New SLMKII Automap Template for Live

[Eloheim]

Hey everyone, I've created an Automap Pro 3.4.1 template for Novation's SL MKII controller that can be used to control Live's devices and mixer, and more! (As an alternative to using the SL's advanced, non-automap mode.)

All of the controls are identical to the regular Ableton Template, except that the "Page Up/Down" & "Control Row View" buttons off to the sides of the main rows have been moved to the bottom row of buttons under the faders. (So the "Arm Track" buttons, and the "Transport" mode buttons are sacrificed here.) From left to right:
1. KeyStrokeMacro (Left; Right)
2. Device Bank Previous
3. Device Bank Next
4. Faders control track volume
5. Faders control pans
6. Faders control Sends A-H (press to scroll through)
7. Mixer Bank Previous
8. Mixer Bank Next

The only other difference from the standard template is that "Lock to Device" has been moved to the last button on the right, above the lower row of encoders.

The main advantage of using an Automap setup like this (only if you have the Pro version), is that you can assign Keystroke Macros to the buttons. For example, the reason I have the button under Fader 1 set to "Left; Right", is that now I can work a "Sliced-to-drum-rack" set of Simplers without using the keyboard or mouse. All I have to do after slicing is make sure the drum rack's "Autoview" feature is on, and select any of the slices with the mouse. At this point the SLMKII's encoders are automatically mapped to that Simpler's parameters (e.g. loop length). From that point forward I can control any other slice simply by playing it on the keyboard and pressing the SLMKII's "Left; Right" button. Now the SL's encoders will be mapped to the currently selected slice!

I was looking a while ago for a way to control drum racks like this but I wasn't successful. Perhaps this will open up new creative avenues for someone out there...

A note on setup: Follow Novation's DAW Setup Guide for Live as normal, but instead of setting the "Remote SL" Control Surface's Input and Output to "SL MK Port2", set them both to "Automap Midi" instead.

Peace

How to get the Automap template file:
Since I can't seem to attach anything here, and the file is tiny, I've decided to just post it in text form below. All you have to do is copy everything from the following post into Notepad and save it as [LiveAutomap.automap].

[Eloheim]

