Ableton – Create Impact by Removing Clips Before a Transition

There is a special way to make a new section of your song come in with a bang.  It is not by adding more tracks.  It is by muting certain tracks and clips the measure preceding the new part of the song.  In Ableton, you could start cutting clips and deactivate them by pushing “0”.

I like to stop the drums a measure before the new part.   I usually end up keeping the kick drum on beat one of the preceding measure.   I will try taking back the pads and the guitars and see how it sounds.  Sometimes a solo bass sliding up creates a lot of tension and is cool when all the other instruments are muted.  It depends on the style of music you are making.  In EDM, it might be best just to have a Solo vocal in the empty measure, or solo fill, or rise.   Play around with muting tracks to see what sounds best for your song.

Sometimes it sounds better to bring back instruments just a half measure or a ¼ beat before the new part.  It depends on the song.   If you play around with it, try muting clips for a measure, half measure, or a beat.   Then what ever you add before the drop or chorus will really stand out, whether it is a fill or solo vocal or instrument.  Also, since that measure is so empty, the new part of your song will come in with a bang.  

I hope this helps you. Leave a comment about how you like to add a new transitions.

Here are some more of my recent Ableton posts below:

• Ableton Tips – Get DJs to PLAY YOUR SONG with a mixable INTROs & OUTROs – 4 PRODUCER TIPS
  Want to get DJs to play your songs? Here are 3 Ableton Tips to create easy to mix, DJ friendly, extended Intros and Outros. In this video I tell you how long the intros should be, how to simplify them, and how to start introducing tonic notes. Then I have a 4th BONUS tip on… Read more: Ableton Tips – Get DJs to PLAY YOUR SONG with a mixable INTROs & OUTROs – 4 PRODUCER TIPS
• Ableton Which Effect or Plugin is Causing Latency
  https://youtu.be/nP8A84A8VeI This is how to figure out what plugin or effect is causing the most latency in your project so you can remove or modify it to make it a faster live set.Here is how to find which plugin VST or effect is causing most latency:Turn on delay compensation under the “”Options Tab” in the top… Read more: Ableton Which Effect or Plugin is Causing Latency
• Ableton – Get Ideas Down Fast With Capture
  At first, I didn’t think I would use the “capture” function much in Ableton.  But after using it a few times, I swear by it.  It is so much easier to get ideas down fast, without having to push record or set a tempo.  Capture does just that.  It allows you to play without recording and automatically remember all the notes you play.   In this video, I am going to show you the ins and outs of capturing MIDI.   This way you can use it like a pro and get more musical ideas down faster.
• 7 Ableton Utility Tips – Volume Automation, Bass Mono, Width
  The Ableton Utility is such a charming little device. I’m am going to show you 7 different ways that I use the Ableton Utility to improve my mixes and workflow.