Abelton Live - Help!!!!!!

[Cliff]

I am looking into using Abelton Live for backing tracks. As A smaller church we quite often lack musicians/talent (I am the least talented). Also would give the ability to practice with it.

I understand in Abelton Live Lite I can import Midi songs and play them back.
I understand I can even have each instrument in the midi on a separate track so I could adjust individual volumes, mute individual instruments, etc.

Could someone please tell me how to do this?
Perhaps even a video link?


Also what free Midi song website could I get a song from to try it out?

Thanks for any help.

[Cliff]

I have figured it out!
Looks very promising for playing "backing music" for worship.

[adessmith]

I would suggest, if you play any of the instruments which are missing, record them yourself instead of trying to play them via a midi file. It will sound MUCH MUCH better.
Also, depending on what you are trying to do, you might want to look into using some of the content available at interactiveworshiplive and praisecharts within ableton live.
Interactiveworshiplive actually has lots of songs which are tracked out but they are more expensive. The "lite" tracks give you less control, but are much cheaper.
PraiseCharts have lots of rhythm (similar to the IWL lite stuff) and click tracks (mostly backing synth stuff without drums) which could be handy as well, and they are very affordable.

We use all of the methods mentioned above on several songs.
Most of the time I record the drum tracks using either native instruments battery (plugged into ableton live) or through the built in "impulse" instrument. (I'm not a drummer) I then record bass guitar and other backing guitar parts.
There is quite a bit to learn, and we've barely began to scrape the surface but its made a tremendous impact on our worship sessions (mostly just by adding drums and bass)

It also helps a lot to have in-ear monitors (route the click just to the monitors) This drove us nuts at first (constant metronome in our ears) but we cant live without it now!

There are lots of videos on youtube surrounding the use of ableton live in worship, and several good blogs to check out.

[EricE]

http://multitracks.com

check it out