Im trying to set up my APC for dj-ing and im running into some difficulty. For dj-ing you always need two eq-channelstrips to be available, for the playing channel and the one you mix in. They also need to be available simultaniously, you take out bass in channel A while you add it on channel B which you are mixing in. Fairly basic stuff and i dont think anyone would argue with me about this being a basic need when dj-ing.
With the APC in its basic setup this is not possible, only one channel at the time is available making it useless as a dj-controller. Ive made a compromise so far by putting the 1-knob filter(Pioneer-style) on the pan-knobs but its not how it should be.
My first thought is that what i would like is to be able to spread the device panel over two channels. That would give you four rotaries per channnel, which is perfect(maybe add the 1-knob filter to rotary 4).
Problem 1 is how to be able to select two channels.
Problem two would be how to divide the device strip into two device strips.
Would this be possible without destroying the rest of the default mappings(which are perfect) and would it require M4L?
If not im afraid i would have to conclude the APC is not suitable as a dj-controller, as i see no other option and its quite fundamental to dj-ing to be able to do this.
Setting up the APC40 for dj-ing, possible without Max?
Setting up the APC40 for dj-ing, possible without Max?
Prairie Doggin'
Re: Setting up the APC40 for dj-ing, possible without Max?
mapping the pan-buttons to channel one and two seems like an idea, but what if you need to mix in 3 or 4 with 1 or 2? Its not flexible enough imho, you need to be able to have two mapable eq-sections. I instantly went for the device-controls because thats where eq is now, being able to divide that up to two device-panels would be a perfect world.
Maybe the ohm64 is a better controller for Live then the APC, its better thought through from a dj-perspective it seems. Mmm..
Maybe the ohm64 is a better controller for Live then the APC, its better thought through from a dj-perspective it seems. Mmm..
Prairie Doggin'
Re: Setting up the APC40 for dj-ing, possible without Max?
New problem with mapping the pan/send rotaries, when you switch from pan to send or back all values snap to zero. Grr...
Prairie Doggin'
Re: Setting up the APC40 for dj-ing, possible without Max?
Hi 154,
the send buttons perform some form of reset i believe when going back to pan, it's not cool behaviour but it's an apc problem....
Without something like bomes or max your a bit challenged in what you want to do...... if you have bomes already have a look at the videos on my blog and see if they solve you problem? thestudiosessions.co.uk
Cheers
D
the send buttons perform some form of reset i believe when going back to pan, it's not cool behaviour but it's an apc problem....
Without something like bomes or max your a bit challenged in what you want to do...... if you have bomes already have a look at the videos on my blog and see if they solve you problem? thestudiosessions.co.uk
Cheers
D
Re: Setting up the APC40 for dj-ing, possible without Max?
Hi 154,
the send buttons perform some form of reset i believe when going back to pan, it's not cool behaviour but it's an apc problem....
Without something like bomes or max your a bit challenged in what you want to do...... if you have bomes already have a look at the videos on my blog and see if they solve you problem? thestudiosessions.co.uk
Cheers
D
the send buttons perform some form of reset i believe when going back to pan, it's not cool behaviour but it's an apc problem....
Without something like bomes or max your a bit challenged in what you want to do...... if you have bomes already have a look at the videos on my blog and see if they solve you problem? thestudiosessions.co.uk
Cheers
D
Re: Setting up the APC40 for dj-ing, possible without Max?
Mm, not sure if thats a solution id like, i remember midi-ox from my windows-years and ive learned that when working with a midi-routing thirdparty solution and there's an issue + not much time your fucked. Problems always happen on that murphy-moment and troubleshooting should be easy and quick and its probably not.
Honestly im slowly starting to feel the APC is not going to stay. Its more for the semi live-act thing and seems quite useless as a dj-controller. Back to the Xsession Pro i reckon, its more mobile anyway and has all basic facilities.
Such a shame, i liked the idea of the APC and really wanted it to work.
