Changing presets via MIDI

MarkRM · Post by **MarkRM** » Wed Sep 12, 2007 4:18 pm

Hi.

I asked a similar question a little while back but got no responses, so thought I'd simplify my question and give it another shot.

Does anyone know if there's a way to change device presets via MIDI? Maybe I'm missing something but it seems I can only change them with a mouse, and I'm trying to get away from the computer entirely in our live performance.

Cheers.

sweetjesus · Post by **sweetjesus** » Wed Sep 12, 2007 4:49 pm

racks and rack chains are your friend.

you may not be able to get the one effect and change its presets, but you can copy that effect to multiple chains and use each as a preset and scroll through the chains in realtime.

nolus · Post by **nolus** » Wed Sep 12, 2007 4:52 pm

What sweetjesus said.

But wouldn't it be nice to be able to create a patch change map without all that arseing around? I was very disapointed when I first realised that patch change messages are not recognised by Live.

MarkRM · Post by **MarkRM** » Wed Sep 12, 2007 7:11 pm

Thanks guys.

Yeah, I knew I could do it in the way you describe, sweetjesus - I was just hoping to do it the other way. It seems a little silly if I want to switch states in one plugin lots of times in a set that I have to have to have an instant for each state. I know plugins don't take up a whole bunch of RAM, but when you're using some RAM-hungry VSTis and have lots of patch changes, 14 instances of a plugin doing what 1 instance should be able to do can be a killer. I guess having automated patch changes just seems like a pretty obvious feature to me.

nolus · Post by **nolus** » Wed Sep 12, 2007 7:29 pm

If you are using a third party plugin that responds to patch changes (eg sampletank) you can arange for a patch change to be sent when a clip is launched.

Check out "Bank", "Sub-Bank" and "Program" on the "Notes" panel in the MIDI editor.

But ableton plugins won't respond to it.

MarkRM · Post by **MarkRM** » Thu Sep 13, 2007 6:11 pm

Cheers, Nolus. I've been using that, but unless you know differently (I'd love to be proven wrong!), I'm pretty sure that only works for plugins inserted on MIDI tracks. I have some VST audio plugs that respond to program changes, and it would be great to dump them on an audio track and control them in the same way.

nolus · Post by **nolus** » Thu Sep 13, 2007 6:34 pm

I see what you mean. I suspect you might be stuck on that one, but I love a challenge. If I think of anything I'll let you know.

friend_kami · Post by **friend_kami** » Fri Sep 14, 2007 1:05 am

really, it is quite silly that this is not a standard feature in live, considering that its meant to be played.. well.. live.

even more silly that you cant do this with the native plugins heh.

Jaan · Post by **Jaan** » Fri Sep 14, 2007 1:11 am

so THAT explains why I HAVENT BEEN ABLE TO SEND PRESET CHANGE MSGS WITH MY REMOTE SL 61!!!!!

ACTUALLY IT WORK SOS LIVE ACCEPTS THEM IT SJUST THE VST

REMOTE SL PATCH CHAANGE MSGS WORK IN LIVE WITH VANGUARD VST BEWARE@!!!!

LOGIC 8!!!

davec1 · Post by **davec1** » Fri Sep 14, 2007 7:07 am

it is a very major flaw imho, considering how ableton wants live to be used live on stage.

it also seems like something that can't be so hard to implement, can it?

It's disappointing.