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Ross Geldart

Welcome to the inspiring Ableton Live Drum Programming and Sound Design GPP Masterclass. This comprehensive course is designed to spark your creativity and elevate your drum programming game in Ableton Live, while also delving into the transformative power of EQ and saturation.

Discover the art of crafting mesmerising drum patterns that drive your tracks with infectious rhythm. Unlock the full potential of Ableton Live's Simpler device to shape kick patterns, infusing them with depth, character, and punch that captivate listeners.

Read more

Welcome to the inspiring Ableton Live Drum Programming and Sound Design GPP Masterclass. This comprehensive course is designed to spark your creativity and elevate your drum programming game in Ableton Live, while also delving into the transformative power of EQ and saturation.

Discover the art of crafting mesmerising drum patterns that drive your tracks with infectious rhythm. Unlock the full potential of Ableton Live's Simpler device to shape kick patterns, infusing them with depth, character, and punch that captivate listeners.

Enhance your grooves with the technique of ghost kicks, adding subtle variations and groove nuances that elevate your drum sequences to a whole new level of creativity. Develop a keen sense of rhythm and timing as your drum grooves come to life with dynamic flair and intrigue.

Learn the secrets of using EQ and saturation to breathe life into your sounds. Shape your drum elements and other musical elements with precision, carving out resonant frequencies and adding bite and character. Master the art of saturation to impart warmth, harmonics, and an inviting analog-like feel to your music.

As a bonus, indulge in creative fun with drum racks, exploring unique and experimental sound combinations that add personality to your music. Additionally, learn how to analyse professional tracks, and "steal like an artist" to make these techniques your own, elevating your productions to the level of industry-leading tracks.

Enroll today and witness the transformation in your drum programming and sound design skills. Whether you're a seasoned producer or just starting your music production journey, this course will ignite your creativity, up your drum programming game, and empower you to create music that stands out from the crowd. Embrace the power of Ableton Live and become a master of rhythm and sound, taking your music to unprecedented heights of creativity and professionalism.

Enroll now

What's inside

Syllabus

Introduction
Core Drum Elements (Beginner)

In this comprehensive tutorial, you will be creating basic kick patterns and ghost kicks to complement your grooves using Ableton Simpler. By the end of this course, you will have a solid understanding of how to design unique kick patterns and utilise Ableton Simpler to shape your kicks to perfection.


Throughout the tutorial, you will learn the following techniques:


1. Kick Pattern Creation:

   - Develop a clear understanding of kick patterns and their role in establishing a strong groove.

   - Explore various styles of kick patterns, such as four-to-the-floor, syncopated, and off-beat variations.

   - Learn how to design engaging and dynamic kick patterns to enhance your music productions.


2. Working with Ableton Simpler:

   - Discover the capabilities of Ableton Simpler and its significance in shaping kick sounds.

   - Gain familiarity with Simpler's controls, including pitch, decay, filter, and envelope settings.

   - Understand how to import and manipulate kick samples in Simpler to achieve desired tones.


3. Complementing the Groove with Ghost Kicks:

   - Learn the concept of ghost kicks and their role in adding subtle complexity and rhythmic interest.

   - Understand how to integrate ghost kicks within your kick pattern to create a seamless groove.

   - Explore techniques to adjust the volume and timing of ghost kicks to fit your music's context.


Throughout the tutorial, you will engage in hands-on exercises, practical examples, and step-by-step demonstrations using Ableton Simpler to reinforce your learning. By mastering the art of creating kick patterns, utilising Simpler for kick shaping, and incorporating ghost kicks to enhance your grooves, you will have the tools to take your music productions to new heights.

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In this comprehensive tutorial, you will be creating clap patterns, layering claps, and adding creative variations to your beats using Ableton Live. By the end of this course, you will have a solid understanding of how to design unique clap patterns, layer multiple claps for depth, and use the clip function to shift hits offbeat, adding rhythmic variation. Additionally, you will learn how to create an impressive reverse clap effect to add an exciting twist to your music.


Throughout the tutorial, you will learn the following techniques:


1. Clap Pattern Creation:

   - Develop a clear understanding of clap patterns and their role in enhancing the rhythm of your music.

   - Explore various clap patterns, including basic patterns, syncopated rhythms, and complex variations.

   - Learn how to design engaging and dynamic clap patterns to fit various music genres.


2. Layering Claps for Depth:

   - Discover the significance of layering claps to create fuller and more impactful soundscapes.

   - Gain familiarity with different clap samples and how to blend them together effectively.

   - Understand how to use volume and panning to position clap layers within the stereo field.


3. Adding Rhythmic Variation:

   - Learn how to use Ableton Live's clip function to shift clap hits offbeat and add rhythmic diversity.

   - Explore various offbeat placements to create exciting syncopations and grooves.

   - Understand how to experiment with different timing and velocities to create unique variations.


4. Creating a Reverse Clap Effect:

   - Dive into the process of crafting a reverse clap effect to add an impressive twist to your beats.

   - Learn how to reverse a clap sample using Ableton Live's audio editing capabilities.

   - Understand how to place the reverse clap strategically within the arrangement for maximum impact.


Throughout the tutorial, you will engage in hands-on exercises, practical examples, and step-by-step demonstrations using Ableton Live to reinforce your learning. By mastering the art of creating clap patterns, layering claps, adding variations with the clip function, and creating reverse clap effects, you will have the tools to take your beats to a whole new level of creativity and excitement.

In this comprehensive tutorial, you will be creating hat patterns, layering grooves, and shaping hat sounds using Ableton Live's Simpler device. By the end of this course, you will have a solid understanding of how to design unique hat patterns, layer multiple grooves to add depth, and utilise Simpler to shape your hat sounds to perfection.


