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J. Anthony Allen

Welcome to the Ultimate Ableton Live 12 Masterclass Edition: Part 1 - Production Principles.

Hi – I’m Jason, Ableton Certified Trainer and tenured university professor with a Ph.D. in Music. I have over 75 courses with a rating of 4.5 and higher. Tens of thousands of students have taken my Ableton Live 9, 10, and 11 classes, and they average over 4.7 in student ratings.

I'm here to guide you through the intricacies of Ableton Live. Whether you're a beginning music maker, aspiring producer, or a seasoned professional looking to up your game, this course is the perfect starting point.

Read more

Welcome to the Ultimate Ableton Live 12 Masterclass Edition: Part 1 - Production Principles.

Hi – I’m Jason, Ableton Certified Trainer and tenured university professor with a Ph.D. in Music. I have over 75 courses with a rating of 4.5 and higher. Tens of thousands of students have taken my Ableton Live 9, 10, and 11 classes, and they average over 4.7 in student ratings.

I'm here to guide you through the intricacies of Ableton Live. Whether you're a beginning music maker, aspiring producer, or a seasoned professional looking to up your game, this course is the perfect starting point.

Why choose this course?

  • Top Seller on Udemy: Thousands of 4+ reviews and tens of thousands of students can't be wrong.

  • 5-Star Certified: Independently reviewed and certified by IAOMEI, ensuring the highest quality education.

  • Ableton Certified Trainer: With a Ph.D. in music, I bring a unique blend of expertise to both production and education.

  • Responsive Instructor: Enjoy a 100% Answer Rate. Every question posted in the class is personally answered by me within 24 hours.

My Promise to You: As a full-time Music Producer and Educator, I am committed to your success. Post your questions in the class, and I will respond within 24 hours. If this class doesn't meet your expectations, take advantage of the 30-day money-back guarantee—no questions asked.

Why Ultimate Ableton Live 12?

  • Comprehensive Learning: Master every aspect of Ableton Live 12, finishing as an expert in the software.

  • Downloadable Content: Get almost 5 hours of downloadable videos with lifetime access.

  • Workflow Techniques: Unlock my top production workflow techniques to streamline your creative process.

  • Buyer's Guide: Receive valuable insights on recording equipment, microphones, keyboards, speakers, and more.

  • Direct Access to the Instructor: Enjoy direct access to me for any questions or clarifications within 24 hours.

Course Highlights:

  • New Features in Live 12: Stay updated on the latest enhancements in the software.

  • Learn to produce amazing music with my systematic approach.

  • Why is everyone using Live?: Learn the unique features that make it such a popular music production tool.

  • Signal Flow Demystified: Understand Live's signal flow for optimal recording and production.

  • Editing Mastery: Learn to edit audio and MIDI like a Pro.

  • Full Track Deconstructions: Gain insights into professional track production.

  • And much more.

Why learn from me?

Apart from being an Ableton Certified Trainer, I’m also a tenured university professor with a Ph.D. in Music Composition, AND a dedicated professional music producer. I've had a few tracks on the charts in the last few years, and a long series of awards for  my teaching. My passion for teaching and staying at the forefront of music production techniques brings a unique perspective to this Ableton Live 12, and everything I teach.

Don't miss this opportunity to master Ableton Live in the most comprehensive way possible. Let's embark on this journey together.

See you in Lesson 1.

All the best, Jason (but call me Jay...)

Enroll now

What's inside

Learning objectives

  • At the end of this course, students will be able to produce music with ableton live 12 and be on their way to being a professional musician.
  • Work in the session view and arrangement view of ableton live 12
  • Record audio, midi, and understand live's signal flow
  • Navigate 100% of ableton live 12
  • Produce music using ableton live 12
  • Students will understand the two views in live.
  • The fundamentals to recording in live 12
  • All possible ways of editing in live
  • The 10 fundamentals to audio recording
  • The 6 fundamentals to midi recording
  • The essential tools for warping
  • Editing and producing in arrangement view
  • Session view editing and producing
  • Making beats
  • The 7 (and more!) methods to making beats in ableton live 12
  • Producing with synths in ableton live 12
  • The ableton live 12 instruments
  • The wavetable synth (similar to serum)
  • The ableton live 12 samplers
  • Show more
  • Show less

