Electribe - Ableton realtime control over parameter question

Blankman8503 · Post by **Blankman8503** » Sat Dec 18, 2010 11:23 pm

I use Ableton and an APC40 to sequence my hardware(Korg EMX-1, Korg Radias-R). I use External Instruments on tracks, for each of the separate drums, synths, and timbres on the respective hardware, to sequence with MIDI clips and automate parameters. What I would like to be able to do is assign a fader on my APC40 to control the level knob on the specific part or timbre on the EMX-1 or Radias. For example I have Synth 1 on the EMX-1 assigned to Channel 11 and sequence the sound via Ableton MIDI clip. What I want is to be able to assign the fader assiciated with the MIDI track on my APC40 control the LEVEL parameter (CC#7 on Ch 11) on the EMX-1. Is this real time control of parameters of external instruments possible with just live? Can I assign specific faders or knobs on the APC40 to send to a specific MIDI CC# on the Channel assigned? Or if someone uses one of these pieces of hardware, can I change the default CC assignments for each of the parameters?

Blankman8503 · Post by **Blankman8503** » Sun Dec 19, 2010 9:02 am

To update I was informed on the Ableton forums that I can use MIDI-OX to translate the MIDI CC info sent by the APC to the correct MIDI CC# to control the level parameter. Anyone know MIDI-OX well enough to help me with this.

gotBASS? · Post by **gotBASS?** » Sun Dec 19, 2010 9:50 pm

Don't know it much, but I can point you to the midi-ox forum...

http://www.midiox.com/cgi/yabb/YaBB.pl

good luck.

gil videla · Post by **gil videla** » Tue Dec 21, 2010 7:05 am

I use midi clips all the time to automate stuff on my emx
I never needed to use MIDI ox, i just mess with the envelope clip for the respective CC#, but then I'm not using a fader on an APC40

If you have a hand on the APC40 adjusting the volume, why can't you just take said hand and reach over to the emx and turn the volume knob of Synth part 1???

midi clips to emx is awesome, you can do more that motion sequence because motion sequence is "sequential from one # up to another, or down to another" with the clips, you can draw big time jumps...

way fun and THEN, you can and hit the RECORD button on EMX and with motion sequence ON - it will record the midi clip envelope with movements you can't do by hand!!!!!!!!!
so much fun

Blankman8503 · Post by **Blankman8503** » Wed Dec 22, 2010 7:41 pm

I want to be able to bring clips in and out and other level adjustments by hand and on the EMX its not possible to do effect multiple parts at once. Really it's just an idea I had that would make things easier for me. With a drum part and 5 synth parts on the EMX and 4 synth parts on the Radias being controlled via MIDI clips in Ableton I would like to have all the levels, and possibly some other basic parameters, accessible at once without having to push a button to access each different synth part.

-gil Videla
Can you use the Part Mutes or access Program Banks C-D? The Part Mutes is what I am trying to use MIDI-OX for now using Ruso's MIDI Tribe. So far no success.

Using the electribe with MIDI Clips from Ableton increased my love of the machine exponentially. I loved it before but now not having to waste multiple drum or synth slots for different rhythms brings it to a whole new level. I don't have to worry about as many program changes or structuring programs to break up songs properly.

gil videla · Post by **gil videla** » Thu Dec 23, 2010 12:37 am

Blankman8503 wrote:
-gil Videla
Can you use the Part Mutes or access Program Banks C-D? The Part Mutes is what I am trying to use MIDI-OX for now using Ruso's MIDI Tribe. So far no success.

Using the electribe with MIDI Clips from Ableton increased my love of the machine exponentially. I loved it before but now not having to waste multiple drum or synth slots for different rhythms brings it to a whole new level. I don't have to worry about as many program changes or structuring programs to break up songs properly.

Hmmm... I can't say for sure as I haven't scratched that part of the surface. So far I have only been using clips on the synths section, since each since is on a different midi ch I would just turn the vol down to 0using the clip envelope. If you mean Drum Parts, good luck, they're all on the same channel, I guess I may have to look more into it.

I don't have the manual here, but in the back the reference tells you what messages Part Mute will act on, if it's NOT MIDI CC, I dunno how to do NPRN message with Ableton. Maybe this is why RUSO came up with the MIDI OX project he worked on. I never got around to using that thing...

Blankman8503 · Post by **Blankman8503** » Thu Dec 23, 2010 9:39 pm

I'm very close to getting MIDITribe working. Ableton is receiving data when I part mute, as is MIDI-OX, and when I click the each drum button in MIDITribe. I just can't figure out how to map to it in Ableton and I don't know how to mute individual notes in a MIDI Clip. Activate/Deactivate Clip(s) works well but I don't know if it is a mappable function in Ableton.

I recommend looking into using sequencing your EMX drums as well. Its so nice to be able to have 9 drum sounds and vary their sequencing via Ableton MIDI Clips. Not more wasted slots for bridges and variations.

gil videla · Post by **gil videla** » Fri Dec 31, 2010 6:29 am

Blankman8503 wrote:I'm very close to getting MIDITribe working. Ableton is receiving data when I part mute, as is MIDI-OX, and when I click the each drum button in MIDITribe. I just can't figure out how to map to it in Ableton and I don't know how to mute individual notes in a MIDI Clip. Activate/Deactivate Clip(s) works well but I don't know if it is a mappable function in Ableton.

I recommend looking into using sequencing your EMX drums as well. Its so nice to be able to have 9 drum sounds and vary their sequencing via Ableton MIDI Clips. Not more wasted slots for bridges and variations.

Have you tried the directsynth program that makes the EMX a VST? THis make make it easier than all this MIDI OX stuff.

Blankman8503 · Post by **Blankman8503** » Sat Jan 01, 2011 7:39 pm

I have it and am trying to get it to do what I want. So far I have not been able to find a Part Mute Function on the demo program. I emailed the maker telling them what I am trying to do with it and asked whether it would fit my needs. Hopefully they come back with Yes to all the functions I want so I can put months of research behind me and finally have a solution.

gil videla · Post by **gil videla** » Fri Jan 07, 2011 9:30 pm

Blankman8503 wrote:I have it and am trying to get it to do what I want. So far I have not been able to find a Part Mute Function on the demo program. I emailed the maker telling them what I am trying to do with it and asked whether it would fit my needs. Hopefully they come back with Yes to all the functions I want so I can put months of research behind me and finally have a solution.

part mute is one of the fundamentals of the ELETRIBES functions. I can't see it being unavailable. Then again most often you'd use part mute during a live performance situation. Furthermore, since you're using a VST, you don't necessarily need a part mute, just eliminate the midi that would be triggering whatever part you're "muting" If it's not there, what is there to mute?

Blankman8503 · Post by **Blankman8503** » Sat Jan 08, 2011 9:54 pm

I have been working on muting the MIDI Notes that are sequencing from Ableton and have gotten as far as being able to Mute each part but not unmute. The problem is that the Mute/Unmute for each part is a separate CC message, whereas the Activate/Deavtivate device in Ableton is value 0-63 being OFF and 64-127 being ON on the same parameter. This is why I was trying to find out if that program works. As of now I have not been able to use MIDI OX or Max4Live to overcome this problem. Though I know that in Max the solution of a Custom Device with separate ON and OFF controls is a simple thing, though it is still over my head at this point.