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8" ?>
<AutomapFile>
<PlugID PlugID="722721511" PlugID3="1444606871" PlugID2="1141333638" PlugID1="1578595161" />
<DeviceID DeviceID="-994295660" DeviceID3="-881871444" DeviceID2="1101665183" DeviceID1="-152906728" />
<Type Type="0" />
<BrowserHint Value="-1" />
<Group name="Controls">
<Group name="Page 1 Encoders">
<Param name="CC# 56" shortName="CC# 56" id="56" intStep="0" intMax="127" intMin="0" high="0" low="0" step="0.000000" />
<Param name="CC# 57" shortName="CC# 57" id="57" intStep="0" intMax="127" intMin="0" high="0" low="0" step="0.000000" />
<Param name="CC# 58" shortName="CC# 58" id="58" intStep="0" intMax="127" intMin="0" high="0" low="0" step="0.000000" />
<Param name="CC# 59" shortName="CC# 59" id="59" intStep="0" intMax="127" intMin="0" high="0" low="0" step="0.000000" />
<Param name="CC# 60" shortName="CC# 60" id="60" intStep="0" intMax="127" intMin="0" high="0" low="0" step="0.000000" />
<Param name="CC# 61" shortName="CC# 61" id="61" intStep="0" intMax="127" intMin="0" high="0" low="0" step="0.000000" />
<Param name="CC# 62" shortName="CC# 62" id="62" intStep="0" intMax="127" intMin="0" high="0" low="0" step="0.000000" />
<Param name="CC# 63" shortName="CC# 63" id="63" intStep="0" intMax="127" intMin="0" high="0" low="0" step="0.000000" />
</Group>
<Group name="Page 1 Pots">
<Param name="CC# 8" shortName="CC# 8" id="8" intStep="1" intMax="127" intMin="0" high="127" low="0" step="1.000000" />
<Param name="CC# 9" shortName="CC# 9" id="9" intStep="1" intMax="127" intMin="0" high="127" low="0" step="1.000000" />
<Param name="CC# 10" shortName="CC# 10" id="10" intStep="1" intMax="127" intMin="0" high="127" low="0" step="1.000000" />
<Param name="CC# 11" shortName="CC# 11" id="11" intStep="1" intMax="127" intMin="0" high="127" low="0" step="1.000000" />
<Param name="CC# 12" shortName="CC# 12" id="12" intStep="1" intMax="127" intMin="0" high="127" low="0" step="1.000000" />
<Param name="CC# 13" shortName="CC# 13" id="13" intStep="1" intMax="127" intMin="0" high="127" low="0" step="1.000000" />
<Param name="CC# 14" shortName="CC# 14" id="14" intStep="1" intMax="127" intMin="0" high="127" low="0" step="1.000000" />
<Param name="CC# 15" shortName="CC# 15" id="15" intStep="1" intMax="127" intMin="0" high="127" low="0" step="1.000000" />
</Group>
<Group name="Page 1 Sliders">
<Param name="CC# 16" shortName="CC# 16" id="16" intStep="1" intMax="127" intMin="0" high="127" low="0" step="1.000000" />
<Param name="CC# 17" shortName="CC# 17" id="17" intStep="1" intMax="127" intMin="0" high="127" low="0" step="1.000000" />
<Param name="CC# 18" shortName="CC# 18" id="18" intStep="1" intMax="127" intMin="0" high="127" low="0" step="1.000000" />
<Param name="CC# 19" shortName="CC# 19" id="19" intStep="1" intMax="127" intMin="0" high="127" low="0" step="1.000000" />
<Param name="CC# 20" shortName="CC# 20" id="20" intStep="1" intMax="127" intMin="0" high="127" low="0" step="1.000000" />
<Param name="CC# 21" shortName="CC# 21" id="21" intStep="1" intMax="127" intMin="0" high="127" low="0" step="1.000000" />
<Param name="CC# 22" shortName="CC# 22" id="22" intStep="1" intMax="127" intMin="0" high="127" low="0" step="1.000000" />
<Param name="CC# 23" shortName="CC# 23" id="23" intStep="1" intMax="127" intMin="0" high="127" low="0" step="1.000000" />
</Group>
<Group name="Page 1 Encoder Buttons">
<Param name="CC# 24" shortName="CC# 24" id="24" intStep="0" intMax="127" intMin="0" high="1" low="0" step="0.000000" />
<Param name="CC# 25" shortName="CC# 25" id="25" intStep="0" intMax="127" intMin="0" high="1" low="0" step="0.000000" />
<Param name="CC# 26" shortName="CC# 26" id="26" intStep="0" intMax="127" intMin="0" high="1" low="0" step="0.000000" />
<Param name="CC# 27" shortName="CC# 27" id="27" intStep="0" intMax="127" intMin="0" high="1" low="0" step="0.000000" />
<Param name="CC# 28" shortName="CC# 28" id="28" intStep="0" intMax="127" intMin="0" high="1" low="0" step="0.000000" />
<Param name="CC# 29" shortName="CC# 29" id="29" intStep="0" intMax="127" intMin="0" high="1" low="0" step="0.000000" />
<Param name="CC# 30" shortName="CC# 30" id="30" intStep="0" intMax="127" intMin="0" high="1" low="0" step="0.000000" />
<Param name="CC# 31" shortName="CC# 31" id="31" intStep="0" intMax="127" intMin="0" high="1" low="0" step="0.000000" />
</Group>
<Group name="Page 1 Pot Buttons">
<Param name="CC# 32" shortName="CC# 32" id="32" intStep="0" intMax="127" intMin="0" high="127" low="0" step="0.000000" />
<Param name="CC# 33" shortName="CC# 33" id="33" intStep="0" intMax="127" intMin="0" high="127" low="0" step="0.000000" />
<Param name="CC# 34" shortName="CC# 34" id="34" intStep="0" intMax="127" intMin="0" high="127" low="0" step="0.000000" />
