50+ Ableton Live Shortcuts

ableton-live-8Ableton 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’.

  1. Duplicate = COMMAND+D.
  2. Disable Grid = COMMAND+4 (or hold COMMAND whilst selecting note or note start/end).
  3. Select Looped = COMMAND+SHIFT+L.
  4. Resize/Move Loop braces = cursor keys or COMMAND+cursor keys.
  5. In arrange view loop selected = COMMAND+L.
  6. In arrange view consolidate multiple selected clips = COMMAND+J.
  7. Playback from current position = SHIFT+SPACEBAR.
  8. Trigger selected clip slot = RETURN.
  9. Switch Clip/Track view = SHIFT+TAB.
  10. Move clip from session to arrange & vica versa = Click and hold on clip then press TAB.
  11. Stop focus moving when triggering clips (all clips) = In prefs > Record/Warp/Launch > Select on Launch > select ‘off’.
  12. Stop focus moving when triggering clips (selected clips) = CTRL+Click desired clip > select ‘Select on Launch (Pref)’.
  13. Preferences = COMMAND+,.
  14. Adjust all track widths = hold ALT while adjusting.
  15. Record Enable Track = F9.
  16. Slower response while changing track levels = Hold COMMAND while moving fader.
  17. Show hide plugin windows = COMMAND+ALT+P.
  18. Stop browser preview = ESC.
  19. In browser alternate navigation/previewing = left & right cursor keys.
  20. Zoom to loop = Click on the word “length”.
  21. Zoom to position = Click on the word “position”.
  22. Zoom out 100% = Double click the bottom clip overview tab.
  23. Zoom to specific portion = Use start and end of bottom clip overview like loop braces.
  24. Alternate scrolling in MIDI clips = COMMAND+ALT+Drag.
  25. Show/Hide overview in session view = COMMAND+ALT+O.
  26. Show/Hide Info View = SHIFT+/.
  27. Mute/Unmute tracks 1-8 = F1-F8.
  28. Time compress/expand MIDI notes = right-click with all notes selected then select ‘stretch notes’.
  29. Insert silence in arrange view/scene in session view = COMMAND+I.
  30. Drag multiple files to individual tracks = Hold COMMAND whilst dragging files in.
  31. Unfold all arrange tracks = ALT+Click a track arrow icon.
  32. Alternative velocity control in MIDI editor = COMMAND+Click note+drag.
  33. Duplicate note in MIDI editor = ALT+Click note+drag.
  34. Render tracks as individual files = In render dialog change “Master” to “All Tracks”.
  35. Assign twice as many qwerty keys to live = SHIFT.
  36. Restrict automation point movement to vertical axis = COMMAND+Drag.
  37. Scroll drum racks 1 row at a time = COMMAND+Drag.
  38. View multiple plugin windows = In prefs > Look/Feel > Auto-Hide Plugin Windows > select ‘off’.
  39. Edit info text for tracks and devices to make notes = CTRL+Click > select ‘Edit Info Text’.
  40. Create note with draw mode off = Double Click.
  41. 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.

6 thoughts on “50+ Ableton Live Shortcuts

  1. 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.

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