Ableton Video Tutorials Week 4: Beat Repeat – Drums & Performance Blog

In this week’s Ableton Live tutorial, Professor Nalepa shares some tips on using the built-in Beat Repeat effect. Beat Repeat is great in the studio for creating interesting drum fills. Using a simple drum loop, Nalepa demonstrates how Beat Repeat works, re-sampling the effected audio with all of its random variations, then mining those parts to give new life to your drum arrangements. He also shares a live performance technique using MIDI Mapping and the Beat Repeat’s Pitch Decay control.

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.

Ableton Live Producer Certificate Program

All six levels / 48 sessions / 132 hours of hands-on instruction + labs

The flagship of our music training, with every Ableton course offered at the school. Finish tracks at every step of the process for an EP and earn the Dubspot Producer’s Certificate in Ableton Live.

Courses:

• Ableton Live Level 1: Shake Hands with Live
• Ableton Live Level 2: Completing Your First Track
• Ableton Live Level 3: Production Essentials
• Ableton Live Level 4: Sound Design & Instrumentation
• Ableton Live Level 5: Advanced Composition & Production
• Ableton Live Level 6: Taking Your EP Global

This program is about learning Ableton Live by going through the entire process of being an artist, from developing your sound through a series of sketches while getting familiar with the application to creating a fully-fleshed out four song EP. You will create a remix and submit it to an active remix contest, score a commercial, and learn valuable insider tips and techniques.

Includes:

• Ableton Live Core & Advanced: 6 levels
• 132 hours of in-class instruction
• Additional instructor-supervised lab hours
• Dubspot’s complete Ableton course load

Program Goal:

After completing this program, you will leave with a multi-track EP, a remix entered in an active remix contest, a scored commercial to widen your scope, and the Dubspot Producer’s Certificate in Ableton Live.