A clip is a basic building block in Ableton Live that contains either audio or MIDI data.
Clips are the fundamental units that make up your music, stored in Session View slots or arranged sequentially in Arrangement View.
What Are Clips Used For?
Clips serve as containers for audio content in Ableton Live, allowing you to:
- Store and play audio recordings
- Hold MIDI sequences and patterns
- Create loops and one-shot samples
- Organize musical ideas in Session View
- Arrange full compositions in Arrangement View
- Apply clip-specific settings like launch quantization, follow actions, and envelopes
How to Use Clips in Ableton
Creating Audio Clips
- Drag audio files directly into Live from your browser
- Record audio into an audio track
- Right-click an empty clip slot and select "Insert Audio File"
Creating MIDI Clips
- Double-click an empty clip slot in a MIDI track
- Click the "Create" button in an empty clip slot
- Draw or record MIDI notes in the clip editor
- Set loop points using the loop brace
Basic Clip Operations
- Launch clips by clicking them
- Stop clips using the clip stop button
- Adjust loop length using the loop brace
- Access clip settings in the Clip View
- Apply warping to audio clips
- Add clip envelopes for parameter automation
FAQs
What's the difference between Audio and MIDI clips?
Audio clips contain recorded sound data (like WAV or MP3 files), while MIDI clips contain note and controller data that trigger instruments or devices.
Can I change the color of clips?
Yes, right-click a clip and select a color from the context menu, or use the clip color picker in the Clip View.
How do I make a clip loop?
Enable the Loop switch in the Clip View and adjust the loop brace to set the loop length. For audio clips, ensure warping is enabled.
What are Clip Envelopes?
Clip Envelopes are automation curves that control parameters within a clip, such as volume, device parameters, or modulation.
How do I move clips between Session and Arrangement View?
Drag clips between views, or record Session View clip launches into Arrangement View using the global record button.
Can clips contain effects?
While clips themselves don't contain effects, they can automate effect parameters using clip envelopes. Effects are applied at the track level.
What are Follow Actions?
Follow Actions are automated behaviors that trigger after a clip plays, like playing another clip or stopping playback. Set these in the Clip View's Launch tab.
How do I consolidate multiple clips?
Select multiple clips in Arrangement View and use Ctrl+J (PC) or Cmd+J (Mac) to consolidate them into a single clip.
Can I edit the content of an audio clip?
While you can't edit the actual audio content within Live, you can adjust its playback using warping, reversing, and other clip properties. For deeper editing, use the "Edit" button to open your default audio editor.