I got a APC40, Ableton Live 8.1 and no place to learn from!

[DDoSix]

Ok, so i decided to invest some money into sound production and I bought a MIDI controller and Ableton Live 8.... now what? Now, I have read the mega thread for tutorials and stuff, but what im really wondering about is what is a good source for PAID samples? Is there a good website for VIDEO tutorials that take you from the ground up (even paid)?

Cheers mates!

[steeze]

Just get stuck in, open up live and try to write something, if you've just started it probably wont sound too great but that's ok. The best way to learn is by doing, you can sit watching video tutorials all day and not have a clue about how to write a coherent piece of music, if you come across any more specific problems just google it, and you'll have improved just by solving your own problem. You don't really need to buy any samples, ableton comes bundled with plenty of stuff to get you started, not to mention all the free samples available on the internet, but if you're set on buying some loopmasters and prime loops are two of the more popular sources. There is a learning curve with production, one that is steepened if you lack prior music knowledge but the only way to overcome it is by having a go, and most importantly enjoying it

[tripwave]

if u want to start by using premade royalty free samples, check out the boutique at Loopmasters.com ive bought some libraries from there that have helped me create some wonderful pieces.

[BevOh]

I think best way is to mess around with it and if you get stuck with something then look it up...

[Gurnumsbug]

Lot's of people are saying "play around" and basically "just try to put something together."
Well im not saying those are bad suggestions just that doesn't get you anywhere either!
Since you bought Ableton Live, why don't you start off by reading the manual?
You can learn a lot from just studying and doing some homework before diving in and learning bad habits!
Take some time and watch tutorials, and study! That should help you understand things a bit better:)

[DDoSix]

Ive been messing with the APC40 and Ableton, surprisingly learning very quickly I expected sound to be a all or nothing type deal. Im also watching good tutorials by SonicAcademy, those are great for learning interface. Ill update you guys on my progress.

[Ldizzy]

do u wanna make dj-like routines ???? (sets)

or beats that u rock live???

[bassinine]

http://www.youtube.com/results?search_q ... orial&aq=f (watch and follow along in ableton)

when first starting out, i learned everything i know about ableton through youtube tutorials - it won't help "creating" music, however it will teach you how to use the software. once you know the basics and how to navigate in ableton, then you can start to get creative. as stated above, the only way to help you make better original music is to practice.

[Altron]

Youtube tutorials will be insanely helpful. Look at other peoples dj templates, and observe how others use it, try making your own custom template for what you want to do. One good thing about the APC40 is that the minute you turn it on and activate it, its ready to go and already set up to the defaults. Dont be afraid to map things your own way though. I find that the pan knobs on the APC are unnecessary for me, so I remapped them to control more effects. Another thing ive seen a lot of people do, is split their songs into different parts, and color code them. This way you can mix into whatever part you feel would sound the best. Very useful and it allows you to focus on mixing/adding effects, rather than just waiting for the point where you can mix another track in. Just shouting out some ideas. Anyways, good luck with your APC. Maybe someday you will decide to make yourself an APC80. Thats my plan anyways. =]

[Redderious]

I began using youtube tutorials like alot of people, like someone said a few posts up, its hard to actually cohear whats going on if you don't know what does what. Learn some jargon, and what is the best thing to use to accomplish making the sound your'e going for.

Like gurnumsburg mentioned, the best way is to just read the manual. Multiple times. First time through things might not make too much sense, but your mind will pick up on it. If you are actually determined to learn enough, the second time you read a manual you'll notice to understand alot more than before.

I feel like theres a big chance you might not have a Live Manual, so here; http://www.ableton.com/pages/downloads/manuals

Here's an EXTREAMLY helpful guide i used to learn alot of what i know right now, i really think you should check it out; http://www.tweakheadz.com/guide.htm

[paravrais]

First port of call is RTFM. After that all the rest of the info you need will be in the help stickies at the top you've already seen.

If you go through all the in built Ableton tutorials (which are really good), read through the stickied threads and then STILL feel totally lost then try sending a polite PM to a member on here with an old join date (cos they've probably been producing a good while) and see if they can help you. If you're still lost after that then...there's probably no hope for you lol.

EDIT: Also gotta disagree with the whole youtube thing to be honest. Except maybe for Depones tuts. But generally you have no idea who is giving the tut and how much they know about the subject themselves. A lot of those tutorials are either misleading, take ages to get to the point or teach you how to make shitty sounds.

[bassinine]

really? generally, each tutorial has a clearly defined purpose - usually a very basic trick that most of us forget that we never knew it.. like using groove and swing, using envelopes/automation, what certain effects do, etc. also, that's the point of people being able to rate the videos that are posted.

dubspot, primeloops, pointblank... all post tons of helpful tutorials for beginners. and like another user said, helps you learn the jargon, which means you don't have to look up words that you hear other producers use when giving advice.

[DDoSix]

do u wanna make dj-like routines ???? (sets)

or beats that u rock live???

Want to mostly compose tracks first, then get into sampling and all of the other stuff.



And yeah, the tutorials have been pretty good so far, I don't pay attention to the actual beat (a lot of them suck), but I just pay attention to the technique they use.

[symmetricalsounds]

first off you'll want to update your ableton, there are tons of bug fixes between 8.1 and 8.2.2 which is the latest ver.

secondly i hate you cos u got an apc40 and don't even know how to use it
checkout tom cosm's tutorials, he has got plenty both free and paid ones

OR

pay me and i'll tutor you, only possible though if you live in the south east of england.

[gen_]

If your looking to compose. Leave your APC40 unconnected to start without it. It will only serve to complicate and distract when you learn the very basics. Read the basics in the manual till you feel comfortable using ableton then focus on your music theory, there are some good stickys on the forum for that. Then go into sound design and synthesis. Somewhere along the way you will be distracted by drums and will start on that as well but by the time you've digested just the very basics of that, you will have made a good 10 tracks. THEN go back and read the rest of the manual. I always find if you read something before you fully understand the concepts behind them, you have to go back and read them again.

EDIT: :O music theory is not a sticky!!!

Its here anyway.
http://www.dubstepforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=54823

(Also remember you're new and your not going to be the next Flux or even as good as most of us on the forum overnight. Most people that come and go on this forum do so because they do not have the patience to learn how to be good at their art.)

[bassinine]

shit, forgot about tom cosm - he's a mad scientist.

op: http://www.cosm.co.nz/ (best one-stop for ableton tutorials on the internet, imo).

[DDoSix]

first off you'll want to update your ableton, there are tons of bug fixes between 8.1 and 8.2.2 which is the latest ver.

secondly i hate you cos u got an apc40 and don't even know how to use it
checkout tom cosm's tutorials, he has got plenty both free and paid ones

OR

pay me and i'll tutor you, only possible though if you live in the south east of england.

Haha, you jelly? I got it as a gift and I wanted to try something new. And f*k the music theory thread looks boring... even though I already learned it in school.

and @gen_: yeah I know I won't be the next flux, but I will have too much free time on my hands this summer so I plan on learning quickly ^_^ . Ill be happy with being the next 501... lol (kidding).

[symmetricalsounds]

yeah jelly as fuck, the apc40 is sweet as.

[tripwave]

become a pro member on cosms website and he shares alot of his ableton project files...they are a great way to see how he does his magic.

[symmetricalsounds]

become a pro member on cosms website and he shares alot of his ableton project files...they are a great way to see how he does his magic.

i had a pro membership for like 6months cos i won it as a prize in one of his remix comps, never even bothered to download all the pro content, think i watched a couple of mins of one of the vids. i can barely be arsd to watch any instructional vids anymore.