Hey there,
so I recently started making music again and landed new on ableton.
I used to use propellerheads reason, but I hate the new subscription model.
I got an arturia minilab 3 and I like most of it.
But I only now found out how ridiculously difficult it seems to be to customize midi mappings in ableton. Using the "scripting" is horrible documented, I found a tool that you can use to get a GUI, but that not only costs like 80 bucks, its ver unintuitive and I wanna make music and not spend days trying to figure out how to program a few buttons...
I wanted to be able to just use my laptop and the minilab to feel as "dawless" as possible.
So, here are my questions:
1 .The two buttons enabling me to do that aren´t mapped by default, first one being the "session record" button, that allows for midi overdub.
So, the way I wanna work is to record a clip (using the pads to start and stop record) maybe a bassline, maybe a melody or chord progression, and then use the session record to overdub.
This is particularily helpful for drum tracks, as I can easily layer stuff this way.
The other button I need mapped is the "delete clip" button, so I can test ideas and then quickly dismiss them, if I mess up or don´t like it.
If I can those two mapped, I´d be almost completely independent from mouse/keyboard control on my laptop.
Is there a place for custom user remote scripts, so I could check if somebody maype already made one?
2. Is there a way to browse through VST synth patches?
I´m assuming its not possible out of the box, as the hotkeys for VST synths aren´t standardized as it seems, not even sure if they allow for midi learning.
3. Can you save midi mappings in a central place?
So, if I start a new project and add a VST synth...do I need to do midi mapping for each new project?
Or can I make a midi mapping for a VST synth and then that automatically gets assigned whenever I load it?
4. Is there a better midi controller out there, that has the session record button and a delete button assigned by default AND a keyboard?
Or is there maybe a combo I could use to add these and a few other buttons and just use the minilab 3 for vst synth control?
Mapping Session record button / Arturia Minilab 3
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somewhatsam
- Posts: 10
- Joined: Tue Jun 18, 2024 6:42 am
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somewhatsam
- Posts: 10
- Joined: Tue Jun 18, 2024 6:42 am
Re: Mapping Session record button / Arturia Minilab 3
Ok, so I already searched around a bit more and think I have a few more options:
1. Novation Launchkey mini.
Has about the same size as the minilab 3, but as I´ve understood, you can record in overdub mode, while the minilab only sets the record button, but doesn´t let you overdub recorded clips/aka session view record.
It also has an undo button, not the same as delete, but for jamming its pretty much doing the same: record a clip, not happy with it, undo.
2. The presonus atom
Has buttons for session record and delete.
Plus it features a few extra useful buttons like Hide device etc.
But doesn´t feature a real keyboard, so I´d have to use it together with the minilab.
I think for minimal setup, the launchkey is probably my best option.
I did some research before I landed on the minilab, but guess you have to do some work until you know what you really need...
1. Novation Launchkey mini.
Has about the same size as the minilab 3, but as I´ve understood, you can record in overdub mode, while the minilab only sets the record button, but doesn´t let you overdub recorded clips/aka session view record.
It also has an undo button, not the same as delete, but for jamming its pretty much doing the same: record a clip, not happy with it, undo.
2. The presonus atom
Has buttons for session record and delete.
Plus it features a few extra useful buttons like Hide device etc.
But doesn´t feature a real keyboard, so I´d have to use it together with the minilab.
I think for minimal setup, the launchkey is probably my best option.
I did some research before I landed on the minilab, but guess you have to do some work until you know what you really need...
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somewhatsam
- Posts: 10
- Joined: Tue Jun 18, 2024 6:42 am
Re: Mapping Session record button / Arturia Minilab 3
Ok, now I feel really dumb...
Just tested again with the minilab and session recording works like a charm if you set it up right (just arm a track, record a clip, stop, play the clip and then hit the record button to overdub it).
Thats the problem with learning things in an unorderly fashion.
So, that problem is solved.
About the delete/undo mapping: I read a few times about using "mackie control", I´ll do some search - or is that outdated?
I´m also ogling the novation launchkey, that even has dedicated buttons for undo/quantize and click.
Honestly, sounds pretty perfect.
About the synth midi mappings:
I LOVE the surge XT and it apparently has its own "save midi mappings" option, which sounds great.
But in general, its probably best to create an instrument for my VST synths and set up controls through that, because most VST synths I tried don´t seem to have that option.
Thats gonna be another deep dive I guess.
I´m fine with setting up templates too, I just need some good ressources about best practices etc, so if you have some recommendation, pls let me know!
Right now my biggest issue left is the lack of central patch switching control, especially since I´m in "tryout mode" still, I test a lot of vst synths and patches and Its just tedious switching through patches with the mouse (especially on a laptop setup) while trying to jam.
In the end, I wanna have a few small favourite collections (probably sorted into Bass/pads/leads ect) and I´ve already looked into how to set that up with instrument racks and channel selector/automation macros for turning the devices on/off.
But that still requires a lot of manual setting up, so is there a better way to do it, or is there like way of automating that process?
And how would I set this up for jamming, when I wanna record and overdub midi clips? Just have one midi track for the presets set up as dummy clips and then routing that into a duplicate track for recording?
Just tested again with the minilab and session recording works like a charm if you set it up right (just arm a track, record a clip, stop, play the clip and then hit the record button to overdub it).
Thats the problem with learning things in an unorderly fashion.
So, that problem is solved.
About the delete/undo mapping: I read a few times about using "mackie control", I´ll do some search - or is that outdated?
I´m also ogling the novation launchkey, that even has dedicated buttons for undo/quantize and click.
Honestly, sounds pretty perfect.
About the synth midi mappings:
I LOVE the surge XT and it apparently has its own "save midi mappings" option, which sounds great.
But in general, its probably best to create an instrument for my VST synths and set up controls through that, because most VST synths I tried don´t seem to have that option.
Thats gonna be another deep dive I guess.
I´m fine with setting up templates too, I just need some good ressources about best practices etc, so if you have some recommendation, pls let me know!
Right now my biggest issue left is the lack of central patch switching control, especially since I´m in "tryout mode" still, I test a lot of vst synths and patches and Its just tedious switching through patches with the mouse (especially on a laptop setup) while trying to jam.
In the end, I wanna have a few small favourite collections (probably sorted into Bass/pads/leads ect) and I´ve already looked into how to set that up with instrument racks and channel selector/automation macros for turning the devices on/off.
But that still requires a lot of manual setting up, so is there a better way to do it, or is there like way of automating that process?
And how would I set this up for jamming, when I wanna record and overdub midi clips? Just have one midi track for the presets set up as dummy clips and then routing that into a duplicate track for recording?