How to DJ with Ableton 01 - Preparing Tracks

[@mustafajalali10]

love how simplified your explanation is probably the best on youtube

[@TheNanologue]

Coming from mixing vinyl, I had struggled with Ableton. I'd never thought of the correlation between the original track tempo and the grid. This has helped clear things up for me. Finally an end to the frustration. Let the fun begin! Many thanks.

[@CollectiveIntelligenceMusic]

Great to hear mate!

[@magyar77]

Finally someone explained how to resolve the glitchy warping sound by using "Pitch"! Thanks man!

[@aethrya]

Dope. Clear, concise teaching. Thank you.

[@armandomonteiro1063]

this is the best video about djing with ableton live! thank u so much broo!

[@zathoichicloe]

cheers man, awesome videos!! we were dancing next to each other in Boom this year, was to shy to say thanks!!

[@CollectiveIntelligenceMusic]

Ahh dude! You should have said hello!!!! Pleased you're enjoying the videos

[@MichaelShor]

This is a nice introduction to DJing with Ableton. It seems to me that the "re-pitch" approach should be used rather carefully, especially in dealing with two tracks farther apart in beat, which would substantially pitch shift the music. "Complex" and "Complex Pro" are not perfect, but it seems to me that they are a fairly safe choice when not warping dramatically. Different tradeoffs and obviously different people will have different preferences there.

[@serg154taxi]

great! english is not my native language, but you explain so clear

[@dvak_dj]

Oh man. Thank you so much! I learned a lot today. I don't realize that djing without turntable is so complicated.

[@DashGlitch]

Great video again!

[@unkramusic2173]

This is gold mine for begginers!!

[@thomasadame9509]

Can you do a video on how to do advanced chopping in Ableton like the way squint does octochopping or like Bassnectar

[@gavinisherwood7982]

Thanks for all your helpful videos Andrew. I am not seeing any advantages to using it to DJ over traktor or Pioneer where you can do most stuff on the fly. Seems like a lot of extra prep work. Are there some real advantages?

[@OryxDJ]

i wondered the same, i'm also used to traktor and i also noticed how long time this prep work is in ableton. So i have the same question

[@DarkPsy4]

Absolutely baller video, thank you so much. Also helps that I wanted to make a Psy set to begin with! : D Keep up the good work!

[@wutangpaul]

This is awesome, thanks for this!

[@glimes6471]

Very insightful, thank you very much!

[@dylvasey]

The biggest thing to do is to concentrate more on preparing your individual tracks in Ableton. You should really have around four or five cue points (or clips) for each track so you can trigger each clip on their own. Sometimes you'll need a longer intro / outro (just loop the clip). You can also add effects etc and create your own intros / outros / on the fly remixes, which I assume you'll cover later.

[@jeremyyoung50]

A year later…… adjust the warp zones once you switch to complex+. Depends on bpm but typically these have square numbers involved so the perfect sync or transition can be even# risen related to that perfect square mind set

[@ghostape]

I use Ableton Lite (wish I could afford more) to make tunes but from what you show, this would be fine to DJ with?? Brilliant video with clear explanation!!! Bravo sir 👏

[@buzzardmusic5606]

just download it from torrent g

[@wutangpaul]

@@buzzardmusic5606 a real g pays

[@tn0wl361]

@@wutangpaul IF the real g can afford it and isn't worrying about next months rent while they aren't using the program for commercial purposes. I don't personally have a problem with piracy for my own personal uses mostly because I just can't afford stuff.

[@jasonvotaw5966]

You are the Professor!

[@eli-shulga]

Man so happy to find your content! This one is very useful! Also probably the biggest source for psy trance producing channel I could find, going over your 'how to's really a goldmine of content for that.. Thanks keep it up PS: I wish you could dive even deeper into psy trance producing on a more intermediate and up levels. Its understood its less "popular" for views and such but, yea.. PS2: If you have or will have in the future a paid content/course on the subject Ill be more happy to pay for such a thing :)

[@javigood1799]

is it possible to make loops of for example 4 bars and make the transition slower?

[@boingboingjr]

I appreciate you brother ❤️💪🏾

[@BattlestarGentoo]

Is this how Trance DJs mix nowadays on a live event? I ask because once I saw on a video of an event and for a short time you saw that the DJ used some program probably for mixing (I think it was Ableton with the session view open). And what's the best approach when the different tracks have a different level of volume? I imported a song, but it has about 100 warp markers, why is this so? I can get rid of it by Settings Record/Warp/launch autowarp long samples off (Other songs don't have that many markers)

[@sebanrocks]

Is there any way we can change the time code with a midi controller just like we control a track with a cdj?

