10 Reasons for Ableton Live in Music Education
The advancement of musical instruction with technology is an ever-changing process. New technologies are constantly arising, enhancing traditional musical paradigms. This trend is evident in all facets of music technology, from the transformation of musical composition with the advent of MIDI to the move from analog tape-based recording in studios to the virtually boundless and accessible nature of digital sampling on personal computers. Today students at all levels can boast a completely different relationship with technology than that of their predecessors. They did not grow up with cassette tapes or even the once ubiquitous Walkman. Students now expect a level of media immediacy that can be satiated only through the likes of YouTube, MP3s and social networking. This immediacy, aided by the ever-increasing performance of mobile computing, has demolished the barrier between media consumption and media creation. Technology in music education should embrace and nurture this new generation of creativity, rather than confining it through an emphasis on single platform dogmas or timeline-bound thinking.
By providing teachers and their students with powerful, creative tools for experimenting with sounds and images, Ableton Live has enjoyed a growing presence in music education in recent years. By creating a software platform with which to create, produce and perform music, Berlin and New York-based Ableton has made a name for itself as a company that challenges traditional conceptions of how music is created with the help of a computer. Following are ten reasons why teachers should consider Ableton Live as a platform for music instruction:
1. Non-Linear creativity
Ableton Live's signature element is the Session View, which bridges the gap between on-the-fly creativity and traditional timeline-based recording. Each cell in the Session View grid holds a musical idea that can be recorded or dragged in from the Browser. Cells can be played in any order and at any time. Students can begin by experimenting with sound motifs in the Session View. Their improvisational actions can then be recorded into the Arrangement View and edited to perfection.
2. The songwriter's friend
Turning musical ideas into finished compositions is what Ableton Live does best. Student musicians can start by recording a number of ideas in the Session View, then develop those elements into phrases and eventually create finished tracks. By using Ableton Live's world-class sample and effects libraries, as well as its unique software instruments, students can then turn their final mixes into professional-sounding songs.
3. Remix and mash-up
With Ableton's unique approach to sampling and real-time sound creation, students can re-imagine their favorite songs to create compositions all their own. Your students will be excited about making music with Live.
4. Full MIDI mapping capabilities
Virtually every control and parameter in the Ableton Live interface is mappable via MIDI. Students simply enter MIDI Map Mode, select a parameter, move a MIDI knob, press a key, footswitch or pad, and it is assigned, ready for action.
5. Video integration
Ableton Live allows students to experiment with video as if it were just another audio track. In Live, a video track can be looped and pegged to sound material.
6. Podcasting made easy
Students can use Ableton Live to compose their own content segments for use in a podcast. Sounds can be pre-arranged, recorded and triggered effortlessly. The entire show can be recorded live and edited later for a time-shifted release.
7. An open platform
Via the ReWire protocol Ableton Live will work with virtually any music recording software, allowing teachers and students to incorporate Ableton Live easily into their day-to-day activities. In addition, Ableton Live works seamlessly with both VST and AU plug-in formats.
8. Mac or PC
Ableton Live is cross-platform. Whether your facility is a Mac lab, a PC lab or mixed, Ableton Live will work well, even on older machines.
9. Share and collaborate
Ableton Live’s new Share Live Set capability lets students collaborate with their peers and teachers via the Web. Ableton's simple and intelligent solution for online musical collaboration streamlines the sharing process with easy permission-based sharing and efficient file transfers.
10. Full customization with Max for Live
Teachers and students looking to dig deeper into the software and create completely custom instruments, effects and extensions, can now do so with Max for Live, based on the Max/MSP visual programming environment. For teachers, this means the ability to create custom instruments, designed for a specific exercise or lesson plan. For students, this means an easy introduction to the Max/MSP environment and virtually endless multimedia possibilities.
Ableton Live 8 and Ableton Suite 8
Ableton is pleased to announce the arrival of the all-new Ableton Live 8 and Ableton Suite 8, slated to ship in April of 2009. Max for Live will be available later in 2009. For more information or to organize a demonstration, please contact SoundTree at 1-800-963-8733 or visit http://www.ableton.com/. Ableton Site Licensing solutions on volume purchases of 5 seats or more are also available. A free trial for the Ableton Suite may be downloaded here: http://www.ableton.com/free-trial
About Ableton
Ableton develops technology to inspire creative people. Since the company started in 1999, Ableton has attracted an extensive and highly committed community of musicians, composers, and DJs worldwide. Currently, Ableton counts about one hundred software developers, business people and product specialists in its Berlin and New York offices. The company has received outstanding press, awards and customer feedback since the unveiling of Live in October 2001.
About the author
Yukio King works for Ableton AG in Berlin, handling Ableton's global educational business with educational institutions. If you have any questions for Yukio, please feel free to contact him at yukio.vanmarenking@ableton.com.
