Songwriting in Ableton Live (or any Audio Application) from Udemy

Welcome to Songwriting in Ableton Live (Or Any Audio Application. )

This course is "5-Star Certified" by the International Association of Online Music Educators and Institutions (IAOMEI). This course has been independently reviewed by a panel of experts and has received a stellar 5-star rating.

In this class, we are going to write a song together. We will start with just messing around on the keyboard until we find an idea, then we will work on the song structure, form, sound design, and end with mixing it and a discussion about mastering the track. Beginning to end - step by step.

100% Answer Rate. Every single question posted to this class is answered within 24 hours by the instructor.

This class is for anyone who has an interest in songwriting. Especially:

Aspiring Songwriters: If you have never written a song before, but you want to learn how its done, this course is for you.
Songwriters: If you are a traditional songwriter, but want to expand your palette by using electronic elements, or just help recording your songs, this course is for you.
Musicians: If you have wanted to improve your compositions by understanding how the writing with audio software works, this course is for you.
Producers: Improve your tracks by gaining a deeper understanding of form, sketching, structure, and development.

In this class, we start with the very basics of songwriting and work all the way up to a finished song. I'll walk you through every step of the process and explain the logic behind every decision I make.

The goal of this class is for you to learn how to make original, compelling, and memorable-sounding music.

Software:This course is NOT specific to any DAW program.

I'll be using Ableton Live Suite 10 in this course as my main DAW, but if you are using any other program you will be able to follow along just fine. That includes Logic, FL Studio, Pro Tools, Reaper, Reason, Cubase, or any of the others. My method in this class is to teach concepts, so whatever I do, you will be able to do it in your own software.Genre:I'm best known for working with electronic music, but I've designed this course to be as inclusive as possible when it comes to genre. We will talk about songwriting techniques for all genres, sounds, and styles. All genres are welcome here.

Topics Covered:

The Essential Tools of Songwriting
Working with MIDI
MIDI Controllers, Keyboards, and Guitars
Overdubbing real instruments
Defining a Sound "Palette"
Building a Library of Samples
Building a Library of Synths
Building a Library of Drum Sounds and Loops
Sketching
Developing a Sketch
Expanding a Sketch
Defining Form
Lyrics
Drum Programming
Sound Design Elements
Synthesizers
Recording "real" Instruments
Mixing
Balancing
Tuning Recordings
Mastering
Software: Using Garageband, Ableton Love, FL Studio, Logic Pro X, Cubase, Reaper, or any other application.
And much, much more.

If you are ready to start making professional sounding songs, this is the class that will start you on that journey. Get started today.

Dr. Allen is a university music professor and is a top-rated Udemy instructor - with nearly 100 courses and over 200,000 students.

In 2017 Star Tribune Business featured him as a "Mover and a Shaker," and he is recognized by the Grammy Foundation for his music education classes.

I guarantee that this course is the most thorough songwriting course available ANYWHERE on the market - or your money back (30-day money-back guarantee)

Closed captions have been added to all lessons in this course.

Praise for Courses by Jason Allen:

⇢ "It seems like every little detail is being covered in an extremely simple fashion. The learning process becomes relaxed and allows complex concepts to get absorbed easily. My only regret is not taking this course earlier." - M. Shah

⇢ "Great for everyone without any knowledge so far. I bought all three parts... It's the best investment in leveling up my skills so far.." - Z. Palce

⇢ "Excellent explanations. No more or less than what is needed." - A. Tóth

⇢ "VERY COOL. I've waited for years to see a good video course, now I don't have to wait anymore. Thank You. " - Jeffrey Koury

⇢ "I am learning LOTS. And I really like having the worksheets. " - A. Deichsel

⇢ "The basics explained very clearly - loads of really useful tips. " - J. Pook

⇢ "Jason is really quick and great with questions, always a great resource for an online class. " M. Smith

Students who register for this course will receive ongoing exclusive content and discounts for all future classes in the series.

