Ableton Tutorial: Working with Loops in Ableton Live

In the previous issue we covered ‘Programming Drums’ where we created a Drum Rack and with separate audio files we were able to program any desired drum pattern. Once I have achieved the basic drum groove I like to introduce a drum loop to give my drums a bed. This can be achieved with any audio loop in your library with Lives fantastic ‘Elastic Audio’ warping engine. Any loop can be previewed at your track tempo whilst playing the track to find a correct match. There are many ways to use a loop but for purposes of drums I prefer slicing audio loops to MIDI.

Open your browser and navigate to a folder of your drum loops. As mentioned you can hear them at the project tempo by simply clicking on them while Live is playing. Find the one you like then right-click (ctrl click for Mac) on the loop and choose ‘slice to new MIDI track.’

A window with options appears. For rhythmical drum loops, choose ‘create one slice per transient’.

Live will analyse the clip and add a single slice for each individual sound. Under the slicing preset you can choose ‘built-in’ or one of the others, which will add an effects chain to the resulting Drum Rack, complete with macro effect controls.

Click OK. Depending on how complicated the loop is a various number of slices will now be mapped to the Drum Rack. Select the Clip Overview and you will see it mapped across the keyboard, with each MIDI note representing a slice. For a simpler MIDI part with fewer slices you could choose ‘One slice per 1/16 note’ or something similar. You will now find that reordering the slices changes the beat creating your own unique loop to match your track.

The MIDI track will also receive input from your MIDI keyboard, so if you like you can record a totally new MIDI clip, playing back the slices as if they were a virtual instrument. Simply record arm the same channel and hit record on any free cell in that channel.

Loops can enhance your drums giving them that bit extra they need. Live gives you the ability to take just about any loop and bring your drums to life. With just a few tweaks you don’t even have to leave the loop as you found it, but can create something unique.