Syllabus

Welcome to Live 12! Let's dive in.
Introduction
What is an Ableton Certified Trainer?
Ableton Live Versions
Read more

Traffic lights

Read about what's good
what should give you pause
and possible dealbreakers
Develops professional skills in audio and music production
Taught by an Ableton Certified Trainer with a Ph.D. in music
Helps learners produce music with Ableton Live 12
Teaches learners how to edit audio and MIDI like a professional
Provides insights into professional track production
Requires learners to be familiar with music production concepts

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Reviews summary

Ultimate ableton live: core production principles

According to learners, this course is a highly effective and well-structured introduction to Ableton Live 12, particularly for beginners and aspiring producers. Many highlight the instructor's crystal clear explanations and ability to break down complex topics, such as signal flow and MIDI editing. The course provides a solid foundational understanding of Live 12's interface and core production principles. Students especially value the practical 'Session Deconstructions' and the instructor's prompt and helpful responses to questions. While primarily a fundamental course, even some experienced users gained valuable workflow insights.
Ideal for new users, potentially slow for experienced learners.
"I found some parts a bit slow for my intermediate level, but it's clearly designed for beginners."
"My only minor critique is that sometimes the examples were a bit too simple, but given it's 'Part 1', that's understandable."
"Good course, but I wish there were more advanced tips sprinkled in. As someone with a bit of experience, I found myself skipping some parts."
Instructor provides quick and helpful answers to questions.
"His responsiveness to questions is also top-notch. Highly recommend for anyone starting out with Live 12!"
"I also appreciate the prompt replies to questions. Highly recommend for new users."
Real-world examples enhance understanding and application.
"The 'Session Deconstructions' are a highlight, showing practical application."
"I loved the practical examples and the way he explains the 'why' behind certain features."
"Even after using Ableton for a while, I picked up several new workflow tips."
Comprehensive for beginners, covering essential principles.
"This course truly lays a solid foundation for production."
"A very thorough introduction to Ableton Live 12. The content covers all the basics you need."
"Perfect starting point for Ableton Live 12. I tried learning on my own before, but this course systematized everything."
"It really helped me get comfortable with the interface and basic operations."
Instructor's clarity and passion make learning engaging.
"This course is incredibly well-structured and easy to follow. As a complete beginner to Ableton Live, I found Professor Jason's explanations crystal clear..."
"Absolutely fantastic! Jay breaks down complex topics into digestible chunks."
"Outstanding course! The instructor's passion for music and teaching shines through. I loved the practical examples..."
"The instructor is knowledgeable and the content covers all the basics you need."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Ultimate Ableton Live 12, Part 1: Production Principles with these activities:
Review 'Music Theory for Computer Musicians' by Michael Hewitt
Read this book to refresh your memory on the basics of music theory. This will help you better understand the concepts covered in our Ableton Live 12 course.
Show steps
  • Read Chapter 1: What is Music Theory?
  • Read Chapter 2: The Basics of Music Notation
  • Read Chapter 3: Rhythm
Audio and MIDI Editing Exercises
Enhance your precision and fluency in editing audio and MIDI by completing a series of guided exercises.
Browse courses on Audio Editing
Show steps
  • Practice cutting, copying, and pasting audio clips.
  • Experiment with fades and crossfades.
  • Edit MIDI notes, velocity, and timing.
  • Quantize and transpose MIDI.
Practice creating MIDI beats with Ableton Live's Drum Rack
Practice creating MIDI beats with Ableton Live's Drum Rack to reinforce your understanding of the MIDI workflow and improve your beat-making skills.
Browse courses on MIDI
Show steps
  • Create a new MIDI track in Ableton Live
  • Load a Drum Rack preset onto the MIDI track
  • Start experimenting with different MIDI patterns and rhythms
Five other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all eight activities
Compose a Practice Track
Reinforce your understanding of Ableton's features by creating a practice track that incorporates various techniques you've learned.
Show steps
  • Start a new project in Live 12.
  • Create a basic drum pattern.
  • Add a bassline and melody.
  • Experiment with different effects and plugins.
  • Record and arrange your track.
Follow tutorials on how to use Ableton Live's built-in synthesizers
Watch tutorials on how to use Ableton Live's built-in synthesizers to expand your sound design capabilities and create unique electronic sounds.
Browse courses on Synthesizers
Show steps
  • Find tutorials on YouTube or other online resources
  • Follow along with the tutorials and experiment with different synthesizer settings
  • Create your own synthesizer patches and presets
Attend an Ableton Live user group meeting or online forum
Attend an Ableton Live user group meeting or join an online forum to connect with other Ableton Live users, share knowledge, and stay updated on the latest software developments.
Browse courses on Networking
Show steps
  • Find an Ableton Live user group meeting in your area or join an online forum
  • Attend a meeting or participate in online discussions
  • Share your knowledge and experiences with other users
Create a complete song using only Ableton Live's built-in instruments and effects
Challenge yourself to create a complete song using only Ableton Live's built-in instruments and effects to test your skills and foster creativity.
Browse courses on Songwriting
Show steps
  • Start with a simple chord progression
  • Add a drum beat and bassline
  • Create a melody and add harmonies
Create a video tutorial demonstrating a specific Ableton Live technique
Create a video tutorial demonstrating a specific Ableton Live technique to share your knowledge with others and solidify your understanding of the software.
Browse courses on Teaching
Show steps
  • Choose a specific Ableton Live technique to focus on
  • Plan out your tutorial and write a script
  • Record your tutorial using screen recording software