What's inside

Learning objectives

Students will learn how to craft songs using audio software as their main tool.
Using midi for composition and songwriting
Creating a sound "pallete"
Sketching your song
Defining the form of the song
Lyrics and vocals

Drum programming
Sound design elements
Adding in real instruments (recording)
Mixing
Mastering

Students will learn how to craft songs using audio software as their main tool.
Using midi for composition and songwriting
Creating a sound "pallete"
Sketching your song
Defining the form of the song
Lyrics and vocals
Drum programming
Sound design elements
Adding in real instruments (recording)
Mixing
Mastering

Syllabus

Off we go! Let's dive in with some basic info to get us started.

Introduction

What We are Covering Here

Tools You Will Need for This Class

My Approach in this Class

Let's start with MIDI - this is the easiest way to create content (music) in our software.

How MIDI Works

Why MIDI?

MIDI Setup in Live

MIDI Controllers

Using the MIDI Grid

Making it "Real"

Overdubbing Real Instruments

The hardest part about writing in software is that you have literally no boundaries for the types of sounds you can make. So in this sections, we are going to make some boundaries.

What is a songwriting Palette?

Building a Library of Samples

Building a Library of Drum Sounds and Loops

Building a Library of Synths

Setting "favorites"

Building a Template Session

Writers, painters, composers, all artist - they all use a "sketching" process. So why not us?

What is a Sketch?

Example Sketch

Developing the Sketch

Try this in Session View!

Expanding the Sketch

"Don't fall in love with your work!"

Form is the piece of this puzzle that so many songwriters overlook. If you don't think about form in advance, you are going to have a really hard time creating a cohesive song.

Starting to Bring the Track into Focus

Using Locators for Form

Don't Get Married to the Form. Let it Take on a Mind of its Own.

At this point, we have some good ideas going. Its time to take a step back, and see if we are heading down the right path.

How is our Track Coming so Far?

Preparing for the Second Stage

Thinking About Sound Design

Track Update

Let's talk about lyrics for a minute. There are a few key tips I can give you here.

Thinking About Lyrics

What is the Message of the Music?

What Clues are in the Music?

Do you Need to Adjust the Key for the Singer?

We've finished our initial songwriting stage, and no its time to move on to the more technical elements.

What Kind of Drum Sounds do we Want?

Finding Drum Sounds

FreeSound

Programming Basics

Swing and Feel

Up next: Sound design! Let's dive in and make this thing start to sound great.

Let's Really Focus in on Those Synths.

The Bass Sounds

Time to dust off my violin and see if we can't make it work on this song!

Fixing "Real" Sounds

Making the Samples Sound Better

Setting up to Record

Recording Violin

Editing For Pitch

Now that we have everything in the right place, let's take a look at the mix, and see if we can polish that up a bit.

Mixing Principals

Balancing By Ear

Balancing By Noise

Fine Tuning

Creating Depth

Creating Space with EQ

Re-balancing

We won't go into depth on mastering here, but I wanted to point your attention to a few things about mastering.

What Actually is Mastering?

The Best and Easiest Way to Master a Track

Using a Rack Preset

"Printing" the Master

Some goodies to play with.

My Latest String Quartet

That's it for now! Let me leave you with a few more things...

What Comes Next?

Thanks for Watching!

Bonus Lecture

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Offers insights into using MIDI controllers, keyboards, and guitars, which are essential tools for modern music production and performance

Explores building a library of samples, synths, and drum sounds, which is a common practice among professional music producers and sound designers

Covers mixing and mastering, which are crucial steps in the music production process for achieving a professional-sounding final product

Discusses the use of various DAWs, including Ableton Live, Logic Pro X, FL Studio, Cubase, and Reaper, which allows learners to apply the concepts in their preferred software

Includes a section on lyrics and vocals, which are important elements of songwriting that can help to convey the message and emotion of the music

Features Ableton Live Suite 10 as the main DAW, so learners using newer versions of Ableton may find some differences in the interface and features

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 Songwriting in Ableton Live (or any Audio Application) with these activities:

Review Basic Music Theory

Show steps

Strengthen your understanding of music theory concepts like scales, chords, and harmony to improve your songwriting foundation.

Browse courses on Music Theory

Show steps

Review major and minor scales and their construction.
Practice identifying intervals and chord qualities.
Analyze simple chord progressions in existing songs.

Read 'Songwriting: Complete Guide to Writing Lyrics, Composing Melodies, and Selling Your Songs'

Show steps

Gain insights into traditional songwriting techniques and apply them to your electronic music production.

