Setup
Recommended Ableton Settings
Audio interface, sample rate 44.1kHz, buffer size 256–512, plugin folders, and record settings. Get your DAW running properly from day one.
Navigation
Navigating Ableton Live
Keyboard shortcuts, zoom, Info View, arrangement vs session view. Build speed and fluency so you spend time making music — not fighting your tools.
Mixer
Tracks, Groups & The Mixer
Audio tracks, MIDI tracks, return tracks, and the master. Signal flow — how sound moves through your project and why the structure matters.
Template
The NLP Project Template
Drum subgroups (kick, snare, percs), track elements, and vocals. A professional session structure from your very first project file.
Library
Samples & Presets Folder
Build and link your personal sounds library inside Ableton. Organise by category so the right sound is always a few clicks away.
First Track
Writing a Basic Arrangement
Drag in samples, duplicate sections, set tempo, layer elements. By the end of this session you'll have something playing.
🎯
Week 1 outcome: A working Ableton setup, the NLP template, your personal samples library, and your first rough arrangement playing back.