Honestly im slowly starting to feel the APC is not going to stay. Its more for the semi live-act thing and seems quite useless as a dj-controller. Back to the Xsession Pro i reckon, its more mobile anyway and has all basic facilities.
Such a shame, i liked the idea of the APC and really wanted it to work.
Prairie Doggin'
Re: Setting up the APC40 for dj-ing, possible without Max?
You reckon in Max 4 live it can be done? Two channel selects and a splitup of the device-panel linked to the two select buttons? Wouldnt want to jump into another 250 euro adventure only to find out it aint going places 
Sorry for the Lack of trust in the bomes-solution but ive had such misery playing with midi ox and my BCF back in the day that im pretty sensitive about this kind of solution. At least with M4L your staying within the package in a way. Im a musician, not a wizard, nor a programmer
Sorry for the Lack of trust in the bomes-solution but ive had such misery playing with midi ox and my BCF back in the day that im pretty sensitive about this kind of solution. At least with M4L your staying within the package in a way. Im a musician, not a wizard, nor a programmer
Prairie Doggin'
Re: Setting up the APC40 for dj-ing, possible without Max?
I understand your lack of trust in third party stuff, but i've had over 200 people use the template many in live situations without problem and it's just been added to the presets package that comes with bomes....
On the other hand i'm full time max4live at the moment and have just finished my device that allows control over the first paramter in a rack across 8 tracks so you can have all of the bass controls in one device like my bomes template but native in live with the added benefit that if you change a parameter with the mouse it'll update the apc as well... plus the original functionality of being able to reset back to a value with a button press has been improved in that a default value will load with the template but you can record a new reset value mid set and reset back to this instead (i stole this idea from a max patch that the covert operators put out about 6 months ago that stored a set of presets you could quickly switch between....
I'd say it's up to you, if your a musician and not a programmer i'd currently avoid max until the wizards have built enough patches to help you out, i'm not saying the content it comes wiht isn't great it just won't do what your asking out of the box so you'll have to invest a lot of time in it....
On the other hand if you just want a solution that works send me an email to [email protected] and give the trial of bomes a go to see if you like it...
Cheers
D
On the other hand i'm full time max4live at the moment and have just finished my device that allows control over the first paramter in a rack across 8 tracks so you can have all of the bass controls in one device like my bomes template but native in live with the added benefit that if you change a parameter with the mouse it'll update the apc as well... plus the original functionality of being able to reset back to a value with a button press has been improved in that a default value will load with the template but you can record a new reset value mid set and reset back to this instead (i stole this idea from a max patch that the covert operators put out about 6 months ago that stored a set of presets you could quickly switch between....
I'd say it's up to you, if your a musician and not a programmer i'd currently avoid max until the wizards have built enough patches to help you out, i'm not saying the content it comes wiht isn't great it just won't do what your asking out of the box so you'll have to invest a lot of time in it....
On the other hand if you just want a solution that works send me an email to [email protected] and give the trial of bomes a go to see if you like it...
Cheers
D
Re: Setting up the APC40 for dj-ing, possible without Max?
This generally is one of my gripes with Live. When mixing, it doesn't feel as intuitive as a set of normal decks and mixer. Simple things that can be reached easily are harder to do. My solution was:
Separate routing of deck outputs. I now let my analogue mixer deal with things like crossfading, EQ & Gain and effects loops. I also have a Live template and Novation Automap/Nocturn to control effects in Live. Setup now works mostly how I want, altho I do wish I could keep certain functions mapped across different instances of the same plugin...any ideas? shout up !
Separate routing of deck outputs. I now let my analogue mixer deal with things like crossfading, EQ & Gain and effects loops. I also have a Live template and Novation Automap/Nocturn to control effects in Live. Setup now works mostly how I want, altho I do wish I could keep certain functions mapped across different instances of the same plugin...any ideas? shout up !
Re: Setting up the APC40 for dj-ing, possible without Max?
