Feature request: MIDI track has a fader

[iawo]

Good morning,

Considering several exchanges with Ableton support last week, I would like to conclude with the following feature request:
- the MIDI track in Live has a fader
- this fader is assigned to MIDI volume control, which is merged with the MIDI stream that outputs the track.
- MIDI volume from the clips should be modulated by the fader

I believe this feature is a logical add-on to Live and would definitely be useful:
- personally, I use external MIDI instruments in Max. Since they output multichannel audio, it is not possible to return audio to Live using the External Instrument "Instrument".
- another user could use a MIDI external sampler, and control MIDI volume for specific channels.

This feature has already been requested by other users (see example below).

I am an advanced professional user.

I must add that I am not completely satisfied by the way Ableton support answered to my request. Despite the fact that they were polite, they had limited technical background, compelling me to explain this very simple matter in a very detailed manner. Moreover, I had contact with 5 different person, so I needed to explain all over again in each email...

Best Regards,
N.D.

Dear Ableton,

I have been spending the past few days with one of your tech support people.
He's been very pleasant, but doesn't seem to grasp my problem.

I have recently spent $3K US building a Core i7 computer to run your software.
I am the owner of a $2K Access Virus TI and a $400 APC-40.

The Virus TI, whether I run this as an external hardware synth with analog audio into Ableton or as a VST with audio streaming over USB, can produce up to 80 voice polyphony with 16 parts multi-timbral (MIDI channels 1-16).

I am rather dumbfounded that you do not provide a Volume fader on a "MIDI" track until an audio-producing instrument has been assigned to it.
This Volume fader however does NOT control MIDI Volume (MIDI CC#7) but rather just the master volume of that audio output (software instrument).

So far I have invested $5.4K US to run this program. I am still running the Lite version and would consider upgrading to the Suite (another $750 US).
But until this problem is fixed (or someone points out an easy solution), Ableton is a clumsy tool for me.

SONAR 8.5 has a new grid feature similar to Ableton, but for cross-platform use, Ableton presents a better option.

Multi-timbral sound modules have been around since the 80's. MIDI was ratified in the 80's.
I'm not talking rocket-science here.

There needs to be PAN and VOLUME controls auto-mapped to MIDI CCs just like SONAR.

PLEASE FIX THIS PROBLEM (or help me overcome this limitation)

Thanks for reading,

Diamond

[peter181]

This seems like an issue where conflicting methods of use lead to conflicting ways a program could be designed, both equally valid, and in cases like that, I don't think complaining about support is going to help at all. No instrument is going to be perfect...

However, I would suggest
- use the velocity effect as a midi "volume control"
- use clip envelopes for other cc automation
- use multiple audio tracks for recording from max, and group them if desired

The idea of a slider that could be assigned to a specific midi cc is interesting. I think it would be good to add macro-like controls for midi ccs to the External Instrument instrument, or midi cc support to the macros on the midi effect rack.

[iawo]

Of course, you always find solutions... Here, my point is not to find a replacement solution, it is to say that there is something missing in Live that should logically be there. I am not saying Live is bad software, I am asking for professional support.

Control Change 7 is affected to "MIDI volume" in General MIDI.

In Ableton Live, clip envelopes can control Control Change #7, and if you look at the menu, you will see that it shows "7- Volume", so there has been a will to support General MIDI in Live.

Therefore, I don't see a reason why MIDI tracks wouldn't have a fader.

PS:
- using velocity won't produce the same result. Even though a sound is mixed at a certain level, you still need full velocity.
- clip envelopes in Live generally produce a modulation over a parameter. For instance, Track Volume in audio clips modulates the level of the audio fader.

[miekwave]

Of course, you always find solutions... Here, my point is not to find a replacement solution, it is to say that there is something missing in Live that should logically be there. I am not saying Live is bad software, I am asking for professional support.

Control Change 7 is affected to "MIDI volume" in General MIDI.

In Ableton Live, clip envelopes can control Control Change #7, and if you look at the menu, you will see that it shows "7- Volume", so there has been a will to support General MIDI in Live.

Therefore, I don't see a reason why MIDI tracks wouldn't have a fader.

PS:
- using velocity won't produce the same result. Even though a sound is mixed at a certain level, you still need full velocity.
- clip envelopes in Live generally produce a modulation over a parameter. For instance, Track Volume in audio clips modulates the level of the audio fader.

iawo, I am 110% with you on this.

At the very least, Midi tracks should have a "Show/Hide Fader where CC7 is the default fader transmit value. with a CC123 message transmitted when you MUTE a track and CC123 message sent on all tracks muted when you "SOLO" Ableton Live would be sequencer companion to Virus otherwise.

[crumhorn]

It's a very good idea

[Nathan @ SSL]

I also require the feature. in the mean time, is there anyway to do this using a max device or rack or some other way???