I stopped using Ableton...

Explaining why I had to stop using ableton to make beats. Keep in mind, I still use ableton for certain sound design stuff - like making ableton racks and making sample packs.
Want to help support the channel? Join the patreon! / r10makesbeats
#teenageengineering #sounddesign #edm #elektron #synthesizer #groovebox #synth #music #musicgear #guitarpedals #ableton #flstudio #digitalsynth #producer #musicproduction #sounddesigner #producer #musicproduction #electronicmusic #tutorial #educational #education #tips #tipsandtricks

[@TheKiiS]

Live for Life

[@caenor]

I love this guy, he feels like a friend talking to you and showing you all his gear and stuff

[@r10makesbeats]

thanks for watching!

[@shambien]

Agree 100%. In the last couple of years I went onto the same route and I only use DAWs for complex recordings or remixes, these days, but for my own composition I went all in into groove box (albeit mine is a software one on a tablet, it's not a DAW but really like a groovebox) and hardware and live playing. It's harder in a way but also liberating and much more fun for me. And yes, those limitations and constraints really do help creativity flow. Keep it up! 👌💪😉😎🔊🔊🔊

[@r10makesbeats]

nice! glad to hear the hardware/groove box method works - it’s def a lot more fun. i don’t think most people want to “program” their entire song 😂😭

[@gregoryhutto1963]

Maybe for finalizing tracks you can use a simpler DAW. Logic has an auto mastering thing. Just set the levels you want, analyze, and accept it’s suggested EQ and compensation. Or even Audacity - just put the stems in, set levels, and render that stuff. Whatever works. I’ve got a set up where I record everything to either my OP-1 tape and or my Zoom recorder.

[@r10makesbeats]

thanks for the suggestion! funnily enough i wouldn’t mind using ableton for mastering - usually mixing is fine in the groove box too - it actually simplifies the process quite a bit

[@gregoryhutto1963]

@@r10makesbeats Yeah, I feel you. I'm having a similar problem. I like sample packs, because they're usually cohesive and restrained. But I can't keep dropping $20 here and there on my favorite artists sample packs. I just got a trial to Splice, but it's overwhelming. I know it takes a lot of work to put sample packs together, but if people like you, RMR, Cuckoo, etc put them out for $5 or so, I think I would buy more of them, and it may be net positive for the creators. I bet it's small numbers for creators anyway, so maybe it's not worth it to solve my problem cheaply. lol

[@rkeewiflavour]

Cool video. I have a question, does anyone want Ableton lite? I got it when I bought a sound card, but I already have one.

[@artephank]

Get Ableton Push. It makes ableton fun

[@r10makesbeats]

already have one haha

[@klimatwav]

For me it’s opposite . I sold Push 2 and then my creativity has started blooming

[@artephank]

@@klimatwav don’t know about 2 but Push 3 is amazing. The pads alone are worth it. The dtep sequencer is superb. I sold MPC all my electrons because I liked Ableton workflow so much.

[@BlackAera]

That's like... a thousand bucks. Double that for the standalone version. You can get a Maschine Plus for 1200

[@artephank]

@ yeah and MPC is like 600, but neither of those has 64 MPE pads and doesn’t provide step sequencer with p-locks for Ableton Live. Those are all personal opinions but for me being able to have groove box like workflow inside DAW is major win. And I just love those pads - way better than those on MPC. For me it’s worth it.

[@subtracktion]

I think this is a pretty common experience for those making music this way. I think I've heard someone call it "option paralysis" - so many choices you just get stuck and can't choose. I've definitely felt this way with Live at times. I started a long time ago with sampling records on old Akai and Ensoniq samplers. Limitation absolutely sparks creativity. Necessity is the mother of invention, as they say. I would try to think of every way I could possibly manipulate a sample within the confines of the sampler I was using at the time. Carrying this mentality over to DAW production has helped a lot. In my opinion, a very helpful way to get around this in Live (or any DAW) is just to set your own limitations prior to starting and work within them. For example, make a beat using only Simpler or only Sampler. Or choose one sample and try to make every part of the beat with only that sample (bass, melody, etc.). Sometimes I'll focus on one plugin manufacturer, i.e. "Today I'm making a beat with only the free Spitfire Labs plugins" or, "Today I'm making a beat using only free plugins from Plugin Boutique." Voluntary restrictions spark creativity for me and in the long run I think you end up better understanding the tools you have.

[@r10makesbeats]

yes! i def think self imposed limitations within the DAW can certainly help - both by limiting plugins / fx / and number of tracks

[@davelee1935]

100% Agree

[@herribertfinkenbrecht5015]

On My opinion, propellerhead reason was the Best! Simple selve ecplaining Workflow…allmost total Control. It ist as non Virtual as it can get…. For a DAW

[@remyvegamedia]

I feel it. I do love Ableton, but definitely find it harder in general to get into the creative mindset when I'm on a computer. I don't know exactly why that is. Even though I have annoyances with some stuff on MPC, for example, when I get into it, I tend to stay more involved and in the zone. Having a Push 2 makes the process better with Ableton. I definitely still prefer mixing and arranging on Ableton. It seems like my more "left brain" tasks find a better place on DAWs, but I find a more creative flow with hardware. I'm trying to find a balance without trying to blame my tools for lack of discipline and commitment, but I definitely enjoy hardware in a way that I don't really enjoy software.

