← First Contact
Mission 05 · World 1
Files & Projects
How Live saves your work.
Live Sets, Projects, Packs — three layers that keep your work portable.
+40 XP
// WHAT IT DOES
A Live Set is one .als file = your song. A Project is the folder around it that holds the .als plus its samples and presets. A Pack (.alp) is a bundle Ableton (or you) ship to share content.
Always save a song into its own Project folder. File → Collect All and Save copies every used sample inside it so you can move the folder anywhere.
Think of it like → The .als is a recipe. The Project folder is the box of ingredients next to it.
▸ WHY YOU CARE
- • Email a Project folder to a friend — they open it and everything works.
- • Lose nothing when you switch laptops or back up your drive.
// SEE & HEAR IT
- Bass · Sub Pluckdrag →
- Lead · Acid Sawdrag →
- Pad · Glass Choirdrag →
- Keys · Soft Rhodesdrag →
▸ HOW IT WORKS
Live → reads .als → resolves sample paths (Project first, then User Library, then absolute path, then last-known location).
▸ Signal flow — watch the dot
▸ SIGNAL FLOW
Glowing dot = your signal travelling through Live.
▸ LISTEN FOR
- • Status bar reports 'X files collected'.
▸ WALKTHROUGH (3 steps)
- 1. DO: File → Save → put it in a NEW folder named after your song.▸ LISTEN: Live creates the Project structure.
- 2. DO: File → Collect All and Save → tick all sources.▸ LISTEN: Status bar shows files copying.
- 3. DO: File → Manage Files → Manage Project.▸ LISTEN: Lists every sample, missing or unused.
▸ COMMON MISTAKES
- ✗ Saving every song into one giant folder — paths break when you move things.
- ✗ Forgetting Collect All before sending a project to a collaborator.
// QUIZ (QUICK)
Question 1 / 30 correct
A Live Set extension is…