Ableton Live has become the DAW of choice for many top songwriters and producers. Flume, Diplo, Skrillex and Deadmou5 are some of the biggest names in electronic/pop music using the software. Keep reading to for an Ableton Live Lite tutorial and review.

End User License Agreement. Included with a number of apps and hardware products, Live 10 Lite is a lightweight version of Ableton Live 10. It comes with all of Live’s essential workflows, instruments and effects – everything you need to record songs, create hands-on with your controller, take music made in your apps further and so much more.
Ableton makes Push and Live, hardware and software for music production, creation and performance. Ableton´s products are made to inspire creative music-making.
Ableton Live 10 Lite is included; If you already have Ableton Live it must be version 10 or greater to work with Launchpad Mini. We recommend that you update to the latest version as previous versions of Ableton Live do not include the Launchpad Mini integration for InControl. Launchpad Mini will also work as a standard MIDI controller.

Ableton Live 10.1.5 or later is needed for the Launchpad Mini Mk3 to show under 'Control Surface'. If you do not see this, please update Ableton Live to 10.1.5 or later. To set the Launchpad Mini MK3 up with Ableton Live 10 (10.1.5 or later): 1. Connect your Launchpad and then open Ableton. Go to the Preferences Link/MIDI tab. Previously I had been using Ableton on a MacBook Pro (Late 2013), 2.4GHz i5 with 8GB RAM. I can recommend using the mini. I've been happy with the results so far. The only thing I would caution about buying a new mini now is that you'd be locked into Catalina (OS v. 10.15), which doesn't support 32-bit applications.

Ableton – the Berlin-based company released the first edition of Ableton Live in 2001 and was used exclusively for electronic live performances. Fast forward to 2020 and the company has revolutionised the way in which music is created and performed.

Whether you’re a songwriter, looking to record some simple demos, or a seasoned producer looking for a fresh perspective and production workflow, by the end of this article you’ll have a solid understanding of how best to get started using Ableton. We’re going to be looking at Ableton’s Live 10 Lite edition. It’s the perfect stepping-stone into electronic music, music production and live performance.

Note: For readers who are already familiar with music production, feel free to skip the sections covering audio equipment and setup.

What Is Ableton Live 10 Lite?

Ableton Live 10 Lite is a basic, stripped down edition of the full Ableton Live 10 Standard and Ableton Live 10 Suite editions. The difference between the basic and full editions comes down to functionality. More specifically, Ableton Live 10 Lite has a limited array of synthesizers, plugins, miscellaneous effects and sounds to choose from.

The 4 Different Ableton Editions

Ableton Live 10 Suite – The full version: all software instruments, plugins, sound packs. No limitations or restrictions.
Ableton Live 10 Standard – The full version: most software instruments, plugins and sound packs. Some restrictions or limitations.
Ableton Live 10 Intro – Like the Lite edition: Intro is also a basic edition. In fact, the differences between Lite and Intro are so incremental that it’s not worth considering purchasing Intro. Just go straight to one of the full editions if you ever decide you want an Ableton Live Lite upgrade.
Ableton Live 10 Lite – Similar to the full editions but with less of everything. Despite Ableton Live 10 Lite being the inferior version overall, it’s still incredibly versatile and powerful. You could still produce records with just this version.

We’ll be looking at Ableton Live 10 Lite because the software is an industry standard and it’s free to get started.

Let us know if you’d like an Ableton Live Lite vs Standard or Ableton Live Lite vs full review!

Note: Go to www.Ableton.com to see a comprehensive guide of features included in the 4 different editions and their price listings. Also, check out our article on free Ableton sound packs!

Installation

Before you download a version of Ableton Live 10 Lite, please check the system requirements:

System Requirements for Mac

OS X 10.11.6 or later
Intel® Core™2 Duo Processor (Intel® Core™ i5 processor or faster recommended)
4 GB RAM (8 GB or more recommended)

System requirements for PC

Windows 7 (SP1), Windows 8 or Windows 10 (64-bit)
64-bit Intel® Core™ or AMD multi-core processor (Intel® Core™ processor or faster recommended)
4 GB RAM (8 GB or more recommended)

Basically, make sure your computer’s operating system is up to date and that you have enough space on your internal hard drive to install the software.

When ready, go to www.ableton.com/en/products/live-lite/ to get your Ableton Live Lite download.

Note: If the link doesn’t work, search for “Ableton Live 10 Lite download” in your browser and you’ll be directed to the Ableton website download page.

Installation & MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface)

Along with your edition of Ableton, you’ll also need a MIDI controller to interact with the software and program/play music with.

A MIDI controller (Musical Instrument Digital Interface) is any hardware that transmits or receives data to and from a DAW – sounds complicated and sophisticated but it’s not.

In simple terms, a MIDI controller is just a pad or mini keyboard with extra buttons that you plug into your computer to trigger sounds and perform live with – that’s all! Learn more about MIDI controllers by clicking on it above!

Authorise Your Ableton Live Lite Software

At this point, open up Ableton Live 10 Lite on your computer and you’ll be prompted to authorise the software.

Mini Ableton Live 10 Download

I recommend authorising your edition of Ableton Live 10 Lite for 2 reasons:

It will allow you to save your work.
It will enable you to export your songs and productions.

So, authorising your Ableton Live 10 Lite is a very important step.

To do this you would need to purchase a license from Ableton, which comes in the form of a serial number. Fortunately, this serial number comes free with a lot of controllers already, so all you need to do is purchase a MIDI controller.

Note: Make sure you purchase a controller that includes an Ableton Live 10 license.

Ableton Account

During the installation and authorisation process, you’ll most likely be prompted to create an Ableton account. It’s worth creating an account as it keeps all your Ableton licenses in one place. It also serves as your own cloud storage system for Ableton products. Such as additional Ableton Live Lite plugins, sounds and instruments.

For further help with the installation and authorisation process, go to the help section of the Ableton website.

Note: For any readers who already have MIDI controllers, chances are you’ll find an Ableton Live Lite free license in your controller’s original packaging.

Finding The Perfect MIDI Controller

When choosing a controller, keep your musical background and what you hope to create in mind. For example, if you’re big into beat making, the Launchpad or AKAI MPD218 are great choices. They have a simple pad grid layout that makes it easy for “finger drumming” and for use with Ableton’s Live performance mode (Session View).

If you’re a piano/keys player, go for a MIDI controller with a keyboard that has multiple octaves, like the Launchkey 49.

I recommend a controller that includes a pad grid and a keyboard. That way you’ll have one piece of hardware for all music production purposes. It also means less clutter in your studio.

Once you’ve got your MIDI controller ready and your Ableton edition open on your computer. Connect your controller to your laptop using the provided USB cable. Ableton should recognise your controller and make any configurations automatically.

If for some reason the controller is not working right away, you’ll need to set up the MIDI controller manually. It’s very easy.

Ableton have created a video tutorial for configuring MIDI controllers manually:

Audio Interface Setup

If you’re going to be working with raw audio, recording acoustic instruments like vocals or acoustic guitar for example, you’ll need to make sure your audio interface is communicating with Ableton Live 10 Lite.