Career center

Learners who complete Ultimate Ableton Live 12, Part 1: Production Principles will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Reading list

We've selected 50 books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Ultimate Ableton Live 12, Part 1: Production Principles.
Comprehensive overview of the field of music theory. It covers a wide range of topics, from the basics of music theory to advanced topics such as Schenkerian analysis and post-tonal music. It is an essential resource for any musician who wants to learn about music theory.
Comprehensive reference covering MIDI 1.0 and the newer MIDI 2.0 specifications. It's an excellent resource for gaining a broad understanding of MIDI, its history, and its applications in modern music production. It delves into setting up MIDI systems, using electronic instruments and DAWs, and explores sequencing and mixing techniques. This valuable reference tool for both students and working professionals.
Comprehensive guide to music production, covering everything from the basics of sound and music theory to using specialized software and equipment.
Is considered a foundational text in beat making, offering a comprehensive look at the art form, its history within hip-hop, and the techniques used by notable producers. It's highly valuable for gaining a broad understanding and serves as an excellent starting point for beginners while also offering depth for more experienced individuals. It is widely recommended within the beat making community.
This book, while not exclusively focused on Ableton Live, is written by Ableton's Head of Documentation and offers invaluable creative strategies applicable to any DAW, including Live 12. It provides starting points and techniques for overcoming creative blocks and developing musical ideas. This highly recommended read for any electronic music producer using Ableton Live who wants to spark their creativity and improve their workflow.
Is specifically for those looking to dive into Max for Live, a powerful environment within Ableton Live for building custom instruments, effects, and tools. It covers the basics of Max for Live programming and how to interact with Live's API. This crucial resource for users who want to extend the functionality of Live 12 beyond its built-in features and is highly relevant given the mention of Max for Live in the course list.
Considered a comprehensive guide to audio mixing, this book covers fundamental concepts to advanced techniques applicable in any DAW, including Ableton Live. It valuable reference for understanding the theory and practice behind creating well-balanced and professional-sounding mixes. While not specific to Live 12, the mixing principles discussed are essential for any music producer. is highly recommended for those serious about improving their mixing skills.
Practical guide to music theory. It provides a clear and concise explanation of the basic principles of music theory, and is an excellent resource for any musician who wants to learn about music theory in a practical way.
Provides a comprehensive overview of the field of psychoacoustics, covering a wide range of topics including the perception of sound, the acoustics of music, and the use of computerized sound in music. It is an essential resource for anyone interested in this field.
Focused on achieving professional-quality mixes in home studio environments, this book is highly relevant for beat makers who often work in smaller setups. It provides practical techniques and insights for mixing, a critical step in beat production. is considered a must-read for those looking to improve the sonic quality of their beats and popular resource in the audio production community.
Provides a comprehensive overview of the field of sounding art, covering a wide range of topics including the history of sounding art, the theory of sounding art, and the practice of sounding art. It is an essential resource for anyone interested in this field.
Provides a comprehensive overview of the field of music psychology, covering a wide range of topics including the psychology of music performance, music perception, and music cognition. It is an essential resource for anyone interested in this field.
Provides an introduction to programming Max for Live devices specifically focused on audio effects. It's aimed at beginners with no prior programming experience and guides them through building functional devices. This practical resource for Live 12 users interested in customizing their effects chain using Max for Live.
