How to Move an Ableton Live Set to Another Computer
Ableton sets stores three basic types of data: instrument and effect parameters, DAW settings (volume, pan, etc.) and audio files. The first two types are embedded in the set; audio files, however, are linked to the set’s samples folder. If you move or copy a set without moving its samples folder, none of the audio files will appear in the set when you open it from the new location. Here’s a foolproof way to save a self-contained Ableton set that you can email to a collaborator or transfer to a laptop for live performances:
Open up the set you want to move. Click the “File” menu and select “Save Set As.” Ableton opens a file browser window. Here’s the important part: navigate to a new directory. This ensures that the set will preserve all the audio files that it links to (and only those audio files). I usually just move to the root directory on my hard drive. Now save the set; Ableton will create a new folder called “[Your Set] Project.”
Open the “File” menu again. Click “Collect All and Save.” Set all four buttons to “Yes” and click “OK.” Ableton will copy all the samples in the set into the new project folder that you created. The “[Your Set] Project” folder should now contain two sub-folders: “Ableton Project Info” and “Samples,” as well as the ALS file for the set. You can now transfer the “[Your Set] Project” folder to a flash drive, or zip it up and email it.
