In the second installment of Live Production Tips with Steve Nalepa, Professor Nalepa investigates the Slice to MIDI function in Ableton Live in a two-part video tutorial. Slice to MIDI is ideal for isolating individual sounds out of a drum loop, and it is also a powerful tool for live performance, remixes, and experimenting in the studio.
Nalepa shows you how to utilize the various features of the Slice to MIDI option, as he chops up a couple of drum loops (a basic house loop and the jungle/drum n bass staple, the “Amen break”) using Transient Markers in Part 1. In part 2, Nalepa shares some cool tips and tricks for working with full tracks, and shows you how Slice to MIDI allows you to play the individual parts and elements, and how you can recompose or program your own beat.
For a deeper exploration of Ableton Live I recommend checking out Dubspot’s new (in-house or online) courses on the program. Working together with Dubspot, we have created an online Ableton Live curriculum designed to take you through the complete process of finding your own unique style and creating a body of work – learning Ableton inside and out! (inspired by my advanced classes I teach at Chapman University Conservatory of Music). The goal: to become a well rounded producer. I am thrilled with how it has turned out, Dubspot’s talented Pat Cupo created the videos for the online class, taking my course design and actualizing it in a brilliant way. The weekly video tutorials will supplement this great course.
Steve Nalepa is an LA-based producer, professor, Dubspot Instructor and Ableton Live expert. He’s produced tracks and collaborated with everyone from legends like Bill Laswell and Pharoah Sanders to rising electronic music artists Nosaj Thing and The Glitch Mob.
