Advanced APC40 DJ Set Up... please help!

[Joe Moriarty]

I use Live and the APC40 mainly for DJing, and moving into production.

I know in my head exactly what I’d like to have as my template set up, between my APC40, NanoPad and NanoKontrol.


What I’d ideally like is:

1) To have my clip launch button matrix on the APC40 remain intact, as well as the clip stop buttons (as per the default/automap setting). So that these can trigger clips, illuminate and have the navigation border around the 8x5 grid on screen in Live.

2) I’m a big fan of having a VST drum machine in the background, which I can layer over, improv and manipulate very quickly whilst I have tracks playing. I’ve been using D16’s Drumazon so far to mess about with this idea, and I absolutely love it. The only real bug bear I have with it is that I can’t assign the 16 step buttons to a midi controller (I’m sure?), so that I can change the rhythms live like you would a real 909 (without having pre-defined and pre-saved patterns to cycle through).

To this end, I’d love to have scene launch buttons 1-4 on the APC40 take me into 4 step edit screens on the APC40 for *drum machine VST/Drum Rack*, so that I can split the 8x5 clip launch matrix into 2 4x4 grids to quickly punch in rhythm patterns. So I’d have scene 1 with 2 16 button grids for bass drum and snare, scene 2 with 2 16 button grids for low toms and mid toms, etc. Then my NanoKontrol for changing the volume (allowing quick cuts), 1 parameter and solo button, etc for each drum machine element (but that bit’s easy).

3) With regards to the APC40’s encoders, I’d like to have them assigned to pre-defined mappings (rather than auto-map, as this can become quite confusing and full of parameters I don’t need to be readily accessible via controller). So for example in Track Control, the Send A bank would be changed to FreqLo for each of the 8 tracks, Send B changed to FreqHi for each of the 8 tracks, Send C to autofilter dry/wet for each of the 8 tracks, etc. Then Device Control 1/2/3 for EQ3 controls, 5/6/7 for Multiband Dynamics, 4 & 8 for Redux and Beat Repeat or something for each track (then the shift/next device function to move into more complex device assignments)

All of this is easy enough to do. However due to wanting to keep the auto-map settings for clip-launch (as mentioned in my first point); and wanting non-auto-mapped settings for manual parameter set up, I’m not sure if this is possible.

4) Then I’d have my NanoPad set up for playing live bongos, and other percussive drums (making use of it’s velocity sensitivity). But again this bit’s easy.

5) I’d also love to disable the Cue Volume encoder, and use this as an accelerated scrolling control for moving up and down my browser folder (along with some other control for either putting the selected file from the browser into cue, or a track within the Live Set). I know that this accelerated scrolling control is achievable in Traktor (after an age of trying to set it up), but not sure if it’s also possible in Live?



So, what I’d like to know is:

1) Am I able to have a kind of hybrid of modes between Natively Supported Control Surface auto-mapping (for clip launch), and Manual Control Surface Setup (to manually assign my EQ/Device parameters to my suiting)?

2) Is it possible to have the APC40 set up to allow different screens of rhythm editors to be accessed for live drum machine manipulation, via the scene launch buttons?

3) Does anyone know if it is possible with D16’s Drumazon VST (or of an equally as good alternative) to control the rhythm pattern keys on the 909, as you would with a real 909 (instead of every other parameter apart from these key controls)?

4) Is it possible in Live to control the browser file list with a midi controller, instead of using the trackpad/mouse buttons for this?



Any advice you gents (or ladies) are able to provide, or indeed simpler ways, of achieving the set-up described above, would be greatly appreciated!


Joe

[Alextronica]

Damn man I hate long Multiple questions but I'll try to answer your question like this

Look into Bomes or M4L and you'll be able to a lot more with your APC 40. Personally I dont have either and I figured out what I can and cant do with the APC thru trial and error. Its limiting without an editor program but I figured out a happy medium I'm stoked on and I think you can too.

Hope that helps.