View Putting Knowledge to Work on Amazon

Show steps

Read the book, focusing on sections about lyric writing and melody composition.
Take notes on key concepts and techniques.
Reflect on how these techniques can be applied in Ableton Live or your preferred DAW.

Practice Drum Programming Rhythms

Show steps

Improve your drum programming skills by practicing different rhythmic patterns and variations.

Browse courses on Drum Programming

Show steps

Load a drum rack in Ableton Live or your preferred DAW.
Program basic drum patterns (e.g., rock, hip-hop, electronic).
Experiment with variations in rhythm, velocity, and fills.

Four other activities

Expand to see all activities and additional details

Show all seven activities

Create a Short Song Sketch

Show steps

Apply the sketching techniques learned in the course to create a short musical idea.

Browse courses on Sketching

Show steps

Create a new project in Ableton Live or your preferred DAW.
Develop a short musical idea (8-16 bars) using MIDI instruments and drum programming.
Focus on capturing the essence of the song without getting bogged down in details.

Read 'Mixing Secrets for the Small Studio'

Show steps

Improve your mixing skills by learning practical techniques for achieving a professional sound.

View Recording Secrets for the Small Studio (Sound... on Amazon

Show steps

Read the book, focusing on sections about EQ, compression, and spatial effects.
Experiment with the techniques described in the book on your own mixes.
Analyze the mixes of professional songs to identify how these techniques are used.

Follow Advanced Sound Design Tutorials

Show steps

Expand your sound design knowledge by following advanced tutorials on synthesizers and audio effects.

Browse courses on Sound Design

Show steps

Search for tutorials on specific synthesizers (e.g., Serum, Massive, Sylenth1).
Follow tutorials on advanced audio effects techniques (e.g., multiband compression, spectral processing).
Replicate the techniques demonstrated in the tutorials on your own sounds.

Remix an Existing Song

Show steps

Apply your songwriting and production skills to create a remix of an existing song.

Browse courses on Remixing

Show steps

Obtain the stems (individual tracks) of a song you like.
Import the stems into Ableton Live or your preferred DAW.
Experiment with different arrangements, sounds, and effects to create a new version of the song.
Focus on putting your own unique spin on the original track.

Career center

Learners who complete Songwriting in Ableton Live (or any Audio Application) will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Songwriter

A songwriter crafts original musical compositions, often including lyrics, melodies, and harmonies. This course helps build a foundation in songwriting by teaching the essential tools for creating songs using audio software. The course covers the process from initial idea generation to mixing and mastering, which is a vital part of the work of a songwriter. Anyone wishing to become a songwriter would benefit from this course, as it provides a clear, step-by-step method for bringing musical ideas to life, no matter your previous experience.

See salaries and explore the career path for Songwriter

Music Producer

A music producer oversees the creation of a song or album, often involved in the songwriting process, sound design, and mixing. This course is highly relevant to a music producer because it covers the full lifecycle of creating a song, from sketching to mastering, using audio software. In particular, a music producer would benefit from the sections on sound design and mixing. Aspiring music producers should complete this course to gain a better grasp of structure, the use of software in audio production, and for improving their overall workflow.

See salaries and explore the career path for Music Producer

Electronic Musician

An electronic musician creates music using electronic instruments and software. This course provides a comprehensive guide for an electronic musician to create songs from initial concept to finished product using audio software. It includes all the crucial elements of electronic music production from building a sound palette to mixing. This course provides all necessary tools to those looking to become an electronic musician. It even covers some advanced elements such as working with MIDI controllers and drum programming.

See salaries and explore the career path for Electronic Musician

Recording Artist

A recording artist creates and performs music for public consumption. This course has immediate relevance to a recording artist because it focuses on the practical skills needed to create, mix, and master their own music, which are important aspects of being a professional recording artist. This course is useful for any recording artist seeking to expand their skill set, particularly in the domain of audio software techniques for music production. The course walks students through a complete workflow from idea to finished track.

See salaries and explore the career path for Recording Artist

Beat Maker

A beat maker produces instrumental tracks, often for use by recording artists. This course will be useful to a beat maker as it provides a detailed understanding of how to use audio software to create complete tracks. The course covers topics including the use of MIDI, drum programming, sound design, and structure. Beat makers would benefit from the full workflow that is explained in the course. This course is highly appropriate for students wishing to start a career as a beat maker.

