Connect an audio interface to your computer, using either a Firewire or USB cable. Audio interfaces convert the audio signal of external instruments into data, which Ableton Live interprets. They perform a similar function to mixing consoles, but with fewer input sockets.
Connect your external instruments and input sources to your audio interface. The amount of external instruments you can connect depends on how many inputs your audio interface has. For example, the Focusrite Saffire LE has four inputs in total, two XLR inputs and two switchable line or instrument level inputs. Connect microphones to the XLR inputs with an XLR cable and connect everything else with a 1/4-inch jack instrument cable.
Attach a USB cable to the "MIDI Out" jack on your MIDI controller. Connect the other end to a spare MIDI port on your computer. The MIDI controller has a piano keyboard, enabling you to send intuitive data commands to Ableton.
Connect to instrument cables to outputs 1 and 2 on the rear of the audio interface. Connect the other ends to separate speaker inputs.
Double-click the Ableton Live desktop icon.
Click "File," then "New Live Set." This opens a blank session. Click "File," "New" and select "Audio Channel." When prompted, select the amount that reflects how many audio devices are connected to the audio interface. For example, if you have a microphone, guitar and keyboard connected, select "3." Double-click the channel to rename it.
Click "Audio From" on each channel, and click an option from the submenu to select a specific input source. The submenu options have a set of associated preset parameters. For example, if you select "Turntables," Ableton will automatically apply cross-fade parameters to the channel. Repeat for each channel.
Click "File," "New" and select "MIDI Channel." Enter "1" when prompted, unless you have multiple connected MIDI devices.
Click "Audio To" and select "Master" for each channel. Because you are using Ableton Live on stage, everything should be routed to the master output so the audience can hear it. Click "File" and select "Import." Browse for your loops and click on them. This loads them directly into the Live interface. Close the browser to optimize screen space. Hit "Play" to trigger your loops and begin using the channel parameters, such as filters and faders to manipulate the sounds in real time as part of your performance.