Structure and arrangement using subtractive structuring in Ableton - Bumpy Underground House

[@sibanger4939]

Another workflow tip Danny. When editing your Drum patterns, instead of having to loop your midi notes with the arrow, just click on the Piano Roll of what ever you want to mute, and just hit the '0' key. It will then mute the whole line.

[@browza50]

Thanks for this... I find when I'm writing tunes, I tend to get to the stage where I have all the elements in one place and then I don't know what to do with them, because everything's playing at once. This seems to be a simple and effective way of separating everything out. I've probably read about this style of working a million times, but this is the first time I've seen it done so effectively. I'll be sure to put it to good use. Thanks DJL.

[@musicprotutorials]

I love that term 'subtractive arrangement' and it's great to hear it can help people.. we used to use it ALL the time in the 90s.. funny how it's almost become forgotten knowledge.. great for it to be in the public eye.

[@DjangoFlaherty]

Thanks! Definitely going to try this. I think the trap many of us fall into is working on those 8 bars until we're sick of them, and never get past the first 8 bars.

[@JustinGeorgedj]

This is useful for me. The hardest part of writing the track arranging and this really helps you get to the point where you have it laid out and then the magic can happen.

[@HonestlyLyingSoul]

These 'Subtractive Arranging' videos from the last couple of weeks, are almost like the holy grail secret for bedroom producers - how to turn that 8 bar loop into a track. I've been trying it in Reaper, and it's definitely working well for me. Thanks, and looking forward to the next videos.

[@s727r]

i've recently started writing deephouse in live, iv'e got some really good unique ideas down in mixer view, but iv'e had a mental block when it comes to arranging them, this is such a good technique, so simple, your a life saver man cheers!!

[@inspector-tech]

Nice Danny. Although I watched this video a while ago, I've now come to realise this is an excellent method for turning one's (monotonous) loops into actual musical phrases. Recording straight from the Session view into Arrangement view (in Ableton) just doesn't cut it. Copying and pasting all clips, extending all the various clip lengths to equal 8 bars, duplicating across a specified time-line then deactivating and constructing your arrangement from there, seems like an excellent method. Especially for someone with a ridiculously logical brain like mine. Thank you so much. I will add this to my workflow.

[@jvbparis]

Great videos, I learn 3 things if not more each time I watch one....plus great workflow techniques, keep'm coming! Thanks for using Cubase, too!

[@chidamole]

Great video. I've tried subtractive arrangement before but deactivating the clips and then activating them as you go along is a new idea for me and one I'll definetely be trying. More ableton workflow vids will be appreciated. Cheers for this!

[@sofakid22154]

Still referring back to these videos they have helped me so much with my productions...GOLD

[@kyokugami5134]

So happy I came across this technique. I was so worried about my song structuring but between this and influences from 90s house I'm feeling relieved its a legitimate practice. Props man!

[@haui82]

Wow, and thank you for this video. So often I am stuck with loops and don't know how to proceed. Actually Push is helping me with that right now, but your tip (which is actually so simple yet effective) is priceless for me.

[@entyce66]

danny ur tunes are so effin soulful i love it....i wish u were my teacher

[@electrobear31]

One of the best Ableton videos still. 👍

[@Aza912]

Hi Danny, i gotta say i watched this tutorial and it's completely changed my workflow and with this i've learnt so much more on structuring a track and adding FX and elements, thank you so much! From a fan

[@MichealBeaulieu]

Loving this killer walkthrough!

[@JasonDeeCaldwell]

GREAT VID! i just subbed im def doing this from now on. i must have 30 unfinished projects going on and between my job and LIFE I do not have the time to layout in arraignment view, this is really easy and helpful way in building a song! THANK U!

[@1000Mikey]

I'm new to production and tend to just make a groove and never try to arrange as I find it very hard. This has helped me alot!

[@darrellthayden]

Finally I can now produce better tracks never understood the de-activated clip purpose Top Tutor love the way he explains things in detail thanks man MORE VIDEOS when you get a chance 10/10

[@shreknos]

Very good technique. Especially for Live where people normally write in session view then struggle to translate those ideas to a working arrangement. Thank you

[@KelmoMusic]

This is brilliant. EXACTLY what I needed, thank you so much.

[@djamygdala]

This is a great way to work out a track, thanks so much for sharing. One of the major troubles I have with reason is playing live, having to jump back and fourth across the screen. This makes it easy. Export loops, plug them in, turn them on and off to fit good timing. I'm not sure how you structured the details in your drum track but maybe that's for later. Thanks again.

[@moonzoomusic]

Thanx so much mate, love it!!

[@jenskuhnemann1241]

Not exactly my style of music but I must say this is one of the very few tutorials which has proper produced and well mixed music in it.

