midi playback on arrangement view vs. session view

[mattclarkmixer]

I've set up Live to run tracks for my band live. I've added a midi track that is programmed to send program changes to my guitar amp (Kemper). My issue is that this works fine on the arrangement view but not at all on the session view. I create midi clips in the arrangement view for each song, assign the program changes for each one and then consolidate. Then I copy the clip over to the corresponding track in session view. Then I put the session as the active view.

I'm sure this is a small fix. Could someone give some insight. Tia

[maximejerryfraisse]

Hi @mattclarkmixer,

I create midi notes in the arrangement view...

Do you mean "midi clips" ?

[mattclarkmixer]

Hi @mattclarkmixer,

I create midi notes in the arrangement view...

Do you mean "midi clips" ?

yes, corrected that.

[maximejerryfraisse]

You could maybe try to create one midi clip directly in the session view, to see if it works like that.

By the way, you can hunt midi data with "midi monitor" device.

Are you sure those tracks are well routed to your amp ?

[mattclarkmixer]

You could maybe try to create one midi clip directly in the session view, to see if it works like that.

By the way, you can hunt midi data with "midi monitor" device.

Are you sure those tracks are well routed to your amp ?

I tried this and I see the program changes happening. But still not actually changing presets on my Kemper.

[Greenapples2019]

Hiya, we use midi clips in session view to change our presets (Strymon Timeline, SPD-SX, Yamaha DTX-M12). The challenge was finding the right Bank and sub for each device e.g. Yamaha is 126/2 but Strymon just needs the patch number with no Bank/sub. But then we just have a midi track for each device and for each scene a blank midi clip. Then in one of the small panes there's an option to specify the bank/sub/pgm. So once we trigger a scene in session view all the PCs happen. Does that help or just tell you what you already know?!?

Happy to clarify anything

Cheers

[maximejerryfraisse]

Which Ableton version do you use ?

Reading back your first post, you mentioned that you "consolidated" the midi clips. But, if I'm not wrong, you can't set multiple PCs on a single midi clip. This may be the problem. Does the "consolidated" clips worked in Arrangement view ?

If this is the problem, you could easily solve it with "follow actions" programmed on multiple midi clips in Session view.

Let us know !

[RobrechtV]

I don't know if it's any use to you, but I made a Max4Live device specifically for controlling the Kemper in Performance Mode. It handles all those Program Changes for you and makes them easily programmable from the track automation lanes.

I've never used it in Session View, though -- it works via track automation, not midi automation inside clips, so I don't know how that would translate.

[mattclarkmixer]

Hiya, we use midi clips in session view to change our presets (Strymon Timeline, SPD-SX, Yamaha DTX-M12). The challenge was finding the right Bank and sub for each device e.g. Yamaha is 126/2 but Strymon just needs the patch number with no Bank/sub. But then we just have a midi track for each device and for each scene a blank midi clip. Then in one of the small panes there's an option to specify the bank/sub/pgm. So once we trigger a scene in session view all the PCs happen. Does that help or just tell you what you already know?!?

Happy to clarify anything

Cheers

Yup, I already know that. I can do those changes in the arrangement view it just doesn't work in the clip/event view. Thanks for your help though.

[mattclarkmixer]

Which Ableton version do you use ?

Reading back your first post, you mentioned that you "consolidated" the midi clips. But, if I'm not wrong, you can't set multiple PCs on a single midi clip. This may be the problem. Does the "consolidated" clips worked in Arrangement view ?

If this is the problem, you could easily solve it with "follow actions" programmed on multiple midi clips in Session view.

Let us know !

Version is Standard v. 11

The consolidated does work in the arrangement view.

I know nothing about the follow command. Can you explain how I would do that? I'm very new to Ableton.

[maximejerryfraisse]

The consolidated does work in the arrangement view.

I know nothing about the follow command. Can you explain how I would do that? I'm very new to Ableton.

Ok that's weird. When you say "consolidate", you mean multiple midi clips with different PCs ?
(Again, you can't set multiple PCs on a single midi clip. "Consolidate" function erase every PCs, except the first one.)
Thus, that shouldn't work, even in arrangement view after consolidation.

Otherwise, to learn about "follow action" feature, you won't find anything clearer than the Ableton manual "Lunching clips" section : https://www.ableton.com/en/manual/launching-clips/

[mattclarkmixer]

I don't know if it's any use to you, but I made a Max4Live device specifically for controlling the Kemper in Performance Mode. It handles all those Program Changes for you and makes them easily programmable from the track automation lanes.

I've never used it in Session View, though -- it works via track automation, not midi automation inside clips, so I don't know how that would translate.

Thanks, that's awesome. I will download a copy.

[mattclarkmixer]

The consolidated does work in the arrangement view.

I know nothing about the follow command. Can you explain how I would do that? I'm very new to Ableton.

Ok that's weird. When you say "consolidate", you mean multiple midi clips with different PCs ?
(Again, you can't set multiple PCs on a single midi clip. "Consolidate" function erase every PCs, except the first one.)
Thus, that shouldn't work, even in arrangement view after consolidation.

Otherwise, to learn about "follow action" feature, you won't find anything clearer than the Ableton manual "Lunching clips" section : https://www.ableton.com/en/manual/launching-clips/

I was wondering how that worked with the clips. Thanks for clarifying. I'm going to try using arrangement view instead. As a Pro Tools user, I can wrap my head around that view much easier than the clip view. Thanks for your help.

[Greenapples2019]

[/quote]

Yup, I already know that. I can do those changes in the arrangement view it just doesn't work in the clip/event view. Thanks for your help though.
[/quote]

You're welcome Matt, we only use session view though, so it's definitely possible to do it at least with the hardware I mentioned. Happy to share how we go about it.

[DunedinDragon]

I never have a problem in either arrangement view or session view with MIDI interactions, but I use an intermediate MIDI controller (Morningstar MC8) and Ableton only sends single CC commands to the MIDI controller. The MIDI controller then fires off whatever MIDI actions need to happen, even very complex ones that affect multiple devices at the same time. That not only simplifies my MIDI out tracks on Ableton, but it allows me to manually check the MIDI action through the controller. I have small MIDI clips pre-defined for firing off the controller footswitches and just drop them into the MIDI track at the point they need to fire, consolidate it and it's ready to go as the session plays.