hey there
i'm new to live and am trying to figure out some concepts for using it as the digital brain behind a live band.
our whole set will be in a single "live set." we will be playing some backing tracks, with a click going to the drummer. nothing shocking there!
but we also need live to supply one-off samples to two different controllers - a drumpad and a keyboard - so that we can trigger them on stage.
so lets say that for the first song, one of the controllers has samples from C1-A1, loaded up in simpler (or sampler, or whatever, i don't particularly care which instrument we use).
the question is, what do we do for the second song?
my ideal scenario would be that when we start the first scene of the second song, live would know to replace whatever is loaded in C1-A1 with the new samples for the second song. i can't figure out how to do this, and perhaps live simply can't.
we've had less exciting ideas like using different MIDI channel for each song, or using different octaves on the keyboard (though this would be far less expandable than MIDI channels, and we have more than 7 songs!).
any smarter ideas?
let me know if i should explain our needs more, i'm trying to keep the description simple!
thanks!
mapping different samples to different scenes/songs?
mapping different samples to different scenes/songs?
Last edited by iwasborn on Tue Mar 30, 2010 6:18 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Re: mapping different samples to different scenes/songs?
people usually put all their songs into one .als. if they need to load a new .als they crossfade into an mp3 player while Live loads the new set. I've been in the crowd when this happens, I didn't notice.
they also tend to add more tracks for each song. so song 1 is tracks 1 through 10, song 2 is tracks 11 through 20.
one workaround for swapping out samples in a Simpler/Sampler is to use the Chain Selector in an instrument rack, look it up in the manual, pictures teach it easier than words do.
they also tend to add more tracks for each song. so song 1 is tracks 1 through 10, song 2 is tracks 11 through 20.
one workaround for swapping out samples in a Simpler/Sampler is to use the Chain Selector in an instrument rack, look it up in the manual, pictures teach it easier than words do.
In my life
Why do I smile
At people who I'd much rather kick in the eye?
-Moz
Why do I smile
At people who I'd much rather kick in the eye?
-Moz
Re: mapping different samples to different scenes/songs?
Since you aren't relying on overdubbing or recording onto a clip for your session, you can do the following:
On the MIDI channel responsible for your triggered samples, load the instrument rack like Tone Deft said. Withing the instrument rack throw in each version of Sampler for each song. Might help to title the sampler racks by their appropriate song title. Next choose the Chain Selector which allows you to configure how each layer is choosen dependant on the position of the Chain selector marker. Set each sampler set to be an individual notch on there. You should now be able to slide the selector around to choose each song's worth of samples, and always still be using the same keyboard range.
Next, make sure that the chain selector is stuck at Zero, and never ever changes. Then make a clip in Session view at the beginning of each Scene for each song. Label those also. Click on that chain selector (careful not to move the mark). This will sort of pre-select it for the next step. Go into each of your blank clips and set the Automation of the chain selector. For each track, automate it so it loops constantly, your specific chain selection. You will now be able to play the notes for your tracks dependant on which midi clip is playing.
Finally, some tidying up. Remove any stop buttons so that your clip keeps looping through the entire song. Set your MIDI CHannel's In/Auto/Off to In (since you won't be doing any recording). I think you want to make sure also that Overdub is off on the top of the screen.
With some trial and error it should be good to go. Best of luck
On the MIDI channel responsible for your triggered samples, load the instrument rack like Tone Deft said. Withing the instrument rack throw in each version of Sampler for each song. Might help to title the sampler racks by their appropriate song title. Next choose the Chain Selector which allows you to configure how each layer is choosen dependant on the position of the Chain selector marker. Set each sampler set to be an individual notch on there. You should now be able to slide the selector around to choose each song's worth of samples, and always still be using the same keyboard range.
Next, make sure that the chain selector is stuck at Zero, and never ever changes. Then make a clip in Session view at the beginning of each Scene for each song. Label those also. Click on that chain selector (careful not to move the mark). This will sort of pre-select it for the next step. Go into each of your blank clips and set the Automation of the chain selector. For each track, automate it so it loops constantly, your specific chain selection. You will now be able to play the notes for your tracks dependant on which midi clip is playing.
