Project 05 - Performance
Duration: April 22 - May 10, 2024
Description
For our final project we’ll explore the basic techniques and approaches to performing live with a laptop and MIDI controllers. While you are welcome to use whatever DAW you prefer, Ableton Live is by far the most popular DAW for performing live music with a laptop. We’ll also use this project as an opportunity to explore the Push 2, Ableton’s dedicated MIDI controller.
Phases
Phase 1: Gather Ideas (Week 13)
Overview of Ableton Live and Push 2. Basic ideas and approaches to live performance.
Resources:
- Free Trial of Ableton Live
- Getting Started with Ableton Live Video Series
- Getting Started with Push 2 Video Series
Phase 2: Experiment and Refine (Week 14)
Advanced Ableton and Push performance techniques: instrument and effect racks, dummy clips for hands-free effect transitions, and clip follow actions. Students build a short (1–2 minute) performance.
Phase 3: Performance (Week 15)
Final live performances in class (or a recorded performance with quality audio and video showing both Ableton and Push).
Skills & Standards
- Session View as a performance instrument
- Push 2 as a controller for clips, drums, melodic playing, and device control
- Racks, macros, dummy clips, and follow actions
- Preparing a set that is robust enough to perform live