Blog - LiveKeyboardist

30Apr 2019 by Brett Pontecorvo

Three Ways To Build A Live Set Faster

1Creating A Keyboard Set Up, Blog, Program Features, Transition Essentials

Preparing for a live performance using Ableton requires four things: A setlist so you know what sounds and effects you will needThe right sounds so your live set matches what you hear on recordingsA way to control patch switching so you can move through your set easilyA way to alter and adjust sounds for spontaneity, or to compensate for different sound systems, band member volumes, and anything else unexpected that sometimes happens. Look at the above list closely... ...Now ask this question How much is the same from set to set? If you're thinking, "Almost everything is the same from set to set", I would not only agree with you, but go so far as to say that is the case for most people. Start From A Template The number…

26Feb 2019 by Brett Pontecorvo

Sync Ableton With ANY Metronome

1Creating A Keyboard Set Up, Blog, Live Playback, Program Features

The Metronome has become an integral part of performing live. Not only for the tempo stability it provides but for effects that have become staples of current music Without playing in time to a metronome live it is impossible to create side chained pulsing synths, Arpeggiators become useless, and delays and auto pans become somewhat misplaced in the shifting time of your music. Now there are three reasons you might be having difficulty seeing Ableton in time with your band. You band isn’t using a metronome at all.Your band uses a metronome, and the metronome is being triggered by a device that CAN sync with Ableton, but you haven’t set them to communicate Your band uses a metronome that is stand alone and cannot communicate with Ableton. For the purpose of…

19Feb 2019 by Brett Pontecorvo

Controlling Ableton’s Tempo From Any Controller

1Creating A Keyboard Set Up, Blog, Featured, Program Features

If you aren’t using the handful of controllers with a dedicated button for controlling Ableton’s tempo, you may find yourself at a bit of a lose for how you can control Tempo Now of course there are simple options like assigning tempos to a master scene, or using a tap tempo. However... In my experience using Ableton with a live band in a real performance, being able to push the tempo a few clicks up and down is absolutely priceless. Unfortunately, It’s not quite as simple as mapping a button and calling it an afternoon. You can use any controller, but for more reasons than I can count, I highly recommend you get your hands on a Novation Launch Control XL. I can give you quite a few reasons that…

09Feb 2019 by Brett Pontecorvo

Prepping Multi Tracks For Use In Arrangement View

1Sound Design, Blog, Live Playback, Program Features

In the years of running tracks, I have gone through many phases of what I thought was best. After much reflection, I realize much of what works best is situational. Session view and arrangement view each have their own advantages. Today, we are going to look at how to prep multi Tracks for use in Arrangement View. If you are more interested in session view, you can check out my post, Exporting stems to session view. Track Prep Overview These are the steps you will go through to get a track ready for playback. Since it is a somewhat involved process, I find it helpful to start with a birds eye view and then move into details. Create MIDI clip markers to temporarily replace locatorsCreate tempo track to lesson automation…

05Feb 2019 by Brett Pontecorvo

How To Run Tracks Using Only The Novation Launch Control XL

1Creating A Keyboard Set Up, Blog, Live Playback

I have gone through every single controller in the books. Hands down, the most powerful, most customizable controller is the Novation Launch Control XL. I regularly use it to run tracks as well as control my keyboard sounds. Let me tell you, it simply does not get better then having all of the controls you need in ONE PLACE. Since I am such a huge fan of this controller, there will be a few links throughout this post to purchase it. If you do end up grabbing your own controller through one of my links, I will make a small commission, but it is at absolutely no extra cost to you. Also, I am happy to offer any support you might need in using it, since it is one of…

29Jan 2019 by Brett Pontecorvo

How To Quickly Transpose All The Patches In Your Live Set

1Creating A Keyboard Set Up, Blog, Live Playback, Midi

Having a global transpose feature can be helpful in a lot of cases. Mainstage makes this pretty intuitive on a per patch basis. Although it may not be immediately obvious in Ableton, it’s actually pretty straight forward How To Transpose EVERYTHING Ableton has great routing features, so rather than have your patches receive midi from your keyboard, we are going to first run midi from your keyboard through a midi channel strip that will allow us to alter the signal before it reaches your patches. Step 1 Create a midi channel strip by right- mouse-clicking. Rename it Midi Filter Step 2 Rename your new channel strip, "Midi Filter". You can do this by right mouse clicking on the track and choosing rename, or selecting the track and holding Command +…

26Jan 2019 by Brett Pontecorvo

Simple Volunteer Keyboard Set Up

1Creating A Keyboard Set Up, Blog, Featured, Live Playback, Midi

You're ready to make the move to Ableton, but your team is full of volunteers who maybe are not the most tech-savvy, and probably aren't going to spend a ton of time learning how to use Ableton. You need a SIMPLE SET UP. What do you do? Here's My Solution The Bare Necessities I just couldn't resist Let's start small right? Begin to get your volunteers on board with using a DAW as their live instrument to begin with. You probably won't sound like hillsong immediately, but we are taking some steps in the right direction Sounds There are a few things that show up over and over in every single Christian worship song, so lets start there. Piano You will need a good piano patch. If you are looking…

22Jan 2019 by Brett Pontecorvo

How To Save Sounds With Audio Effects

1Sound Design, Blog, Program Features

Make sure you save the WHOLE idea... Let me set the scene. You have just spent 90 minutes getting a sound for your next performance dialed in just right. You created it using Ableton's wavetable, delay, auto-filter, Dynamic tube, and glue compressor. The glorious moment arrives for you to save your newly created sound into your user library. You click the save as preset button, celebrate because you can now use your awesome patch in every live set, open a new live set and drag in the saved preset. Slow tears begin to roll down your face because all that was saved with the patch, with NONE OF YOUR EFFECTS 90 minutes lost... That you can never get back.... Sound familiar? Admittedly, It's happen to me before. So, whats' the remedy?…

19Jan 2019 by Brett Pontecorvo

Create Smooth Patch Changes In Ableton Just Like In Mainstage

1Switching From Mainstage To Ableton, Blog, Featured, Live Playback

The number one challenge I hear from members of the Mainstage to Ableton community is that they have a hard time creating smooth and easy patch changes in Ableton. They remember how simple Mainstage makes it to have one patch die out naturally as you move to another patch in your set. This is because Mainstage does one thing, and Ableton does many things. Mainstage is designed almost entirely for quickly and easily switching patches. Although it does that very well, it's been my experience that it does not hold its stability under high pressure. Ableton is more akin to Logic Pro then it is to Mainstage in that it is a fully functioning DAW, so it needs to make space for other situations where you may not want a…

15Jan 2019 by Brett Pontecorvo

The Remedy For Muddy Piano Pad Patches

1Sound Design, Blog, Essential Audio Effects For Keyboard Players, Live Playback, Sound Design, Uncategorized

When playing piano/pad simultaneously, something things start to sound a little muddy. In my experience there are three things that generally cause this issue. The volume of one of the patches is too loudPatches are competing for dominance in the same frequency rangeThe initial attack of each patch happens at the same time For any of the above reasons, there are simple solutions. Before we jump in, pause and make sure you Join the Mainstage To Ableton Community. Every Tuesday and Saturday I release helpful information just like this to help optimize your live set-up, and I don't want you to miss out on solutions to your Ableton challenges, or information that will level up your Ableton game. Adjusting Volume Make sure that you piano patch has only slightly more…

Category: Blog