Mapping OS macro to Live action

[aklisiewicz]

I was wondering if anybody has ever tried to use some Windows utility program which allows mapping actions to macro (keys on the keyboard). What I mean is to map a certain key (i.e. F2) so when I press F2 it will perform several actions (i.e. insert a plugin on multiple tracks, add and FX device on those tracks, load a preset for installed FX device etc). I have seen other DAW's can do it and I wonder if anybody tried to use one of the programs available for MacOS or Windows to use those MACRO programs with Ableton ?

Here are few links about this topic:
https://www.onmsft.com/how-to/how-to-cr ... windows-10
https://www.mjtnet.com/simple-macro-recorder.htm
https://www.autohotkey.com/
https://www.macrorecorder.com/
https://www.macros.com/
https://www.prohavit.com/blog/8-free-ma ... -keyboard/

[jestermgee]

I use a Corsair K95 keyboard, also Logitech G13 macro keypad and both have software to do this kind of thing and dedicated buttons to use for this but only basic macro key combinations

I also use Bome midi translator for the same thing, only to allow any MIDI button/control on any device to either send a different MIDI signal, sequence of signals or instead, keyboard/mouse commands.

Lastly I use program called AutoIT which is an open source programming software (similar to AHK, just more powerful) for Windows that can be used to create applications, scripts and such but requires some programming knowledge as it's similar in programming to C but is super fast to make a simple script or full executable to handle macro tasks like launching multiple programs all at once, checking if all MIDi and Audio devices are available before loading Live, killing processes when Live loads etc. One thing AIT can do is use libraries of code which I use things like image recognition to detect the actual elements on screen to be able to click or move a mouse to when there are no windows handles or hooks to get.

There are thousands of applications and methods to do this kind of stuff from the mostly low level I approach things to the high level python level.

[aklisiewicz]

yes, many of them work great at the low level and allow to start end programs. The task here is a bit more complex - which is for example add plugin to a track, or throw and FX. While this might be simple when the list of plugins remains the same and your window is full screen it might get messed up when you update a list or resize the window. I did some testing and it kinda works but not as I expect. I haven't though spent much time on it as I got very attracted to Studio One/PRESONUS and how this is handled. Ableton is falling back on many features and even simple tesks become very time consuming comparing to others.

[aklisiewicz]

I just purchased license to PRESONUS Studio One. Not sure if I keep ableton or not but I can say so far this.

OMG - what a difference. Macros build int and tons of features. It feels like LIVE is behind a at least 10 years or more,...