Throughout the tutorial, you will learn the following techniques:


1. Hat Pattern Creation:

   - Develop a clear understanding of hat patterns and their role in defining the rhythm and groove of your music.

   - Explore various hat patterns, including basic patterns, intricate offbeat variations, and syncopated rhythms.

   - Learn how to craft engaging and dynamic hat patterns that suit various music styles.


2. Layering Grooves for Depth:

   - Discover the significance of layering grooves to create a richer and more textured percussion section.

   - Gain familiarity with different hat samples and how to combine them effectively to achieve the desired groove.

   - Understand how to use volume, panning, and EQ to position and blend the layered hat grooves within the mix.


3. Shaping Hat Sounds with Simpler:

   - Learn how to use Ableton Live's Simpler device to shape and customise your hat sounds.

   - Explore Simpler's controls, including pitch, decay, filter, and modulation, to craft unique hat tones.

   - Understand how to layer multiple hat samples in Simpler and apply processing for more complex textures.


4. Creating Complementary Grooves:

   - Dive into the process of crafting groove patterns that complement the offbeat hats and add rhythmic diversity.

   - Learn how to layer and arrange additional percussion elements to enhance the overall groove.

   - Understand how to experiment with different variations and accents to create an infectious rhythm.


Throughout the tutorial, you will engage in hands-on exercises, practical examples, and step-by-step demonstrations using Ableton Live to reinforce your learning. By mastering the art of creating hat patterns, layering grooves, and shaping hat sounds using Simpler, you will have the tools to take your percussion sections to new heights of creativity and dynamism.

The Groove Elements (Intermediate)

In this comprehensive tutorial, you will learn the art of extracting a groove from a percussion loop using Ableton Live's "Extract Groove" function. By the end of this course, you will have a solid understanding of how to utilise the "Extract Groove" feature to capture the rhythmic essence of a percussion loop and generate MIDI patterns from the extracted groove. You will also learn how to apply these MIDI patterns to your own sounds, creating new and exciting rhythm arrangements.


Throughout the tutorial, you will explore the following techniques:


1. Groove Extraction:

   - Understand the concept of groove extraction and its significance in capturing the rhythmic feel of a percussion loop.

   - Learn how to use Ableton Live's "Extract Groove" function to analyse and extract the groove from a chosen percussion loop.


By mastering the art of groove extraction and creative pattern creation, you will have the tools to infuse your music productions with infectious rhythms and captivating grooves.

In this comprehensive tutorial, you will learn the art of extracting a groove from a percussion loop using Ableton Live's "Extract Groove" function. By the end of this course, you will have a solid understanding of how to utilise the "Extract Groove" feature to capture the rhythmic essence of a percussion loop and generate MIDI patterns from the extracted groove. You will also learn how to apply these MIDI patterns to your own sounds, creating new and exciting rhythm arrangements.


Throughout the tutorial, you will explore the following techniques:


1. Groove Extraction:

   - Understand the concept of groove extraction and its significance in capturing the rhythmic feel of a percussion loop.

   - Learn how to use Ableton Live's "Extract Groove" function to analyse and extract the groove from a chosen percussion loop.


2. Generating MIDI Patterns:

   - Discover how to generate MIDI patterns from the extracted groove in Ableton Live.

   - Understand the structure of the extracted MIDI data and how to interpret it to create new rhythm patterns.


3. Applying MIDI Patterns:

   - Learn how to apply the extracted MIDI patterns to your own sounds and samples.

   - Explore different percussion and instrument sounds to layer with the MIDI patterns and create unique rhythm arrangements.


4. Creative Pattern Creation:

   - Dive into the process of manipulating and customising the extracted MIDI patterns to suit your music style.

   - Experiment with variations, accents, and different sounds to develop innovative rhythm patterns.


Throughout the tutorial, you will engage in hands-on exercises, practical examples, and step-by-step demonstrations using Ableton Live to reinforce your learning. By mastering the art of groove extraction and creative pattern creation, you will have the tools to infuse your music productions with infectious rhythms and captivating grooves.

Arrangement Ideas (Advanced)

In this comprehensive tutorial, you will learn the art of incorporating turnarounds in your drum grooves to add variation and create smooth transitions in your music. By the end of this course, you will have a solid understanding of how to utilise turnarounds to introduce exciting and seamless effects during transitions in your drum loops.


Throughout the tutorial, you will explore the following techniques:


1. Understanding Turnarounds:

   - Gain insights into the concept of turnarounds and their role in enhancing drum grooves.

   - Learn how to strategically place turnarounds within your drum loops for effective transitions.


2. Adding Variation:

   - Discover various ways to add variation to your drum loops using turnarounds.

   - Explore techniques such as fills, stutter effects, pitch modulation, and reverse sounds to create engaging transitions.


3. Creating Smooth Transitions:

   - Learn how to design turnarounds that smoothly bridge different sections of your music.

   - Understand the importance of rhythmic and tonal coherence in creating seamless transitions.


4. Applying Turnarounds in Drum Loops:

   - Dive into the process of incorporating turnarounds in your drum loops using Ableton Live .

   - Experiment with different turnaround styles to find the best fit for your music.


Throughout the tutorial, you will engage in hands-on exercises, practical examples, and step-by-step demonstrations to reinforce your learning. By mastering the art of adding variation to your drum loops through turnarounds, you will have the tools to create captivating transitions that keep your listeners engaged and excited.

In this comprehensive tutorial, you will delve into the exciting world of percussion FX and learn how to transform ordinary percussive sounds from your tracks into extraordinary ear candy using resampling, pitch manipulation, and reverb. By the end of this course, you will have a solid understanding of how to harness these techniques to create captivating and unique FX elements that add depth and interest to your music.


