Using Drum Pads with Ableton Live

Instructor: Will Doggett

In this course, you’ll learn three ways to use a drum pad, module, or trigger with Ableton Live: controlling and changing sounds, triggering Live clips, and using it as a drum sample player. You’ll explore four connection setups—from direct point-to-point to network MIDI via a performance network. The course uses the Roland SPD-SX and SPD-SX Pro, but the concepts are gear-agnostic and work with any pad or module. It also includes exclusive Ableton Live control templates for both SPD-SX models, available in the course’s Resources section.

Curriculum

  1. Welcome & Getting Started
  2. Using Drum Pads with Ableton Live | Intro
  3. Connecting Your Drum Pad | Point to Point
  4. Connecting Your Drum Pad | Using a PlayAUDIO1U
  5. Connecting Your Drum Pad | Extended Point to Point
  6. Connecting Your Drum Pad | Network MIDI
  7. Changing Presets on Drum Gear
  8. Syncing Ableton's Tempo to Your Drum Pad
  9. Programming Preset Changes for your Drum Pad in Ableton Live
  10. Using Ableton Live for Drum Sounds
  11. Changing Ableton Sounds from Your Drum Pad
  12. Changing Drum Sounds in Ableton Live Automatically
  13. Creating a Redundant Drum Sample Setup
  14. SPD-SX Pro | Intro
  15. SPD-SX Pro | Connecting via USB
  16. SPD-SX Pro | Changing Kits with Live
  17. SPD-SX Pro | Syncing Tempo with Live

This course is included with the All-Access membership ($49.99/month or $499.99/year). Learn more about Playback Academy.