19Feb 2019 by Brett Pontecorvo
Controlling Ableton’s Tempo From Any Controller

Controlling Ableton’s Tempo From Any Controller

1Creating A Keyboard Set Up, Blog, Featured, Program Features
If you aren’t using the handful of controllers with a dedicated button for controlling Ableton’s tempo, you may find yourself at a bit of a lose for how you can control Tempo Now of course there are simple options like assigning tempos to a master scene, or using a tap tempo. However... In my experience using Ableton with a live band in a real performance, being able to push the tempo a few clicks up and down is absolutely priceless. Unfortunately, It’s not quite as simple as mapping a button and calling it an afternoon. You can use any controller, but for more reasons than I can count, I highly recommend you get your hands on a Novation Launch Control XL.  I can give you quite a few reasons that…
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26Jan 2019 by Brett Pontecorvo
Simple Volunteer Keyboard Set Up

Simple Volunteer Keyboard Set Up

1Creating A Keyboard Set Up, Blog, Featured, Live Playback, Midi
You're ready to make the move to Ableton, but your team is full of volunteers who maybe are not the most tech-savvy, and probably aren't going to spend a ton of time learning how to use Ableton. You need a SIMPLE SET UP. What do you do? Here's My Solution The Bare Necessities I just couldn't resist Let's start small right? Begin to get your volunteers on board with using a DAW as their live instrument to begin with. You probably won't sound like hillsong immediately, but we are taking some steps in the right direction Sounds There are a few things that show up over and over in every single Christian worship song, so lets start there. Piano You will need a good piano patch. If you are looking…
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19Jan 2019 by Brett Pontecorvo
Create Smooth Patch Changes In Ableton Just Like In Mainstage

Create Smooth Patch Changes In Ableton Just Like In Mainstage

1Switching From Mainstage To Ableton, Blog, Featured, Live Playback
The number one challenge I hear from members of the Mainstage to Ableton community is that they have a hard time creating smooth and easy patch changes in Ableton. They remember how simple Mainstage makes it to have one patch die out naturally as you move to another patch in your set. This is because Mainstage does one thing, and Ableton does many things. Mainstage is designed almost entirely for quickly and easily switching patches. Although it does that very well, it's been my experience that it does not hold its stability under high pressure. Ableton is more akin to Logic Pro then it is to Mainstage in that it is a fully functioning DAW, so it needs to make space for other situations where you may not want a…
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20Nov 2018 by Brett Pontecorvo
Use Ableton Like Mainstage

Use Ableton Like Mainstage

1Switching From Mainstage To Ableton, Blog, Featured, Transition Essentials
I need to start out by saying, Ableton is not MainStage. It does, however, have the ability to do all of the same things, and way more. MainStage is created to play patches. Ableton is created partially to play patches, and partially as a program for music production. You can think of Ableton as Logic Pro, but with integrated features that allow for playing and switching patches in real-time. I'm going to walk you through how to get Ableton Set up like mainstage here, but if you're ready for a deep dive into all the ways you can use Mainstage just like Ableton, Click here and buy a copy of my complete transition course The Six Stages Of A Patch List Phase One: Get Familiar with the song Pay special…
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13Nov 2018 by Brett Pontecorvo
Lowpass Filter: Essential Audio Effects For Keyboard Players

Lowpass Filter: Essential Audio Effects For Keyboard Players

1Sound Design, Blog, Essential Audio Effects For Keyboard Players, Featured, Live Playback
A filter can do a lot to sound. You can think about it much like an EQ. As a matter of fact, an EQ is capable of many of the sound shaping functions that the auto filter is capable of. So what is the main difference? I like to think of an EQ as a way to mold a sound that you like to fit in with the other sounds that are happening. It is designed to be more of a mixing tool than an audio effect. I like to think of a filter as a way to drastically change the sound for artistic effect. It has more to do with what a specific sound will be sound like, than how it fits with the rest of the track. The…
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18Jun 2018 by Brett Pontecorvo
Making A Pulsing Pad Sound

Making A Pulsing Pad Sound

1Sound Design, Blog, Featured, Live Playback, Presets and Sounds
How to make the pulsing synth sound you love Pads are better with a pulse. They add a heartbeat, excitement, and depth to your playing. That’s why so many songs being made now, and honestly for the last long time, incorporate this element. Think about the chorus of “I got a feeling”, or [ Insert accurate song title here ]. There is something intoxicating about the constant rise and fall of the volume: We feel its pulse, and it resonates with us. It gives the impression that the music is alive and moving. If you haven’t noticed this before, now that I’ve pointed it out, you will hear it everywhere. So how do we go about making it? Traditionally, this effect is created using something called sidechained compression. What the…
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