[@r10makesbeats]

i don’t think it’s about discipline at all haha - we enjoy using the tools we enjoy using, and as long as we’re making music and like how it sounds then we’re going about it the right way 🤷

[@LillySchwartz]

What you said towards the end is pretty on point, limit yourself and option paralysis goes away. The funny thing is, this kinda happened to me with hardware? I didn't limit which synths I wanted to use for the album I'm working on right now. The only constraint was that it had to use a certain subset of my hardware modular which doubles as a complex effects processor for my other synths. I ended up with something that felt incoherent and kinda like two albums instead of one, so now I'm focusing on finishing those off independantly with more focus. With Ableton alone I always use a handful of instruments I want to explore for an album, so it's all glued together automatically. Lesson learned there, I will be more careful with my hardware choices next time because I've clearly made my modular too flexible 😂 Hybrid all the way for me by the way. Hardware synths + Ableton & a Launchpad + Launchcontrol is the sweet spot. Groove boxes kinda go two ways: Either they seem like I would be trying to write music with my hands tied behind my back or it's basically a computer with a ridiculously tiny screen and the silliest button combinations / ergonomics. But then of course with some of my hardware based music Ableton is merely a glorified mixer with unlimited modular effects chains, so the actual composition happens in the rack.

[@r10makesbeats]

yeah the simplicity problem can also apply to hardware! i try to stick with a single synth at a time and that usually does the trick, but i can see that being difficult. hybrid is def a good approach too!

[@Gear-Tube]

This and the Op-1 Field latest video are my favourite of yours so far.

[@Gear-Tube]

I’d love to hear more on your story in music production and your phases as an artist 👍

[@r10makesbeats]

appreciate it! i’ll def make more vids on my background haha - it’s not that exciting i’m mainly a hobbyist who started taking this seriously in the last 1.5 years

[@Gear-Tube]

@ yhea.. even then, everyone has their DNA of influences, forming some singular style trough experimentation with different sounds and workflows. The creative path is so cool to hear discussed; those details on the tools you used and your sound design period are really interesting!

[@Gear-Tube]

@ you say that’s not that exciting but those last 3 videos of yours really got the “juice” I need from that type of KZbin video. Being big and famous ain’t always that interesting there are so many small artists doing relevant things that will get lost in all the noise just because they don’t have the proper knowledge to market themselves…

[@Gear-Tube]

@ it’s cool to have someone share their experience on a real human to human level, that’s the original spirit of the old KZbin 👍😄

[@aikighost]

For me I never liked its timeline and prefer something that is more focussed on track structure and less on stacking FX than Ableton is.

[@r10makesbeats]

arrangement mode can be unpleasant to stare at for sure

[@Daniel-ew9lo]

Speaking of getting overwhelmed during music composition. What about the Octatrack? Does it suit your style of making music? Would you choose the Octatrack over the Op-1f? Thanks!

[@r10makesbeats]

octatrack is a complicated and elusive machine - i probs wouldn’t choose it over the 1f for production, but it can def do more, because you have 8 audio tracks and an add’l 8 midi tracks. its also a great performance fx box which the op1f can’t compete with at all

[@HOLLASOUNDS]

The gear vs software debates exists the same as every other debate regarding music production. The reason is justification of decisions and on what We buynor don't buy in music Production's, like its a competition. A gear head can make them selfs stand out from everyone else by saying software is trash and hardware is the way, knowing that hardware is 100x more expensive then software. Or the opposite where someone says hardware is trash and they make everything with a laptop and software.

[@r10makesbeats]

i mean there’s a LOT of cope haha - my take is use whatever helps you have fun and make music 🤷

[@fritsvanzanten3573]

"I stopped using a DAW" would have been a better title. Your messsage is clear, but the title suggest you stopped using this particular DAW. It made me curious for the wrong reason. I share your experience, btw.

[@r10makesbeats]

appreciate the feedback, that makes sense!

[@tombasports]

See I used reason for YEARS but then got back into hardware and now I want more portable gear. The op xy is it unless if namm shows something good from Roland Korg or even elektron I think elektrons next move is a battery powered octatrack

[@r10makesbeats]

octatrack mk3 is what we need!

[@Abbaddonna]

Yes, all those producers with their little cool beats with bobbing of heads and cool gestures while they hit the play button or whatever ALL SOUND EXACTLY THE SAME. And it's not about the beat per se or the chords and harmonies - it's the feel. They all hit a very narrow "feel" strip if you know what I mean which makes them ALL SOUND EXACTLY THE SAME. Oh, and they all wear beanies indoors for some reason. Makes about as much sense as their music. Sorry for the diatribe.

[@r10makesbeats]

hahaha beatmakers online do have an aesthetic for sure