Considering AbleSet for a Live Wedding Band Setup, Few Workflow Questions

General
1

Hi all,

I’m looking at moving our wedding band over to AbleSet but I’ve hit a few workflow questions and wondered if anyone here has solved similar challenges.

Current Setup

We currently use BandHelper to manage:

  • Setlists

  • Lyrics and chords

  • MIDI triggers to Ableton

BandHelper is great because it’s cloud based, so the whole band can collaborate, add notes, edit lyrics etc.

In Ableton Live:

  • We use Session View

  • One song per scene

  • Each scene contains multiple clips for:

    • Backing tracks

    • MIDI automation

    • Lighting control to Lightkey

This works well overall.

However:

  • Triggering scenes from BandHelper via MIDI mapping is a bit manual and clunky

  • Programming lighting and song structure changes sometimes feels like it would be easier in Arrangement View

  • Skipping sections of songs live is not always elegant in Session View

So I’ve been looking at AbleSet, but I’m not sure how to replicate parts of our workflow. I know I need to move to arrangement view, that’s not really an issue for me.

Questions

1. Sub Sets / Groupings

In BandHelper I can create multiple groupings inside a show, for example:

  • Set 1

  • Set 2

  • Last Hour

  • Spares

  • First Dances

I can reorganise songs between these easily.

Is something similar possible in AbleSet?
Can you create sub-groups inside a master setlist, or is it strictly one flat list?

2. Songs With No Backing Tracks

Some songs we play fully live with no tracks.

Right now:

  • From BandHelper I trigger a scene in Ableton called something like “Red Lights”

  • That scene simply sets lighting

  • No tracks run

  • Lyrics and chords are handled entirely inside BandHelper

How would you approach this in AbleSet?

Would I need to:

  • Create dummy Arrangement View songs?

  • Set arbitrary lengths?

  • Just have empty stems?

The issue is we often don’t know the exact length because we extend or shorten sections on those song we play live.

What’s the cleanest way to handle “no track” songs in an AbleSet driven workflow?

3. Throwaway / One Off Songs (First Dances & Requests)

We frequently:

  • Add first dances

  • Add last minute requests

  • Only play them once

Currently:

  • I drop them into Session View

  • Lyrics, chords and notes live in BandHelper

  • Our singer and other band members collaborate directly in BandHelper and adds their own notes

If we moved to AbleSet:

  • Do they now all need Ableton Live?

  • Would I need to collect all and save, then share the full project every time?

  • Is there a lightweight way for a band member to edit lyrics/notes without owning Ableton?

One of the big advantages of BandHelper is cloud collaboration. I’m trying to understand whether moving to AbleSet means losing that flexibility.

If anyone here is running a live function or wedding band setup with:

  • Backing tracks

  • Lighting automation

  • Frequent setlist changes

  • Regular first dances and requests

I’d love to hear how you’ve structured it.

Thanks in advance.