Mixing in Ableton: Editing tracks (cutting parts for megamix purposes)

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Posted by Thois on Mar-19-2006 20:33:

Mixing in Ableton: Editing tracks (cutting parts for megamix purposes)

I've searched this forum + i've searched the Ableton forums, couldn't find what I was looking for. Question:

When I listen to all those megamixes made with Ableton Live (for example ASOT Megamix of 2005), I notice all the songs are edited (pieces of each track are cut out to fit that much tracks on 1 cd). How is this done?

Is this done by an external program like Sound Forge after the mix is made? Or is this done within Ableton (I hope so)? If so, how can this be achieved?

tnx

Posted by blacknoizybox on Mar-19-2006 21:39:

very interesting indeed
i thought maybe Armin mixed the tracks live, but then...naahhh

Posted by Thois on Mar-19-2006 22:04:

Maybe anyone else has a clue?

Posted by RJT on Mar-19-2006 22:06:

quote:
Originally posted by blacknoizybox

i thought maybe Armin mixed the tracks live, but then...naahhh

Posted by Soliman on Mar-20-2006 17:11:

Ya i'd like to know too the only thing i can think of is that he i using a prog like audacity to cut n paste lol but thats too low tech?

Well anyways how do u guys normally edit ur tracks

Posted by Zild on Mar-20-2006 17:50:

All you would have to do is load the songs you want into something like Audacity or Soundforge and chop the parts you want to mix and save them and open them in Ableton and mix them. I don't know if you can chop them in Ableton itself but maybe you can.

Posted by Thois on Mar-20-2006 18:33:

Posted by Allied Nations on Mar-20-2006 18:41:

quote:
Originally posted by Zild
All you would have to do is load the songs you want into something like Audacity or Soundforge and chop the parts you want to mix and save them and open them in Ableton and mix them. I don't know if you can chop them in Ableton itself but maybe you can.

Ableton is all about chopping and moving stuff around. It's main function is sequencing.

If not, acidpro. But fuck it. You can do it all in Ableton.

Posted by Choobak on Mar-20-2006 18:54:

quote:
Originally posted by Allied Nations
Ableton is all about chopping and moving stuff around. It's main function is sequencing.

If not, acidpro. But fuck it. You can do it all in Ableton.

Seriously... if you're asking whether or not you can chop stuff in ableton, you probably haven't played around with the program at all. So, I'm recommending you just play around a little.

Quick and dirty: Drag tracks into the program in different channels, set warp markers, move the tracks around, cut them up, loop parts, add eqs and effects, and you've got yourself a mix.

The tutorials are helpful - especially the sequencer one for this purpose.

This is for studio mixes though. Mixing live with ableton is a whole different beast...

Posted by basvh on Mar-20-2006 21:09:

quote:
Originally posted by Choobak
Mixing live with ableton is a whole different beast...

any good tutorial on that one?

many thanks

Posted by Thois on Mar-20-2006 22:24:

wow cool
i found out:
in the arrangement view you can cut/paste/split etc etc

great!

Posted by Choobak on Mar-20-2006 22:51:

quote:
Originally posted by basvh
any good tutorial on that one?

many thanks

Well, unless you wanna drive yourself nuts with your keyboard, you'll need a midi controller. Then it's all really up to how you assign controls on your midi to Ableton controls.

You can set the controls yourself, choosing faders and triggers and eqs and what not but it's much easier to work from a template and customize off that. There are templates available for midi capable mixers like the Ecler Nuo 4, the Pioneer Djm-800 (not sure about this one since it's so new), and some stand alone midi controllers like the M-audio Uc-33e or the x-session. You can usually download these from the manufacturer. Otherwise, people have great layout ideas on the official ableton boards.

Those boards are really your best bet if you do decide to get a midi controller.

Posted by djlogik on Mar-23-2006 16:16:

This is my first time posting in the dj forums, but yes Ableton is known for its live mixing capabilities and chopping/cutting pieces from a track. It is used by many known DJs when they do live sets. It just allows for more flexibility when remixing because not only can you chop, cut and paste, but you can also sequence your chopped pieces into how you'd like.