In the last decade, no audio production software program or digital audio workstation has charted as much territory and built as loyal a following as Ableton Live. And for good reason. Ableton has continually kept an eye to the future and an ear towards its users, adding and improving tools and features, expanding plugin and MIDI support, all while fine-tuning the user interface and workflow to make for a truly unique program that is as much an instrument for live performances as it is a tool for audio production.
Ableton Live, like Reason, is perfectly capable of producing rich, complex tracks without the help of additional MIDI hardware(although, it supports a large variety of MIDI hardware controllers and other non-ReWire plugins). Between its Looper, Drum Rack, real-time mixing and patching and stabilized, "Live" performance mode, producers, musicians and DJs can produce and perform entirely from the computer--or control remotely using external hardware.
All audio production software programs and digital audio workstations require careful, thoughtful, precise use. The same is true of Ableton Live, true, but no program is as capable of producing music in ad hoc, on-the-fly settings as Ableton Live. With drag-and-drop instrument and effect functionality, "Random Access Loop Recording," which enables producers to record clips and takes and incorporate them as loops without having to be edited, and other powerful tools and features to develop ideas quickly or to perform them without a hitch.
Who Uses It?
Ableton Live has developed quite a following in the last decade, and with each version upgrade that following has only grown larger. Used by music producers and artists alike, Ableton Live counts among its users:
Though paragraphs could be spent describing the quality or effectiveness of certain features (short version: quality, high; effectiveness, very), much of their strength is derived from Ableton Live's interface and workflow, both of which are highly flexible and can be customized to suit the needs and stylings of every user, new or experienced, performer or producer.
A lot of words could be spent describing all of Ableton Live's powerful and unique features. For the sake of brevity, however, it will be narrowed down to a few (among many) of the standouts.
Elastic Audio Engine
DJ-ing has evolved beyond the traditional "two turntables and microphone." Now, in addition to expanded support of new audio delivery formats and software-based controls, DJs now have many intuitive loop-making, beat-matching and mixing features at their disposal, which, in the case of Albeton Live, are far better than any analog controller.
With the Ableton Live's Elastic Audio Engine, DJs and producers have a palette for endless experimentation. Mix as many track elements and effects as you want. Ableton Live can handle it, even keeping it in sync the entire time. Perfect for fixes, remixes and mash-ups, the Elastic Audio Engine is as good as it gets for producers, artists and DJs with a creative, experimental bend, as well for those that simply want to "bring the noise" without the program stuttering to a halt.
Ableton Looper
Nothing is more common in modern music production than the loop. Sure, it has gone by countless names in previous musical epochs, but the loop is the keystone, cornerstone and foundation of virtually all music being produced today. As production has moved from hardware to software, looping samples and tracks has become easier while becoming, simultaneously, more difficult and easier: easier to execute; more difficult to execute well. With Ableton Live, looping retains the sound and feel of analog looping, even letting producers and program users do so remotely using a control. The difference, however, lies in its intuitive beat-matching, tempo-nudge and other elements that allow for real-time synchronization.
"It's the Beat!"
As Simian Mobile Disco's track of the same name exclaims, few audio production features are as important to producers, artists and DJs as those used to sequence music and construct beats. Few music production programs understand this as much as Ableton Live, which offers 128 pads for creating and constructing beats. Moreover, each of the 128 pads has its own device effect chain for instruments and effects. Producers can even drop effects onto the Drum Rack that will affect all pads, or just a few selected pads, further increasing its flexibility and real-time functionality.
As for sequencing music, Ableton Live again passes with flying colors. Ableton Live's slicing feature allows producers to replace, reshuffle and re-record track elements, samples and even entire events, and do so with visually-defined grooves on the Drum Rack that take the guess work out of this oftentimes-tedious affair. Moreover, with drag-and-drop functionality both freestyle experimentation and precise editing are made impressively painless. Replace instruments, customize a pad or kit, forget about matching time or manually defining new elements--with Ableton Live, all are done automatically.
As for audio file format support, Ableton Live, again, runs the gamut. The standard audio file formats like WAV, WMA, MP3, OGG Vorbis and MP4 are supported. So, too, are other "lossless" and "lossy" formats like AIFF, FLAC and others.
Included in the program itself, Ableton Live's help section consists of nearly five hundred pages of in-depth documentation. Want to know the specific--or potential--function of a feature? How about an interactive guide that will take you step-by-step through the entire process? With Ableton Live, users are always only a few clicks away from the question at hand.
