Ableton Live Smart-Mixing Using Only Native Plugins

[MrH]

I've played with this and think it's great.

I run my tunes through 2 channels and I'd like to set it up so that I can choose which channel's lo/mid/hi dominates the mix easily. So if I map a button to control the lows on channels A & B - if both buttons are 'on', nothing. If channel A button is on, the lows on channel A dominate the mix. Nice and simple.

Any clues or help would be appreciated.

[BentoSan]

I've played with this and think it's great.

Happy to hear you dig it ! Spread the word !

[tmcmahon2]

Any word on the 4 deck version?

[BentoSan]

Any word on the 4 deck version?

Been mega busy and currently finishing off review on the SCS3m which will be out shortly, then ill finish working on the documentation for the 4 deck version and get it out there

[tmcmahon2]

Has anyone tried moving the SC and cue channels to different channels? I like having the two decks next to each other, some space, and then the sc/cue channels so I don't inadvertently toggle them in some way from my APC40.

Thanks.

[i3igTripplets]

Has anyone tried moving the SC and cue channels to different channels? I like having the two decks next to each other, some space, and then the sc/cue channels so I don't inadvertently toggle them in some way from my APC40.

Thanks.

You mean different locations? Just drag the stips wherever you want, heck create a couple dummy track strips and place them between whatever you want. Don't see how that would mess it up.

[tmcmahon2]

Has anyone tried moving the SC and cue channels to different channels? I like having the two decks next to each other, some space, and then the sc/cue channels so I don't inadvertently toggle them in some way from my APC40.

Thanks.

You mean different locations? Just drag the stips wherever you want, heck create a couple dummy track strips and place them between whatever you want. Don't see how that would mess it up.

If any of the plugins referenced specific channels it might. Frankly, I'm not in front of my rig so I can't test it myself but figured someone might know off the top of their head.

[BentoSan]

Has anyone tried moving the SC and cue channels to different channels? I like having the two decks next to each other, some space, and then the sc/cue channels so I don't inadvertently toggle them in some way from my APC40.

Thanks.

You mean different locations? Just drag the stips wherever you want, heck create a couple dummy track strips and place them between whatever you want. Don't see how that would mess it up.

You can arrange the channels in whatever order you wish, the important thing is that the input output routings of each channel stay the same - if i could have just had the smartmixer in single channels i would have, but that isnt possible while still maintaining smart cueing. If you want to get rid of the smart cueing then it is possible to have just a single channel.

Once i get M4L and really get stuck into it ill be able to improve on this setup, ill make the midi assignments easier, provide better visual feedback on the state of the decks and try to merge the setup into as few as tracks as possible while still maintaining smart-cueing.

[Kill Paris Live]

THANK YOU SO MUCH!

[Ghostryder]

very cool, thx
Iv'e just got to learn how to use it efficiently

[tmcmahon2]

Once i get M4L and really get stuck into it ill be able to improve on this setup, ill make the midi assignments easier, provide better visual feedback on the state of the decks and try to merge the setup into as few as tracks as possible while still maintaining smart-cueing.

Sure, but then we'll all have to buy Max. Think it will be worth it?

[BentoSan]

Once i get M4L and really get stuck into it ill be able to improve on this setup, ill make the midi assignments easier, provide better visual feedback on the state of the decks and try to merge the setup into as few as tracks as possible while still maintaining smart-cueing.

Sure, but then we'll all have to buy Max. Think it will be worth it?

M4L is defiantly worth it for more than just smart mixing, so yeah M4L is worth it - this setup still works fine its just that with M4L it could become more refined than what i can currently do in Ableton alone. Ill still keep this setup as up to date as possible along the way for users who do not wish to purchase M4L.

[i3igTripplets]

Good to see guys like you pushing the envelope. You could probably make it easier on the processor too which is always welcome. With M4L, do you think incorporating Arduino is a possibility? I got too much to learn!

[BentoSan]

Good to see guys like you pushing the envelope. You could probably make it easier on the processor too which is always welcome. With M4L, do you think incorporating Arduino is a possibility? I got too much to learn!

Yes you can use an Arduino for Ableton without M4L as it stands, with M4L though you could use the OSC protocol instead which is definitely superior, thats getting a little off topic though.

Back on topic - The best way to make it easier on the processor is to delete the high band side chain compressors so your just doing low frequency smartmixing, the low end is where smartmixing is the most useful. So basically you would have 4 less sidechain compressors in the setup which would relieve a bit of CPU.

[midijay]

ok, so this looks awesome and i seem to have understood the pretty diagrams and got the setup working, but i have a few questions, mainly about the buttons for swapping dominant frequencies between the deck. this is probably because i've never used ableton before and am not familiar with the midi mapping options as i am in traktor.

so here goes.

in the first article on DJTT your last picture shows how to map the buttons (you've coloured them purple & blue).

1) you've titled your racks SC A, CUE A, SC B, SCA A in the picture. I presume the final rack is referring to CUE B and that's just a typo?

2) the way these buttons respond for me is that pressing & holding the button i've mapped for 'Low Off/On' changes the value from 0 to 127. As soon as I release the button it goes back to zero. Shouldn't the button work as a toggle rather than a hold? Plus, it doesn't seem that the button effects anything else in any of the racks, but maybe I'm not seeing what it does due to my lack of familiarity with Ableton. Also, my buttons are back lit, so it would be nice if the light stayed on (it is lit while being held down).

3) the buttons mapped for 'High Off/On' also works only when held. I notice however when it goes to 127 that the B compressors turn on and the A compressors turn off. But, again, only when held, not as a toggle?

4) My cue buttons work 100% in terms of functionality, but how can I tell ableton to 'light' them up?


On the whole your article is awesome and has made me explore a direction I vowed I would avoid. Your article was pretty clear and with very little effort I am managing to get Deck A and Deck B sound from traktor, into Ableton, and can mix for final output with volume faders and crossfaders and not loose Cueing functionality. So hands down praise to you on your work, I think I might just need some newbie tips.

Thanks.

MidiJay