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Ableton live 7

DubSpot, now holding the distinction of being one the first Ableton Certified Training Centers in the world is excited to introduce it's new Music Production program, based entirely around Live 7. This unique course is designed by Jon Margulies, author of bestselling Ableton Live 7 Power!

Jon Margulies Heinrich Zwahlen Raz Mesinai

Jon Margulies and Ableton Certified Trainers Heinrich Zwahlen & Raz Mesinai open up the world of Ableton Live for our students.



EMP Full Package A: Ableton Live

EMP Students

Dubspot's Ableton Full Course Package consists of the three course modules below.

This three-part, 24-week package gives you:

  • A broad overview of the production workflow
  • Teaches you to analyze the music that inspires you
  • You'll go increasingly deeper into the techniques and technologies needed to make you a Live expert
  • Finally, you'll also have completed an original track under the guidance of Jon Margulies or our Ableton Certified Trainers Heinrich Zwahlen & Raz Mesinai.

Ableton Live Level 1

In Module I, students will learn to listen deeply and identify the elements that go into making great electronic music, while simultaneously mastering the basics of Ableton Live. Students will get hands-on experience creating a good arrangement, without composing and programming the individual elements themselves. By working with existing loops and samples, students will learn the entire process of creating a track without getting bogged down in the details.

At the end of this module, students will be solid Ableton Live technicians, and will have completed a simple track by arranging and manipulating sonic material from the DubSpot Library. By completing lab assignments, students will have developed enough skills to begin exploring creative expression and develop their own style.

Module I also covers:

  • Music theory basics
  • Fundamentals of audio and MIDI clips
  • How to use virtual instruments and effects
  • Basic arrangement editing, and fundamentals of a good arrangement
  • Basic MIDI editing
  • Basic use of Envelopes and Automation
  • Rendering arrangements into CD-ready or mp3-ready audio files
  • Use of MIDI controllers for hands-on control of Live's interface


Ableton Live Level 2

In Module II, students will expand the arrangement they created in Module I with new parts of thier own creation, while getting freedback from the instructors on how to make their musical ideas more effective. Here we will cover audio recording and MIDI programming in depth, along with the fundamentals of sound design, the creative use of effects, and techniques for making music more dynamic and interesting.

By the end of this module, you will have finished a more sophisticated track than in Module I, and will be hungry for the secrets of the pros that we teach in Module III. At this point, students will be well versed in all of the important concepts of electronic music production, and will be ready to apply these concepts to practical situations regardless of the software or hardware they may use in the future.

Module II also covers:

  • Warp Marker wizardry for synchronizing any audio to Live's master tempo
  • Customizing synthesized and sampled sounds to your taste
  • Drum Rack editing
  • In-depth editing of clip properties
  • MIDI programming for bangin beats and fine-tuning performances
  • Making your music evolve and develop with Envelopes and Automation
  • Stragtegies for using MIDI controllers and the computer keyboard for live performance


Ableton Live Level 3

In Module III, students are educated in the "outer reaches" of sonic exploration, with a focus on sound design and mixing. Here, students will learn how to take their musical ideas and express them in a way that separate the best from the rest.

At the end of this module, not only will students have created a musically cogent and professional-sounding track, they will understand how to use Ableton Live from blank canvas to finished product. In addition, they will have learned many essential mixing and sound design concepts that can be applied to any production environment.

Module III also covers:

  • Synthesis from scratch: how oscillators, envelopes and different types of synthesis are used to create sound.
  • Use of Instrument and Effect racks for advanced sound design
  • Creative randomization using Follow Actions and Legato mode
  • System configuration: how to get the most out of your home or live setup
  • Mixing: use of EQ and Compression to solve problems and enhance sounds, and many other techniques used to give tracks
  • Color and dimension
  • Advanced use of MIDI controllers using multi-mapping, customized ranges and Racks.



You may also be interested in these weekend workshops.

Ableton Live interface

Ableton Live 7 Intro Workshop

Get a taste of the power of Ableton Live in this workshop that leaves you with a wide overview of Live's capabilities. A great way to decide if Ableton Live is a tool that fits into your music-making.

Guest speakers Yako 440, Core Rhythm and Baba Israel, discuss live remixing

DJing with Ableton Live

Jump right into Ableton Live with this workshop. We teach you the in's and out's of performing with Live and it's revolutionary "clip" view, triggering samples and how to work it into your current DJ set.