How to Automate Tempo BPM in Ableton

Automate tempo changes in Session in Ableton

This blog post presents several ways and concepts on tempo automation in Ableton Live. It sets focus on how to do smooth tempo transitions in Ableton’s Session View. This can be automated via the “Automate Tempo BPM” Max for Live device which is part of the “AutoMATE Global Control Pack 1”. How to change and … Read more

Trigger Chords in Ableton Live

Trigger Chords in Ableton Live

The “Chord Trigger” Max for Live device let’s you trigger chords in Ableton Live in the style of a step sequencer. You can advance each step via triggering a MIDI note via your MIDI controller. Of course you can use (electronic) drums as well sending a MIDI note. Import chords via MIDI clips This device … Read more

How to use drum triggers with Ableton Live

Drum pad to MIDI in Ableton Live.

Here is one example showing how you are able to connect drum triggers to play sounds in Ableton Live. This technique is using a Max for Live device which is taking the audio signal produced by a piezo, drum trigger or mic. You can just connect those to your external sound card/interface and you won’t … Read more

How to monitor MIDI in Ableton

Monitor MIDI in Ableton Live

Ableton Live is all about MIDI and sometimes you just quickly want to out which MIDI messages are happening on one track. You can monitor MIDI notes and CC (and more) messages with these Max for Live devices. If you want to know more about how MIDI routing in Ableton Live works, please check out … Read more

A brief history of triggering melodies via drums

Many drummers have used electronic triggers for their acoustic drums to trigger melodies via synths or digital audio workstations. Electronic drum brands had even included some melodic step sequencer functionality in their products already in the 80ies but it didn’t developed into a more used feature and kind of disappeared from the mainstream electronic drum … Read more