Finally, some tidying up. Remove any stop buttons so that your clip keeps looping through the entire song. Set your MIDI CHannel's In/Auto/Off to In (since you won't be doing any recording). I think you want to make sure also that Overdub is off on the top of the screen.
With some trial and error it should be good to go. Best of luck
Re: mapping different samples to different scenes/songs?
thanks guys!
as far as i can tell, this is exactly what i was looking for.
the only other question: is this technique decently stable for the stage?
what i mean is, with all these samples ostensibly loaded on the same MIDI note, you wouldn't want to be triggering 10 samples from 10 different songs at once every time you hit C#1 (even though you're only hearing the one associated with your song/chain selector patch).
anyway, thanks again, you've been super helpful!
as far as i can tell, this is exactly what i was looking for.
the only other question: is this technique decently stable for the stage?
what i mean is, with all these samples ostensibly loaded on the same MIDI note, you wouldn't want to be triggering 10 samples from 10 different songs at once every time you hit C#1 (even though you're only hearing the one associated with your song/chain selector patch).
anyway, thanks again, you've been super helpful!
Re: mapping different samples to different scenes/songs?
nobody but you can tell if it's stable.
a good piece of advice I've read is to beat the hell out of your set before you play out. if you can simulate the environment that will help too. IOW will you be in the direct sunlight? will it be in a muggy humid dark club? will your computer be subjected to LOTS of vibration on the stage? stuff like that. dunno, I don't play out, I just read this forum too much.
a good piece of advice I've read is to beat the hell out of your set before you play out. if you can simulate the environment that will help too. IOW will you be in the direct sunlight? will it be in a muggy humid dark club? will your computer be subjected to LOTS of vibration on the stage? stuff like that. dunno, I don't play out, I just read this forum too much.
In my life
Why do I smile
At people who I'd much rather kick in the eye?
-Moz
Why do I smile
At people who I'd much rather kick in the eye?
-Moz
Re: mapping different samples to different scenes/songs?
hey there
i understand what you're saying, that's good advice. all i'm asking is how the program is handling these chain selector commands. are all the other samples on C#1 all being triggered (and thus hitting processor) even though they aren't being heard? eventually there could be, say, 15 songs in this set. lets say i'm playing a 4 note chord in a song. that's 60 samples that could be triggered at once, which is a ridiculous thing to ask a laptop to do and be happy about it night after night. i'm just trying to figure out the least intensive way to do this. thanks again for your help!
i understand what you're saying, that's good advice. all i'm asking is how the program is handling these chain selector commands. are all the other samples on C#1 all being triggered (and thus hitting processor) even though they aren't being heard? eventually there could be, say, 15 songs in this set. lets say i'm playing a 4 note chord in a song. that's 60 samples that could be triggered at once, which is a ridiculous thing to ask a laptop to do and be happy about it night after night. i'm just trying to figure out the least intensive way to do this. thanks again for your help!
Re: mapping different samples to different scenes/songs?
no, the unselected instruments are on but they don't get midi sent to them if they're not selected. go play with the setup, you'll see. if you're at work you'll have to wait. it's much easier to understand once you see it.
In my life
Why do I smile
At people who I'd much rather kick in the eye?
-Moz
Why do I smile
At people who I'd much rather kick in the eye?
-Moz
Re: mapping different samples to different scenes/songs?
If you assign the chain selector and all the little power on/off buttons of the Sampler instances to a single macro knob, you can change the macro knob in clip properties instead of setting the chain selector.
The key though is fiddling around with the settings of the on/off buttons of your instruments in relation to the macro knob. It might be possible to have it turn on ONLY at a certain point, and off above and below that point, but it is tricky. I am not positive about this..
By having the Samplers off you might save some CPU, but I think Live already does a bit of optimizing with its built in devices according to the rack selections.
The key though is fiddling around with the settings of the on/off buttons of your instruments in relation to the macro knob. It might be possible to have it turn on ONLY at a certain point, and off above and below that point, but it is tricky. I am not positive about this..
By having the Samplers off you might save some CPU, but I think Live already does a bit of optimizing with its built in devices according to the rack selections.