Providing complete coverage of MIDI hardware and software, this guide is suitable for both Mac and Windows platforms. It offers an in-depth look at MIDI messages and protocols and helps users understand when and how to use MIDI effectively. useful reference tool for navigating MIDI within a computer environment and is valuable for musicians, sound designers, and audio enthusiasts.
A comprehensive guide specifically focusing on the craft of writing melodies. delves into the theoretical and practical aspects of melody creation, offering techniques and exercises to develop strong and memorable tunes. It's particularly useful for those wanting to deepen their understanding of musical hooks.
A follow-up to the popular 'Songwriters On Songwriting,' this book features more interviews with renowned songwriters, offering further insights into their creative processes and experiences in the music industry. It provides additional breadth and contemporary perspectives.
Building upon foundational knowledge, this book delves into more advanced topics within Ableton Live, focusing on sound design, mixing, and mastering. It offers practical techniques and creative approaches for shaping audio and achieving a professional polish. While the examples might be based on an earlier version of Live, the fundamental concepts of audio processing are universally applicable. is particularly useful for those looking to deepen their understanding of these crucial production stages within the Ableton Live environment.
While not exclusively about beat making, this book provides a deep dive into the fundamental principles of audio recording and production that are essential for any beat maker. It covers crucial technical concepts like DAW systems, signal processing, mixing, and mastering, which are directly applicable to creating high-quality beats. This widely used textbook in audio engineering programs and a valuable reference tool for professionals.
While focused on Max/MSP, the concepts and techniques covered in this book are directly applicable to Max for Live within Ableton Live. It provides a deep dive into the theory and practice of electronic music and sound design using the Max environment. is ideal for those who want a thorough understanding of the underlying principles of synthesis and sound manipulation within a visual programming language context, which is highly relevant for advanced Max for Live users.
Offers a comprehensive guide to producing various genres of dance music, covering essential techniques applicable within Ableton Live. It delves into areas such as synthesis, sampling, mixing, and arrangement specifically from a dance music perspective. While not exclusively focused on Live 12, the genre-specific insights and production methods are highly valuable for electronic music producers using the software.
Another excellent resource from Pat Pattison, this book provides a wealth of exercises and prompts designed to spark creativity and help songwriters discover their unique lyrical voice. It's a practical guide for overcoming writer's block and exploring new avenues in lyric writing.
Authored by an Ableton Certified Trainer, this book focuses on leveraging the creative potential of Ableton Live. It explores various features and workflow techniques to help producers develop their skills and refine their process. While specifically referencing Live 11, much of the creative guidance and many of the techniques are transferable to Live 12. good resource for producers looking to enhance their creativity and efficiency in Ableton Live.
Provides crucial guidance on structuring lyrics effectively. It covers various song forms and how to use them to enhance the narrative and emotional impact of a song. It's a valuable resource for understanding the architecture of a well-written lyric.
This eBook specifically targets beat makers looking to improve their mixing and mastering skills. It offers practical tips and techniques tailored to the needs of beat production, covering essential processors and workflows. This focused resource for those wanting to enhance the final sound of their beats.
Provides a detailed overview of the art of music production, from pre-production to mixing and mastering. It valuable resource for anyone who wants to learn more about the technical side of music production.
A comprehensive guide to creating dance music, this manual covers the tools, techniques, and theory behind various electronic dance music genres. It provides a solid understanding of the production process, from initial ideas to final mixdown, with principles that can be applied in Ableton Live. is suitable for both beginners and experienced producers interested in the specifics of dance music production.
