Research on Arrangement Methods Based on “Ableton Live” Software - A Case Study of “Yang Qin”

To address the growing demand for integrating traditional Chinese musical instruments into modern digital music ecosystems, this study delves into the tailored application of Ableton Live — one of the industry’s most versatile Digital Audio Workstations (DAWs)—in arranging music for the Yang Qin, a classic Chinese hammered dulcimer renowned for its bright, layered timbre and intricate performance techniques. The core objective of the research is to forge a seamless connection between the Yang Qin’s time-honored acoustic characteristics and cutting-edge digital production workflows, thereby revitalizing the instrument’s presence in contemporary music while safeguarding its cultural authenticity. Employing a rigorous mixed-methods framework, the research unfolds in three interconnected phases. First, an exhaustive literature review maps the current landscape of traditional Chinese instrument digitalization, identifying critical gaps in existing DAW-based arrangement strategies that often compromise the Yang Qin’s unique tonal nuances or technical expressiveness. Next, a series of experimental arrangements are conducted to test Ableton Live’s functional adaptability: the team evaluates how the software’s tools align with the Yang Qin’s hammering dynamics, polyphonic capabilities, and modal scales. Finally, expert evaluations—solicited from both veteran Yang Qin performers and professional electronic music producers—are used to refine and validate the proposed methods against dual benchmarks of cultural fidelity and modern musical appeal. Key findings highlight that Ableton Live’s Session View (for modular, improvisational arrangement), advanced MIDI integration (for expanding the instrument’s tonal range without distorting its core timbre), and real-time audio processing tools (for subtle spatial enhancement) collectively amplify the Yang Qin’s expressiveness in cross-genre contexts, from ambient electronica to fusion pop. Beyond its immediate application, the study delivers a replicable framework for digitizing other traditional Chinese instruments, laying a foundation for their wider inheritance and global market innovation while preserving their cultural essence.