Setting up Your Default Project

Do you have different default projects for specific ideas you want to try out, like say you want to work with a certain bpm? or is it the same default every time regardless

Good question! I usually use the same file and just change the BPM. My default project works pretty well for different styles, because I didn’t add anything like dubstep or style specific sounds. Even if some groups aren’t necessary for some styles, I would just delete them eventually.

Ok that makes sense. Thanks 🙂

I figured that we can create different default templates for different needs if we create a specific project folder for it and save different .als files for different needs and then we can later just open them and use the “Save as” feature to create new instances for fresh projects.

Yess for sure! In Live 11 this is even easier to do now! Personally, my default project isn’t very dubstep specific other than the BPM, so usually I just use that. Though I do have a separate template that I use for creating mixes in Ableton which is a whole different setup

I was wondering what the proxy channel was and how you went about making it, I see that it has your shaperbox on there and wanted to figure out what it was for

Ohh that’s a bit of an advanced trick, basically I wanted the trigger to be sent to the shaperbox slightly before the actual kick hits, so that the sidechain curve can be a bit smoother and doesn’t just instantly duck from 100 to 0%… So when you use a proxy channel like that, which basically is just an empty midi channel with the trigger as input and shaperbox as output, then you can use the delay compensation feature of ableton for a “negative delay”, so that it’s sent a few ms before the actual trigger… it’s a bit complex, I have a video about it for the sidechaining class in the mixdown category where I explain how to do it, but there are still quite a few classes to come before that – I think for now it’s not that big of a deal!

Thank you! Glad to hear I was just getting ahead of myself and appreciate your fast response! This course so far has been awesome and I can’t wait for the coming weeks

That’s an awesome trick. I would love to try it later!

The Sidechaining class is up now, so you can watch the video about how to do it exactly if this explanation wasn’t detailed enough!

Thanks!

I apologize if this is a silly question, but I’ve added your utility rack to both my audo & midi tracks, but I can’t seem to be able to adjust the Gain on the Utility to make it -16db, as it’s controlled by the Gain knob on the rack. Sorry if I explained this badly, just trying to setup a template similar to yours 🙂

Noo not a silly question at all! Personally, I would put another basic utility plugin (just the “Utility” effect in Ableton) after the INF Utility rack and then do the -16dB gain there. That makes it so that you can insert your effects between the INF Utility and the -16dB gain. If you do want to do it on the INF Utility though, you can just do it on the Gain knob on the rack.

HI.
I just downloaded the Utility Rack, but it looks totally different from the one in your video.
Mine has instead of “air” a “low-cut slides” knob.
The one in the video it’s called “EQ / Stereo” and mine it’s called “INF Utilities (…

Beside of that.
Please, can you explain how do I select this project as a default project in ableton?
Thanks for your help!!!

I’ve updated the rack a few times since the video, so the one you have should be the newest one! In Live 11, you can go to File -> Save as Default Project

I’m suprised you’re not doing bus limiting or running in chains. Have you tried those methods before?

also wondering if my splice drum samples are making my mixdown/mastering process difficult af because i didn’t do the gain stage them properly. that was a really helpful tip that i’m definitely about to look into, thank you.

I do use compression on buses sometimes, but I don’t like having limiters or compressors anywhere in my project by default because it’ll change my perception of the loudness of the elements. something could be getting turned down a lot by the limiter without me even noticing

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