If your session has multiple small audio clips on a single track, vocal comps for example, consolidating can save some computer strain as your machine will have to access less files simultaneously. Doing the same to audio clips combines them into a single new file. This makes it easy to apply quantization or to transpose large sections. Highlight two or more midi clips in arrangement view and use this shortcut to consolidate them into one clip. Consolidate: ⌘ + J (Mac) | CTRL + J (PC) Click Shift + Space when restarting to resume playback from exactly where you stopped the cursor, useful for writing and overdubbing. Normally when you hit the space bar to stop playback in arrangement view, pressing the spacebar again will return the cursor to the beginning of the song. Play from Stop Point Instead of Track Origin: Shift + Space

This works in arrangement view when looping a whole section of your song as well as in clip view, when looping a part of a clip. Half/Double Loop Size: ⌘ + ↓ or ⌘ + ↑ (Mac) | CTRL + ↓ or CTRL + ↑ (PC)Ĭlicking on a loop brace and typing this shortcut will either cut the size of the loop in half, or double it. You'd be surprised how often things are pushed forward by turning something off This ultra-thin form-fitting Ableton Live Keyboard skin includes color-coded shortcuts right on the keys so you spend more time creating, producing, and performing your music and less time learning and memorizing Ableton Live shortcut keys XSKN Ableton Live Functional Shortcut Silicone Keyboard Skin Cover for MacBook Air 13, Pro 13, 15, 17. Auditioning sections of your song with different elements deactivated is a crucial step when finalizing your arrangement. Doing the same on an effect or plugin will toggle the plugin off. Clicking on a track header and tapping 0 will mute the channel. Click a clip in arrangement view and hit 0, and it deactivates, preventing the clip from playback during your song. The '0' key deactivates almost anything in Live. This is really useful when working with devices with resonance or distortion, as you can increase the amount safely while honing in on your sound.

Using this shortcut allows you to make more precise movements when adjusting parameters and moving clips around. Precision Control: ⌘ + Drag (Mac) | CTRL + Drag (PC) Ableton provides a full list of Live's shortcuts online, but we thought it'd be a good idea to give you some essential starters to commit to memory before tackling the huge list. Furthermore, shortcuts make it easier to stay in the rhythm of songwriting by keeping the pace up in between actions. It may just seem like a minor convenience to not have to dive through menus, but the minutes saved over time will truly add up over your career. Keyboard shortcuts are an invaluable tool in a producer's workflow.

Ableton live keyboard shortcuts