[Joe Moriarty]

Cheers dude

[S4racen]

Get into Max4Live and help us all out.....

Cheers
D

[Joe Moriarty]

S4racen - yeah, really wanting to get into Max. From the promo vid on youtube, it seems with the in built tutorials and notes it would also help teach users about some of the building blocks of how devices are made up and function. Kind of like Mechano teaching about engineering from a component level through to a device mega-structure

Oh, and I'm 26 BTW - just in case the Mechano analogy had you thinking otherwise ha ha


With regards to the midi-assignable, drum machine step sequence buttons - anyone have any thoughts? Is it possible to live loop and manipulate patterns using Live's Drum Rack?

[S4racen]

A good couple of weeks into max and i've not really managed anything, it's a very steep learning curve but i can see the possibilities are endless especially where the apc is concerned...

Check out max4live.info for the incontrol tutorial series, the latest video shows the starting of what you might consider achieving with the control surface object!!

Cheers
D

[Slightlydelic]

I use Live and the APC40 mainly for DJing, and moving into production.

I know in my head exactly what I’d like to have as my template set up, between my APC40, NanoPad and NanoKontrol.


What I’d ideally like is:

1) To have my clip launch button matrix on the APC40 remain intact, as well as the clip stop buttons (as per the default/automap setting). So that these can trigger clips, illuminate and have the navigation border around the 8x5 grid on screen in Live.

2) I’m a big fan of having a VST drum machine in the background, which I can layer over, improv and manipulate very quickly whilst I have tracks playing. I’ve been using D16’s Drumazon so far to mess about with this idea, and I absolutely love it. The only real bug bear I have with it is that I can’t assign the 16 step buttons to a midi controller (I’m sure?), so that I can change the rhythms live like you would a real 909 (without having pre-defined and pre-saved patterns to cycle through).

To this end, I’d love to have scene launch buttons 1-4 on the APC40 take me into 4 step edit screens on the APC40 for *drum machine VST/Drum Rack*, so that I can split the 8x5 clip launch matrix into 2 4x4 grids to quickly punch in rhythm patterns. So I’d have scene 1 with 2 16 button grids for bass drum and snare, scene 2 with 2 16 button grids for low toms and mid toms, etc. Then my NanoKontrol for changing the volume (allowing quick cuts), 1 parameter and solo button, etc for each drum machine element (but that bit’s easy).

3) With regards to the APC40’s encoders, I’d like to have them assigned to pre-defined mappings (rather than auto-map, as this can become quite confusing and full of parameters I don’t need to be readily accessible via controller). So for example in Track Control, the Send A bank would be changed to FreqLo for each of the 8 tracks, Send B changed to FreqHi for each of the 8 tracks, Send C to autofilter dry/wet for each of the 8 tracks, etc. Then Device Control 1/2/3 for EQ3 controls, 5/6/7 for Multiband Dynamics, 4 & 8 for Redux and Beat Repeat or something for each track (then the shift/next device function to move into more complex device assignments)

All of this is easy enough to do. However due to wanting to keep the auto-map settings for clip-launch (as mentioned in my first point); and wanting non-auto-mapped settings for manual parameter set up, I’m not sure if this is possible.

4) Then I’d have my NanoPad set up for playing live bongos, and other percussive drums (making use of it’s velocity sensitivity). But again this bit’s easy.

5) I’d also love to disable the Cue Volume encoder, and use this as an accelerated scrolling control for moving up and down my browser folder (along with some other control for either putting the selected file from the browser into cue, or a track within the Live Set). I know that this accelerated scrolling control is achievable in Traktor (after an age of trying to set it up), but not sure if it’s also possible in Live?



So, what I’d like to know is:

1) Am I able to have a kind of hybrid of modes between Natively Supported Control Surface auto-mapping (for clip launch), and Manual Control Surface Setup (to manually assign my EQ/Device parameters to my suiting)?

