MIDI Foot Control Help

ian412 · Post by **ian412** » Tue Oct 21, 2008 1:37 am

Is anyone still reading this thread?

So I have found someone to design me a midi controller for Ableton. -->hinton-instruments.co.uk

I am designing it with 16 switches for turning loops on/off, a tap tempo switch, stop, start, up & down switches for scene control. Also, 4 outputs to individual CC data foot pedals (like a volume or wah pedal).

I am a bit curious about getting the midi in the box that this guy creates to interface with Ableton. He is only designing the thing to send midi signals & it is up to me to make it work with Ableton. Can anyone offer an advice/experience on if this will work or not??

Thanks
Ian

mbenigni · Post by **mbenigni** » Tue Oct 21, 2008 5:20 pm

Live is really easy when it comes to mapping MIDI. Once you've got the device, it's typically just a matter of pressing Ctl-M, selecting the control you need on-screen, and then pressing whatever pedal you want mapped. You can then modify as needed, for instance to change the range of cc pedals, etc. - all covered in the manual.

The only caveat to be aware of is that - for some unholy reason known only to Ableton - Live will not map Program Change messages. It will only map cc changes and note on/off. BE SURE your hardware developer knows this before he begins, otherwise you might be stuck running Bomes or something to translate PC messages.

ian412 · Post by **ian412** » Tue Oct 21, 2008 10:03 pm

I use an M-Audio Firewire 410 with a Midi in/out. I would route the midi signal in there & I should have no problem getting it to run in Ableton? No additional drivers, etc? I am on a Mac.

I will let him know about about the Program Change...thanks.

mbenigni · Post by **mbenigni** » Wed Oct 22, 2008 2:03 pm

I don't think you'll need any additional drivers or software assuming your hardware can send cc or notes over MIDI. Just plug in and then (in Preferences->MIDI) make sure that the MIDI in is enabled for your 410.

Is the device Hinton is designing/building for you battery-powered? Have they quoted you a price yet? I might be interested in working something up myself, though I would guess (by looking at the site) that they are a bit expensive?

mbenigni · Post by **mbenigni** » Fri Oct 24, 2008 2:31 pm

Woot!!

Found a used Roland FC-300 at a local shop for a great price. I think I am officially retiring as a DIY pedal builder. The FC is a little bigger/heavier than I'd prefer, but it's the only product I've found that really fits my needs. (At least on paper, I haven't had a chance to set it up yet.) I'm so sick of running software layers to deal w/ conversion from game controller signals to MIDI, PC message to CC message, whatever. This is the brute-force, "throw money at the problem" solution, except I didn't have to spend too much money!

I'm psyched. It only took me, what? 3 years? <Kicks self.>