In this article I’m going to show you how to run both Mainstage and Ableton Live on one laptop so you can create an efficient flow for your worship team and save money.
Affordable worship keyboard setup that sounds amazing
Selecting the right keyboard rig for your worship band can be a daunting task. In this article, I’m going to walk you through the setup we use at our church plant. Rather than spending thousands of dollars on a Nord, Roland, or Yamaha keyboard, we are able to produce amazing sounds with an inexpensive MIDI keyboard and Mainstage running on a MacBook Air. Keep reading to the end and you’ll know exactly what to buy and how to set this up at your church.
Should I learn how to use Ableton Live for worship?
In this article, I share some tips to help you have the right expectations on what it take to implement this powerful software in your ministry. In a few minutes, you’ll know if Ableton is right for you. I’ll also tell you about a cool opportunity coming up to help you learn Ableton Live the quickest way possible.
How to make a small worship band sound big
On most Sundays, my worship band consists of only four members. I sing and play acoustic. My assistant worship leader is on vocals, and we have a keyboardist and drummer. No bassist. No electric guitars. No background vocals. Even with a small ensemble, we manage to achieve a big sound in worship. In this article, I’ll tell you all about how we do it and watch to the end because I tell you about my #1 software recommendation for achieving a full sound in worship.
Do tracks limit freedom in worship?
There are many benefits to using a click and tracks in worship, especially if you use Ableton Live to run them. But a question I often hear is “does using a click and tracks limit flexibility or spontaneity in worship?” My short answer to this is “no.” But in this article, I’ll explain how you can build flexibility into your Ableton Live setlist and make the software follow you instead of the other way around.
The ultimate video guide to using Ableton Live in Worship
Intro to the video guide
If you are searching for a clear and comprehensive guide on how to get started with using Ableton Live in worship, you have come to the right place. In this free video series, I have compiled everything I know about running a click and backing tracks in worship to using more advanced features in Ableton such as automating production elements like worship lyrics.
If you haven’t already, go to Ableton.com to download your 30-day free trial of Live. You will be able to demo all of the features of the suite version during this time. That ensures you can learn how to use the software before making a financial commitment to purchase it. If your budget allows, I recommend buying the Standard version of Ableton Live, but everything you learn here will apply to the Lite version. The only downside of the Lite version is you will be limited to 16 tracks.
For my complete list of Ableton Live gear recommendations, download my Lead Worship with Ableton Toolkit. Access the toolkit by clicking the link below.
Video 1 - How to get started with a click and backing tracks in worship
In the first video, I will introduce you to the basics of running a click and backing tracks in worship, so you will understand the big picture of how this process works as well as the gear you will need.
Video 2 - How to setup a multitrack session in Ableton Live
In the second video, I will show you how to setup a multitracks session in Ableton Live for an individual song. This video will optimize your workflow and make it easy for you to assemble complete worship set lists in Ableton Live on a weekly basis.
Video 3 - How to create a worship set list in Ableton Live
In the third video, I will show you how to build a complete set list in Ableton Live arrangement view. This video is where we get down into the nitty-gritty, but the details you learn will be invaluable for helping you become an Ableton ninja in no time.
Video 4 - How to automate lyrics with Ableton Live and ProPresenter
In the fourth and final video, I will show you how to automate ProPresenter with Ableton Live. This video will allow you to have correct lyric slides 100% of the time, bringing your quality of worship production to the next level.