Ableton Blog

Ableton Live is a versatile application for a range of plugins and other hosts - it runs VST and AU plugins, and can be used as both a ReWire master and slave. Outside of the software box, Live can also incorporate external hardware instruments and effects. MacProVideo's Rory Dow takes a look at how to set up hardware, and how to use the External Instrument and External Effect devices.

Read the article at MPV's The Hub

If you've been making electronic music for a while, chances are you've come across a step sequencer. In these videos, Ableton Cookbook blogger Anthony Arroyo demonstrates how to make a melodic step sequencer using Live's native devices. Even if you're not sure why you'd want a step sequencer, check out the possibilities in Anthony's set-up - you might just be convinced: 

Learn more about the step sequencer at The Ableton Cookbook.

In 2012, it’s easy to take the possibilities of computer music for granted. With capabilities and processor limitations increasingly less of a question, the new frontier is in building tools that work well for making art. Professor Robert Henke, known for his music as Monolake and for his seminal role in the foundation of Ableton, will lecture on these challenges at the Institute of Engineering and Technology in London.

Robert’s presentation, “Software for Musicians: the Art of Engineering Art”, takes place on the evening of March 8 at the IET, and is free and open to the public for registration.

You might have seen the "Hi-Quality" mode option in Live's EQ8 device, but do you know what it does, and how you can hear it? In the latest video in his series, "Did You Know", Ableton Certified Trainer and Dubspot Instructor Thavius Beck looks at oversampling in EQ8 and its advantages: 

Learn more about oversampling, the Nyquist Point, and Hi-Quality mode in EQ8 at the Dubspot Blog.

In another recent video, Thavius looks at chaining return tracks by having them send to each other - resulting in some new effect combinations:

You're probably familiar with changing control values in real time in Live, as well as sequencing them with envelopes and automation editing. Mapulator, a new free Max for Live device from DJ Tech Tools contributor BentoSan, is a hybrid of these two methods. Set a custom control mapping (similar to an envelope), then scrub back-and-forth through it with Mapulator's "Smart" control knob. 

Learn more and download Mapulator for free at DJ Tech Tools.

Point Blank instructor Ski Oakenful is back with a tutorial on deep house chords in the style of Jimpster. Check out a video demonstrating the construction of Ski's new deep house arpeggiated chord rack:

Get the Rack for free from Ski's website (requires Live 8 and Analog or Suite 8).

For such a fundamental element of a track, a kick drum sound can be difficult to get just right. In this tutorial, Ableton Certified Trainer Keith Mills looks at how to layer kicks by treating samples at three different frequencies - resulting in just the right sound:

Ableton Live's Scale device restricts all MIDI notes to a defined scale - it's a great way to ensure that what you're playing is always in line with what you'd like. You can also use Scale to explore new scale sets, including ones you may not have experienced before. Tobi Hunke, the organizer behind the Ableton User Group in Göttingen, Germany, has released a free downloadable set of 40 presets for Scale. Learn more in this video: 

Download the Scale presets here. You can also keep up with Tobi on his blog.

In a new feature, Dauwd discusses using Ableton Live - especially Sampler and Impulse - to make his tracks. Additionally, download a free Live Pack featuring an exclusive unreleased beat that Dauwd assembled while visiting the Berlin Ableton office.

Read more and grab the Live Pack

We've been pleased to see such a positive reaction since the release of our latest Partner Instrument, ProjectSAM Orchestral Ensemble Essentials (OEE). We'd like to address some questions we've received about the differences between OEE and the Ableton Orchestrial Instrument Collection (OIC). Please see the following comparisons:

• OEE and OIC are separate instruments containing different samples. The sample sets of the two instruments do not overlap.
• While OEE features only ensemble sounds, OIC features both ensemble and solo instrument sounds.
• OIC is a highly detailed orchestral collection. It features finely-grained mapping of multisamples - to greater level of detail than OEE.
• OIC contains a greater variety of orchestral instruments: in addition to solo and ensemble brass, woodwinds and strings, it also features a full selection of orchestral percussion. OEE features ensemble brass, woodwinds and strings. Some of these can optionally be double with xylophone or piano.
• OEE also features an assortment of one-shot orchestral effect samples. 
• OEE is recorded close-miced, while OIC features more room tone from the recording. 

We hope this information helps you in understanding and evaluating OEE and OIC.