[@hailey6852]

Thanks again for another amazing video, stay blessed

[@sonnuone]

Thanks for this! I just have a question regarding the bpm. Let's say you add a third track that is in 140, would you adjust the bpm of the session to that and leave it there? This doesn't create any problems?

[@layandar9553]

I think the tempo will be 144 globally. Not really sure but that's what i got in mind.

[@Sychro]

Nice clear video. Although I don't like to DJ with Ableton, this is very helpful for those who prefer it. By the way, I think you meant "phrase" sometimes instead of bar. A phrase is usually made of 4 or 8 bars in electronic music. Sometimes psytrance producers doesn't respect this and throws 1 or 2 extra bars before the new phrase, but yeah, the proper term is "phrase". Also, beware of Beatport's BPM and Key info. Sometimes it isn't right. Better use a DJ software like Traktor or Mixed In Key maybe.

[@arjungupta25]

Great videos! How do you work with multiple cue points? Do you create duplicates of tracks with different starting points and label them? Seems like it would multiply the library by 2-4x. How many total instances/tracks in each channel is usually manageable while performing?

[@maxh98492]

nice vid! Please correct me on this- i'm not sure why you warped the first track at 145 if it was going to be blended with the next track (during the cross fade). How did this cross fade work? i know its only 1bpm difference but wouldnt that cause some timing issues? Why not warp them both to the same tempo ?

[@vanidemo]

This is so cool, thanks for sharing

[@Deam0007]

Great video ;) How about Traktor Pro ?

[@WOODNOX]

Why don't you use the DJ MASTER CHANNEL in the Ableton audio effect rack ? So you can cut of the mid, low's and hi's even with some effects like reverb, ping pong delay and etc

[@jaylo230680]

Ableton is great for Djing I used Pioneer XDJ R1 for MIDI Controller which worked perfect with it

[@robertlemiesz7143]

How do you loop sections? Ive always wanted to try DJing with ableton but it seems like so much effort for like half of the features that Traktor has

[@101Osprey101]

Yeah. I am with you on this one. I use SeratoDJ Pro and 4 deck controller. The only reason I consider using Ableton is for programming lights to every track. I don't think I will be going this route. Way too much time spent just prepping tracks with minimal ability to work with then once they are loaded and playing.

[@dendraspace]

​@@101Osprey101 I also feel like all that preparation kills all the fun.

[@brettmullen9226]

Setting cue points seems easy. I also use an APC40 Mk2. How can you make different cue points in a track that you can reference live without having to move the markers? Would I just have to create separate tracks that played loops/cue points of the track if I wanted to do it even more on the fly than this?

[@NocturnalAndres]

you should be able to midi map that. you can also throw the song into simpler and slice it up and midi map the play buttons for the slices of the song to your midi so you can cue and loop on the fly. I would try that but keep in mind I've never djed on ableton before lol

[@dieauswandereruklondon2857]

@collective Intelligenz ... hi, can I use the tracks from Beatport in my YT-videos for free without without naming the artist etc. and can i monitarize my videos and earn money? thank u!

[@OryxDJ]

Hi, i just keep asking myself why you do this in ableton. I'm using traktor for years now and i still don't see why you do this in ableton instead of in traktor. I'm an ableton user too, but for producing tracks, what's the big win to do it your way in ableton ? (open question, just really wonder). In traktor the prep work is so much faster.

[@crhettbuttler1]

My computer does not have the CPU capacity for me to have one more even very light app installed on it let alone Traktor. Which is why I have been stuck with Ableton! Plus I cannot afford a MIDI that is proper (Like S4 or other Traktor DJ deckers or MIDIs) and the MIDI I have makes sense when used by Ableton not a program that looks like an actual DJ deck.

[@benediktsturm4387]

That was super helpful. Thank you very much :)

[@Algorhythmical]

how do you monitor both decks on the headphones only?

[@victorfrances]

Hello Brother, thanks for the video. Just a note, I really did tests with different people playing the same track, a .wav and mp3 320 and nobody knew what was the .wav. Played at clubs with a powerfull soundsystem. Did you do the test? I mean they occupy so much more space for nothing...

[@CollectiveIntelligenceMusic]

There is a big difference between wav and MP3 and its been demonstrated plenty of times.

