Variations by Iftah - settings refresh after project start-up

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dercev
Posts: 4
Joined: Fri Feb 21, 2025 4:10 pm

Variations by Iftah - settings refresh after project start-up

Post by dercev » Fri Feb 21, 2025 4:27 pm

Hi everyone,

I am using Ableton 12.1.5 with Windows 11.

I try to implement the M4L device "Variations" from the performance pack from Iftah. This has the option to select which parts should be recalled when you select a variation (Clip/Sends/Devices/Mixer). In my case, I don't want the Mixer to be affected so I uncheck. So far so good, works as intended. The problem is that this setting is set to its standard value (which is mixer on) once you reload the project.

Using the small save button to create and use a new template of the device does not work. If you load this template the mixer is set to "on" again.

1. Are you experiencing the same issue on Windows/Mac/Push3 standalone? Would help me to narrow the problem.
2. Any solution to fix it?
3. I tried a workaround by editing the device. Since I don't know M4L, I simply deleted the "mixer" checkbox. That actually worked :D However, this made the recall of a variation significantly longer. If you have any workaround on how I can replace this checkbox with something thats always "off" (and explain it for dummies), this would do the trick for me.

Appreciate the help

Rivanni
Posts: 798
Joined: Sat Nov 26, 2016 12:30 pm

Re: Variations by Iftah - settings refresh after project start-up

Post by Rivanni » Fri Feb 21, 2025 10:19 pm

About a week ago, this pack was updated. The latest version does not have this issue and retains the settings.

Go to the Packs section in Live's browser, scroll to the bottom, and install available pack updates.

dercev
Posts: 4
Joined: Fri Feb 21, 2025 4:10 pm

Re: Variations by Iftah - settings refresh after project start-up

Post by dercev » Sat Feb 22, 2025 8:37 am

How convenient :) With the update, it's solved. Thanks so much.
I was also not aware, that you need to update the packs manually. That is good advice

schlam
Posts: 178
Joined: Mon Dec 14, 2020 11:51 am

Re: Variations by Iftah - settings refresh after project start-up

Post by schlam » Sat Feb 22, 2025 3:15 pm

@Rivanni

I don't find a page where I can find release notes for pack, and especially for this one.
There is this page : https://www.ableton.com/en/release-note ... ase-notes/

but no updated release notes, the link about this pack leads to the general pack page without any precisions...

Rivanni
Posts: 798
Joined: Sat Nov 26, 2016 12:30 pm

Re: Variations by Iftah - settings refresh after project start-up

Post by Rivanni » Sat Feb 22, 2025 4:57 pm

schlam wrote:
Sat Feb 22, 2025 3:15 pm
@Rivanni

I don't find a page where I can find release notes for pack, and especially for this one.
There is this page : https://www.ableton.com/en/release-note ... ase-notes/

but no updated release notes, the link about this pack leads to the general pack page without any precisions...
I also wish they had made the release notes for all pack updates available, but unfortunately, Ableton hasn't.
In addition to the Performance Pack, updates were available for the Sequencers pack and two Session Drums packs. Only the Session Drums packs have release notes.

Regarding the Performance pack, I noticed that bugs reported ten months ago are still not addressed, so I'm curious about what this and the previous updates were all about.

chapelier fou
Posts: 6253
Joined: Mon May 15, 2006 12:15 pm

Re: Variations by Iftah - settings refresh after project start-up

Post by chapelier fou » Sun Feb 23, 2025 7:46 am

That’s kind of scary/surprising that such critical issues are solved so long after the release. That makes me think “who was really using it until today?”.
I certainly am too cautious to ever use this in a real-life performance context.
These kind of super heavy/complex devices are just too much for m4l in my opinion. I really appreciate the effort but personally I’d stay away from it.
MacBook Pro 13" Retina i7 2.8 GHz OS 10.13, L10.0.1, M4L.
MacStudio M1Max 32Go OS 12.3.1

dercev
Posts: 4
Joined: Fri Feb 21, 2025 4:10 pm

Re: Variations by Iftah - settings refresh after project start-up

Post by dercev » Sun Feb 23, 2025 9:18 am

I had the same thought about that feature. I saw the video manual and thought this device is so well planned an executed and was surprised how this problem wasn't solved in the beginning. It is fucking annoying, so I assume this might have been just a windows issue and not prominent for a lot of users.

That being said, I used it for a live performance last week and it's great. Does exactly what it's supposed to do without lag.

I still wish for a better approach for saving presets inside a track. Especially with live performance and push standalone in mind. Something that does not feel like a workaround around abletons architecture.
If someone has a better approach than using instrument racks + variations. I'll be happy to know.

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