AbletonDJ 101 - Expanding Your Setup

One of the best qualities of Ableton is the possibility of integrating in different workflows. The most obvious and hyped is the Bridge collaboration with Serato, but there's also another easy way to connect. Propellerhead's ReWire concept was created originally to connect Reason, which despite of it's many great qualities, lacks in some ways (such as VSTs) where it is just easier to connect with others rather than work against the basic concept of the program.

From the Propellerheads website:

What is ReWire?

ReWire is a system for transferring audio data between two computer applications, in real time. Basically, you could view ReWire as an "invisible cable" that streams audio from one computer program into another.

So, what can ReWire do?
ReWire has the following features:

Real-time streaming of up to 256 individual audio channels (up to 64 with ReWire 1) from one application to another.
Real-time streaming of up to 4080 individual MIDI channels from one application to another (255 MIDI buses with 16 channel per bus). This feature requires ReWire 2.
High-precision synchronization - complete, glitch-free sync between the two applications, with no settings to make and no parameters to worry about.
Common transport functions - if both applications have built-in sequencers of some sort, you can play, stop, rewind etc. in any of the applications and they will both locate to the same position.
Additional querying - one application can "ask" the other about audio channel names, etc. This feature requires ReWire 2.

What is so great about ReWire is the easy setup.
Step 1: Launch the master program, which tells the slave what to do.
Step 2: Launch the slave program. Now they are connected, and aside from routing the audio you should be ready to go.

So how does this all apply to you again? Well, most obviously if you're into producing and are more at home with traditional instruments, Reason might be just for you. On the other hand, if you would just like to use Ableton as a sampler/sound mangler and/or VST platform, you could connect it with Torq. This way you don't have to warp your songs in Ableton and you gain the fluidity of a dedicated DJ program. You can then add your custom effects in Ableton and maybe a drum machine and all that. In my own tests the burden on the computer remained very usable and I experienced no glitches. You can also reskin Torq, leaving samplers and other unnecessary stuff out, giving you a clearer view.

Another alternative would be using Deckadance as it can be used as VST. Midi clock doesn't behave quite as nice as ReWire, but for those on budget you should at least check the possibility out. As I mentioned in my previous post, VJs can also benefit from the midi out option, as you can send BPM and commands out to all the major VJ software available. This with the dummy clips was my plan for a longest time, but the burden of mixing tracks and video was too much on my computer, plus the videos take a lot of space...

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AbletonDJ 101: Three Essential Things You Should Learn

1. Warping

Warping is overly emphasized and feared aspect of Ableton. If you spin genres like electro house, trance, or whatever made with computers which isn't based on old disco samples or similar, the beat is constant. This means Ableton will easily know the BPM. All you need is to set one warp marker in the beginning, right click, select "Warp 1XX BPM from here", set the second warp marker in the end, and that should do it. No videos you need to watch, or lengthy tutorials to read. Nothing.

But... Because of the next tip I usually go on and add a couple in between, usually right after breaks and big changes in waveform, wherever it is easy. When you learn it, warping a track takes minute or two, and then it's set forever.


2. Follow Actions

Follow actions are under the launch panel on the bottom left. Basically you want to take your track, create a duplicate (cmd/ctrl+d), loop first 8 or 16 bars, or whatever makes a good intro loop. Rename it "Intro Loop", or something along the lines. Then duplicate the loop you just created, take the next 16/24/32 bars that usually constitute a melody intro. Rename the loop. Continue until the track is split into small pieces.

From the follow actions, choose the corresponding amount of bars each clip takes, and below that select the arrow down option for "launch next". Some sections you don't want to add the follow actions, which gives you loops, and rest of the track you can launch from wherever, whenever, and have the track play normally from that part forward.

Finally, color code the loops differently from the ones with follow actions enabled so you can easily see by a glance which parts are going to loop until infinity, and which are jump to the next one. Launchpad and APC40 will indicate with blinking button that there is a clip coming on. If you listened to my instructions, the whole song should be on top, working as the track name indicator.

Then you just need to copy the track name from Finder/file explorer, select all the clips you just created and drag them to Ableton's browser to create als-file. Paste then name copied, and everything is now saved.


3. Dummy Clips

Dummy clips can send midi commands within or outside Ableton. Inside Ableton you can create fader/knob actions that work by launching the clip (which can be really handy for someone using grid controller such as Launchpad). The perhaps cooler application is to create midi clips, send midi out of Ableton, and into a VJ software such as CellDNA. That means you could basically control another control without ever leaving Ableton.

Easiest way to get started with dummy clips is to download Will's template that I mentioned in an earlier post. Explaining everything in detail would take too long, so instead I point you to an AbletonLiveDJ Forum thread. You need to register, but you really should, too.

Other related articles.

AbetonDJ101, List of Resources to Get You Started

Today I helped Timo Juuti (who produces crazy tracks, btw!) to find a DJ template to ease the jump from Traktor to Ableton. I ended up hinting about the same things I've mentioned to others so many times, so I came up with an idea to create a little package of resources for those thinking of DJing with Live. As it is, Ableton doesn't quite cater for DJs, so here's information on how to expand on it.


Aurex provides crazy hacks for Launchpad, Livid's machines, and APC40. The come for free, add cool functionalities to the controllers and use up quite a bit of CPU in my experiences. Here's a demonstration of Launchpad script:





Darren Cowley has created Max4Live devices, which, if you have forked out cash for Ableton, M4L and controller, really aren't that expensive, and they come with free updates as well. I've tested Octopad, and it really is worth it's cost! Demonstration of APC's Isotonik through a mix:

Isotonik 7 - Live from Darren E Cowley on Vimeo.

NativeKontrol website has controller scripts for:
Akai APC40
Akai MPD32
Korg nanoKONTROL
Korg nanoPAD
Korg padKONTROL
Livid Instruments Block
Livid Instruments Ohm64
Novation Launchpad

They work with Bomes Midi Translator without need for M4L. They cost some, but work great, and bring A LOT of functionalities to the controller of choice. I personally use the Launchpad one, and although it is a bit geared to producing, it works for me in DJing as well.




If you have an iPad, you probably should get either TouchOSC, or the refined version called TouchAble.




Will Marshall has further refined the Tom Cosm's Megaset, and created a DJ template. It is designed for APC40, but you can easily alter it as you wish. Note that this is Donationware.

DJ Template Redux from Will Marshall on Vimeo.

Last but most importantly, Tarekith's DJ effects
will give you all sorts of on/off & one knob action effects to play with. Plenty enough to get you started! They are also donationware.


P.S. There are interesting things done to controllers, which are too numerous to list coherently. Use Google, type *Your Controller* Ableton Script. From the top of my head I can name at least Max runtime based script for BCR-2000 and Guille's Python script for Nocturn.

P.P.S. Here's an earlier article showcasing a couple of videos for inspiration. Further posts can be found checking the tag 101 on the sidebar.

AbletonDJ 101: Why would I DJ with Ableton - The Inspiration

Two videos for inspiration, and Youtube is full of them....