In part one of our series on using Ableton Live we show you how to begin building up your own track using a file from DMS UK Hardcore MIDI Vol 1. The video illustrates how easy it is to manipulate MIDI files to form your own unique compositions. This video is quite large, so you may want to wait for the player to pre-load for a few seconds before playing. 

Ableton Live has drag-and-drop functionality for importing MIDI files, but the built in browser will allow you audition your files easily with a sine wave tone, great if you've got a folder with lots of MIDI files. The browser will also allow you to select which tracks you want to import from a single file, you'll see our DMS UK Hardcore MIDI file has both a lead synth and bassline part. Importing the file is then as easy as dragging the selected parts onto a channel in Live.

You can see we load up a V-Station softsynth and click through a few presets for the lead part. You can of course choose any synth or sound you like!

Since the MIDI file we chose was from K-Complex's UK Hardcore pack we'll use some samples from his wav sample pack too - you can see us auditioning some bass samples and loading a "buzz" bass into Simpler (Live's easy to use sampler). You'll see us create a new MIDI clip by right clicking the channel then adding an off-beat bassline pattern in the piano roll on the bottom of the Live screen.

It's then as easy as choosing some more percussion sounds, a drum loop to add some extra rhythm and away we go!

You'll also see us editing the notes of the lead riff, again this is where MIDI is so flexible, we tweak our riff to give it our own unique edge. And of course we can play our composition back at any tempo!

In the next part of the video we'll cover creating variations of our clips, building up our tune and adding some automation!

DMS