If you’ve read a similar article about creating project template in Logic Pro X, then you can guess already, that there are two approaches for creating project template Ableton Live as well.

The first option is creating a project template from scratch. In other words, just set up a blank session the way you want and save it as a template.

The second option is to open the existing project, then delete everything unnecessary, add what’s lacking and save it as a template.

Now let’s explore it step by step.

Creating a template from the blank session.

1. Open Ableton Live and you’ll see a New Live Set.

2. Add the necessary amount of Audio, MIDI and Return channels.

Shortcuts are:

[Command + T] – audio tracks

[Command + Shift + T] – MIDI tracks

[Command + Option + T] – Return tracks

For windows instead of [Command] use [CTRL]

Learn shortcuts! It will improve your workflow.

3. Set up all routing I/O i.e. inputs and outputs on every channel.

4. Insert necessary plugins (but avoid CPU intensive plugins at this stage)

5. Load commonly used virtual instruments.

6. Import often used samples, transitions, loops, podcast intros, etc. Place them at their usual spots, so you don’t have to do a lot of moving.

7. If you use some other than default global settings (sample rate, etc.), set it up too.

8. After you’ve done all of the previous steps, you have a project that’s ready for work. The last thing you need to do is save it as a template.

Go to File > Save Live Set as Template…

9. Template window will appear on the screen. Now, you have to type the name for your template and hit ENTER.

Done! Moving on!

Creating a template from an existing project.

This way we approach our task from the other side.

1. Find the finished project that you like (mixed, mastered, organized well).

2. Make a copy of that project File > Save a Copy…, choose the folder and Save.

3. Open the project, that you just saved.

4. Delete all unnecessary audio regions, samples, instruments, etc that you’re not going to use every time.

5. Import missing channels, plugins, samples, loops, intros and so on.

6. Copy all project files to your new project directory. File > Collect All and Save. Ableton will copy all files of your Live Set to the project folder, so they won’t be missing if you delete an initial project.

7. Save all you’ve done as project template File > Save Live Set as Template…

Done! Now you can save a ton of time on setting up your projects and spend more time creating your podcast, music, vlog, you name it! I would suggest creating templates for every occasion because one template for all projects would be too big.

In order to load a template go to User Library > Templates > Your Template Name…

Hope this tutorial was helpful. Good luck 🙂