Throughout the tutorial, you will explore the following techniques:


1. Percussion FX Concepts:

   - Gain insights into the role of percussion FX in enhancing the overall texture and atmosphere of your music.

   - Learn about different types of FX, such as impacts, risers, swells, and glitches, and Their creative applications.


2. Resampling Techniques:

   - Discover how to resample your percussive sounds to extract interesting textures and sonic characteristics.

   - Learn how to manipulate resampled audio using chopping, time-stretching, and creative editing.


3. Pitch Manipulation:

   - Explore various pitch modulation techniques to add movement and excitement to your percussion FX.

   - Understand how to use pitch automation, pitch shifting, and granular processing to create unique variations.


4. Reverb Sculpting:

   - Dive into the process of using reverb as a powerful tool for shaping the ambiance and spatial characteristics of your FX.

   - Learn how to apply creative reverb settings, such as modulated reverbs and shimmering tails, to achieve immersive results.


5. Creative Application:

   - Apply the learned techniques to create your own signature percussion FX that complement your music style.

   - Experiment with layering, combining, and arranging your FX to craft seamless transitions and captivating moments.


Throughout the tutorial, you will engage in hands-on exercises, practical examples, and step-by-step demonstrations using your preferred DAW to reinforce your learning. By mastering the art of crafting percussion FX through resampling, pitch manipulation, and reverb sculpting, you will have the tools to add an extra layer of excitement and intrigue to your music compositions.

In this comprehensive tutorial, you will learn the art of adding energy to your drum arrangements to create impactful and powerful drum sections in your music. By the end of this course, you will have a solid understanding of when and how to infuse energy into your tracks, strategically placing sounds in specific areas, and utilising note placement and loop length to control the energy levels of your drum sections effectively.


Throughout the tutorial, you will explore the following techniques:


1. Understanding Drum Energy:

   - Gain insights into the concept of drum energy and its crucial role in driving the momentum of your music.

   - Learn about the importance of dynamics, tension, and release in creating powerful drum arrangements.


2. Identifying Energy Points:

   - Discover how to recognise key moments in your music where adding energy to the drums can enhance the overall impact.

   - Understand the significance of build-ups, breakdowns, transitions, and climaxes in shaping the energy levels.


3. Impactful Sound Placement:

   - Explore the art of placing specific drum sounds and FX in precise areas of your arrangements to heighten energy.

   - Learn how to use fills, crashes, and other percussion elements to create impactful transitions.


4. Note Placement and Loop Length:

   - Dive into the process of manipulating note placement and loop length to control the intensity and pace of your drums.

   - Understand how shorter or longer loops and well-timed note placement can affect the energy flow.


5. Crafting Dynamic Drum Arrangements:

   - Apply the learned techniques to create drum arrangements that build anticipation and deliver powerful moments.

   - Experiment with layering, automation, and velocity adjustments to add depth and dynamics to your drums.


Throughout the tutorial, you will engage in hands-on exercises, practical examples, and step-by-step demonstrations using your preferred DAW to reinforce your learning. By mastering the art of adding energy to your drum arrangements and understanding the impact of sound placement, note timing, and loop length, you will have the tools to create compelling and engaging music compositions.

In this comprehensive tutorial, you will explore the powerful world of using filters on your drums to control their levels and impact in your music arrangements. By the end of this course, you will have a solid understanding of how to utilise Ableton's Auto Filters to shape and manipulate the sound of your drum elements over time, adding depth, dynamics, and creativity to your drum sections.


Throughout the tutorial, you will delve into the following techniques:


1. Understanding Drum Control with Filters:

   - Gain insights into the significance of using filters to sculpt and mold the character of your drum sounds.

   - Learn how filters can be used to control levels, frequencies, and resonance, adding movement and excitement to your drum arrangements.


2. Exploring Ableton's Auto Filters:

   - Discover the capabilities and parameters of Ableton's Auto Filters.

   - Gain familiarity with filter types, such as low-pass, high-pass, band-pass, and notch, and their respective applications.


3. Controlling Drum Sound Over Time:

   - Dive into the process of applying Auto Filters to your drum elements to modulate their impact over time.

   - Understand how to automate filter parameters to create evolving drum soundscapes in your arrangements.


4. Creative Application:

   - Apply the learned techniques to different drum elements, such as kicks, snares, hi-hats, and percussion, to achieve diverse and dynamic results.

   - Experiment with various filter combinations to develop your signature drum sound.


Throughout the tutorial, you will engage in hands-on exercises, practical examples, and step-by-step demonstrations using Ableton Live to reinforce your learning. By mastering the art of using filters on your drums with Ableton's Auto Filters, you will have the tools to elevate your drum sections, creating mesmerising and evolving soundscapes in your music.

Drum Processing (Advanced)

In this comprehensive tutorial, you will delve into the art of using bell-shaped EQ curves to carve out resonant frequencies and clean up your mix during the mixdown process. By the end of this course, you will have a solid understanding of how to apply precise EQ adjustments using bell shapes to enhance each element in your mix, leading to a polished and well-balanced final product.


Throughout the tutorial, you will explore the following techniques:


1. Understanding Mix Cleanup with Bell EQ Shapes:

   - Gain insights into the importance of EQ in the mixdown process to achieve clarity and balance.

   - Learn about bell-shaped EQ curves and their effectiveness in pinpointing resonant frequencies.


2. Identifying Resonant Frequencies:

   - Discover how to identify resonant frequencies in different elements of your mix.

   - Understand how resonant frequencies can cause muddiness and clash between elements.


3. Applying Bell-Shaped EQ:

   - Dive into the process of using bell-shaped EQ curves to target and attenuate resonant frequencies.