Should the problem fall outside the built-in help section, however, Ableton's FAQ section covers topics ranging from installation, to technical glitches and common errors, to simple and complex commands and functions. And, as an added bonus, Ableton has more than 35 video tutorials available online. Begin with a tour of the program. Learn the basic, every day tools and features. And even see how the professionals use the program to craft, create, transform and perform using Ableton Live.
"Forum" had a powerful connotation a decade ago. Today, however, forums can often be ineffective, static portals that are frequented seldom and whose content becomes increasingly obsolete as the software program goes through various updates and upgrades. Nothing could be further from this trend than Ableton Live's forum, which has a lively, participative community that consists of amateur and professional producers and Ableton developers. It is in these forums that developers often receive cues for future updates and expansions, as well as users of all levels receive tips, tricks, advice and other help for using the program.
Should your question not be covered by the built-in help section, FAQ pages and forum, Ableton Live offers technical assistance and help via telephone and email.
Material found at ableton.com & toptenreviews.com
Ableton Live, like Reason, is perfectly capable of producing rich, complex tracks without the help of additional MIDI hardware(although, it supports a large variety of MIDI hardware controllers and other non-ReWire plugins). Between its Looper, Drum Rack, real-time mixing and patching and stabilized, "Live" performance mode, producers, musicians and DJs can produce and perform entirely from the computer--or control remotely using external hardware.
All audio production software programs and digital audio workstations require careful, thoughtful, precise use. The same is true of Ableton Live, true, but no program is as capable of producing music in ad hoc, on-the-fly settings as Ableton Live. With drag-and-drop instrument and effect functionality, "Random Access Loop Recording," which enables producers to record clips and takes and incorporate them as loops without having to be edited, and other powerful tools and features to develop ideas quickly or to perform them without a hitch.
Who Uses It?
Ableton Live has developed quite a following in the last decade, and with each version upgrade that following has only grown larger. Used by music producers and artists alike, Ableton Live counts among its users:
- Armin Van Buren
- Daft Punk
- Diplo
- Dust Brothers
- John Digweed
- Burial
- Girl Talk
- The Field
- The Rapture
- Sasha
- Nine Inch Nails
- Krazy Baldhead
- Brazilian Girls
- DJ Jazzy Jeff
- Hot Chip
- Jamie Lidell
- Matthew Dear
- Telefon Tel Aviv
Audio Production Features 
Where to begin? Ableton Live's production and editing (not to mention performance) tools and features are among the most simple and intuitive to be found in any music production software program. There is a casual quality, a looseness to all production and editing features that gives them an experimental quality. And really, audio production is more a matter of experimenting than anything, which makes Ableton Live an even more appealing program. Though paragraphs could be spent describing the quality or effectiveness of certain features (short version: quality, high; effectiveness, very), much of their strength is derived from Ableton Live's interface and workflow, both of which are highly flexible and can be customized to suit the needs and stylings of every user, new or experienced, performer or producer.
A lot of words could be spent describing all of Ableton Live's powerful and unique features. For the sake of brevity, however, it will be narrowed down to a few (among many) of the standouts.
Elastic Audio Engine
DJ-ing has evolved beyond the traditional "two turntables and microphone." Now, in addition to expanded support of new audio delivery formats and software-based controls, DJs now have many intuitive loop-making, beat-matching and mixing features at their disposal, which, in the case of Albeton Live, are far better than any analog controller.
With the Ableton Live's Elastic Audio Engine, DJs and producers have a palette for endless experimentation. Mix as many track elements and effects as you want. Ableton Live can handle it, even keeping it in sync the entire time. Perfect for fixes, remixes and mash-ups, the Elastic Audio Engine is as good as it gets for producers, artists and DJs with a creative, experimental bend, as well for those that simply want to "bring the noise" without the program stuttering to a halt.
Ableton Looper
Nothing is more common in modern music production than the loop. Sure, it has gone by countless names in previous musical epochs, but the loop is the keystone, cornerstone and foundation of virtually all music being produced today. As production has moved from hardware to software, looping samples and tracks has become easier while becoming, simultaneously, more difficult and easier: easier to execute; more difficult to execute well. With Ableton Live, looping retains the sound and feel of analog looping, even letting producers and program users do so remotely using a control. The difference, however, lies in its intuitive beat-matching, tempo-nudge and other elements that allow for real-time synchronization.
