Overview
Lesson time: (2min 30sec)
Isaac Cotec gives an overview of how Session View and Arrangement View work together in Ableton Live, and when to reach for each.
Course preview
This lesson is part of the course Building Tracks in Ableton Live
Watch a preview of the full course below.
Lesson transcript:
Blending Session View and Arrangement View in Ableton Live
In this module, we're going to look at the Arrangement in Session View and how we can blend these two different elements together.
Understanding the Views
There's a lot of power between the Session View and Arrangement View, each having distinct workflows and uses:
Session View
- Live Feel: This view allows you to easily click to record and playback ideas.
- Looping: You can loop sections, making it feel more like a jam session.
- Concept Development: It's perfect for continually playing with ideas and developing concepts.
Arrangement View
- Linear Approach: This view is structured from beginning to end.
- Epic Swells & Modulation: Ideal for creating compositions or stories that have a clear start and finish.
- Finished Tracks: This is where you can develop a complete piece of music.
Transitioning Between Views
These two views are incredibly powerful in their unique ways but can be a bit confusing when transitioning between them. In this module, we'll discuss how to:
- Blend and Move: Shift from Session View to Arrangement View.
- Edit: Make changes in Arrangement View.
- Perform: Bring elements back into Session View to create new ideas and iterate.
This approach gives you a robust workstation for developing your music, leveraging the full capacity of Ableton Live.
Advantages and Disadvantages
Both views have their own advantages and disadvantages for workflow. The true power of Ableton Live lies in the ability to seamlessly move between them:
- Arrangement View to Session View: Elements can pop over effortlessly and vice versa.
Core Concepts for Movement
There are a few core concepts that help in moving your music between Arrangement View and Session View:
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Arrangement Record: Found at the top of Ableton Live, this records ideas into Arrangement View.
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Back to Arrangement: If you're in Session View and switch to Arrangement, you may not hear what's in Arrangement. Session View takes priority unless you hit the Back to Arrangement button.
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Consolidate Time to New Scene: This function helps you take content from Arrangement and transfer it back into Session View.
- To use it, select the area in Arrangement, right-click, and choose Consolidate Time to New Scene.
By mastering these concepts, you'll enhance your workflow and expand your creative potential in Ableton Live!
About the instructor
Isaac Cotec is, arguably, one of the best Ableton trainers in the world! While working on his own music, he began teaching recording techniques, sound design, and Ableton Live to private students, and since earning his certification as an official Ableton Certified Trainer he has helped thousands of producers step up their game and succeed as musicians. Isaac started producing electronic music in 2005 with Psyche Sonics, an experimental group working with the science and research of binaural beats and altering consciousness through sound. After touring, he continued writing music under the alias Cotec and later emerged as the artist Subaqueous, blending his electronic past with both future and organic production techniques. To date, he has released 3 albums and 4 EPs. Isaac is also the founder and manager of the record label Invibe Music, which represents some of the Pacific Northwest's best electronic music and specialises in midtempo dance music. In his Ableton Live courses, Isaac shares the production, sound design and songwriting techniques he has spent years refining - the very skills he uses to turn a spark of an idea into a finished track. read more