Problem with that is that usually in a club the housemixer is occupied by the decks so if i take over it has to be recabled on the spot while i allready play the first track. That somehow has always kind of put me off. At the heart Ableton should be able to do everything in the box, ill leave summing solutions for the studio when it really matters
Ive been thinking of bringing my own mixer like a Korg Zero 4 but the soundquality is not on par with my Fireface(my current soundcard). Driverstability is also not the same. Maybe the Ecler Evo5 could be an option but id rather have a good controller which just does the basic stuff.
The Vestax VCM-600 might be a good alternative, allthough it might be a bit to big and heavy. The APC allready had me worried wheiter i could take it onboard as handluggage...
Ive been thinking of bringing my own mixer like a Korg Zero 4 but the soundquality is not on par with my Fireface(my current soundcard). Driverstability is also not the same. Maybe the Ecler Evo5 could be an option but id rather have a good controller which just does the basic stuff.
The Vestax VCM-600 might be a good alternative, allthough it might be a bit to big and heavy. The APC allready had me worried wheiter i could take it onboard as handluggage...
Prairie Doggin'
Re: Setting up the APC40 for dj-ing, possible without Max?
I did really like the Look of those Korg Zero series. Seemed to do everything. Audio interface, DJ Mixer and software controller. But as you say people have mentioned reliability and claims of audio issues. Which Kinda put me off considering the cost of them.
You do have a point regarding club systems. It can be a bit difficult. I have to carry around a few different types of cable and adapter to make sure I can always hook up (some of the mixers have been £100 Numark consumer/bedroom spec). Secondly, some clubs use rack 'blanking plates' to box the top of their mixers in. So I now carry a small set of screw drivers with me to get round this. Although this comes in handy for other stuff. Like getting at a systems amps and compressors
According to the meter on the wall I managed to get to 120dB. That also got me a proper telling off from the owner after the sound engineer complained !
You do have a point regarding club systems. It can be a bit difficult. I have to carry around a few different types of cable and adapter to make sure I can always hook up (some of the mixers have been £100 Numark consumer/bedroom spec). Secondly, some clubs use rack 'blanking plates' to box the top of their mixers in. So I now carry a small set of screw drivers with me to get round this. Although this comes in handy for other stuff. Like getting at a systems amps and compressors
According to the meter on the wall I managed to get to 120dB. That also got me a proper telling off from the owner after the sound engineer complained !Re: Setting up the APC40 for dj-ing, possible without Max?
Sometimes the most simple solution is the last one you think off. It was staring me in the face
My perfect solution would be to ditch the track-control completely and switch to two device-controlpanels. They are exactly the same, 4 buttons, 8 rotaries. If you create two channel selects you can link them, left button going from channel 1 to 7 with the bottom device-panel, right one for channel 2 to 8 for the top one. I think with the rack-functionality you can then build a perfect device, 3 pots for eq, 2 for your sends which leaves 3 more for dj-fx of choice.
Simple, and effective. I have two hands so i wouldnt need more than two channel-strips at the same time anyway.
Questions of course are, would this be possible(with Max i reckon, at least)? Is it possible to link the sends in a rack?
If its a yes im keeping the APC and will officially endorse it as the dj-controller of choice from the Delsin/Rushhour-camp!
My perfect solution would be to ditch the track-control completely and switch to two device-controlpanels. They are exactly the same, 4 buttons, 8 rotaries. If you create two channel selects you can link them, left button going from channel 1 to 7 with the bottom device-panel, right one for channel 2 to 8 for the top one. I think with the rack-functionality you can then build a perfect device, 3 pots for eq, 2 for your sends which leaves 3 more for dj-fx of choice.
Simple, and effective. I have two hands so i wouldnt need more than two channel-strips at the same time anyway.
Questions of course are, would this be possible(with Max i reckon, at least)? Is it possible to link the sends in a rack?
If its a yes im keeping the APC and will officially endorse it as the dj-controller of choice from the Delsin/Rushhour-camp!
Prairie Doggin'
Re: Setting up the APC40 for dj-ing, possible without Max?
All is possible with max!! But plan it out on paper before you dive in.....
Cheers
D
Cheers
D