Table of Contents
Acknowledgments xiii
Introduction. Welcome to the World of Audio xv
Chapter 1 Computer Concepts 1
Selecting a Computer 2
Mac Versus Windows Considerations 3
The Importance of RAM 3
Processing Power 5
Storage Options 8
Onboard Sound Options (Audio In and Out) 10
Other Options to Consider 10
Working with Your Computer 11
File Management 11
Launching Applications 17
Saving Files 18
Working with an Application 19
Menus 19
Keyboard Shortcuts 21
Review/Discussion Questions 23
Exercise 1 Exploring Audio on the Computer 25
Chapter 2 DAW Concepts 31
Functions of a DAW 32
What Can a DAW Do? 32
Common DAWs 32
Plug-In Formats 38
What Is a Plug-In? 38
Common Plug-In Formats 39
Ableton Live Configurations 39
Software Editions 39
Audio Interface Options 41
Registering Your Software 42
Software Installation and Operation 43
Included Devices and Packs 44
Installing Additional Packs 45
Launching Ableton Live for the First Time 47
Launching Ableton Live 47
Authorizing Live 47
Accessing Connected Audio Devices 51
Optimizing Ableton Live Performance 52
Important Concepts in Ableton Live 54
Set Files Versus Audio Files 54
Audio Versus MIDI 54
Controlling Playback in Live 55
Review/Discussion Questions 57
Exercise 2 Setting Up a Multi-Track Project 59
Chapter 3 Audio Recording Concepts 65
The Basics of Audio 66
Frequency 66
Amplitude 67
Microphones 67
Traditional Microphones 67
USB Microphones 68
Other Considerations 69
Basic Miking Techniques 70
Multi-Tracking and Signal Flow 72
What Is Multi-Track Recording? 73
Recording Signal Flow 74
Moving Audio from Analog to Digital 74
Analog Versus Digital Audio 74
The Analog-to-Digital Conversion Process 75
The Audio Interface 76
Audio Interface Considerations 76
Working Without an Audio Interface 79
Review/Discussion Questions 80
Exercise 3 Selecting Your Audio Production Gear 82
Chapter 4 MIDI Recording Concepts 87
A Brief History of MIDI 88
Digital Control 88
The Birth of MIDI 89
The MIDI Protocol 90
MIDI Notes 90
Program Changes 91
Controller Messages 91
MIDI Controllers 92
Digital Pianos and Synthesizers 92
Keyboard Controllers 94
Drumpad Controllers 95
Grid Controllers 95
Alternate Controllers 96
What to Look for in a MIDI Controller 96
Purchasing a Keyboard Controller 97
Setup and Signal Flow 98
Plug-and-Play Setup 98
MIDI Cables and Jacks 98
Using a MIDI interface 99
Considerations for Using Multiple MIDI Devices 100
MIDI Versus Audio 100
What Is MIDI? 101
Monitoring with Onboard Sound Versus Virtual Instruments 101
Tracking with Virtual Instruments 102
Creating Tracks for Virtual instruments 103
Summary 104
Review/Discussion Questions 105
Exercise 4 Selecting Your MIDI Production Gear 107
5 Ableton Live Concepts, Part 1 111
Ableton Live Views and Sections 112
Control Bar 112
Arrangement View 113
Session View 114
Browser View 115
Detail View 116
Showing and Hiding Views and Sections 118
Overview (Arrangement View only) 119
Rulers and Scrub Area (Arrangement View only) 119
Working with Tracks 120
Adding Tracks 120
Clips Versus Files 121
Basic Navigation 121
Playback in Arrangement View 121
Using Follow Mode for Scrolling 124
Zooming and Scrolling in the Arrangement View 125
Zooming and Scrolling with the Beat-Time Ruler 125
Zooming and Scrolling with the Arrangement Overview 125
Zooming and Scrolling with Keyboard Shortcuts 126
Optimizing Arrangement Height and Width 126
Review/Discussion Questions 128
Exercise 5 Configuring and Working on a Project 130
Chapter 6 Ableton Live Concepts, Part 2 137
Setting Up for Recording 138
Recording Audio in Arrangement View 139
Designating a Punch-In Point 139
Record-Enabling Tracks 139
Monitoring Record-Enabled Audio Tracks 140
Initiating a Record Take 141
