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Thomas Bnt
Thomas Bnt Subscriber

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Best tips to learn music?

Hello, I have the Minilab 3 from Arturia

And I would learn more with Ableton Live 12 Lite, what is your best tips?

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mikeydorje profile image
Mikey Dorje

I've been using Ableton since version 2 (around 2003) and making music for even longer. My number one tip is to learn by trial and error. Click on anything and everything, see what it does as much as possible. Even if it seems like you're "getting nowhere". Of course, search on Google and watch/read tutorials for specific things you want to learn, but figuring things out on your own leads to a more ingrained understanding, so that Ableton becomes very intuitive.

Other than that, keep the little "info view" window in the bottom left of Ableton open (it's collapsible) and refer to it often. It will display info and tips on almost anything you hover over.

The Minilab is an excellent MIDI controller. Good purchase! If you haven't already, I would recommend starting by loading an Ableton Instrument into a MIDI channel and learning how to assign the Minilab to that channel as well as assigning its knobs and faders to parameters of the instrument (or other parameters in Ableton).

Hope that helps. If you have any specific questions, I'd be happy to help. Have fun!

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thomasbnt profile image
Thomas Bnt

Thanks a lot Mikey! Yes, I already seen some tutorials about Ableton and MiniLab 3, and seen this small info view at the bottom left of Ableton. Thanks!

I've got a problem with my MIDI input > Ableton, I think, because in my second computer, I can listen my notes (callback)

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Mikey Dorje • Edited

Preferences -> Link, Tempo, MIDI as well as Preferences -> Audio would be the first 2 places to check to make sure things are setup correctly. I would just refer to Ableton's manual for this, or the MiniLab 3 might have some basic instructions as well.

Otherwise,

  • Check if Ableton is receiving a MIDI signal at all: top right corner, little tiny square. This should light up when you press a key or turn a knob.

  • Check if the specific track itself is receiving a signal. Same idea. Press a key and you should indicator light up. You should also see your MiniLab 3 in the dropdown for 'MIDI From', but 'All Ins' will amount to the same thing if you only have one controller attached. (Set the track's 'Monitor' to 'In' to make it always listen for your keyboard.)

  • Alternatively you can 'arm' the track: click the 'record' button if the track 'Monitor' is on 'Auto'

The 'Monitor' setting just controls when you hear the track's input, which will make more sense once you start recording. If none of this helps, send some screenshots or more detail.

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thomasbnt profile image
Thomas Bnt • Edited

okay edited I can see the square at the top right now, but I don't have a song when I play the piano.

It's the good input and output, my song is connected with mic with jack input