   - Learn how to boost or cut specific frequency ranges to enhance the tonal characteristics of each element.


4. Cleaning Up the Overall Mix:

   - Explore how EQ adjustments on individual elements contribute to a cleaner and more balanced mix.

   - Understand the importance of critical listening and ear training to make informed EQ decisions.


5. Polishing the Final Mix:

   - Apply the learned techniques to all elements of your mix

   - Experiment with various bell EQ shapes and settings to find the best fit for your mix.


Throughout the tutorial, you will engage in hands-on exercises, practical examples, and step-by-step demonstrations using your preferred DAW to reinforce your learning. By mastering the art of using bell-shaped EQ curves for mix cleanup, you will have the tools to elevate the quality of your mixes and deliver professional-sounding results.

The Clean Up Process (Continued)

In this comprehensive tutorial, you will dive into the world of saturation and learn how to add bite and character to your sounds using this powerful audio processing technique. By the end of this course, you will have a solid understanding of how to apply saturation to your audio elements to impart warmth, harmonics, and an inviting analog-like feel, elevating your productions to the next level.


Throughout the tutorial, you will explore the following techniques:


1. Understanding Saturation:

   - Gain insights into the fundamentals of saturation and its role in enhancing sound character.

   - Learn how saturation can add harmonic content, dynamics, and excitement to your sounds.


2. Choosing the Right Saturation:

   - Discover different types of saturation plugins and hardware units available.

   - Understand how to select the appropriate saturation method to achieve your desired tonal characteristics.


3. Applying Saturation to Different Elements:

   - Dive into the process of applying saturation to various audio elements, including drums, synths, vocals, and more.

   - Learn how to use subtle saturation for warmth and depth, as well as aggressive saturation for creative sound shaping.


4. Taming and Enhancing Frequencies:

   - Explore how to use saturation as an EQ alternative to enhance or tame specific frequencies.

   - Understand the art of using saturation to emphasise the midrange, add sparkle to high frequencies, or add warmth to the low end.


Throughout the tutorial, you will engage in hands-on exercises, practical examples, and step-by-step demonstrations using your preferred DAW and saturation plugins or hardware to reinforce your learning. By mastering the art of adding saturation to your sounds, you will have the tools to breathe life, character, and excitement into your music productions.

In this comprehensive tutorial, you will explore the powerful pink noise technique for achieving a balanced mix in your music productions. By the end of this course, you will have a solid understanding of how to use pink noise as a valuable reference tool to ensure that each element in your mix is appropriately balanced and sits harmoniously within the overall soundstage.


Throughout the tutorial, you will delve into the following techniques:


1. Understanding the Pink Noise Technique:

   - Gain insights into the concept of the pink noise technique and its significance in mix balancing.

   - Learn how pink noise can serve as a reliable reference for setting proper levels in your mix.


2. Setting Up Pink Noise Reference:

   - Discover how to generate pink noise and integrate it into your mix environment.

   - Understand how to calibrate the pink noise level to match your target listening volume.


3. Achieving Balance in Frequency Spectrum:

   - Dive into the process of using pink noise to balance the frequency spectrum of your mix.

   - Learn how to use EQ and volume adjustments to ensure each element has its rightful place.


4. Focusing on Dynamic Balance:

   - Explore how the pink noise technique can assist in achieving dynamic balance in your mix.

   - Understand how to work with compression and volume automation to control dynamics effectively.


Throughout the tutorial, you will engage in hands-on exercises, practical examples, and step-by-step demonstrations using your preferred DAW and pink noise generator to reinforce your learning. By mastering the pink noise technique, you will have the tools to create well-balanced mixes that sound professional and translate well across different playback systems.

Mixing Your Drums (Advanced)

In this comprehensive tutorial, you will delve into the art of MIDI note editing to tidy up grooves and utilise the power of Max for Live's Distance Device to precisely place sounds in the frequency spectrum. By the end of this course, you will have a solid understanding of how to edit MIDI notes to refine the rhythmic feel of your tracks and leverage the Distance Device to create a well-balanced and immersive audio experience.


Throughout the tutorial, you will explore the following techniques:


1. Mastering MIDI Note Editing:

   - Gain insights into the importance of MIDI note editing in shaping the groove and feel of your music.

   - Learn how to quantise, adjust velocities, and tweak note lengths for a tighter and more dynamic rhythm.


2. Tidying Up Grooves:

   - Dive into the process of editing MIDI notes to clean up drum patterns, melodies, and other musical elements.

   - Understand how to fine-tune MIDI performances for precision and musicality.


3. Understanding Max for Live's Distance Device:

   - Discover the capabilities and functions of Max for Live's Distance Device.

   - Learn how the Distance Device can help with sound placement and spatial positioning.


4. Frequency Spectrum Placement:

   - Explore the art of using the Distance Device to place sounds in the frequency spectrum effectively.

   - Understand how to distribute sounds across the stereo field and create a balanced mix.


Throughout the tutorial, you will engage in hands-on exercises, practical examples, and step-by-step demonstrations using Ableton Live's MIDI editor and Max for Live's Distance Device to reinforce your learning. By mastering MIDI note editing and leveraging the Distance Device for frequency placement, you will have the tools to elevate your music productions with polished grooves and immersive audio experiences.

In this comprehensive tutorial, you will explore the powerful technique of using parallel drum compression on your groove by utilising Ableton Live's return tracks. By the end of this course, you will have a solid understanding of how to apply parallel drum compression to add punch, depth, and cohesion to your drum sounds, elevating the groove and impact of your music productions.


Throughout the tutorial, you will delve into the following techniques:


1. Understanding Parallel Drum Compression:

   - Gain insights into the concept of parallel compression and its benefits in enhancing drum grooves.

