Ableton, should I read the Manual and do the lessons?

[Dabrenn]

Topic says it all, I'm totally new to Ableton and 99% new to making music (I've spent maybe a grand total of 5 hours inside of FLstudio, but I have played piano for many years so I do know musical theory). I think I want to use Ableton over FL (Advice on this issue is valued as well) and I was wondering if you guys think that reading the VERY daunting and lengthy manual, plus doing all the built in lessons are worth my time?

Or should I just do the Lessons and not the manual or vice versa?

Or just jump in and do nothing?


Thanks for any and all help! I'm new a very willing to eat up every piece of wisdom from more experienced users.

[Aussie]

Definitely worth it. I learned lots of things that helped me get started with that manual. Go look on Youtube for some beginner tutorials too!

[Overkillius]

as far as I know on the Ableton over FL issue, I've heard that you can do more with Other DAWs than you can with FL.

I think you should do what Aussie reccomends! The internet is your friend when it comes to learning.

[Xzon]

I'd just stick with the lessons. Thats what I did, and now I'm a total bitchin rock star from Mars.

[randomblockfilms]

yeah read the manual. Ive wasted about a month looking for good lessons about how to use ableton when all this time i could have been reading the manual. I gotta say that the manual is probably best for learning how to use ableton.

im not even like 3 quarters of the way through it and ive learned a lot about it. its got very very good info!

[Versilaryan]

If you google "Ableton tricks", you'll get a ton of useful little things that the manual doesn't explain. But Ableton's built-in getting started guide is pretty good. You should stick with that.

As for Ableton vs. FL, I personally like Ableton better. But it's entirely up to you. Stick with a DAW until you get fed up with its limitations. Find a new DAW whose limitations don't bother you as much.

[Dabrenn]

Thanks all! My christmas break is coming up so I should have time to read the manual, Hopefully i can get through it all.

It seems that the majority of the people who have used both FL and Ableton prefer Ableton, so I think I'm to buckle down and learn Ableton.