[@musicprotutorials]

BTW, you can listen to my music on Spotify for free >> open.spotify.com/user/dannyjlewis/playlist/0Skj4fn04eb5pXlC5eR1w6

[@johnnyboy1598]

Nice tutorials Danny! Just what I need! Thanks mate

[@FuriousStylezOfficial]

@Music Production Tutorials - Holy smokes YOU ROCK for this example of structuring/composition. Very helpful tutorial. Def got yourself a new subscriber :)

[@xnope.u]

You're a legend for this one

[@nsjx]

Very insightful method. Thank you for the demonstration! Cheers!

[@LoLchilled09]

Wow, this actually, finally helped my problem on how to give a track structure! Thanks a lot!

[@sweeterthananything]

there are tons of mixing and mastering tutorials out there and there are a fairly limited range of standard techniques. it's easy enough if time consuming to learn on your own. arranging is a much more complicated game and more discussion is really needed in the youtube tutorial world.

[@Simbosan]

Pretty much what I would use session view for myself I find it very visual, interesting to see folks working the arrangement view too though. Maybe it suits folks who are more used to sideways arranged DAWs. Interesting vid, thanks man

[@SamIves85]

The hardest part of producing for me is taking the loops from session to arrangement and laying out the structure so I found this video very helpful.

[@inspector-tech]

Fugging Wikid. Love your style man! Absolutely fantastic. Love your bubbling, pumping soulful compositions. Excellent! Nice arrangement technique as well. Thanks for sharing.

[@davidmar43]

Thank you! This was just what I needed!

[@snowz121]

Great tutorial, just wondered if you were gonna put out a tutorial on how to put the track together? Keep em coming!

[@ViRtUaLmOnKeY023]

Nice loop, cool tutorial

[@musicprotutorials]

Thanks.. not tried that yet.. will take a look

[@HebrewHomeboy84]

Great concept!! this way you feel the groove while your mapping the arrangement. Great vid will definitely use this mate, thanks

[@MultiMam12345]

Great tutorial. really enjoyed it . You could save lots of clicks and drags by just hit record in de arrange window. Let it roll for 8 bars. Select All, Trim the end ( you can drag and trim multiple clips at once ) Then duplicate the 8 bars across. Keep up the good work!

[@downtempoguy]

really cool way to sequence in abelton. cheers mate!!!

[@nikhil4316]

Awesome tutorial! I've been struggling with song structure for a while and I learn a lot easier with visual aids. Definitely going to subscribe to your channel now! Cheers mate.

[@octapous77]

Thanks for this tiny tutorial.

[@timhartmann2037]

that song is so catchy , I really dig it

[@soyoblitz4312]

Nice vid and a possibly intuitive way to work. Will give it a go.... Subscribed on the back of this vid. Nice track too btw. Good classic house sound to it

[@mattsymons9521]

great video i get a tune going in session but when i get to my arrangement i always get stumpped really helpful stuff Cheers Danny

[@lewis0569]

Really interesting this, thanks for sharing Danny, Would love to be kept updated with this track and how you go on about further arrangement and mixdown. You da man! :-)

[@MonBienCherAmi]

If a clip is looped, extending it for more bars works like extending a note in the grid editor. The changes you make within the clip will then be applied to all the extended clip, and not just its actual length. Then, if you need to edit a part of the extended clip, select the desired part and [Crtl][E] to separate it from the rest, which is the opposite to consolidating. I find is faster than [Crtl][D] and then having to go several times into the same clip like you did for taking the ride off.

[@littlepigboy]

This is so awesome!!!! Thank you for this.

[@Baardschurft666]

Subtractive Structure approach, ruler track , Man !!, you really helped out here.

[@colmbrophy1991]

this is great danny! nice one :)

[@irvingdiaz6862]

Awesome, thanks so much! Super helpful, may finally be able to finish a track.

[@matt_leaf]

sweet techniques man! handy!

[@danielnicholls2414]

Great video !! Very helpful :)

[@millea8]

Much appreciated man...good way to skeleton a track! Thanks a ton :)

[@Flux_One]

Hi Danny. Your videos have been extremely helpful to me as I re-enter the World or music production (It's been about 15 years since I did anything in a DAW). I have an idea for you, if you haven't created one already, could you make a video on how you have developed your style of, specifically, drum patterns. Some of my favourite tracks from various sub-genres of house seem to have an element in the percussion that makes them stand out from the crowd. Do you have any wisdom you can share on this?

[@gorkemgulan]

freaking helpful! thanks dude!!!

[@stonerich]

Excellent tutorial! :)

[@Spaced_Invader]

Very nice!

[@StumpyHead79]

I proper struggle with arrangement... this was pukka nice one

[@excelli3971]

Thx! This also creates different writings

[@JaeEllis]

this was very helpful! i always had a hard time with arrangement but this technique makes it more fun then work with hitting 0 and rockin out. . ableton is so vast its not even funny…Peace!

[@MrPlattenKarton]

just a little tip for your speed of workflow: you can now drag multiple tracks (as long as their all midi OR audio and looped) to a different length and then consolidate them in one step with the shortcut. Maybe you'd noticed this before...maybe not....beside from this: I really like your concept of arrangement.

