Jake Perrine, Orcas Center’s Artistic Director & Technical Director, will teach an Ableton Live Intensive class for six sessions starting in February at Orcas Center.

For more information contact Jake@OrcasCenter.org
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER
Cost: $100 for six sessions
Participants are required to be masked while in session and show proof of vaccination

Ableton Live Intensive class description

Want to make “dope beats”?  Want to learn to record, arrange, mix and master your own songs?  Want to perform a set of your own original music with live backing tracks?  Always wanted to learn Ableton Live?  Here’s your chance to learn from a pro.

Ableton Live is a unique music recording, arranging, mixing, and performance application all in one.  Since the early 2000’s, Ableton Live has grown into a ubiquitous tool for the modern song maker.  Particularly geared towards “beat driven” styles of music (for example, 90% of what you hear in the Spotify top 100), this program is a creative playground for anyone working with audio, sound design, and especially music.

This six class intensive will be taught by Certified Ableton Instructor Jake Perrine, co-founder of WarpAcademy.com and author of three books about Ableton Live.  An overview of the curriculum is below.

After taking this class you will know how to use a majority of the program and make your own songs from scratch.  If there is interest, we may continue with an advanced class at a later date.

Students will ideally come to each class with:

• A reasonably modern laptop with power cord
• An installed copy of Ableton Live (the Lite version or the 90 day free trial is fine)
• A good pair of headphones

Other optional items we might use if you bring them:

• An audio interface
• A MIDI controller (keyboard, drum pad, Push, etc.)
• A microphone or other instrument (electric guitar, etc.)

Classes will be at Orcas Center on Mondays either 3:30-5 or 6:30-8, TBD by the participants.  Classes will meet: 

Feb 14, 21, 28

March 14, 21, 28

(no class March 7)

The cost of this six class intensive is $100.  There is a maximum of 10 students due to space limitations.  If there is enough interest I will run TWO classes.

For more information contact Jake@OrcasCenter.org
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER
Cost: $100 for six sessions
Participants are required to be masked while in session and show proof of vaccination

Ableton Live Intensive Outline

• Week1: Interface

1. 1. Introduction
      – The computer as instrument
      – What makes AL unique?
      – AL Version?
   2. The interface
      – Look and feel
      – The Browser
      – Detail View
      – Tracks
      – Save – Projects and Sessions
   3. The two Views: Session and Arrangement
      – Either or Both?  Yes!
      – Strengths of & uses for each
      – Workflows

• Week 2: Audio Clips

1. 1. Audio Clips
      – Looping or not (loop)
      – Tempo sync’d (warped) or not
      – In Session View
      – In Arrangement View
   2. Audio Clip properties
      – Warping
      – Launch Modes

• Week 3: Recording Audio

1. 1. Audio interfaces
      Kinds and uses
      1. AD / DA conversion
      2. Mic Pre’s
      3. Instrument pre
      4. MIDI IO
      1. Settings:
         – Sample Rate
         – Bit Depth
         – Buffer size
   2. Microphones
      – Preamps
   3. Mixers
   4. Levels: input, output, meters
      – Input: Mic vs. Instrument vs Line
      – Output: Speakers: Volume vs. Gain

• Week 4: Audio Effects

1. 1. Types of Audio Effects
      – Tone
      – Dynamics
      – Spatial
      – Monulators
      – Emulators
      – Weird ones
   2. Insert vs. Send Effects
   3. Third party Plugins

• MIDI Clips and Instruments

1. 1. What is MIDI?
      – What is it for?
      – Why was it developed?
   2. Types
      – MIDI cables
      – USB
      – Ethernet
      – Wireless
   3. MIDI Controllers
   4. Sound Modules
   5. MIDI Clips
      – Looping or not(Always tempo sync’d)
   6. Soft vs. external synths
   7. Impulse
   8. Drum Racks
   9. Analogue

• Week 6: Mixing and Mixdown

1. 1. Making an arrangement
   2. Automation
   3. Groups
   4. Master track effects
   5. Export Audio

Other topics we may get into:

1. The makings of a DAW
   – The computer
   – The OS
   – The HDs
   – RAM
   – (Audio Interface)
2. The makings of a producer’s studio
   – The room / acoustics
   – The monitors / headphones
   – Monitor placement
   – Ergonomics & Lighting
3. Analog Audio: Frequency and Amplitude
4. Digital Audio: Sample Rate and Bit Depth
5. Cables and connectors