   - Learn how parallel compression can add weight, sustain, and excitement to your drum elements.


2. Setting Up Ableton Live Return Tracks:

   - Discover the process of creating return tracks in Ableton Live to facilitate parallel compression.

   - Understand how to route drum sounds to the return track for parallel processing.


3. Applying Parallel Drum Compression:

   - Dive into the process of applying compression on the return track to achieve the desired groove enhancement.

   - Learn about various compression settings and ratios for different drum elements.


4. Blending Parallel Compression:

   - Explore how to blend the compressed return signal with the original drum sounds to achieve the perfect balance.

   - Understand the importance of parallel compression's mix level to avoid over-processing.


Throughout the tutorial, you will engage in hands-on exercises, practical examples, and step-by-step demonstrations using Ableton Live's return tracks and compression tools to reinforce your learning. By mastering the art of parallel drum compression, you will have the tools to infuse your drum grooves with impact, cohesion, and an enhanced sense of energy.

In this comprehensive tutorial, you will embark on a journey of adding space and depth to your sounds using reverb, while skillfully matching up the decay times with the BPM of your track. By the end of this course, you will have a solid understanding of how to apply reverb in a way that enhances your music with lush, immersive soundscapes and perfectly timed decay, resulting in professional and captivating productions.


Throughout the tutorial, you will delve into the following techniques:


1. Matching Decay Times with BPM:

   - Discover the concept of matching reverb decay times with the tempo (BPM) of your track.

   - Understand how to calculate and set the appropriate decay times for various musical elements.


2. Choosing the Right Reverb Types:

   - Dive into the process of selecting different types of reverb to achieve specific spatial effects.

   - Explore various reverb algorithms, such as hall, plate, room, and convolution reverbs.


3. Applying Reverb to Different Sounds:

   - Explore how to apply reverb to different sound elements, including vocals, instruments, drums, and more.

   - Learn how to set the pre-delay and early reflections for optimal reverb placement.



Throughout the tutorial, you will engage in hands-on exercises, practical examples, and step-by-step demonstrations using your preferred DAW and reverb plugins to reinforce your learning. By mastering the art of adding space to your sounds with perfectly matched reverb decay times, you will have the tools to transform your music into rich, expansive, and captivating sonic experiences.

How To Analyse Pro Tracks (All Levels)

Welcome to the Ableton Live Groove Mapping Masterclass! In this comprehensive tutorial, you will learn the art of building a precise map of groove elements in Arrangement View using a reference pro track. By the end of this video, you will have gained essential skills to enhance the rhythm and flow of your music productions, taking your tracks to a whole new level of professionalism.


What You Will Learn:

1. Groove Mapping Techniques: Explore the process of groove mapping, analysing a reference pro track to identify key groove elements.

2. Replicating Groove Structure: Learn how to replicate the groove structure in your own Arrangement View, achieving seamless synchronisation and rhythm cohesion.

3. Adding Locators for Precision: Discover how to add locators to pinpoint specific areas in the arrangement where groove elements come in, creating a structured and dynamic track.

4. Active Listening and Analysis: Develop your ability to listen carefully and discern each sound's purpose in the mix, identifying how groove elements contribute to the overall composition.


Enroll in this course and gain valuable insights into groove mapping in Ableton Live. Whether you're an experienced producer or a newcomer to music production, this masterclass will revolutionise your approach to rhythm, empowering you to craft music that exhibits unparalleled groove and captivates listeners with its rhythmic prowess.



Welcome to the Ableton Live Groove Analysis Masterclass! In this comprehensive tutorial, you will develop a keen ear for listening to key groove elements in music. By the end of this course, you will confidently identify and describe the sounds' characteristics and purposes, while creating MIDI clips to form a basic structure and set boundaries for your music production session.


What You Will Learn:

1. Developing Active Listening: Train your ear to discern key groove elements in tracks, understanding their unique sounds and roles in the mix.

2. Describing Element Characteristics: Master the art of describing each groove element's sonic attributes, such as timbre, rhythm, and texture.

3. Understanding Element Purpose: Learn to recognise the purpose of individual groove elements, identifying how they contribute to the overall composition's flow and energy.

4. Creating MIDI Clips for Structure: Explore the process of crafting MIDI clips to form a basic structure, setting boundaries for your music production session.


Enroll in this course and enhance your music production skills through a deep understanding of groove analysis. Whether you're a seasoned producer or a beginner, this masterclass will equip you with valuable techniques to fine-tune your grooves and create music that captivates listeners with its well-crafted structure and engaging rhythm.

Welcome to the Ableton Live Groove Reproduction Masterclass! In this comprehensive tutorial, you will embark on an exciting journey of creating your version from the groove you just analysed, using your own sounds. By the end of this course, you will have honed your skills in MIDI editing and essential processing effects like delay and EQ.


What You Will Learn:

1. Groove Reproduction Techniques: Apply your groove analysis skills to recreate the analysed groove using your selected sounds (kick, clap, hats, shaker, and percussion).

2. Crafting Your Unique Version: Discover the art of infusing your creativity into the reproduction, making it uniquely yours with original arrangements and sound choices.

3. Mastering MIDI Editing: Learn essential MIDI editing techniques to fine-tune your patterns, adjust velocities, and add musical variations to your grooves.

4. Utilising Processing Effects: Explore the use of delay and EQ to enhance your sounds, adding depth, character, and a professional touch to your productions.


Enroll in this course and unleash your creativity as you reproduce grooves that leave a lasting impact. Whether you're an aspiring producer or a seasoned musician, this masterclass will empower you to craft your version of grooves, elevating your music production skills and enabling you to create tracks that stand out with their unique style and rhythmic prowess.

