Episode 228
Mastering Real-Time Set List Adjustments in Ableton
The primary focus of this podcast episode revolves around the innovative functionalities of a music management tool, specifically designed to enhance live performance capabilities through real-time setlist adjustments. I elucidate how this tool allows musicians to effortlessly navigate their setlists via devices such as smartphones or tablets, thus circumventing the constraints of traditional methods that require extensive setup and preparation. Moreover, I discuss the ability to rearrange songs on-the-fly, thereby facilitating a more adaptive performance experience that caters to the dynamic nature of live shows. Additionally, we delve into the intricacies of managing song transitions and looping sections, which are essential for improvisation and audience engagement. Ultimately, this episode provides valuable insights into how technology can significantly streamline the performance process, allowing artists to focus on their creativity rather than logistical challenges.
Takeaways:
- The integration of Ableton with mobile devices allows for unprecedented flexibility in managing set lists.
- Real-time rearrangement of a set list is a significant advancement for live performance dynamics.
- The ability to skip song sections with precision enhances the performance experience for both artists and audiences.
- Dynamic looping capabilities facilitate improvisation and audience interaction during live performances.
- Controlling the set list on the fly addresses significant logistical challenges faced during performances.
- The development of guide tracks that adapt during looping offers a groundbreaking solution to timing issues.
Companies mentioned in this episode:
- Ableton
- Ableset
- Drake
Transcript
Create something where you can have your set list on your Ableton computer, but now you can have like just your phone or an iPad or some other device where you can see the full set list, which is a huge thing.
Speaker A:You could see the songs and the song sections and with basically remotely have the ability to control what song you're going to next.
Speaker A:Rearrange your set list in real time and all these other cool things that didn't previously previously exist.
Speaker A:That's just one big one.
Speaker A:I'm going to let you keep going.
Speaker A:So after you kind of figured that part out, it didn't stop.
Speaker A:Where did the trail lead you to next?
Speaker B:I think the next big issue I wanted to tackle is the ability to change the set list kind of on the fly, because that was one of the big issues I found as well.
Speaker B:We have one huge timeline with all the songs in Ableton.
Speaker B:And then when you want to change the order, you know, how do you approach that?
Speaker B:Do you just, like, move clips around in the timeline?
Speaker B:Then you might run into issues with the tempo automation and stuff like that.
Speaker B:Yeah, very scary.
Speaker B:Exactly.
Speaker B:So that was one of the issues I wanted to tackle as well.
Speaker B:To make it as easy as possible to just be like, you know, today we want to switch the order of songs around or we don't have enough time for this one song.
Speaker B:Let's.
Speaker B:Let's just cut it out of the set list.
Speaker B:Right.
Speaker B:And so that was, I think, the.
Speaker B:The next feature I.
Speaker B:I was working on with Ableset.
Speaker A:Big.
Speaker A:It sounds so simple now that you've just explained it, like, because you've done it.
Speaker A:I guess so now, now that I could see it.
Speaker A:But Tariki, you were on.
Speaker B:You.
Speaker A:You were on the tour and we know you.
Speaker A:We ran into some not really issues, but there were times where, like, it would have been nice to be able to just reorder the set or take a song out or even skip to a song section.
Speaker C:Yeah, yeah.
Speaker A:So I'm gonna jump ahead if it's okay, Leo.
Speaker A:And that was another big thing.
Speaker A:So with Ableton, one of the things was, say you're on the verse and you wanted to be able to skip the chorus and go to the bridge.
Speaker A:You had to be like, almost surgical with your timing, with your timing and precision to be able to hit that bridge marker within.
Speaker A:Usually it's quantized so within a bar to be able to start it at that time.
Speaker A:Otherwise you're screwed.
Speaker A:You're gonna lose a whole bar or.
Speaker A:Or add a bar.
Speaker A:And another thing that you were able to do so I'm going to kind of, if you don't mind, I'll talk about what I found with that feature that you added.
Speaker A:So.
Speaker A:And I might miss.
Speaker A:So basically, you could now jump to the next section, no problem, or you could choose to jump to the next song, no problem.
Speaker A:Right.
Speaker A:Did you add some more in that?
Speaker B:I think those are the two main ones.
Speaker A:Game changers, though.
Speaker B:There's the ability to dynamically loop the current section, which is also something we found for our own band to be very helpful, especially if you have some parts where you want to maybe improvise a little bit or just you're not sure how long it takes, especially if you want to be a bit more interactive with the audience.
Speaker B:We found that this is like a super important feature to have.
Speaker C:Yeah, yeah.
Speaker A:And you know what's funny, because we even had an outro.
Speaker A:So, Drake, you remember we had a big outro for the show and it was like set to time and we couldn't really loop it.
Speaker A:So it was like, even if we wanted to add some more solos or something, it was like, well, it's done.
Speaker A:So we're on our own now if you want to do that.
Speaker A:And then we found a looper, which was cool because you could loop the section.
Speaker A:The big problem was if you were, say, at the.
Speaker A:Whatever part of the song.
Speaker A:So say you're going, you're looping the chorus, but the next section was back to a verse.
Speaker A:It would keep saying verse and counting in verse because you're looping that section with the Q at the end that should be going to the next section.
Speaker A:So if you could.
Speaker A:Could you explain.
Speaker A:That's the dynamic loop, right?
Speaker A:Being able to alter that.
Speaker B:Yeah, exactly.
Speaker B:So there's a feature that allows you to tell Ableset, like, this is the.
Speaker B:The guide track.
Speaker B:And as Ableset now knows, okay, this track will announce the next section.
Speaker B:If you are currently in a loop or like looping the current section, that track will automatically be muted so you don't get the wrong count in or the wrong guide.
Speaker B:And in addition to that, you can create a second track that is kind of a loop guide that allows you to add something like repeat or something.
Speaker B:Just announcing that we are not finished with the section, we are going to jump back to the beginning.
Speaker B:And if you are in a loop, then that track gets unmuted while the loop track or while the original guy track gets muted.
Speaker A:Yes.
Speaker C:Crazy insane stuff.
Speaker C:And when you think about all of the little details that he's kind of, you know, all of the solutions to the problems that, you know, Anthony, like yourself and other people have experienced.
