/r/Ableton's Official Learning Resources Thread Winter 2022
Alright, updated this bad boy for 2022 with to reflect my sass and impatience. Goodbye dead links. RIP to some of the great channels, though thankfully their content is still up and accessible (Except you On Cloud Sine, you bastard). Shoutout to our [Discord](https://discord.gg/NZnbjYK4) ([please click here](https://discord.gg/NZnbjYK4)) the official Discord to this unofficial subreddit where I spend most of my time and got suggestions. Please make more suggestions in the comments below.
#/r/Ableton's Favorite Learning Resources
**Ableton Official Website and Manual Link:**
* http://Ableton.com - Read their articles for tips and downloads
* https://www.ableton.com/en/manual/credits/ - Seriously, [RTFM](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RTFM), it's incredibly helpful and funny at times. I think it's one of the best manuals I've ever read as it's written rather conversationally, and it covers all the mechanical aspects.
* https://www.ableton.com/en/manual/live-concepts/ Want to skip the intimidating manual and get down to understanding "the program’s basic principles will help you fully exploit Live’s potential for your music-making"? Start here.
* https://www.ableton.com/en/help/ Ableton has a sort of second manual that's more general questions in here. It's very useful for learning things like [the CPU meter is NOT the load of Live on your system](https://help.ableton.com/hc/en-us/articles/209069609-Different-CPU-value-in-Activity-Monitor-Task-Manager), or [the best practices for collaborating remotely](https://help.ableton.com/hc/en-us/articles/360012680119-Best-Practices-for-Collaborating-Remotely), or [why are you sets that you saved in your cloud storage folder are missing files](https://help.ableton.com/hc/en-us/articles/360002855960-Cloud-Storage-Best-Practices), or [that if you buy licenses with multiple people in your band you get a discount](https://help.ableton.com/hc/en-us/articles/209069889-Multiple-license-discount-for-bandmates), or [how the education discount works](https://help.ableton.com/hc/en-us/articles/206431524-Eligibility-requirements-for-educational-licenses), or [how to get Ableton to send you a live lite serial despite your second hand piece of gear not having one/is already used](https://help.ableton.com/hc/en-us/articles/209775685-Get-a-Live-Lite-serial-), [or how to avoid crackles and dropouts](https://help.ableton.com/hc/en-us/articles/209070329-How-to-avoid-crackles-and-audio-dropouts), or [how to reduce latency](https://help.ableton.com/hc/en-us/articles/209072289-How-to-reduce-latency).
* Live has built in tutorials as well, under the help view
* Okay, so you don't want to read the manual or check the help site. You are the bane of my existence and I will spontaneously combust if you ever admit this to me in person. Here are some other resources:
* https://learningmusic.ableton.com - Learn how modern western music as a whole "works"
* You may live near an [Ableton recognized User Group](https://www.ableton.com/en/community/user-groups/), and could ask them for help.
**Youtube Tutorial Channels:**
* [Of course Ableton has their own youtube page with lessons](https://www.youtube.com/user/AbletonInc)
* [Sadowick](https://www.youtube.com/user/SadowickProduction), a GOAT, I learned form him in the beginning.
* [Reddit Member DeezjaVu; Peter Ginneberge](https://www.youtube.com/muzakdeezign/)
* [Point Blank Music School](https://www.youtube.com/user/pointblankonline) has been here for a really long time
* [Dubspot](https://www.youtube.com/user/DubSpot) was also an old school. It's now [343 Labs](https://www.youtube.com/@343labs), but the old channel still has good stuff.
* [Lil Miss Beats, formerly Maike Watson](https://www.youtube.com/@lilmissbeats/). They made a video series on every section of the manual (absolute goat behaviour) if reading's nor your bag.
* [ELPHNT](https://www.youtube.com/@ELPHNT)
* [Ned Rush](https://www.youtube.com/@NedRush/) is an old head who sounds like Murdoc from the Gorillaz. Humor's similar too. He posts on reddit sometimes and his stuff is always interesting. Ba'aing like a goat.
* [Human Synthetics](https://www.youtube.com/@HumanSynthetics)
* [Rachel K Collier](https://www.youtube.com/@RachelKCollierRKC), random tutorials but also insights to the non-music side of being a musician and looping and live performing.
* [Underbelly](https://www.youtube.com/@yousuckatproducing/featured), who lets you know you suck at producing.
* [Reid Stefan](https://www.youtube.com/@ReidStefanMusic), the realest puppet in the game.
* [All your need is live](https://www.youtube.com/@AllYouNeedIsLive). Techno oriented.
* Pro tip, don't confuse modern tutorials with better tutorials. When you've been around long enough you'll realize it's all the same lessons but the newer guys are trying to sell you more stuff because of the algorithm. When you've been around even longer you'll realize you don't even need your tutorials to be Live specific, you'll know how to translate instructions from any other DAW.
**Ableton Gurus' Sites:**
* Tom Cosm (http://www.cosm.co.nz/) ([also has a good youtube presence, certified goat](https://www.youtube.com/@TomCosmNZ))
* Jon Margulies (http://hobo-tech.com/ableton-live/)
* Isaac Cotec (http://subaqueousmusic.com/)
* [Brian Funk, formerly AfroDJMac](https://www.afrodjmac.com/), [now on youtube](https://www.youtube.com/@BrianFunkMusic), such a goat, tons of free packs and instruments.
* Joshua Casper (http://www.joshuacasper.com/tutorials/ableton/)
**Online Classes**
* https://seedtostage.com/ [Also has a dope youtube channel](https://www.youtube.com/@SeedtoStage).
* http://adsrsounds.com/ (Not much for Ableton specifically, but has a great library of full length courses for Native Instruments products, Mixing & Mastering, and Music Theory)
* http://bassgorilla.com/
* [Noise labs](https://courses.noiselab.io/courses)
* [Mr Bill](https://live.mrbillstunes.com/), [also has a youtube channel](https://www.youtube.com/@MrBillsTunes), certified goat.
* [Sonic Academy](https://www.sonicacademy.com/courses/all?filter_set%5Bsoftware%5D%5B%5D=1)
**Professional Audio Production Schools for when you have money to burn:**
* http://online.pointblanklondon.com/ (London & Los Angeles Based Online and Physical classes, PM /u/JefftheEngineer about this one!)
* http://Dubspot.com (NYC Based Online and Physical classes)
* http://www.scratch.com/ (NYC, LA, Chi, Miami, and Atlanta Based Online and Physical classes)
* http://online.berklee.edu/ (Extension of the Berklee School of Music, Online and Physical Classes)
* http://warpacademy.com/ (Online)
* http://www.sonicacademy.com/ (Online)
* https://www.lynda.com/Ableton-Live-training-tutorials/139-0.html - costs money but you may be able to sign up for free via your local library or college. Has a tutorial on not just Live but various aspects of recording. (actually, these all probably cost some form of dollars)
**Recommended Books:**
* https://makingmusic.ableton.com - Ableton's own book, less about working specifically in live and more about creating music in general, written by Dennis DeSantis, is Ableton's Head of Documentation (he's why the manual's good). [**IT'S FREE NOW GET YOU NINNY!!**](https://www.ableton.com/en/shop/#making-music)
* http://www.amazon.com/Ableton-Live-Power-Comprehensive-Guide/dp/1285455401