CERTIFIABLY ABLETON
5 REASONS TO USE ABLETON LIVE IN WORSHIP | Matt McCoy
Ableton Live can seem very intimidating at first, instrument in a song that you didn’t have, using We want the focus to be on God during our
but it’s much easier than it looks. Once you tracks and Ableton in worship is a great way services, so we need to eliminate bringing
start using tracks in worship, you won’t turn to add in those missing instruments. You can unnecessary attention to our band. Having
back. Here are a few reasons why it’s worth choose what instruments you want in your smooth transitions can go a long way in
taking the time to implement tracks in your track, and mute the ones you don’t want. If doing that!
worship service. someone calls in sick, simply un-mute that track to include it in your mix. If you’re leading To help you get started, I’ve created an
IMPROVE YOUR SOUND BY PLAYING TO A CLICK at a small church plant and don’t have a bass essential gear checklist of everything you need.
The best thing you can do to improve your player or piano player, Tracks are a great way To watch my free 1-hour Ableton course, visit
band’s sound is to play with a click. The click to replace a missing musician so your band can AbletonInWorship.com
track is the glue that keeps your band together. still sound full.
BASIC REQUIREMENTS
Without a click, everyone in your band begins
to play at their own tempo – which can begin KEEP YOUR BAND ON THE SAME PAGE ☐ Computer (Mac or PC)
to sound muddy and out of time. At first, you It can be frustrating trying to get your band You’ll need a computer to install Ableton Live
or your band may be hesitant to begin using to remember the arrangement of the song ☐ Ableton Live
a click, but if you take the time to teach your you’re playing. As worship leaders, we have The Intro version starts at $99. It’s a great place
band how to use it, it can drastically enhance all repeated a chorus, but had someone in our to start and you can always upgrade later if
your sound. Using a click track in Ableton Live band go to the bridge instead. It can be a big needed. Buy at loopcommunity.com/shop
is simple and the best thing you can do to distraction to your congregation as well. When ☐ Stereo Breakout Cable
improve your band’s sound. It’s like learning to you use tracks in Ableton Live, you are able to This is the easiest way to get the audio out of
ride a bike - once you do it, you won’t go back! add cue voices to keep your band together. your computer into the sound system. For a
The cue voices count in the upcoming section, diagram, click here.
MAKE YOUR BAND SOUND HUGE for example, “Chorus, 2, 3, 4”. This not only ☐ 2 Direct Boxes & XLR Cables
Have you ever been to a concert and heard helps your band be on the same page, but it You’ll need these to get the audio to your sound
an instrument that you didn’t see on stage? can help you be spontaneous in worship. If you system.
That artist was using tracks. Tracks, also want to play a section again, you can trigger ☐ In-Ear Monitors
known as MultiTracks, are songs split up into that section in Ableton and your band won’t get If you don’t have in-ear monitors, watch this
individual instrument files. Most worship artists lost. It’s like having a digital band director! Your video to learn how to still use tracks.
and bands (Hillsong, Bethel, Passion, etc.) use rehearsal times will also be shorter because tracks to fill out their sound. If you want your you won’t have to practice the arrangement ADVANCED OPTIONS
band to sound big and not have an empty feel, over and over. ☐ USB Audio Interface
then using tracks and Ableton in your worship
A more advanced way to route your audio and
services can be a huge help. Not every band ELIMINATE AWKWARD TRANSITIONS gives your sound engineer more control over
should sound the same, but if you are able to Transitions can be one of the hardest things individual track volume. TrackRig.com
use a few tracks underneath your musicians to do correctly when leading worship. If a ☐ MIDI Foot Controller
to fill out the sound (Pads, Percussion, Loops, transition is done incorrectly, it can kill the vibe Take full control of your tracks with your feet!
etc), it can help your band sound great! and sometimes derail the entire next song for Start, Stop, Repeat, etc. looptimus.com
your band and congregation. Using Ableton
REPLACE MUSICIANS YOU DON’T HAVE Live makes it easy to fade in and out of songs,
If you have ever had a musician call in sick add pads between your tracks, and eliminate
at the last minute, or really wanted a certain any awkward transition between your songs.
158
December 2018
Matt McCoy
Matt is a worship leader and songwriter from
Chicago. He is the founder of LoopCommunity.com
and an Ableton Certified Trainer.
LoopCommunity.com
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