Stopping a Record Take 141
Recording MIDI in Arrangement View 142
Monitoring a MIDI Controller 142
Using MIDI Arrangement Overdub 143
Importing Audio and MIDI 144
Supported Audio Files 144
Importing from the Desktop 145
Importing from the Browser 145
File Drag and Drop Locations 147
Using the Edit Grid 147
Edit Grid Modes 147
Setting the Edit Grid Mode and Value 148
Clip Editing in Arrangement View 149
Basic Editing Techniques 149
Advanced Editing Techniques 152
MIDI Editing Techniques 155
Editing MID! Clips in the Arrangement View 155
Using the MIDI Note Editor 155
Navigating the MIDI Note Editor 159
Review/Discussion Questions 162
Exercise 6 Importing and Editing Clips 164
Chapter 7 Session View 171
The Session View 172
Session View Clip Sections 172
Session View Mixing Sections 175
Adding Clips to Tracks in Session View 178
Import to Tracks in Session View 178
Import Directly to a New Audio Track in Session View 178
Batch Importing Audio to Tracks in Session View 178
Batch Import Directly to New Audio Tracks 179
Playback in Session View 180
Starting and Stopping Playback 180
Controlling Playback with Scenes 181
Enabling/Disabling Clip Looping 182
Recording Audio in Session View 183
Session View Recording Quantization 184
Recording on Scene Launch 185
Recording from Session View into an Arrangement 185
Using Arrangement Record 185
Playing Back an Arrangement Recording 185
Review/Discussion Questions 187
Exercise 7 Working in the Session View 189
Chapter 8 Mixing Concepts 197
Basic Mixing 198
Setting Levels 198
Panning 202
Processing Options and Techniques 205
Gain-Based Processing 205
Time-Based Processing and Effects 206
Inserted Devices Versus Sends 206
Processing with External Gear 206
Mixing in the Box 207
Advantages of In-the-Box Mixing 207
Getting the Most Out of an In-the-Box Mix 208
Review/Discussion Questions 209
Exercise 8 Creating a Basic Mix 211
Chapter 9 Signal Processing 219
Processor Basics 220
Viewing Devices on Tracks 221
Inserting and Removing Devices 221
Moving and Duplicating Devices 222
Displaying Plug-In Windows 223
Common Device Controls 223
Device Activator Button 224
Hot-Swap Presets Button 224
Save Preset Button 225
Adjusting Device Parameters 225
Adjusting Device Parameters with the Mouse 225
Adjusting Device Parameters with the Computer Keyboard 226
EQ Processing 226
Types of EQ 226
Basic EQ Parameters 227
EQ Devices in Ableton Live 227
Strategies for Using EQ 229
Dynamics Processing 230
Types of Dynamics Processors 230
Basic Dynamics Parameters 231
Dynamics Devices in Ableton Live 231
Strategies for Using Compression 232
Reverb and Delay Effects 233
What Is Reverb? 233
Reverb in Ableton Live 233
Applications for Reverb Processors 234
What Is Delay? 234
Delay in Ableton Live 235
Applications for Delay Processors 235
Wet Versus Dry Signals 236
Using Time-Based Effects Directly on Tracks 236
Using Send-and-Return Configurations 237
Review/Discussion Questions 238
Exercise 9 Optimizing Tracks with Signal Processing 240
Chapter 10 Finishing a Project 247
Recalling a Saved Mix 248
Automation 248
Arrangement Automation Workflow 249
Recording Arrangement Automation 249
Viewing Arrangement Automation 250
Drawing Automation Envelopes 251
Editing Automation Breakpoints 253
Deleting Automation 254
Creating a Mixdown 255
Adding Processing on the Master Track 255
Considerations for Bouncing Audio 256
Exporting Audio 256
Review/Discussion Questions 261
Exercise 10 Preparing the Final Mix 263
Appendix A Locating Missing Files in Ableton Live 269
On-Screen Information about Missing Files 269
Replacing via Drag-and-Drop 271
Replacing via Automatic Search 271
Dealing with Multiple Candidates 273
Index 277
About the Author 285