<Param name="CC# 35" shortName="CC# 35" id="35" intStep="0" intMax="127" intMin="0" high="127" low="0" step="0.000000" />
<Param name="CC# 36" shortName="CC# 36" id="36" intStep="0" intMax="127" intMin="0" high="127" low="0" step="0.000000" />
<Param name="CC# 37" shortName="CC# 37" id="37" intStep="0" intMax="127" intMin="0" high="127" low="0" step="0.000000" />
<Param name="CC# 38" shortName="CC# 38" id="38" intStep="0" intMax="127" intMin="0" high="127" low="0" step="0.000000" />
<Param name="CC# 80" shortName="CC# 80" id="80" intStep="1" intMax="127" intMin="0" high="1" low="1" step="1.000000" />
</Group>
<Group name="Page 1 Slider Buttons">
<Param name="CC# 40" shortName="CC# 40" id="40" intStep="0" intMax="127" intMin="0" high="1" low="0" step="0.000000" />
<Param name="CC# 41" shortName="CC# 41" id="41" intStep="0" intMax="127" intMin="0" high="1" low="0" step="0.000000" />
<Param name="CC# 42" shortName="CC# 42" id="42" intStep="0" intMax="127" intMin="0" high="1" low="0" step="0.000000" />
<Param name="CC# 43" shortName="CC# 43" id="43" intStep="0" intMax="127" intMin="0" high="1" low="0" step="0.000000" />
<Param name="CC# 44" shortName="CC# 44" id="44" intStep="0" intMax="127" intMin="0" high="1" low="0" step="0.000000" />
<Param name="CC# 45" shortName="CC# 45" id="45" intStep="0" intMax="127" intMin="0" high="1" low="0" step="0.000000" />
<Param name="CC# 46" shortName="CC# 46" id="46" intStep="0" intMax="127" intMin="0" high="1" low="0" step="0.000000" />
<Param name="CC# 47" shortName="CC# 47" id="47" intStep="0" intMax="127" intMin="0" high="1" low="0" step="0.000000" />
</Group>
<Group name="Page 1 D Buttons">
<Param name="Left Right " shortName="Left Right " id="-1" intStep="127" intMax="127" intMin="0" high="127" low="0" step="127.000000">
<KeyEvent code="37" character="37" modifiers="16777216" scancode="75" />
<KeyEvent code="39" character="39" modifiers="16777216" scancode="77" />
</Param>
<Param name="CC# 89" shortName="CC# 89" id="89" intStep="1" intMax="127" intMin="0" high="1" low="1" step="1.000000" />
<Param name="CC# 88" shortName="CC# 88" id="88" intStep="1" intMax="127" intMin="0" high="1" low="1" step="1.000000" />
<Param name="CC# 85" shortName="CC# 85" id="85" intStep="0" intMax="127" intMin="0" high="1" low="1" step="0.000000" />
<Param name="CC# 86" shortName="CC# 86" id="86" intStep="0" intMax="127" intMin="0" high="1" low="1" step="0.000000" />
<Param name="CC# 87" shortName="CC# 87" id="87" intStep="0" intMax="127" intMin="0" high="1" low="1" step="0.000000" />
<Param name="CC# 91" shortName="CC# 91" id="91" intStep="0" intMax="127" intMin="0" high="1" low="1" step="0.000000" />
<Param name="CC# 90" shortName="CC# 90" id="90" intStep="0" intMax="127" intMin="0" high="1" low="1" step="0.000000" />
</Group>
<Group name="Page 1 Drumpads">
<Param name="Note 036 (C1)" shortName="Note 036 (C1)" id="165" intStep="1" intMax="127" intMin="0" high="127" low="0" step="1.000000" />
<Param name="Note 038 (D1)" shortName="Note 038 (D1)" id="167" intStep="1" intMax="127" intMin="0" high="127" low="0" step="1.000000" />
<Param name="Note 040 (E1)" shortName="Note 040 (E1)" id="169" intStep="1" intMax="127" intMin="0" high="127" low="0" step="1.000000" />
<Param name="Note 041 (F1)" shortName="Note 041 (F1)" id="170" intStep="1" intMax="127" intMin="0" high="127" low="0" step="1.000000" />
<Param name="Note 043 (G1)" shortName="Note 043 (G1)" id="172" intStep="1" intMax="127" intMin="0" high="127" low="0" step="1.000000" />
<Param name="Note 045 (A1)" shortName="Note 045 (A1)" id="174" intStep="1" intMax="127" intMin="0" high="127" low="0" step="1.000000" />
<Param name="Note 047 (B1)" shortName="Note 047 (B1)" id="176" intStep="1" intMax="127" intMin="0" high="127" low="0" step="1.000000" />
<Param name="Note 048 (C2)" shortName="Note 048 (C2)" id="177" intStep="1" intMax="127" intMin="0" high="127" low="0" step="1.000000" />
</Group>
<Group name="Page 1 XYPedals">
<Param name="CC# 11" shortName="CC# 11" id="11" intStep="1" intMax="127" intMin="0" high="127" low="0" step="1.000000" />
<Param name="CC# 64" shortName="CC# 64" id="64" intStep="0" intMax="127" intMin="0" high="127" low="0" step="0.000000" />
<Param name="CC# 66" shortName="CC# 66" id="66" intStep="1" intMax="127" intMin="0" high="127" low="0" step="1.000000" />
<Param name="CC# 67" shortName="CC# 67" id="67" intStep="1" intMax="127" intMin="0" high="127" low="0" step="1.000000" />
</Group>
<Group name="Page 1 Modwheel">
<Param name="CC# 1" shortName="CC# 1" id="1" intStep="1" intMax="127" intMin="0" high="127" low="0" step="1.000000" />
</Group>
</Group>
<Keyboard channel="-1" octave="-1" transpose="-1" aftertouch="-1" curve="-1" />
</AutomapFile>

