Using Live as a MIDI-controlled backing tracks player?

[mikedge]

First of all, let me say big hello to everyone!

The thing is I've never used Ableton Live (a Sonar user here) and have absolutely no experience with it. I was pushed its direction when searching for something that apparently doesn't seem to exist on its own - a MIDI controlled WAV/MP3 backing track player with following functionality:

* MIDI-controlled playback (play/pause/stop/jog) for example via CC messages

* MIDI-controlled volume

* MIDI-controlled selection from a playlist (let's say a program change message #20 whould call a track number 20, PC message #96 track 96 etc.)

* support for a playlist of up to 128 (logically - MIDIwise) of WAV and MP3 files of unlimited length

Nothing less, nothing more. I've tried many "solutions" ranging from WinAmp plugins (not being able to select from playlist via MIDI) to using Sonar (somewhat cumbersome for that purpose, really...).
Three people have already told me that Live could easily do this for me. If so, would someone please show me how to do that quickly without having to learn the complexity of the software? I.e. how to build the "playlist" assign the MIDI messages?

I would be very thankful for your help!

[luddy]

I have a Live set for my band's live show that

-uses incoming notes on MIDI channel 3 to start a selected song (plays a selected scene, chosen by the note number)

-has other notes and cc messages for starting stopping etc.

-has a whole bunch of other effect controls, but these could easily be a volume control.

It's real easy to do this. If each song corresponds to a scene, then go into MIDI Map mode in session view and click each song (scene) and hit a note (or other MIDI event) that you want to use to launch it. The details of what notes/messages/channels/etc you use is mostly dependent on the controller you will use and what's most convenient to send from it.

hth,

-Luddy

[milesahead]

* MIDI-controlled playback (play/pause/stop/jog) for example via CC messages

press ctrl + m (midi map) and midi-learn play/pause... to any button on any midi device connected to live.

* MIDI-controlled volume

simply do the same, midi-map the volume fader of the given tracks to a fader/knob

* MIDI-controlled selection from a playlist (let's say a program change message #20 whould call a track number 20, PC message #96 track 96 etc.)

load the file to a slot in an audio track, and midi-map it`s start button

* support for a playlist of up to 128 (logically - MIDIwise) of WAV and MP3 files of unlimited length

sounds, as if this is the same as before,
but you don`t want to load the tracks during your gig, make sure you load them to the live-set first.

unlimited length? aren`t you talking about mp3-files? why unlimited length?
try to loop certain parts, maybe?

cheers

[mikedge]

Thank you so much for your replies so far. You've helped me a lot! I'm already able to launch various tracks a control the overall volume via MIDI. I have troubles with transport, though. I can seem to map anything else but play and stop. Is it possible to MIDI-map also pause (Shift+Space) and jog back/forward? Btw. is it possible at all to jog when playing back the session in Live?