In this new tutorial series focused on building a DJ template, Dubspot writer Rory PQ shares his insight about digital DJing with Ableton Live and takes us through the steps to build a customized DJ Template.
Ableton Live is a powerful tool for producers but it also excels as the ultimate digital DJ platform. Live’s innovative approach to live performance allows you to create and customize DJ templates that suit your needs. It opens up possibilities and gives you the tools to expand your creativity and evolve as a DJ. Blurring the line between production and performance, Live’s unique interface and features make it possible to transform the stage into a performance studio.
This tutorial will be the first in aeries on building a custom DJ template in Ableton Live. We will explore some of the advantages of digital DJing using Ableton Live and create a basic DJ template. The template included in this tutorial will be the foundation for creating additional custom effects in a series of other DJ template building tutorials.
Digital DJing is a more modern approach to performing using computer-based DJ software driven by various MIDI controllers and analog devices. This style of DJing allows for highly customized setups that are intuitive and streamlined. It essentially eliminates the time spent Beatmatching for more creative possibilities. Digital DJing has evolved rapidly over the years and Live has become one of the leading weapons of choice for many forward-thinking artists looking to take advantage of its non-linear approach to live performance.
Ableton Live’s capabilities and versatility allow artists to create personalized DJ setups tailored to meet individual artistic needs. Below are just a few of the many advantages of using Live as a powerful performance tool.
Let’s start this party by switching over to Live’s Session View. Session View was designed for live performance and is ideal for creating a DJ setup for many reasons. Mainly, because it’s easy to visually navigate and simultaneously launch various clips and scenes, create virtual decks and signal routings, stay organized, and have the option to use Live’s built-in cross fader. In addition, most if not all MIDI controllers that are compatible with Live are designed to control and navigate Live’s Session View.
The DJ Template includes the following:
To keep things simple at first we will only create two virtual decks to emulate the left and right turntables of a traditional DJ setup. However, I do encourage experimenting with this template and creating as many decks as you like.
Although we will be performing on two decks, we will create four Audio tracks. Two Audio tracks will emulate our virtual decks and contain all the clips used in the DJ set. The other two Audio tracks will be used for routing the signal to all the audio effects, including ‘Dummy Clip’ effects that we will create in the next tutorial of the series. The audio signal will be routed from the Left and Right Decks to the Left and Right Out tracks. This setup allows the original signal to keep playing without any playback interruptions when effects are triggered. It also allows the signal to pass through in parallel unaffected for stability and better performance.
Expand Live’s In/Out Section and set the following routing destinations for each track.
Now that we have virtual decks to playback our club bangers, it’s time to set up some basic controls commonly found on most DJ mixers. For this demonstration we will use Live’s EQ Eight. We could also use EQ Three or any other third-party EQ plugin.
Many artists prefer their mixing controls to be centered at the 12 o’clock position for 0 dB. Like the DJ EQ’s, we will create a Gain control that zeros out at 12 o’clock.
A transform switch is essentially a button that cuts the audio off quickly. It’s commonly used for scratching techniques and manual rhythmic gating effects.
The last set of audio effects we will create will be triggered by Send controls. The rack works great for creating wide delay effects with a touch of saturation and reverb.
The following additions are optional, but just to be safe from overloading anything I dropped in a Limiter to both Left and Right Out tracks, as well as the Master channel. In addition, I created an Audio track used to trigger additional samples.
Sa-weet, that brings the record to a stop for the first tutorial in a series of building a DJ Template. The next set of tutorials in the series will focus on building additional audio effects for the deck racks and creating punch-in effects using Dummy Clips. In the meantime I encourage you all to experiment with the template, come up with your own set of effects and configurations, and most of all HAVE FUN!
Snag the free Download of the DJ template, load your favorite jams, hang the disco ball, and bump the club!
The flagship of our music training, with every Ableton Live course offered at the school. After completing this program, you will leave with a portfolio of original tracks, a remix entered in an active contest, a scored commercial to widen your scope, and the Dubspot Producer’s Certificate in Ableton Live.
This program is about learning Ableton Live by going through the entire process of being an artist, by developing your own sound through a series of sketches and experimentation. You will also learn the ins and outs of this powerful software through a series of exercises designed to help you master the steps involved in producing your own music. After a level of getting familiar with the tools that Ableton has to offer, you will then develop your sonic ideas into full-length tracks. You will be exposed to a variety of approaches to arrangement and composition, storytelling techniques, ways of creating tension and drama in your music. At the end of the day, it is the sum total of your choices as an artist that define your sound, and levels 2 – 6 will give you the experience of actually completing tracks to add to your portfolio.