Course Title: Advanced Audio Analysis | Mastering Levels with Voxengo SPAN


Course Description:

Welcome to the Advanced Audio Analysis Masterclass! In this comprehensive tutorial, you will delve into the art of analysing audio levels in each individual groove element using Voxengo SPAN. By the end of this course, you will have a firm understanding of how to utilise SPAN to analyse levels in pro tracks, unlocking the secrets to achieving pristine audio quality in your productions.


What You Will Learn:

1. Voxengo SPAN Overview: Familiarise yourself with the powerful audio analysis tool, Voxengo SPAN, and its capabilities for precision level monitoring.

2. Analysing Groove Elements: Dive deep into analysing audio levels of each individual groove element, gaining insights into their dynamics and sonic characteristics.

3. Mastering Pro Track Levels: Learn to use SPAN to analyse levels in professional tracks, understanding how top-notch producers achieve their immaculate sound quality.

4. Enhancing Audio Quality: Apply your newfound knowledge to fine-tune and perfect your own productions, achieving pristine audio quality in your mixes.


Enroll in this course and gain essential skills in audio analysis using Voxengo SPAN. Whether you're an audio engineer, producer, or enthusiast, this masterclass will empower you to elevate your audio quality, make informed production decisions, and create music that stands out with its exceptional clarity and balance.

Productive Drum Racks (Beginner/Intermediate)

In this engaging tutorial, you will discover the art of crafting random grooves using random drum racks in Ableton Live. By the end of this class, you will have honed your skills in creative pattern creation, dropping in drum racks picked at random, and generating multiple versions of the same groove pattern.


What You Will Learn:

1. Random Drum Rack Exploration: Dive into the world of random drum racks, understanding their potential to inspire unique groove patterns.

2. Creative Pattern Creation: Learn innovative techniques to generate random patterns, fuelling your creativity with unexpected beat variations.

3. Duplicating Multiple Groove Versions: Discover the power of duplicating and iterating groove patterns, creating diverse and evolving rhythms.

4. Fine-Tuning Grooves: Refine your random grooves through experimentation, making adjustments to achieve the desired musical expression.


Enroll in this course and unlock a world of creative groove possibilities with random drum racks in Ableton Live. Whether you're a seasoned producer or an aspiring musician, this masterclass will equip you with the skills to break free from predictable patterns, creating music that captivates with its dynamic and original rhythmically. Embrace randomness as a powerful tool for creative expression and take your groove generation to thrilling new heights.

In this instructive tutorial, you will delve into the art of extracting chains from drum racks in Ableton Live. By the end of this course, you will have mastered the extract chain function, enabling you to pick out the best sounds from the drum racks and create customised, top-notch drum kits.


What You Will Learn:

1. Drum Rack Sound Exploration: Explore the wealth of sounds within drum racks, understanding their potential for unique sonic textures.

2. Utilising Extract Chain Function: Master the extract chain function in Ableton Live, extracting and organising sounds with precision.

3. Customising Drum Kits: Learn to curate and create personalised drum kits by picking out the finest sounds from extracted chains.

4. Enhancing Drum Sound Selection: Fine-tune your sound selection process, ensuring your drum kits are well-suited for various music genres and styles.


Enroll in this course and unlock the potential of Ableton's extract chain function for sound extraction. Whether you're an experienced producer or a newcomer to drum programming, this masterclass will empower you to craft exceptional drum kits that elevate your music production to new heights of creativity and professional quality. Embrace the power of sound extraction and curate custom drum kits that resonate with your artistic vision.

In this comprehensive tutorial, you will delve into the art of shaping sounds using ADSR (Attack, Decay, Sustain, and Release) functions inside Ableton's Simpler. By the end of this course, you will have a thorough understanding of how to harness ADSR to craft dynamic and expressive sounds that elevate your music productions.


What You Will Learn:

1. ADSR Function Overview: Familiarise yourself with the fundamental components of ADSR and their impact on sound shaping.

2. Applying Attack and Decay: Learn to manipulate the attack and decay parameters to control the sound's initial punch and subsequent decay rate.

3. Mastering Sustain and Release: Explore the sustain and release functions to adjust the sound's volume and duration after the initial attack and decay phases.

4. Creating Dynamic Soundscapes: Combine ADSR techniques to craft dynamic and expressive sounds that add emotion and movement to your music.


Enroll in this course and unlock the potential of ADSR in Ableton's Simpler. Whether you're an aspiring sound designer or a seasoned producer, this masterclass will equip you with valuable skills to shape sounds that captivate listeners, bringing depth and life to your musical compositions. Embrace the power of ADSR and take control of your sonic palette, making your music stand out with its expressive and professionally-crafted sounds.

In this comprehensive tutorial, you will explore the art of adding effects and processing sounds in Ableton Live. By the end of this class, you will have a profound understanding of how to utilise powerful Ableton effects such as phaser, reverb, saturation, and filter delay to elevate your sounds and create unique sonic textures.


What You Will Learn:

1. Effect Basics: Familiarise yourself with the fundamentals of sound effects and their role in music production.

2. Mastering the Phaser: Learn to apply the phaser effect to add movement and modulation to your sounds, enriching your sonic palette.

3. Enhancing with Reverb: Explore the art of using reverb to create a sense of space and depth, adding a professional touch to your mix.

4. Saturation for Warmth: Discover how saturation can impart warmth and harmonics to your sounds, lending them an inviting analog-like feel.

5. Creative Filtering with Delay: Harness filter delay to sculpt and shape your sounds, creating intriguing and unique rhythmic patterns.


Enroll in this course and unlock the potential of Ableton's effects for sound processing. Whether you're a music producer, sound designer, or electronic artist, this masterclass will equip you with essential skills to add depth, character, and professional polish to your sounds. Embrace the power of effects and elevate your music production with captivating sonic textures and mesmerising soundscapes.

