Arranging multiple synths in Ableton

[moneybags]

Hey guys so I'm having a bit of a "block"

I'm having trouble arranging multiple synths together in a song

In Ableton it seems like doing it is such a pain in the ass creating MULTIPLE clips on different tracks just to get different synths to match up in a complete 4 to 16 bar loop. It's extremely tedious and actually kinda discouraging.

Doing it in a drum rack seems like an alternative method and since I have Ableton Push, I can pretty much use it as an MPC at that point and just play away. But I feel like mixdowns will be a pain in the ass if I use a drum rack for 6 different synths on one channel.

Does anyone have any tips / suggestions as to what they do to achieve this? Is this the only way?

[mks]

Yes, you need to create what is called a scene. It will make your life so much easier when you are trying to arrange. Just build up stacks of scenes and trigger them.

Try ctrl+shift+i while the clips are playing.

[moneybags]

That's what I meant by multiple clips (scenes). Getting them arranged is a real pain in the ass. I was hoping there was another way.

I haven't tried changing it so scenes launch immediately when activated so I'm going to try launching them that way

[mks]

Man, I guess I don't know what you are asking then.

[moneybags]

Let me give you a picture example.



This is how I am arranging my synths in each scene for an 8 bar loop..it's a real pain in the ass and there has to be an easier way. This example isn't even the kind of complicated arrangements I want to achieve in my production.

[cyclopian]

I dont really understand what problem you're having though.

Are you having problems getting all three to play at the same time?

[VirtualMark]

Try Bitwig Studio, it has layered editing: http://bitwigtutorials.net/tutorials/ge ... iting.html



I don't think you can do this in Ableton. You could always bounce to audio and chop it up though?

[firstboyonthemoon]

If your synths are all combining to play a single melody, hocket-style, you could just program one MIDI clip and copy it, deleting the notes that you don't want each synth to play. I do this sometimes. Or you could just program a scratch track so you have something to line the other tracks up with. Ultimately, though, if you want six synths to play particular parts, one way or another you're going to have to program those six synths. Think of it as sweat equity.

[moneybags]

@firstboyonthemoon

Glad you understood what I was getting at. Hoping theres another way to program multiple synths to play at different parts easier.

To the other guys who were confused...the first synth plays for 7 bars and then the last two fill in at the last bar before its a complete 8 bar loop. I was asking if there's an easier way to do it.

For example let's say I'm making a tearout kinda song that has like 5-9000 different synths with all crazy kinds of modulations...is the method I produced in the picture the only way to do it on Ableton?

[mks]

If I have 6 synths, I have 6 different synth tracks. So one would play for 6 bars and the other would play for two for instance. You were talking about putting them all on one channel, which could be a bad idea as far as mixing goes.

Do you just not like having to write out the different parts with different instruments on different tracks?

[mks]

Have you tried making an instrument rack though?

[moneybags]

Have you tried making an instrument rack though?

Go on...

edit: @mks yes I don't like doing that....it seems like such a process

[karmacazee]

Have you tried arranging it in the arrangement view? Much easier than the clip view if you ask me.

Edit: But yes, as someone pointed out, if you want different synths playing different notes, then you have to arrange it yourself - because how will Ableton know which synth to play each note at whatever point in time? It can't, you have to tell it what to do.

If that kind of arrangement is killing your creative process, then simplify it. Do you need 9000 synths in a track?

Maybe program one good synth part, bounce it as audio, copy onto multiple tracks and put different FX on each track, and delete the overlapping parts in each track.

[audiowaves]

I think I know what you're on. I remember when I tried FL that I was able to see what the midi was playing on other instruments in the pattern view. As someone else said you won't get satisfied in the session view. Use the arrangement view instead: what helps me during this process is to make the midi clips just as long as they have to be:

(if you drag the picture in a new tab it's bigger)

The Bitwig editing looks interesting though

[moneybags]

I think I know what you're on. I remember when I tried FL that I was able to see what the midi was playing on other instruments in the pattern view. As someone else said you won't get satisfied in the session view. Use the arrangement view instead: what helps me during this process is to make the midi clips just as long as they have to be:

(if you drag the picture in a new tab it's bigger)

The Bitwig editing looks interesting though

Here we go...this looks like exactly what I'm trying to achieve. Are all of those instances of Massive grouped as one or all in an Instrument Rack?

[mks]

Looks like a group.

[karmacazee]

I think I know what you're on. I remember when I tried FL that I was able to see what the midi was playing on other instruments in the pattern view. As someone else said you won't get satisfied in the session view. Use the arrangement view instead: what helps me during this process is to make the midi clips just as long as they have to be:

(if you drag the picture in a new tab it's bigger)

The Bitwig editing looks interesting though

Here we go...this looks like exactly what I'm trying to achieve. Are all of those instances of Massive grouped as one or all in an Instrument Rack?

Ha, yeah you need to switch to arrangement view, much easier when working on intricate arrangements.

[ChromaRhythm]

Are you working in session view?? If you are. You're crazy.


Just copy and paste the clip from one synth to the other in arrangement view and organize/delete which notes you want to keep in both clips. Is that what you're asking? Highlight the clip and CTRL+C then CTRL+V on the other synth to do a quick copy/paste of midi notes.