Ableton Live 12 Midi Tools Masterclass

Of all the new features in Ableton Live 12, the MIDI Generators are perhaps the most revolutionary, providing the ability to not only transform MIDI notes in unique ways but also generate them, in order to instantly create a multitude of different patterns. This has the potential to radically transform the workflows and compositional processes of everyone from beginners right through to more advanced producers. On this new masterclass from Course Director and Certified Ableton Live Trainer Rob Jones, you’ll learn to fully get to grips with all of the MIDI Generators on offer, as well as acquire a wealth of new techniques and inspiration for how to implement them in your production.

The course starts with a few lessons that tackle the general operational features and quirks of these new devices, all of which reside on the generator tab within the MIDI Editor. These aim to teach the basics when it comes to note generation, to help with understanding what they act on and when and how they can be made to create patterns. This leads to the first tool, Rhythm, which is introduced slowly via a demonstration of how very simple drum patterns are made, helping ferment a good knowledge of the main pattern controls on all tools of step length, pattern length and density. Once the basics are out the way, there’s a detailed look at a number of different practical uses of Rhythm, showing different approaches for making interesting percussion grooves, before looking exclusively at velocity handling.

In the following module, Rob dives into Stacks, a tool that makes chord and chord progression creation simpler than ever. Starting slowly in the first lesson, there’s an explanation of the controls on offer and how they’re used to select and modify chords, whilst the next lesson picks up the pace and shows the creation of a more complex chord sequence.

Rob then moves onto the last 2 main generators - Shape and Seed - both used to create melodies for the most part, although Seed has the ability to produce multiple voices in combination for dense, evolving harmonies. The 2 lessons walk through every part of each tool, showing all the functionality and various directions they can both go in.

The final main module is a lengthy set of lessons that put everything into practice by showing seven separate examples of composition, including a whole host of percussion, bass, lead and atmos creation. Despite mainly focussing on the generation and transformation of MIDI notes using tools, there are also many tips for using instruments and effects within Live to make the most of each process, helping to improve sound design, mixing and effects skills along the way.

A bonus lesson on Euclidean is also included, giving an intro to the tool and showing a number of techniques for making unique basslines.  

Enrolling on the course gives students instant access to 4 hours of streamed tutorials plus the Live projects from the lessons, so sign up now to master these incredible new tools and level up your MIDI programming skills today.

Sample Module

Course Breakdown

Introduction

Rob welcomes you to the course, with some comments about the lesson structure, content and pace. 3.35

Module 1 - MIDI Generators Basics

A guide to the general functionality of the tools, including different ways of generating patterns, the areas of a clip and notes a tool acts on and some different ways of adjusting parameters.
10.57

Module 2 - Rhythm

A comprehensive set of lessons working through the first generator, Rhythm, starting with an example of how to make a basic beat and then more likely scenarios of creating interesting percussion grooves. The last lesson is dedicated entirely to the velocity controls, which open the device up to many highly usable situations.

• Lesson 1 - Getting started with Rhythm - 11.54
• Lesson 2 - Creating interesting percussion - 15.41
• Lesson 3 - Velocity controls - 11.30

Module 3 - Stacks

A thorough look at the next generator, Stacks, for making chords and chord progressions. The first lesson introduces all the controls and operational features, whilst the second one extends this with an example of how to make a more complex chord progression.

• Lesson 1 - Introduction to Stacks - 15.43
• Lesson 2 - Making Complex Chord Progressions - 18.13

Module 4 - Shape and Seed

A rundown of the last 2 main generators, Shape and Seed, going into their similarities and differences and showing how they can be used to make different melodic ideas.

• Lesson 1 - Introduction to Shape - 12.36
• Lesson 2 - Introduction to Seed - 11.01

Module 5 - Sound Design Examples

A series of different examples of how to combine various generators and transformers to create a range of unique percussive and melodic patterns.

• Lesson 1 - Natural Bongos - 16.28
• Lesson 2 - Arp-style Bass - 14.05
• Lesson 3 - 303 Lead - 16.19
• Lesson 4 - Berlin Chop Lead - 26.29
• Lesson 5 - Mighty String Lead - 11.26
• Lesson 6 - Seed Atmos Layer - 12.06
• Lesson 7 - Longer Melodies - 06.59

Bonus Module 6 - Euclidean

A bonus lesson on the last generator, Euclidean, including a guide to the operational features and then techniques for using it to create awesome basslines. (22.03)

System Requirements

• An internet connection is required to stream the modules in this course.

Please note: this course is available to stream in the Courses section of your user account and is not downloadable.