2) Is it possible to have the APC40 set up to allow different screens of rhythm editors to be accessed for live drum machine manipulation, via the scene launch buttons?

3) Does anyone know if it is possible with D16’s Drumazon VST (or of an equally as good alternative) to control the rhythm pattern keys on the 909, as you would with a real 909 (instead of every other parameter apart from these key controls)?

4) Is it possible in Live to control the browser file list with a midi controller, instead of using the trackpad/mouse buttons for this?



Any advice you gents (or ladies) are able to provide, or indeed simpler ways, of achieving the set-up described above, would be greatly appreciated!


Joe

joe drumazon uses midi notes to triger paterns, so if you drop 8 midi tracks, then drop a clip in the first, drop in a midi note to trigger a patern then duplicate the clip into the next slot, next just drop the midi note down one, this will trigger a different patern, repeat this so you have 5 clips on the track each with a different not value, then move on to the next track. and keep repeating this process till you have filled 8 tracks with 5 clips in each each having its own unque note assigned that coresponds to a drumazon patern.

you now have an 8x5 matrix of drumazon paterns you can fire at will with no special mapping and no auto maping broken on the APC clip matrix.

if you have set these tracks apart from your normal music tracks you can use shift and the coresponding martix button to jump back and forth between launching drum paterns and launching your music/loops.

PS. set the midi out of the 8 tracks to all go to whichever track contains your drumazon.

[outershpongolia]

I use Live and the APC40 mainly for DJing, and moving into production.

I know in my head exactly what I’d like to have as my template set up, between my APC40, NanoPad and NanoKontrol.


What I’d ideally like is:

1) To have my clip launch button matrix on the APC40 remain intact, as well as the clip stop buttons (as per the default/automap setting). So that these can trigger clips, illuminate and have the navigation border around the 8x5 grid on screen in Live.

2) I’m a big fan of having a VST drum machine in the background, which I can layer over, improv and manipulate very quickly whilst I have tracks playing. I’ve been using D16’s Drumazon so far to mess about with this idea, and I absolutely love it. The only real bug bear I have with it is that I can’t assign the 16 step buttons to a midi controller (I’m sure?), so that I can change the rhythms live like you would a real 909 (without having pre-defined and pre-saved patterns to cycle through).

To this end, I’d love to have scene launch buttons 1-4 on the APC40 take me into 4 step edit screens on the APC40 for *drum machine VST/Drum Rack*, so that I can split the 8x5 clip launch matrix into 2 4x4 grids to quickly punch in rhythm patterns. So I’d have scene 1 with 2 16 button grids for bass drum and snare, scene 2 with 2 16 button grids for low toms and mid toms, etc. Then my NanoKontrol for changing the volume (allowing quick cuts), 1 parameter and solo button, etc for each drum machine element (but that bit’s easy).

3) With regards to the APC40’s encoders, I’d like to have them assigned to pre-defined mappings (rather than auto-map, as this can become quite confusing and full of parameters I don’t need to be readily accessible via controller). So for example in Track Control, the Send A bank would be changed to FreqLo for each of the 8 tracks, Send B changed to FreqHi for each of the 8 tracks, Send C to autofilter dry/wet for each of the 8 tracks, etc. Then Device Control 1/2/3 for EQ3 controls, 5/6/7 for Multiband Dynamics, 4 & 8 for Redux and Beat Repeat or something for each track (then the shift/next device function to move into more complex device assignments)

All of this is easy enough to do. However due to wanting to keep the auto-map settings for clip-launch (as mentioned in my first point); and wanting non-auto-mapped settings for manual parameter set up, I’m not sure if this is possible.

4) Then I’d have my NanoPad set up for playing live bongos, and other percussive drums (making use of it’s velocity sensitivity). But again this bit’s easy.

5) I’d also love to disable the Cue Volume encoder, and use this as an accelerated scrolling control for moving up and down my browser folder (along with some other control for either putting the selected file from the browser into cue, or a track within the Live Set). I know that this accelerated scrolling control is achievable in Traktor (after an age of trying to set it up), but not sure if it’s also possible in Live?



