Ableton DAW MIDI foot controllers

[jholloway]

I'm looking for an Ableton MIDI foot controller, for doing loops, starting/stopping clips, controlling volume levels or general expression pedal movements. I noticed an old forum post here:

Forum Post - http://forum.ableton.com/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=75715

and I've been doing some research myself into solutions and approx prices.

* Yamaha MFC10 ($280) - http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1 ... oller.html
* XTempo Pok ($319) - http://www.xtempozone.com/
* Apogee GIO ($300) - http://www.apogeedigital.com/products/gio.php
* Voodoo Ground Kontrol Pro ($400) - http://www.voodoolab.com/gcontrolpro.htm
* Gordius Little Giant - http://www.gordius.be/midi-footcontroller-lgx.php
* SoftStep (Not Released Yet) - http://www.keithmcmillen.com/products/softstep/
* Logidy UMI3 ($69.95) - http://www.logidy.com/
* RigKontrol3 ($300) - http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/RigKontrol3/
* StompIO ($800) - http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/StompIO/
* Baron Youn Foot Controller ($275) - http://younfx.com/?page_id=8
* Rolls RFX 128 MIDIBuddy ($130) - http://www.amazon.com/Rolls-MP128-MIDI- ... B0002I734G
* Roland FC-300 ($400) - http://www.roland.com/products/en/FC-300/
* Peak FCB4N2 ($140) - http://www.peak2005.com/i/product_info. ... 6414a31f42

Does anybody have any strong recommendations on the best thing to use with Ableton?

Cheers...

[jholloway]

This is a nice page of comparisons as well:

http://www.thegearpage.net/board/showth ... p?t=686066

[AceLuby]

I've only used the Behringer FCB1010. I don't use the expression pedals, but I do use it for triggering clips, arming & dearming tracks and recording into tracks and it works pretty flawlessly.

[The Landwhale]

I use the apogee gio with live and it works flawlessly. Its designed to be used with Logic 9 and garageband, but it works perfect in Live.
You DO NOT, however, get visual feedback from the switches the way it does in Logic, at least not yet.
Which sucks, because its real nice the way they dynamically light up when using Logic or Mainstage.
That is the only complaint I have, but maybe with a future firmware update or some M4L patch it could be possible.

Sound quality is superb, it's bus powered, very low latency, built solid as Eff, stomp buttons are big and very easy to see onstage even without visual feedback. Its also tighly integrated into the OS like the Ensemble and Duet are.

Another really good foot controller is the Line 6 FBV short board MK2. Only the MK2 versions are programmable, plus they're bus powered.

The GIO is best for me personally, but the Line 6 might be better for others.
The Line 6 has more buttons, but one downside is they have a fairly loud click when you stomp them, that could get picked up in recording if micing an acoustic instrument.

[The Average Man]

Here is the link for a tried and trusted midi foot controller designed specifically for ableton to be used buy guitarist or other musicians that kind of need their hands. A great couple of videos of it being used as well.

http://www.younworks.com/Order_Now.html

[distaudio]

Here is the link for a tried and trusted midi foot controller designed specifically for ableton to be used buy guitarist or other musicians that kind of need their hands. A great couple of videos of it being used as well.

http://www.younworks.com/Order_Now.html

The fact that I was subjected to a Christian acoustic rock song during the product demonstration of this product. Means I wouldn't touch it with a 10 foot pole.

I got no issue with religious music. But is it appropriate in a product demonstration? Although I did like his Cello tone, twas nice.

If it was called "The god box" I could probably understand.

Mind you, I don't think that it has anything over what a FCB1010 can do. Nice solid design though, would definately take a beating on the road.

I wouldn't say it is "spefically designed for ableton" either. All it does is uses midi assignments in Ableton.

I'm pretty sure the 'staple' for midi foot control in ableton for most people has been the Behringer FCB1010.

There is a guy by the name of Kid Beyond that uses and FCB1010 for live beat box looping in Ableton. Could be just right for you.

http://downloads.ableton.com/artists/ki ... beyond.wmv

[wasoota]

FCB with the UNO firmware can do more than most stuff three times it's price.

[xuoham]

FCB with the UNO firmware can do more than most stuff three times it's price.

+1
Here's mine :
Cut and almost completely emptied FCB (lightweight) with an a-pac($43.00) inside.
Makes it a usb joystick, recognized by Plogue Bidule (75$), or other midi capable software.
If you have an old controller and use its switches and pedals, it's a nice way to go. Cheap, but takes a bit of time.
I wasn't using my FCB since a long time, too heavy, too big, didn(t need the two exp. pedals, and now i have a lightweight, sturdy,
self fixable usb controller, for like 60 bucks. But anyway, there's a real niche to take : usb foor controller. Surprising how little there are.

[ark]

One more controller that is not on your list: Native Instruments Guitar Rig Kontrol. You can buy it without the Guitar Rig software, and in that case what you get is a fully configurable, bus-powered MIDI controller that seems to be pretty solidly built, and also incorporates a stereo audio input and output and a MIDI in/out.

Oops--it is there--I just missed it. Sorry about that. Anyway, it seems to be a useful controller.

[delicioso]

One more controller that is not on your list: Native Instruments Guitar Rig Kontrol. You can buy it without the Guitar Rig software, and in that case what you get is a fully configurable, bus-powered MIDI controller that seems to be pretty solidly built, and also incorporates a stereo audio input and output and a MIDI in/out.

Oops--it is there--I just missed it. Sorry about that. Anyway, it seems to be a useful controller.

I really like the size and form factr of Rig Kontrol. Unfortunately, while it can be used as a general midi controller, you can't assign controls for both Guitar Rig and another program (like Live) in the same template.

[UnCL0NED]

FCB1010 is a cheapass, solid, stable footcontroller for an unbelievably low price! I've got mine second hand for 65 Euros.
I've got it set up under my turntables and only use it for triggering/arming/looping/start/stop, but it's never let me down! It's also easy to set up for effect controlling.
I do remember I had to search the internet for the initial setup, which was a bit of fiddly. But there's a lot to find on this controller. Oh yeah, it does use midi (no USB).
If you don't need to carry it around every day to different places (because it is kind of heavy), it's the way to go!

[Cool Character]

How legit is the FCB if you actually do need expression pedals?

The fact that there's two is a big draw for me, IF they work well.
But the fact someone tore them out is pretty scary.

[UKRuss]

They work fine but they do need calibrating quite often for some reason. The calibration process is quite straightforward though so it's no big deal.

[ovorigin]

I for one dont have high praise for the FCB1010.

The buttons dont trigger reliably

The expression pedals have no expression what so ever, eg. little resistance and not enough travel, also one of them wont return to zero when assigned.

It also hums rather loudly if its on a wooden floor making it useless for recording with mics.

As mentioned, the thing is HUGE and is not bus powered, Its really beyond me why a pedal that has no effects, nothing at all except midi message has to be so heavy and big.

Its only saving grace is that there is not much else on the market in the price range. Im even considering going back to an external keyboard with some buttons removed, so light, maybe getting an expression pedal thats usb to plug into it. The only downer is there arent midi banks

[LoopStationZebra]

I'd take soft step off the list. That things been advertised for nearly a year now .........

Coming soon! omfg.