"It's the Beat!"
As Simian Mobile Disco's track of the same name exclaims, few audio production features are as important to producers, artists and DJs as those used to sequence music and construct beats. Few music production programs understand this as much as Ableton Live, which offers 128 pads for creating and constructing beats. Moreover, each of the 128 pads has its own device effect chain for instruments and effects. Producers can even drop effects onto the Drum Rack that will affect all pads, or just a few selected pads, further increasing its flexibility and real-time functionality.
As for sequencing music, Ableton Live again passes with flying colors. Ableton Live's slicing feature allows producers to replace, reshuffle and re-record track elements, samples and even entire events, and do so with visually-defined grooves on the Drum Rack that take the guess work out of this oftentimes-tedious affair. Moreover, with drag-and-drop functionality both freestyle experimentation and precise editing are made impressively painless. Replace instruments, customize a pad or kit, forget about matching time or manually defining new elements--with Ableton Live, all are done automatically.
Input Options & Features
Ableton Live is perfectly capable of functioning sans external hardware. In fact, many DJs, producers and artists use Ableton Live on stage and in studio without any supplemental devices. However, for DJs, producers and artists with hardware-intensive needs or a larger sample or effect palette, Ableton Live has a takes-all-types architecture that allows it to effortlessly act as a master (or slave) to MIDI hardware devices and other plugins. As for audio file format support, Ableton Live, again, runs the gamut. The standard audio file formats like WAV, WMA, MP3, OGG Vorbis and MP4 are supported. So, too, are other "lossless" and "lossy" formats like AIFF, FLAC and others.
Output Options & Features
Like its input capabilities, Ableton Live is equally open to various output modes. Audio output to various audio devices--amps, monitors, etc.--can be set using the interface included in the program. Also, Ableton Live can publish finished tracks, samples or effects in WAV, WMA, MP3, OGG Vorbis, AIFF, FLAC and other audio file formats. Ease of Use
As mentioned (several times) previously, Ableton Live is about as intuitive and user-friendly as they come. Like all audio production software and digital audio workstation programs, it has a learning curve. The learning process, however, can be shortened through careful readings of the numerous guides and learning materials or, as is the case with most of its users, by experimenting with the various tools and features until you find something comfortable in it. Help/Support
All audio production software programs have a learning curve. Even for those with years of experience behind the boards or in front of the computer monitor will have to undergo a process of adjustment and program familiarization. Ableton Live is no different. However, unlike many music production software programs, Ableton Live never leaves its users at a loss, offering a variety of program guides and user resources to get its users from A to B and back again. Included in the program itself, Ableton Live's help section consists of nearly five hundred pages of in-depth documentation. Want to know the specific--or potential--function of a feature? How about an interactive guide that will take you step-by-step through the entire process? With Ableton Live, users are always only a few clicks away from the question at hand.
Should the problem fall outside the built-in help section, however, Ableton's FAQ section covers topics ranging from installation, to technical glitches and common errors, to simple and complex commands and functions. And, as an added bonus, Ableton has more than 35 video tutorials available online. Begin with a tour of the program. Learn the basic, every day tools and features. And even see how the professionals use the program to craft, create, transform and perform using Ableton Live.
"Forum" had a powerful connotation a decade ago. Today, however, forums can often be ineffective, static portals that are frequented seldom and whose content becomes increasingly obsolete as the software program goes through various updates and upgrades. Nothing could be further from this trend than Ableton Live's forum, which has a lively, participative community that consists of amateur and professional producers and Ableton developers. It is in these forums that developers often receive cues for future updates and expansions, as well as users of all levels receive tips, tricks, advice and other help for using the program.
Should your question not be covered by the built-in help section, FAQ pages and forum, Ableton Live offers technical assistance and help via telephone and email.
Summary
Ableton Live has earned its place amongst producers, artists and DJs for a reason. For the last decade, few audio production programs have evolved as quickly, expanded as steadily and improved as efficiently as Ableton Live--all while listening closely to the producers and artists that use it. With knock-out tools and features, Swiss Army knife-like flexibility and functionality and the resources and community to see all stages of production through from A to Z, it is easy to see why Ableton Live has been around--and popular--for so long, and why that will likely remain true for many decades to come--even among the likes of other top-rated programs like Reason and KORE.Material found at ableton.com & toptenreviews.com
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