See salaries and explore the career path for Beat Maker

Composer

A composer creates original musical pieces, often for specific purposes such as film scores or concert music. This course can be highly relevant for a composer as it provides a structured approach to songwriting, with emphasis on form, structure, and development. The course's focus on using software to create musical ideas, arrange them, and create a final composite would be useful for a composer. Aspiring composers will find value in the practical, step-by-step approach offered in this course.

See salaries and explore the career path for Composer

Mix Engineer

A mix engineer balances and adjusts the individual elements of a multitrack recording to create a cohesive and polished sound. This course is especially pertinent for a mix engineer since the course culminates in the mixing of a full song. The course teaches mixing principles, balancing techniques, and creating depth with EQ. This course will help build a strong foundation for anyone interested in becoming a professional mix engineer since it provides hands-on training with a variety of techniques and strategies.

See salaries and explore the career path for Mix Engineer

Sound Designer

A sound designer creates and manipulates sounds for various media, including music, film and games. Though this course is primarily about songwriting, it explicitly covers the topic of sound design. The course teaches how to define a sound palette, build sample libraries, and synthesize sounds. These are all useful skills for a sound designer. Anyone wishing to work in sound design will find value in this course's lessons about the application of digital audio tools.

See salaries and explore the career path for Sound Designer

Audio Engineer

An audio engineer works with the technical aspects of sound, including recording, mixing, and mastering. This course can be useful for an audio engineer given its focus on the practical aspects of creating a fully mixed and mastered track using software. This course covers the essential elements of mixing, mastering, and other technical audio operations. Those wishing to enter the field of audio engineering may find this course helpful for learning the skills necessary to work with audio software.

See salaries and explore the career path for Audio Engineer

Session Musician

A session musician is a instrumentalist who is hired to play on recordings. While the course is not solely focused on live performance, the course does provide useful lessons about recording real instruments. Furthermore, session musicians must also understand the basics of mixing and production, which this course provides. Someone pursuing a career as a session musician will also benefit from the sections on working with MIDI and the use of sound design to enhance recordings.

See salaries and explore the career path for Session Musician

Music Educator

A music educator teaches music theory, history, or performance to students of all ages. This course is useful for a music educator, particularly one who wants to integrate more technology into their classroom. The course allows the educator to more deeply understand how to use software to produce songs, which can help them better teach their students. Music educators will also benefit from learning the principles of sound design, mixing, and mastering, all of which are relevant when using software in music education.

See salaries and explore the career path for Music Educator

Arranger

An arranger takes an existing musical composition and adapts it for a specific ensemble or style. While this course is about creating original songs, the concepts of form, structure, sound design, and mixing will be valuable for an arranger. This course will be particularly useful for understanding how software can be used to make detailed arrangements. Aspiring arrangers may find the tools for arrangement available in this course to be helpful for their practice.

See salaries and explore the career path for Arranger

Mastering Engineer

A mastering engineer prepares mixed audio tracks for distribution, ensuring they are optimized for various playback systems. Although this course does not focus deeply on mastering, it does provide a general overview of the mastering process. A mastering engineer would be especially interested in the section about mastering. Anyone seeking to become a mastering engineer should consider that this course provides some background and an entry point into the topic.

See salaries and explore the career path for Mastering Engineer

Audio Editor

An audio editor cleans up and prepares audio files for use in a variety of media. This course is not explicitly about audio editing, but it does teach many of the basic principles of audio software. Sections covering mixing, tuning, and use of effects are useful for many audio editors. Those interested in a career in audio editing may find this course helpful for understanding the principles of sound design and software manipulation of audio.

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Content Creator

A content creator produces various forms of digital media, often including audio elements. This course is indirectly helpful for a content creator as it provides a foundation in audio production. The course teaches how to create original musical content, use sound design elements, and mix a track. A content creator could use this knowledge to add music or sound design to their digital media projects. The course provides a good basic understanding of how to use software to manipulate audio, which can be valuable for content creators.

See salaries and explore the career path for Content Creator

Songwriting in Ableton Live (or any Audio Application)

What's inside

Learning objectives

Syllabus

Good to know

Save this course

Activities

Career center

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