So, what I’d like to know is:

1) Am I able to have a kind of hybrid of modes between Natively Supported Control Surface auto-mapping (for clip launch), and Manual Control Surface Setup (to manually assign my EQ/Device parameters to my suiting)?

2) Is it possible to have the APC40 set up to allow different screens of rhythm editors to be accessed for live drum machine manipulation, via the scene launch buttons?

3) Does anyone know if it is possible with D16’s Drumazon VST (or of an equally as good alternative) to control the rhythm pattern keys on the 909, as you would with a real 909 (instead of every other parameter apart from these key controls)?

4) Is it possible in Live to control the browser file list with a midi controller, instead of using the trackpad/mouse buttons for this?



Any advice you gents (or ladies) are able to provide, or indeed simpler ways, of achieving the set-up described above, would be greatly appreciated!


Joe

joe drumazon uses midi notes to triger paterns, so if you drop 8 midi tracks, then drop a clip in the first, drop in a midi note to trigger a patern then duplicate the clip into the next slot, next just drop the midi note down one, this will trigger a different patern, repeat this so you have 5 clips on the track each with a different not value, then move on to the next track. and keep repeating this process till you have filled 8 tracks with 5 clips in each each having its own unque note assigned that coresponds to a drumazon patern.

you now have an 8x5 matrix of drumazon paterns you can fire at will with no special mapping and no auto maping broken on the APC clip matrix.

if you have set these tracks apart from your normal music tracks you can use shift and the coresponding martix button to jump back and forth between launching drum paterns and launching your music/loops.

PS. set the midi out of the 8 tracks to all go to whichever track contains your drumazon.

Nice, that's pretty brilliant. Might try this if I get the launchpad, I only need like 4 or 5 scenes at a time..

[Joe Moriarty]

S4racen, Slightlydelic - thank you both

[S4racen]

No worries, let us know what you end up doing....

I love the idea above!! I'm a thinking a may do the same if i ever get my head out of Max!!

Cheers
D

[sgreene]

1) Am I able to have a kind of hybrid of modes between Natively Supported Control Surface auto-mapping (for clip launch), and Manual Control Surface Setup (to manually assign my EQ/Device parameters to my suiting)?

2) Is it possible to have the APC40 set up to allow different screens of rhythm editors to be accessed for live drum machine manipulation, via the scene launch buttons?

3) Does anyone know if it is possible with D16’s Drumazon VST (or of an equally as good alternative) to control the rhythm pattern keys on the 909, as you would with a real 909 (instead of every other parameter apart from these key controls)?

4) Is it possible in Live to control the browser file list with a midi controller, instead of using the trackpad/mouse buttons for this?

1. It seems when you tie your 8 knobs to a device, they are permanently tied - to one and only one device. You could group your instrument/devices into a standard group where you always have your macro knobs laid out the same way and put that on all tracks. Wrap everything up in a group and you won't be able to get outside of it into another device. Maybe this is what you want....not totally sure

For something more complicated...

http://www.cycling74.com/docs/max5/refp ... model.html - it's referred to as the appointed device.

select_device Parameter: id NN
Selects the given device object in its track.
You may obtain the id using a live.path or by using get devices on a track, for example.
The track containing the device will not be shown automatically, and the device gets the appointed device (blue hand) only if its track is selected.

Using the select_device command you could probably rig up a max patch that would do more complicated selection of devices.

2. Not out of the box.

3. No clue, probably not.

4. So far, I've seen that when you are on a device you can press Enter and it will go into hot-swap mode, which will put you in the browser. There are commands for focusing on the browser window and for scrolling in other windows (like device). Once you are in the browser window, I think you'll need to use key commands (bome($$)/midistrike(mac)). I think this is a major shortcoming of live - no easy way to get presets out without a mouse. Maybe there is a command to put a new device on a new track...I'd like to know.