CERTIFIABLY ABLETON
SESSION VIEW VS. ARRANGEMENT VIEW | Matt McCoy
Should I use Session View or Arrangement etc) or a MIDI clip, depending on the type of and organized. You're able to see the audio
View? The answer to this question is Yes. This track it is. You can also record directly into an waveform for each track, which is helpful for
debate is one that I wish wasn’t a debate. One audio clip or MIDI clip - which makes Session a visual representation of where you are in
of the awesome things about Ableton Live is View really great for creative music production. the song. It’s great for multi track recording
how flexible it is, regardless of what View you’re Each clip you record will automatically Loop, because you can see exactly what’s happening
using. There are some people who will argue which then lets you start recording another one as you are recording multiple instruments.
why one View is better than the other, but I - adding layers as you go. This lets you create & Editing audio and MIDI in arrangement View is
don’t think that is helpful because it doesn’t give innovate while recording. Another great benefit very simple because you can highlight sections
you a full picture of what Ableton Live can do. of Session View is the simplicity it gives you to delete time, copy time, and duplicate time
It would be similar to asking if you should only when running multi tracks. You can create a (this is not a great experience in Session View).
post pictures to Instagram or only post Stories. setlist using Scenes (the horizontal rows). Then Arrangement View is perfect for customizing
Your instagram experience would be very on each row, you can load your multi track and re-arranging a multi track, like moving a
different if you decided to only use one feature audio stems for a song in each audio track and chorus around or adding another bridge at the
over the other. To have the best experience, use a controller to start each song. You can end of a song. You can also add locators for
you use both features depending on what easily set the BPM Tempo and Time Signature each section in your song which can be mapped
you’re trying to accomplish. The same goes for per Scene (which is not as easy in Arrangement to a controller like http://looptimus.com These
Ableton Live. Session View and Arrangement View). You can also click and drag Scenes to allow you to jump between sections of a song
View work together to help you utilize the full re-order your worship setlist. All of the audio during live performance. Arrangement View is
power of the application. I’ll go over some of the files will move with it. However, if you’re wanting also excellent for adding crossfades and fades
basic features of each View to give you a better to do crossfades and automation, you’ll want to to create smooth transitions between songs, as
understanding of when you may want to use use Arrangement View. well as adding tempo changes.
- Session View and Arrangement View. You SUMMARY SUMMARY
can access these different Views by pressing Session View is excellent for people who have Arrangement View is great for editing and
the “Tab” key or clicking on the icon in the top tracks already arranged in the order they want recording tracks. It’s also perfect for worship
right corner that looks like the Ableton Live to play the song. It’s great for simply starting a leaders who want to press play once and
logo (did you know the Ableton logo represents song, playing through it and then starting the let your entire worship set run through
both Views?). next song, as well as quickly customizing the automatically with crossfades, automations
tempo and and time signature. and tempo changes.
Average Time To Create Setlist: 5-10 minutes Average Time To Create Setlist: 30-60+ minutes
a big grid, similar to Microsoft Excel. The ARRANGEMENT VIEW If you’re curious, I use Arrangement View to
vertical columns are Audio and MIDI tracks Arrangement View looks much more like your edit, record and customize my tracks. Then I
that you can use for audio files and software standard music recording software (Logic, load those tracks into Session View to create
instruments. It looks like an audio mixer with GarageBand, Pro Tools, etc.). It consists of a setlist and use during worship. If you want
volume faders, mute and solo buttons. The horizontal audio and MIDI tracks that run to learn more, check out abletoninworship.com
horizontal rows are called “Scenes”. Think of a down a timeline from left to right. It’s perfect Scene as a song in your setlist, or a section of for creating and editing song arrangements. a song if you like to break down your tracks You can record instruments into Arrangement even further. Each rectangle in the grid can be View down the timeline, which gives you a big loaded with an audio file (Bass.wav, Guitar.wav, picture overview of how your song is laid out
each View. Ableton Live has two main Views
SESSION VIEW
Session View is the first View that is displayed
when you open Ableton Live. It looks like
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January 2019
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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