[@chidamole]

Agreed, arrangement is really an area that needs some more coverage. There's so many ways to use ableton and I think this can be a bit counter intuitive at points. Once you find your workflow with ableton it's a great tool, it's definitely easy to get too lost in the session view and not have these ideas convey to the arrangement. More vids on not getting stuck in loop mode I think would go down well.

[@lerovel]

Nice vid, how you do that screencast with perspective between webcam and screenshare?

[@attizzoso]

yeah, the old school style! I remember doing that on cubase in the 90's

[@sytch4u]

Danny you love them skippy triplet grooves, reminds me of the old skool garage flava :-)

[@gavmurph94]

you are the man!

[@mattsymons9521]

Hey can you do a video on Spectral analysis, i always trust my ears but its a handy skill to get locked down with

[@damolewis5577]

Awesome!

[@haro82]

Very helpful video. well done. I think deadmau5 recommends this approach too.

[@hleet]

Thank you for this video

[@johnbarnes87]

Great tip!

[@electrobear31]

This is to help people get going with basic arrangement ideas, you can still change things, switch keys, add effects and such the more you listen to it afterwards. He's helping people how to get going with it, it's clearly not a finished track. Come back when you decide you too can learn TB.

[@gerjanos448]

Hello Danny! My question is offtopic a little bit, but what you think about tuning drums to the key of the song? Is it optional or a thing i must do for great sounding beat? The video is really helpful, thank you for your work! :)

[@cmixer108]

Once finished is there a simple shortcut to select and delete all of the "unused /deactivated" clips? Just to clean up the arrangement view.

[@fizzygreen]

Thanks again Danny, love your videos m8 (and tunes of course!) d;-)

[@djmattblack]

I love watching you work but one thing I notice you always have your drum bus maxed right up to 0db, most people say you should try and keep your drums between -6 and -10, which do you think is best?

[@dondoggywest]

Thx a bunch danny ;)

[@musicprotutorials]

I'm not sure on the finnish/polish sound. I saw the russian rave in a forest video and that was quite banging techno.. almost gabba. If you can give me some examples of both Finnish and Polish styles i'll take a look and see what I can do ;)

[@nodz007]

Danny, I noticed in your video that some of your tracks were running into the red. Is this ok to do? I always thought red on tracks denoted clipping.

[@anotherytnameyk]

danny, first of all, congrats on this tune!! sounding really good! i have a question though, how the hell did people do this is the 90s? you guys couldnt possibly be using pcs back then, or am i wrong? how could this aproach be done with hardware? it really got me thinking and cant think a logical way!

[@1n50mn1ac]

If you were to chose between ableton and cubase witch one will it be?

[@rwane9144]

Woah !! x'D Subsribed.

[@Philtr3]

I'll have to try this with Maschine.

[@nusphere]

Great, thanks :)

[@EricoFalcone]

love ya man!

[@KegelLicht]

How do you csutomized the Live Theme to red?

[@CKorvis]

Thank you sir

[@doghead8652]

fucking spot on an a great starting spot for all new people trying to work out how to do there tracks

[@musicprotutorials]

Yeh, that's cool but the whole point of this particular concept is to have a strong visual indicator of the 8 bar sections. I've had tons of messages from people saying this technique helps them and if you prefer your own method that's absolutely fine. There are no rules, whatever works works ;)

[@MrPawillie]

Can you import a Cubase Song into Ableton Live 9?

[@IIMANIXII]

Just tried to SUB, but i am already subbed .. ;) nice ...

[@Jrel]

Quick tip: When selecting clips, you can select the top bar of the clip and it selects the whole clip, rather than having to drag the cursor over all the bars of a clip.

[@musicprotutorials]

Depends on what else is happening.. this is a deeeeeep subject and you can't just say -6 or -10 is good.. a lot of these rule of thumb concepts are derived from the analog world too.. digital DAWs have insane amounts of headroom.. to be honest.. if it sounds good.. it is good. That's a hard thing to hear though if you want to learn. Mixing is one of the biggest subjects to master.. takes years to understand fully.. then you work out how YOU like to mix.. and then keep learning ;)

[@geraintpierce1056]

thats how i do tunes,makes things much simpler

[@Jmondo101]

Thanks much! D

[@Tekknique]

The one that works for you.

[@MrGrizzle305]

While I understand the purpose in context of this video, consolidating all of your plain audio loops into bigger sections is a bad idea if you haven't done any special editing to them - this just writes an identical audio loop to your hard drive, only it's 4x bigger and takes up more space. Producers should really get used to counting/seeing the beats/bars/measures in the background arrangement grid and the location counter at the top of the window, and use this as their reference for copying out and arranging loops, regardless of length. With that said, I dig the "subtractive arrangement" technique using loop activation like a grid sequencer - this could be fun to do with a big touch screen interface!