Importing a Whole Ableton Live Set

Import a multi-song Ableton Live set in one go from Files: Upload, Bulk import, Ableton Live set. Each locator becomes a song, with its stems, tempo, sections, lyrics and MIDI cues, plus the key when it's in the song's name. Analysis is usually unnecessary.

If your show already lives in one Ableton Live set, you can bring the whole thing into a band at once. Pliris makes one song per locator and reads each song's stems, tempo and sections from the set. The key comes across when it's in the song's name (for example Give Up D 166).

Watch the lesson: this article goes with Import a whole Ableton Live set, part of the Using Pliris to Program, Practice, and Perform course.

Before you start

  • A locator at the start of each song. Plain names, Setlist, AbleSet, LIOBOX, Conductor and TAZ formats all work.
  • Full-length rendered stems.
  • All samples in the project folder. In Ableton, choose File → Collect All and Save first.

The Live set in Ableton.

Ableton's Collect All and Save.

Import the set

  1. Go to Files (files.fromstudiotostage.com), click Upload, then Bulk import, then Ableton Live set.

Bulk import: Folder of songs, Ableton Live set, or Paste a link.

  1. Choose the band to import into.
  2. Drop your project folder (the folder with your .als and its Samples folder), or click Choose project folder. A zipped project works too: click Choose ZIP. A folder import reads the set at the top of the folder, and Ableton's Backup copies are ignored.

The import dialog: drop your Ableton project folder or choose a ZIP.

  1. If your browser asks to let the site view and copy files, click Allow.

The browser's file access prompt.

  1. Check the songs. Each locator is listed with its tempo, key and number of stems. Edit names or untick songs you don't want. Nothing is created until you import.
  2. Leave analysis unticked unless you need it. Tempo and sections already come from the set, so Key, Tempo, Time Signature and Sections is usually unnecessary. If the set has a lyrics track, you can skip Lyrics and Chords too.
  3. Click Import (for example Import 10 songs).

The detected songs, one per locator, with the analysis options unticked.

  1. Keep the tab open while it imports. Progress shows the song and stem it's working on.

Import progress: Song 1 of 10, Stem 2 of 7.

What comes across

  • Songs: one per locator, in the band you picked.
  • Tempo and sections, matching your Live set exactly, and the key when it's in the song's name. If it isn't, set the key on the song page or run Key, Tempo, Time Signature and Sections.
  • Lyrics from a lyrics track, with their timing.
  • MIDI cues, with an output created for them if you don't have one.

The imported songs in the band.

A song whose sections match the Live set.

Lyrics imported from the set.

Songs that are already in the band

When a locator's name matches a song the band already has, the review screen marks it Already in this band and gives you a choice:

  • Add as new arrangement (the default): the set's version goes onto that song as another arrangement. Give it a name in the box beside the choice. If several songs in the band share the title, pick which one it belongs under.
  • Create as separate song: Pliris makes a second song with the same name.

Neither choice replaces or changes the arrangement you already have. So if you're importing again to fix a song (for example after Collect All and Save brought in audio that was missing), you'll end up with two arrangements of it.

To keep just one version of a song:

  1. On the review screen, untick every song you don't need to bring in again.
  2. Leave the song on Add as new arrangement, check its stem count, and click Import.
  3. When the import finishes, open the band in Pliris, open the menu on the old arrangement, and choose Delete arrangement.

If the review screen says it couldn't check which songs are already in the band, every song will be created as a new song. Go back and pick the set again to retry the check before you import.

For a single song, see Importing a Song from Ableton Live. For a folder of stems per song, see Bulk Uploading a Folder of Songs.

Frequently asked questions

Can I import my whole Ableton Live set into Pliris at once?

Yes. In Files, choose Upload, Bulk import, Ableton Live set, and pick your project folder or ZIP. Each locator becomes a song.

How does Pliris know where each song starts?

From your locators. Put a locator at the start of every song. Plain names, Setlist, AbleSet, LIOBOX, Conductor and TAZ formats all work.

Do I need to run analysis on an imported Live set?

Usually not. Tempo and sections come from the set, and lyrics come from a lyrics track if you have one.

Some audio is missing after import. Why?

The set probably referenced samples outside its project folder. Run File → Collect All and Save in Ableton and import again. Songs already in the band come in as a new arrangement, so delete the incomplete one afterwards (see Songs that are already in the band).

If I import my Live set again, will I get duplicate songs?

No duplicate songs by default. A song whose name is already in the band is added to that song as a new arrangement. You can choose Create as separate song instead on the review screen. Either way, the arrangement you already had stays, so untick songs you don't need to re-import.

Does re-importing the set update the songs I already have?

No. It adds a new arrangement and leaves the old one as it was. To keep one version, import the song again, then delete the old arrangement from the band page. To bring back only structure changes (sections, tempo, mutes) without new audio, drop the .als on the song instead: see Re-importing Your Ableton Edits.