[Jimbabwae]

Hi,

Thanks for putting this together, I've been waiting for something like this for ages!

Thing is, I've followed your instructions but nothings happening..

I'm wondering if this might be because my automap version is 3.5, could this be why?

Cheers

Jimmy

[Tibo2004]

This is very interesting. I have a Remote SL and tried your automap mapping. I like the idea to have midi control and keys (up; down, crt-C...) in the same template.

However I think I still prefer the ableton midi template. I like the ability to control instruments with the eight knobs on the left.

What would solve the problem would be to have Ableton to convert MIDI CC to keys... and it doesnt look so hard to do...

But thats a great template and was useful to try new approcah. you should post it on novation website.

Cheers,

[Eloheim]

Hey thanks a lot for the interest guys!..

Thing is, I've followed your instructions but nothings happening..

I'm wondering if this might be because my automap version is 3.5, could this be why?

Dammit Heh, sorry I missed these replies. I thought I'd checked...

Anyway, I didn't notice there was a 3.5 upgrade out there yet, and when I upgrade soon here I'll get back to you on it. In the meantime: did you change the "Control Surface In/Out" drop-down boxes in Live's Midi Preferences? Instead of having "SL MK II (Port whatever)" next to the "Remote SL" box, you should change both the In and Out to the port called "Automap Midi," and leave everything else the same. My apologies if you've already done this, but I expect that it's the easiest thing to miss. (Like I said I'll get back to you on the v3.5 thing.)

However I think I still prefer the ableton midi template. I like the ability to control instruments with the eight knobs on the left.

I'm not familiar with the older Remote SL, but the template should be set up with the upper row of knobs automatically mapped onto the current Live Device, just like normal. Is it doing something different for you? Or do you mean you miss the "Track Arm" and "Transport" buttons maybe?

[Tibo2004]

well i think it is because i have a remote SL. Some controls work (volumes) some dont. especially the arm button an dthe ieght knob controls.
which midi channel do you use?
I selected the Remote SL as a control surface and selected automap. do you change also the trac/sync/remote settings ?

Your approach is great, I really want to go this way, the fact that you can assign keys to some controls is amazing indeed. I thought it was not possible to combine the "arm one track to and control the 8 macro controls" within an automap template as you did.

i would greatly appreciate your help on this.

[Tibo2004]

Hi,

Wondering where you got the info to learn how to "code " templates like that? I would be interested in doing the same.

Right now I use MIDI templates on my unit (not automap) because it is the only way I keep this dynamic of having the eight knobs on top on the current selected instruments with the eight below and buttons assigned to something else (trigger effects, lunch samples...). i would like to move from MIDI templates to automap templates as you did.

It is not very clear to me how automap and Live communicate (i understand the basic midi cc and general stuff but the "dynamic aspects of it like having the eight knobs sending values to the selected instruments).

thanks for your help

[23kon]

where is it that I save that file to?
and how do i set it up.
can you give any more info on that side of things?

[23kon]

Tibo2004,

How do you find the jump between automap mode and live mode?

I just got mine last weekend (zero MkII) and have been trying to do the setup in ableton preferences to get the live mode working. Ive followed the tutorials online. The screens on the novation SHOW the current Ableton Live Plugin parameters, but wont adjust them

It also hangs when jumping from automap to live mode. Givnig a message of "wait" - until I go into preferences, click on and off some buttons then it suddenly finds the connection.

What are your preferences set to for the midi ins and outs, do you mind sharing?

[Tibo2004]

You should read that:
http://forum.ableton.com/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=96806

for the template above, copy in text editor and save as with the new extension (you will probably get a warning that you are changing the extension, don't worry. Then you have this new .automap file that you can open in Automap Server after opening a MIDI channel (very important!). Usually by pressing the USER button you will open a MIDI CC page within Automap.

The advantage of template 40 is that you can scroll across the tracks by pressing the two buttons next to the screen on your SL. It is especially good on the old SL as the screen above the fader will tell you which tracks you are looking at and is convenient when you have more than 8 tracks in your project.

the advantage of the template in MIDI Automap is that you can assign keyboard shortcuts to pads and buttons, as explain by Eloheim.

What I used to do was to copy template 40 on another template. I would always keep the eight knobs to control the selected in struments and 8 sliders for volume/pan/send. all other buttons and pad can be reasigned with diferent cc notes. you keep the main "Ableton live template basics and modify the other controls.

I think I will stick to that, but i will create more MIDI CC templates in Automap to take advantage of the keybord shortcuts (copy, paste, duplicate, up/down...)

PS: i will try to send you the settings i use, i am not in front of my computer right now. In a nutshell you need to activate both port 2 and Automap MIDI channel for input and output. when you use regular templates, MIDI data is sent through port 2. When you use MIDI template in Automap, MIDI is sent through the automap MIDI channel. a little confusing...

if you have the wait message it's probably because your port 2 is not set up properly.