FCB1010 Midi-sync with Ableton problem!!

[S.E.]

Hello,

right - I know there's loads of stuff on this on here already (believe me, I've read most of it!).
But - forgive me - I'm still having problems with the most basic of things... Sorry for what might seem like 'basic'/'beginnerish' terms!

Basically, I want to be able to midi-map pedals on my fcb1010 to do anything in Live (record button in the looper, arm tracks, control effects etc etc etc), much like I have learnt to do with the laptop keyboard using the 'key-mapping' button.

I have set up my fbc1010 pedals exactly according to these instructions:

http://mslinn.com/index.jsp?sites/mike/ ... leton.html

...but when I get to the bit about "Using a Button in Ableton Live" (ie, going onto the midi-sync preferences) I have no idea what I am doing.

First of all, this is the screen shot I am faced with:

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/14201647/preferences.png

...now. Do I have to turn on remote for input? Or track? Or sync? What about for output?
And what about the 'control surfaces' menu above? The fcb1010 doesn't appear in that list!

I have tried turning "remote" on for input and various other combinations. But whenever I try to midi-map (by clicking on the MIDI button in the top right of the screen) NOTHING happens!

Is it because of the hardware (fcb1010 with this midi/usb cable - http://bit.ly/vECREV - going to straight into my macbook)? Or what I am doing with the software?

ANY help - no matter HOW TRIVIAL it may seem - would be greatly appreciated for this novice!!

Many thanks in advance!
S.E.

[yur2die4]

I tend to turn on Track and Remote for Input

Your fcb is powered on, right?

You've tried both midi jacks, just in case you are using the wrong one?

[S.E.]

Ah OK... I will turn on track and remote for input. What about for output? Also which MIDI jack should I have plugged into the fcb1010? In or Out/Thru?

True novice here so forgive obvious questions (although its powered on, of course !

[yur2die4]

Pretty sure 'In' is your best choice

[S.E.]

Thanks for the help.... still nothing happening when I midi-map though! Frustrating!

Do I need a MIDI interface, or will this do:

FCB1010 ---> http://bit.ly/vECREV ---> Laptop USB Port

....otherwise I cannot think of anything else that might be wrong with the setup. I've followed various instructions exactly with the FCB!

Thanks

[carlosjhzapien]

Are you on a Mac? I recommend you use:

http://www.wabbitwanch.com/iFCB.html

There's a similar one for the PC, google it.

Using this will also help you test if you have communication between the computer and the FCB.

I use the FCB extensively and never had any problems making it work (both programming it directly or with an editor), so you might be referencing the wrong MIDI port/channel or probably it's not properly connected.

The OUT from your FCB shoud go into the IN of the MIDI adaptor.

Cheers,

Carlos

http://facebook.com/zappienmusic

[S.E.]

Yes I'm on a mac. Cheers for the link - I will definitely check that out!

"The OUT from your FCB shoud go into the IN of the MIDI adaptor."

I think this may be the issue. The 'MIDI adaptor' doesn't have any 'MIDI in' or 'MIDI out' for that matter.... The best way to explain it is that the MIDI jacks (in AND out) from the FCB go straight into the central section and then come out the other side as a SINGLE USB line.

This is shown in the following photo:

http://www.dealextreme.com/photogallery ... 1277~seQ.0

...I'm increasingly thinking that this MIDI-to-USB cable/adapter is the problem.
What would anyone suggest instead?

Thanks again!

[yur2die4]

A nice audio interface . Will offer instrument/mic in and out plus midi

[carlosjhzapien]

One of the midi plugs from the adaptor you have must be labeled as "IN" and the other one as "OUT". If you're not getting a signal with the way it is connected now, try switching the connection.

To see if you're getting a signal at all:

1. Create a MIDI track
2. Select the input to be ALL midi devices
3. Make sure you have enabled ALL 3 inputs (track, sync, remote) from the MIDI adaptor in your configuration window so that you get everything in
4. Record ENABLE the MIDI track you created and then tap on the pedals, you're getting a signal then there will be activity in the input monitor "light" of the track

Cheers,

Carlos

http://facebook.com/zappienmusic