In case you haven't tried this, here's what I like to do with samples in Ableton.
Apply yellow warp markers at all the transients in an audio clip. This isn't always necessary, but I like to be specific when working with samples.
In the Sample Editor window, Right-click and select 'Slice to new midi track.
A window will pop up with a couple of drop down menus. Examine and experiment with the options here, but for now I'm just gonna go with 'Create One Slice Per: Warp Marker' and 'Slicing Preset: Built-In' and click OK.
What this does is
non-destructively slice and assign the sample to a Drum Rack Instrument in a new midi track - the original sample is still intact in case you need to recall it whole.
You can still see the original track that had the original audio clip, and the new midi track with the audio clip sliced and assigned in a Drum Rack instrument. This takes literally a few seconds to do, depending on how many warp markers you want to assign to a sample, if any at all - you'll see in the options here that step may not be necessary depending on your needs. Replay all the chops in any order you want from your midi input device or draw them in with your mouse. When you're talking about workflow you're talking about speed and efficiency. If that's not fast and efficient then I dunno what is.
On the new midi track you've just created there will be a midi clip with the sample slices played in sequential order - you can delete that clip and just create your own. You can also feel free to delete the original track with the audio clip in it since this method is non destructive and the whole clip is still intact and will be in your project folder when you save.
Useful shortcut for working with Drum Rack: once you adjust a setting on one of the pads, you can right click and select 'Copy value to siblings' if you need it the same on all the pads. Huge time saver.
Also in regards to workflow, if you haven't already, take some time to set up the default session so that all your most commonly used instruments and effects are all loaded up as soon as you start working.
the track is not nearly finished yet and I'm aware it still needs quite some work.
