 9/25 | Erin Barra06m
Exercise: Which key command allows a user to rename a track in Ableton Live?
Video class: How to Create and Export an Arrangement in Ableton Live | Part 10/25 | Erin Barra03m
Exercise: When exporting a musical project from Ableton Live, what is the main determining factor for the length of the audio that will be exported?
Video class: Ableton Live Tips: Troubleshooting Issues | Part 11/25 | Erin Barra04m
Exercise: When searching online to solve a problem in Ableton Live, why is it important to specify the version of the software in your query?
Video class: How to Record Audio in Ableton Live | Part 12/25 | Erin Barra09m
Exercise: In Ableton Live, when setting up your audio interface, what is generally considered an acceptable level of latency for recording?
Video class: Warping and Stretching Audio in Ableton Live | Part 13/25 | Erin Barra13m
Exercise: Why would a producer use warping in Ableton Live?
Video class: How to Sample in Ableton Live | Part 14/25 | Erin Barra11m
Exercise: In Ableton Live, what is the Simpler device primarily used for?
Video class: How to Convert Audio to MIDI in Ableton Live | Part 15/25 | Erin Barra09m
Exercise: What is a possible reason for converting audio to MIDI in Ableton Live?
Video class: Ableton Live File Management | Part 16/25 | Erin Barra08m
Exercise: Why is it important to use the 'Save As' function when managing projects in Ableton Live?
Video class: Ableton Live Quick Tips: Navigating in the Arrangement | Part 17/25 | Erin Barra04m
Exercise: Which feature in Ableton Live allows you to jump quickly between different sections of your arrangement?
Video class: How to Use Audio Effects in Ableton Live | Part 18/25 | Erin Barra05m
Exercise: In Ableton Live, which audio effect is used to create stereo motion by making sounds alternate between the left and right channels?
Video class: Serial vs. Parallel Processing in Ableton Live | Part 19/25 | Erin Barra05m
Exercise: What is the main advantage of using parallel processing with send and return tracks for reverb and delay effects in Ableton Live?
Video class: Using MIDI Effects in Ableton Live | Part 20/25 | Erin Barra05m
Exercise: In Ableton Live, why are MIDI effects placed before virtual instruments in the signal chain?
Video class: Introduction to Max for Live Devices | Ableton Live | Part 21/25 | Erin Barra05m
Exercise: What is Max for Live in Ableton Live 10 Suite?
Video class: The Basics of Mixing in Ableton Live | Part 22/25 | Erin Barra12m
Exercise: What is an effective method to give a mix a sense of depth?
Video class: How to Use Automation in Ableton Live | Part 23/25 | Erin Barra10m
Exercise: In Ableton Live, what is the purpose of automation in a track arrangement?
Video class: MIDI Mapping in Ableton Live | Part 24/25 | Erin Barra08m
Exercise: Which of the following best describes the purpose of MIDI mapping in Ableton Live?
Video class: Ableton Live Quick Tips: Automation | Part 25/25 | Erin Barra03m
Exercise: In Ableton Live, what is the recommended device for performing volume automation to keep the fader free for manual adjustments?