Practical guide to mixing audio in a small studio environment. It covers a wide range of topics, from room acoustics to microphone techniques to EQ and compression.
Provides a comprehensive overview of the audio production process, covering everything from recording to mixing and mastering. It also includes a section on critical listening, which is essential for developing the skills needed to produce high-quality audio.
Provides a comprehensive overview of the audio engineering principles and techniques used in sound reinforcement systems. It covers everything from basic concepts to advanced techniques, making it an essential resource for anyone working in this field.
Comprehensive guide to the different types of microphones available and how to use them effectively. It covers everything from basic concepts to advanced techniques, making it an essential resource for anyone working in this field.
Provides a comprehensive overview of the sound design and audio production process for film and video. It covers everything from basic concepts to advanced techniques, making it an essential resource for anyone working in this field.
A comprehensive guide to lyric writing that covers various aspects of the craft, including form, structure, rhyme, and rhythm. solid resource for understanding the fundamentals of writing effective lyrics and is often used as a textbook.
Explores the integration of music, meaning, and emotion in songwriting. It provides a holistic approach to the craft, encouraging writers to consider the emotional impact and narrative of their songs. It is suitable for songwriters looking to add depth and emotional resonance to their work.
This comprehensive manual covers the entire process of music production in a project studio setting, from recording to mastering. It's a valuable reference for beat makers who want to understand the broader context of music production and improve their overall workflow and technical skills. The book is well-regarded and provides practical, hands-on guidance.
This comprehensive guide covers a range of songwriting techniques, delving into melody, harmony, rhythm, and lyrics. It offers practical exercises and insights for developing a strong command of the technical elements of songwriting. It is suitable for those seeking a deeper technical understanding.
Written by a Grammy-winning producer and engineer, this book offers a look into the history and evolution of hip-hop production techniques. It analyzes influential tracks and provides insights into the tools and methods used by notable hip-hop producers. is valuable for understanding the production側の approach within the hip-hop genre.
A focused guide on the essential skill of rhyming in lyric writing. Pat Pattison breaks down different types of rhymes and provides exercises to help writers improve their rhyming abilities. This targeted resource for strengthening a fundamental lyrical element.
Focuses specifically on the craft of lyric writing, offering practical techniques and strategies for constructing compelling and effective lyrics. It's a valuable resource for songwriters who want to improve their storytelling and wordcraft.
Offers an introduction to audio production using Ableton Live. It's designed for beginners and covers the fundamental concepts and workflows within the software. This can serve as a good introductory text for those new to both audio production and Ableton Live, providing a gentle entry point before moving on to more advanced topics.
Addresses the psychological aspects of music production, focusing on developing effective habits, overcoming procrastination, and finding creative flow. While not technical in nature, the principles are highly relevant for any producer using Ableton Live, helping them to be more productive and consistent in their creative work.
Takes a unique approach to sound design by focusing on algorithmic and procedural methods, often using the Max/MSP environment. While not directly about Ableton Live, the principles and techniques are highly relevant for users interested in creating complex and dynamic sounds, particularly with Max for Live. It provides a deeper theoretical understanding of sound synthesis and manipulation.
Provides clear explanations of synthesis and sampling techniques and how they are controlled by MIDI messages. It's not limited to specific software, making it broadly applicable to various software instruments. It helps solidify the understanding of how MIDI is used in sound creation and useful resource for students and those building a project studio.

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