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Any tips from anyone who has done this successfully. I just tried to use Ableton for the first time after using nothing but FL Studio for the past 8 years. I can't figure it out. I'll admit, I'm sure Ableton is better, but it seems super complicated. Any advice anyone can give would be most appreciated.

DrVinnyBoomBeats wrote:Any tips from anyone who has done this successfully. I just tried to use Ableton for the first time after using nothing but FL Studio for the past 8 years. I can't figure it out. I'll admit, I'm sure Ableton is better, but it seems super complicated. Any advice anyone can give would be most appreciated.

Can you be a bit more specific?
I know how to use both FL and ableton and I'd say the biggest difference is the track/channel setup. In FL you have different patterns where you can have more than one instrument playing together. In ableton you can use drum racks and groups but it's not the same as FL studio. If you have more specific questions I can help ya out.

There are no real shortcuts if that's what you're looking for. From my perspective it's very intuitive, you just have to spend some time to get familiar with it. I started out using Logic Pro and used it for about a year until I tried Ableton, took me about half a day of practice and my workflow was on par with Logic.

I don't see any reason to switch from FL to Ableton though. FL has a lot of great native plugs and is seemingly just as "good" as Ableton..

I've done it..Used FL off and on for about 2 years before I got 'serious' about producing..
When I got serious..I switched to Ableton and didn't look back..the workflow is just much easier to understand when you get the hang of it.
Keep at it, watch tutorials on what you want to do..Practice won't make perfect, but you'll understand more!

A DAW doesnt create workflow, you do that..

twilitez wrote:A DAW doesnt create workflow, you do that..

A DAW facilitates your workflow, some better than others

Of course, but the earlier post implied it automatically gets better when using ableton, which is just nonsense to me.

My tip is to forget about the session view. Never been FL user but when starting with Ableton i had some knowledge in typical DAWs that does not have anything similar to the session view. It looked great on paper and i was really excited about that but after some learning and practice i realized it was just making everything harder, confuse and time consuming.

You should check out ARTFX's tutorials on youtube.

Read the manual
Check tutorials/guides/YouTube videos
Consult the Ableton forum


Nothing really else to add.

itzDetrimental wrote:You should check out ARTFX's tutorials on youtube.

Who the hell is that lazy that they can't spend the time reading the manual and clicking buttons.
A tutorial for some odds n ends maybe but you learn by being hands-on.

bro, all i used was FL since FL5 and used it until 10 came out. then i explored ableton and the workflow is so much easier. audio routing, and midi routing is also a breeze.

i dont care what anyone says though, but i still believe my tunes sounded "fuller" and had more life in FL. Warmth.
nothing to drastic though.

RandoRando wrote: i dont care what anyone says though, but i still believe my tunes sounded "fuller" and had more life in FL. Warmth.
nothing to drastic though.

I kind of get the same feeling from my experiences with Ableton but I'm really no audiophile so I'm probably not in a position to say. I have been considering making the same switch as OP, mainly just so I can use a Mac for producing since I'm looking to get one for my DJ:ing. What are people's thoughts on this? Worth it? I have no problems with the workflow in FL and find it quite easy to do most things I want to do so it feels a bit like fixing something that isn't broken.

There are a few issues at hand that are the reason I am considering switching. First, I have been using FL for a long time, and I want to see what I can do without it. FL is super easy, and I did learn it hands on, and am used to it, but I know Ableton is good as well, and I hear people talk about it a lot. The second reason is I know you can DJ with Ableton. I've not DJ'd yet and am sorting through my options of how to go about that. I like making music, and have been doing so for a long time, but I'm to the point to where I think I should be doing shows. I've used the Traktor program a bit (without a controller), and that basically is my other option for live shows. The final reason is I am considering switching to Mac, and FL isn't available on Mac.

itzDetrimental wrote:You should check out ARTFX's tutorials on youtube.

Thanks for the advertising..

Hahaa I also made the switch from FL to Ableton about 2 years ago. To me Ableton just made a lot more sense in terms of how everything is laid out, but that is just a personal preference. I've used almost every program, but after trying them all I ended up keeping Ableton Live. You could start watching my tutorials, they will get you going I guess and the first season of tutorials is already more than 7 hours long.

http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLC611A0C202900D15

FL is great, I'm an ableton user, but switching DAWs isn't gonna make you any more creative...

DrVinnyBoomBeats wrote:The second reason is I know you can DJ with Ableton. I've not DJ'd yet and am sorting through my options of how to go about that.

You do know about the live mode in FL Studio, right? If not, here's a demo. It's pretty much the same as what you get with ableton live as far as I know.

there's nothing wrong with FL and it will be frustrating doing things like drums in Ableton because Fruity has a step sequencer and a much, much better piano roll. You don't need to switch necessarily.

Perej wrote:there's nothing wrong with FL and it will be frustrating doing things like drums in Ableton because Fruity has a step sequencer and a much, much better piano roll. You don't need to switch necessarily.

Yeah, FL is great for me because making music is very visual to me. I've never been able to play woodwind or brass instruments because I can't see the notes I'm trying to play like you can on guitar or piano. Having the step sequencer and piano roll makes it easier for me to create sounds. I like seeing where notes are in comparison to one another. Hearing them isn't enough. Within 5 minutes of trying to figure out anything in Ableton, I was so lost.

LOL@Step Sequencer...I wish they'd just get rid of this...it's an unnecessary window that I avoid using...I wish the instruments/vsts/samplers etc were all just tethered to tracks in the play list automatically. There is no point in making drum beats on it...everything is just simpler in the piano roll.