[@victorfrances]

@@CollectiveIntelligenceMusic have you done it with same track wav and 320 mp3? Please, do it. Thanks

[@CollectiveIntelligenceMusic]

@@victorfrances I have done it and I can hear a dramatic difference which is why I use wav. If you prefer MP3 then use it, but I will always give the best advice in the videos.

[@victorfrances]

@@CollectiveIntelligenceMusic hehe yes, I don't doubt it that your intention is good. it is just my note: You can try here the sound test: www.npr.org/sections/therecord/2015/06/02/411473508/how-well-can-you-hear-audio-quality?t=1587034446677

[@CollectiveIntelligenceMusic]

If you think MP3 are acceptable audio quality then use them, I don't play MP3 because I want the best audio quality available - the same reason I wouldn't use poor quality digital to analog conversion. I would say a huge portion of the population don't consciously know the difference, but I would argue that when in front of a well tuned rig and high quality rig the difference is night and day.

[@jamesLG1]

Just wondering why you didnt demonstrate beatmatching the tracks together?

[@CollectiveIntelligenceMusic]

Hey Charlie, this method eliminates beat matching.

[@djtonyserrano]

I don´t know you but I love you BIG TIME !

[@gabrielbsalvatori]

where do you find these awesome trakcs??

[@mauriciofrison1848]

i fcking love u dude, thanks, you explained it very clearly. im from Argentina

[@CollectiveIntelligenceMusic]

Awwww Mauricio, love you too!

[@KylePowers]

Really great video man!

[@CollectiveIntelligenceMusic]

Thanks Kyle, there will be more coming in this series soon! :)

[@shawnpeterson1825]

Is there anyway to just import tracks from Apple Music? Or do you only recommend doing it through beat port.

[@MO-wt3py]

but are both of the tracks running on 144 bpm as you have set the tempo of the session to 144?

[@skunchtv]

good vid mate

[@shpongled587]

You could have gone more into detail on tuning. I didn't get that at all. Also, what if the transients don't match the BD? Otherwise, it was amazing.

[@rosewinebrenner3179]

Great video. Thank you so much!

[@hectorvieyra1403]

Hello, how can i remap the apc40? :)

[@neaumusic]

just set 1.1.1 on the first kick, line it up in arrangement if that's what you're doing, then drag the start back

[@sdghsadfjadfjd785]

great video!

[@rodneypragasan]

Thank you.

[@itsboyle8743]

This is chaotic evil

[@CollectiveIntelligenceMusic]

Sweeet!

[@keralien6595]

Great One Bro :)

[@1samwhich]

Thank you for explaining :)

[@povalex4088]

Damn i cant get the warping thing right

[@LordanJauzon]

This man is not afraid of 138.. 138 is afraid of him!

[@SteveMaggioncalda]

THANK YOU!

[@djanshindiaa]

but many djs don"t support sync djing

[@ahamm.u]

i didnt know wolverine was into djing :P

[@any1568]

0:45 sounds kinda sus

[@italyisntreal]

Oof

[@ognjetina]

first time I heard him saying dick 1 and dick 2 and I was like wtf

[@Red-gl2cb]

I dont like using live to dj. Especially with my 6 or 8 hour sets. Its more fun with dj gear. I been mixing since 1995. Ive seen the golden age of technics turntables,ive seen them become practically obsolete, even cdjs. (Cds had more issues than any other dj format if u ask me lol) And i have to say. I love what pioneer are doing with record box and beatport. i think ableton is more fun used as a daw. Or. For live sets. But only with hardware. Its still cool to experiment. But i mean.. meh. I dunno. I mean.. using repitch? U could even just use traktor to key a track. And then also, theres the fact a lot of systems are in mono. Then you have buffer size issues with bigger sets. Its not gonna be nice to increase it in the middle of a track. I think stick to ableton for production personally.

[@dukeneukem4747]

I appreciate it

[@XKwiziteRecords]

64 steps in abelton JUST to stay on beat?? Yeaaa I can never figure out why to DJ on Abelton 🤢 the amount of prep work doesnt seem worth the execution.. some well trained ears can do that in a quarter of the time

[@annieobrien3069]

You're cute -- videos good too

[@CollectiveIntelligenceMusic]

Oooh thanks Daisy!

[@Aralmo640]

Who is that guy that doesn't know about chord, or music or nothing at all in the ad? is like WHO WANTS AN EXPERT?

[@orang-utanklaus8998]

(y)

[@buzzardmusic5606]

Could you take off this dark background🤬😡

[@CollectiveIntelligenceMusic]

No, why? It's easier to look at.

[@superanans]

Thank you!