4 TIPS TO UPGRADE YOUR ABLETON WORKFLOW
You probably know the feeling.
You have the best idea for a track, and you want to get it out as soon as possible. With these tips, you’ll no longer find yourself losing that -often so rare- momentum.
1. Making a template project
Making a template can be a bit tricky. You don’t want to set boundaries for your next project, but at the same time you want to have instant acces to the tools you use most often, so you can get started as soon as that rush of inspiration comes. A good template should include:
Right Click > Select > ‘Set as Default MIDI Track’
An audio track, with the right input selected. (For example, if you often record vocals with your microphone - have that set up)
A midi track with a basic sound. A Rhodes or a piano sound is great for drafting melodies or chords if you feel like it.
A return track/bus with your favourite reverb. Everyone has their favourite reverb right? (Mine is Altiverb) This saves time every session.
If you feel like one template is not enough, you can make several versions for each situation. One for recording vocals, with your basic processing in place on an audio track. One for playing out with your band. One for jamming with your drum computer. You name it, get creative!
2. USING DEFAULTS
Using defaults can save you lots of time. A lot of plug-ins have the feature to ‘Save as default presets’. This way, you don’t have to adjust to your basic settings everytime you open the plugin. We have our EQ-Eight set up to have a high-pass filter, low-pass filter and some standard EQ values. It works for almost every Ableton device. Using defaults on Audio and Midi-tracks can be a real time-saver as well. Our standard audio and midi track setup includes an EQ and a Utility for swift gain-adjusting.
3. USING EFFECT GROUPS (AND SAVING THEM)
I often use the same plug-ins on the same sources. For example, the voice-over channel of my podcast production template has a certain chain of plug-ins. With a simple CMD+G command (CTRL+G on Windows), you group the tracks. When in the group, click the save icon to save the effect group to your library.
4. USING FAVOURITES IN ABLETON
What helps me a lot in my production workflow, is using the favourites function in Ableton. When I find a plug-in, sound or any other file I want to use later - or more often - I press the corresponding key on my keyboard. When in need later, you can easily find the favourites sorted on the top left in your Ableton browser.