In this in-depth tutorial, you will explore the art of recording MIDI to audio clips in Ableton Live. By the end of this course, you will have mastered audio routing techniques, enabling you to route audio tracks to receive audio from MIDI tracks and record captivating loops.


What You Will Learn:

1. MIDI to Audio Conversion: Understand the process of converting MIDI tracks to audio clips, capturing the essence of your MIDI performances.

2. Audio Routing Essentials: Familiarise yourself with the fundamentals of audio routing in Ableton Live for seamless audio signal flow.

3. Setting up Audio Tracks: Learn to configure audio tracks to receive audio from MIDI tracks, ensuring the correct audio capture.

4. Recording Loop Creation: Discover how to record captivating loops from your MIDI performances, enabling you to experiment and arrange your music.


Enroll in this course and unlock the power of MIDI to audio conversion in Ableton Live. Whether you're a composer, producer, or live performer, this masterclass will equip you with invaluable audio routing skills, allowing you to record expressive and creative audio clips from your MIDI arrangements. Embrace the versatility of MIDI-to-audio conversion and enhance your music production with dynamic audio recordings and engaging loops.

Welcome to the Creating Your Sample Library Masterclass! In this comprehensive tutorial, you will embark on a journey of saving recorded sounds and curating your very own sample libraries. By the end of this course, you will have honed your skills in sound recording, organisation, and management, enabling you to build a personalised and diverse collection of high-quality samples.


What You Will Learn:

1. Sound Recording Techniques: Learn essential sound recording techniques to capture sounds accurately and with optimal quality.

2. Organising Your Samples: Discover effective methods for organising and categorising your samples, creating a well-structured library.

3. File Management: Master file management principles, ensuring easy access and retrieval of samples for future projects.

4. Personalised Sample Creation: Explore the art of crafting unique and expressive samples that showcase your artistic vision.


Enroll in this course and unlock the potential of creating your sample library. Whether you're a music producer, sound designer, or creative artist, this masterclass will empower you to build a comprehensive collection of sounds, tailored to your specific needs and creative preferences. Embrace the joy of sound exploration, save your recordings, and curate a sample library that becomes a valuable resource for your future music productions and creative endeavours.

Bonus Videos
PolyRhythmic Drum Patterns

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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 Ableton Live | Drum Programming | GPP Masterclass with these activities:
Review Basic Music Theory
Refresh your understanding of music theory to better understand the rhythmic and harmonic relationships in drum programming.
Browse courses on Music Theory
Show steps
  • Review concepts like rhythm, meter, and time signatures.
  • Practice identifying different rhythmic patterns.
Read 'The Art of Mixing' by David Gibson
Understand the principles of mixing to improve the overall sound and clarity of your drum programming.
View The Art of Mixing on Amazon
Show steps
  • Read the chapters on EQ and compression.
  • Experiment with the techniques described in the book.
Practice Drum Pattern Replication
Improve your ability to analyze and recreate drum patterns by ear, enhancing your groove mapping skills.
Show steps
  • Listen to a drum loop from a professional track.
  • Try to recreate the pattern in Ableton Live.
  • Compare your recreation to the original.
Four other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all seven activities
Explore Advanced Simpler Techniques
Deepen your knowledge of Ableton's Simpler device to unlock its full potential for shaping drum sounds.
Show steps
  • Find tutorials on advanced Simpler features.
  • Experiment with different Simpler settings.
  • Apply what you learn to your drum programming.
Create a Drum Loop Pack
Solidify your understanding of drum programming by creating a collection of original drum loops in various styles.
Show steps
  • Create a variety of drum loops in different genres.
  • Focus on creating unique and interesting rhythms.
  • Share your loop pack with other students for feedback.
Read 'Mixing Secrets for the Small Studio' by Mike Senior
Learn advanced mixing techniques to enhance the clarity, depth, and impact of your drum tracks.
Show steps
  • Read the chapters on EQ and compression for drums.
  • Apply the techniques to your own drum mixes.
Remix a Song Using Only Drum Programming
Apply your drum programming skills to create a unique remix of an existing song, focusing solely on rhythmic elements.
Show steps
  • Choose a song to remix.
  • Isolate the vocals or melodic elements.
  • Create a new drum arrangement using Ableton Live.
  • Mix and master your remix.

