Ableton Forum user autogen compiled this list of shortcuts and tips for Ableton Live users.
Live shortcuts & alternative controls for certain functions. PC users substitute ‘COMMAND’ with ‘ALT’ and ‘ALT’ with ‘CTRL’.
- Duplicate = COMMAND+D.
- Disable Grid = COMMAND+4 (or hold COMMAND whilst selecting note or note start/end).
- Select Looped = COMMAND+SHIFT+L.
- Resize/Move Loop braces = cursor keys or COMMAND+cursor keys.
- In arrange view loop selected = COMMAND+L.
- In arrange view consolidate multiple selected clips = COMMAND+J.
- Playback from current position = SHIFT+SPACEBAR.
- Trigger selected clip slot = RETURN.
- Switch Clip/Track view = SHIFT+TAB.
- Move clip from session to arrange & vica versa = Click and hold on clip then press TAB.
- Stop focus moving when triggering clips (all clips) = In prefs > Record/Warp/Launch > Select on Launch > select ‘off’.
- Stop focus moving when triggering clips (selected clips) = CTRL+Click desired clip > select ‘Select on Launch (Pref)’.
- Preferences = COMMAND+,.
- Adjust all track widths = hold ALT while adjusting.
- Record Enable Track = F9.
- Slower response while changing track levels = Hold COMMAND while moving fader.
- Show hide plugin windows = COMMAND+ALT+P.
- Stop browser preview = ESC.
- In browser alternate navigation/previewing = left & right cursor keys.
- Zoom to loop = Click on the word “length”.
- Zoom to position = Click on the word “position”.
- Zoom out 100% = Double click the bottom clip overview tab.
- Zoom to specific portion = Use start and end of bottom clip overview like loop braces.
- Alternate scrolling in MIDI clips = COMMAND+ALT+Drag.
- Show/Hide overview in session view = COMMAND+ALT+O.
- Show/Hide Info View = SHIFT+/.
- Mute/Unmute tracks 1-8 = F1-F8.
- Time compress/expand MIDI notes = right-click with all notes selected then select ‘stretch notes’.
- Insert silence in arrange view/scene in session view = COMMAND+I.
- Drag multiple files to individual tracks = Hold COMMAND whilst dragging files in.
- Unfold all arrange tracks = ALT+Click a track arrow icon.
- Alternative velocity control in MIDI editor = COMMAND+Click note+drag.
- Duplicate note in MIDI editor = ALT+Click note+drag.
- Render tracks as individual files = In render dialog change “Master” to “All Tracks”.
- Assign twice as many qwerty keys to live = SHIFT.
- Restrict automation point movement to vertical axis = COMMAND+Drag.
- Scroll drum racks 1 row at a time = COMMAND+Drag.
- View multiple plugin windows = In prefs > Look/Feel > Auto-Hide Plugin Windows > select ‘off’.
- Edit info text for tracks and devices to make notes = CTRL+Click > select ‘Edit Info Text’.
- Create note with draw mode off = Double Click.
- Remove stop buttons to avoid clips stopping when changing scenes = Select clip slot > COMMAND+E (or enable ‘Legato’ launch mode).
General Tips
- Hidden buttons visible when in midi or key assign mode = scene up/down (in master track).
- per track play button – launches selected clip in track.
- Entering bpm in the scene launch buttons title sets bpm when launched.
- Click the headphone icon in midi editor to enable vertical keyboard to preview related sound.
- While MIDI synced to external machine hosting Live ALT+SPACEBAR on the sync slave causes it to sync to the masters current song position. (remedy for sync drifting without stopping and starting).
- Remember to experiment with the default live rack presets especially the DJ/Performance ones.
- GIGA libraries can be exported to Sampler then deleted (if required), as all samples are copied to the library.
- Mac users check out a free app called Soundsource. It adds an audio prefs selector to the menu-bar.
- OSX Function keys = ALT+F1/F2 opens Display Prefs, ALT+F3/F4/F5 opens Sound Prefs, ALT+F8/F9/F10 opens Keyboard & Mouse Prefs.
- When a new version of Live is released. Open Info Window (SHIFT+/) and hover any new parameters, fields or preferences.
- Multiple tracks can be selected and frozen simultaneously.
- Drag and drop tracks directly from iTunes for DJing.
- Dragging a sample onto a plugin instrument will replace the instrument with an instance of Simpler containing that sample.
much thanx for the tips
wicked!!!!
I accidently pressed a button on my keyboard and now the sound out is gone. im using asio4all drivers and thats configured correctly. i use ableton To record guitar and the input for that is fine. all volumes are up, nothing is muted. the audio track is armed and if i turn up my amp to full i can hear the guitar just very quiet and fuzzy. all was working fine, then i hit some buttons on the top of the keyboard and now this. yes, ive tried ALL of the buttons, closed down/restarted set etc but nothing works
Please help, ive got a demo to finish for tomorow and have no other way of recording it.
FAIL
i like youll website kool!!!!! :)))
on PC:
ctrl + alt + f = Show Fades on audio tracks
ctrl + shift + f = enable “follow” in arrangement, which scrolls as the track plays.