Career center

Learners who complete Ableton Live | Drum Programming | GPP Masterclass will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:
Beat Maker
Beat Makers are responsible for creating drum patterns, melodies, and grooves for other artists to use, especially for rap and pop genres. This course is designed to elevate your drum programming in Ableton Live, and may transform your skills with EQ and saturation. To improve your drum patterns, you can unlock the full potential of Ableton Live's Simpler device to shape kick patterns, infusing them with depth and character. This knowledge will help you captivate listeners.
Ableton Live Specialist
An Ableton Live Specialist has expert knowledge of the Ableton Live Digital Audio Workstation. The Ableton Live Drum Programming and Sound Design Masterclass can elevate your drum programming game in Ableton Live. The course helps you discover the art of crafting mesmerising drum patterns that drive tracks with infectious rhythm. Learn to use EQ and saturation to breathe life into your sounds. Also learn how to analyse professional tracks.
Music Producer
The role of the Music Producer is to oversee and guide the creation of musical recordings, from initial concept to final master. This course may be useful for Music Producers who would like to enhance their drum programming skills using Ableton Live. The course helps you craft mesmerising drum patterns that drive your tracks with rhythm. As a music producer you can unlock the potential of Ableton Live's Simpler device to shape kick patterns, infusing them with depth and character. By enrolling in this course, Music Producers can learn to enhance their grooves with ghost kicks, adding nuances that elevate drum sequences.
Electronic Musician
Electronic Musicians create and perform music using electronic instruments and technologies. As an Electronic Musician, you can find that the Ableton Live drum programming course helps you unlock your potential to create music that will stand out from the crowd. The course helps you master the art of crafting drum patterns that drive your tracks with infectious rhythm. Electronic Musicians may find that the analysis of professional tracks is particularly helpful because using the art of "stealing like an artist" can elevate productions to the level of industry leading tracks.
Sound Designer
As a Sound Designer, you will craft unique and compelling soundscapes for various media, including music, film, and video games. This Ableton Live drum programming course may equip you with vital skills in drum programming and sound design, enhancing your ability to create distinctive percussive elements. You can master Ableton Live's Simpler device to shape kick patterns and infuse them with depth and character. The course helps you develop a keen sense of rhythm and timing to create dynamic drum grooves. A Sound Designer may benefit from this course by learning to use EQ and saturation to breathe life into their sounds.
Remixer
Remixers take existing recordings and transform them into new versions. To be effective as a Remixer, you must have skill in using a Digital Audio Workstation. As a Remixer, you can find that the Ableton Live drum programming course may help you enhance your skills using Ableton. The course will help you discover the art of crafting drum patterns that drive your tracks with infectious rhythm. Remixers could find that the study of arrangement ideas is particularly useful to create exciting transitions during the remixing process.
Audio Engineer
Audio Engineers are experts in recording, mixing, and mastering audio. To excel as an Audio Engineer, you must be proficient in using Digital Audio Workstations. This Ableton Live drum programming course teaches you to use Ableton to elevate your skills. The course helps you shape drum elements and other musical elements with precision, carving out resonant frequencies and adding bite and character. Audio Engineers can master the art of saturation with this course to impart warmth, harmonics, and an inviting feel to music. The arrangement ideas are especially useful for Audio Engineers.
Game Audio Designer
Game Audio Designers create and implement sound effects, music, and dialogue for video games. This Ableton Live drum programming course may provide Game Audio Designers with a foundation in drum programming and sound design, focusing on rhythm and sound manipulation within Ableton Live. The course helps you unlock the full potential of Ableton Live's Simpler device to shape kick patterns, infusing them with depth and character. Ultimately, this course helps you create music that stands out from the crowd.
DJ
DJs select and play recorded music for an audience, often creating seamless mixes and transitions between tracks. This Ableton Live drum programming course may be useful for DJs that create their own unique mixes and sounds. As a DJ, you require a keen sense of creating creative and experimental sound combinations. This course helps you explore unique and experimental sound combinations that add personality to music. This course will empower you to create music that stands out from the crowd.
Film Composer
Film Composers write original music scores for films, enhancing the emotional impact and storytelling. As a Film Composer, you may find that the Ableton Live drum programming course will help you develop a keen sense of rhythm and timing as your drum grooves come to life with dynamic flair and intrigue. This course may help Film Composers shape their drum elements and musical elements with precision, carving out resonant frequencies and adding bite and character. This course can help you embrace the power of Ableton Live and become a master of rhythm and sound.
Multimedia Artist
Multimedia Artists create art or design content using a variety of media forms. This Ableton Live drum programming course may provide Multimedia Artists with skills in drum programming and sound design, enabling them to explore rhythmic elements. The course helps you unlock the full potential of Ableton Live's Simpler device to shape kick patterns, infusing them with depth and character. Multimedia artists can learn how to analyse professional tracks, and "steal like an artist" to make these techniques their own, elevating productions.
Audio Editor
Audio Editors are responsible for manipulating and refining audio recordings in post-production. Audio Editors may find this Ableton Live drum programming course useful to analyze professional tracks, and "steal like an artist" to make these techniques their own. This enables one to elevate productions to the level of industry-leading tracks. Embrace the power of Ableton Live and become a master of rhythm and sound.
Content Creator
Content Creators produce engaging content for various online platforms such as YouTube and TikTok. If your content includes music, this Ableton Live drum programming course can help elevate the quality. A Content Creator may find that the bonus of indulging in creative fun with drum racks, exploring unique and experimental sound combinations is a great way to add personality to music. The techniques taught in this course can greatly increase viewer engagement.
Music Instructor
Music Instructors teach musical concepts and techniques to students of all ages and skill levels. A Music Instructor can use this Ableton Live drum programming course to enhance their own knowledge of the subject, to better teach students. Using the skills taught, you may engage in fun with drum racks, exploring unique and experimental sound combinations. Studying this course may improve an instructor's ability to teach others how to add personality to their music.
Podcast Producer
Podcast Producers oversee the creation of podcasts, including recording, editing, and sound design. Podcast Producers can use this Ableton Live drum programming course to find ways to enhance their skills in sound design. With this course, you can learn the secrets of using EQ and saturation to breathe life into sounds. You may find that a core skill to enhance will be to shape drum elements and other musical elements with precision, carving out resonant frequencies and adding bite and character.

Reading list

We've selected two 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 Ableton Live | Drum Programming | GPP Masterclass.
Offers practical advice on achieving professional-sounding mixes in a home studio environment. It covers topics such as EQ, compression, reverb, and automation, with a focus on problem-solving and creative techniques. It useful reference tool for the drum processing and mixing sections of this course. It adds breadth to the course by providing real-world examples and case studies.
Provides a visual approach to understanding mixing concepts, including EQ, compression, and spatial effects. It's particularly useful for understanding how to clean up a mix and add character to sounds, which are covered in the later sections of this course. The book is commonly used by audio engineering students and professionals. It adds depth to the course by providing a broader perspective on mixing techniques.

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