Q about mapping activation switches

paulreiners · Post by **paulreiners** » Sun May 14, 2006 10:33 pm

I want to map an effect Device Activator switch to a button on my Evolution X-Session MIDI controller, so that it will toggle whether the effect is active or not active. However, when I try this, it doesn't toggle, it will only activate it (if the effect was not active when I did the mapping), or deactivate it (if the effect was active when I did the mapping).

Did I need to map two buttons to do this, or is there a way I can set up one button to toggle between active and not active?

Basically, I'm trying to set things up as described on pages 268--270 of Laptop Music Power by John von Seggern.

longjohns · Post by **longjohns** » Sun May 14, 2006 11:10 pm

no matter how many times you hit the button, it still won't do it?

paulreiners · Post by **paulreiners** » Mon May 15, 2006 12:13 am

Yes, no matter how many times I push the button, it will only toggle the state once.

bujol · Post by **bujol** » Wed Nov 05, 2008 9:54 pm

Ok, I know it's been a long time this (short) conversation took place but I have a similar problem. It happens when I use cc midi message from my controller. It can only go in one way. If the low value is 63 and lower, it would only turn off the device, if it's 64 and higher, it will only turn it on.

I found a solution only with midi notes which does'nt have this problem. But actually, it comes in conflicts when I use my piano in the mean time. I try to figure how to get the same with cc messages.

Did you find any solution??

Tone Deft · Post by **Tone Deft** » Wed Nov 05, 2008 9:57 pm

as a workaround you can drop it into a rack and control the chain selector to activate/de-activate the device.

bujol · Post by **bujol** » Thu Nov 06, 2008 12:10 am

...that's a fast reply! Thanks.

Actually, I got the same problem with the chain activator button of the effects in the rack (we're talking about the square button with a speaker inside, it's most like a mute/unmute button). This problem is also present for track activator, the loop switch and every yellow button that can be switched on/off. I would think something is wrong with the signal I send from my controller (a remote zero sl) but there is no problem for the arm session and solo/cue button. It really looks like a "about yellow button" case...weird.

Thanks if you have any idea/tips.

Tone Deft · Post by **Tone Deft** » Thu Nov 06, 2008 12:13 am

yeah, slow day at work, I just don't feel like doing shit today.

not the "chain activator," the "chain selector"

siliconarc · Post by **siliconarc** » Thu Nov 06, 2008 1:16 am

bujol, the button you want to use as a switch on your SL needs to be set to 'toggle' mode or 'latch' mode - whatever novation call it.

Geezus · Post by **Geezus** » Thu Nov 06, 2008 2:03 am

garyboozy wrote:bujol, the button you want to use as a switch on your SL needs to be set to 'toggle' mode or 'latch' mode - whatever novation call it.

this is done by setting the step size to 0 in the automap universal window, typically with the min at 0 and the max at 1. Then when you assign it in ableton (assuming you are using a MIDI CC map) you can change the min/max values there to reflect how you have your chain set up

siliconarc · Post by **siliconarc** » Thu Nov 06, 2008 2:35 am

eh? no need for chains. bujol just wants the SL's button as an on/off switch. set the button mode from the current 'momentary' to 'toggle', and map it to the 'device on'. easy.

bujol · Post by **bujol** » Thu Nov 06, 2008 4:06 am

Tone Deft wrote:yeah, slow day at work, I just don't feel like doing shit today.

not the "chain activator," the "chain selector"

...sorry I may look like a total ignorant but I can't find this "chain selector". What does it looks like? I tried to assign something to every assignable thing in the rack unsuccessfully...

Garyboozy, I found an option on the edit mode of my hardware where I could set it to "toggle" but it didn't work...

Geezus, I tried what you explain but it's totally new for me this "automap universal" software. I just download it to try this out. It didn't work but I'm not sure I did it properly...I'm gonna investigate around it.

Thanks a lot for your help and if you have something else, shoot! I really can't believe I lived all this time with this cc problem...

Geezus · Post by **Geezus** » Thu Nov 06, 2008 4:57 am

garyboozy wrote:eh? no need for chains. bujol just wants the SL's button as an on/off switch. set the button mode from the current 'momentary' to 'toggle', and map it to the 'device on'. easy.

yeah but i added that info anyway because somebody mentioned chain selectors, which can also be used with the toggle switch. Difference is that you have to change the min/max in ableton to reflect where you want to "off" and "on" position to be. if you're using it like me and just turning devices/chains on and off, there's no need to bother

Geezus · Post by **Geezus** » Thu Nov 06, 2008 5:06 am

bujol wrote:
Tone Deft wrote:yeah, slow day at work, I just don't feel like doing shit today.

not the "chain activator," the "chain selector"
...sorry I may look like a total ignorant but I can't find this "chain selector". What does it looks like? I tried to assign something to every assignable thing in the rack unsuccessfully...

Garyboozy, I found an option on the edit mode of my hardware where I could set it to "toggle" but it didn't work...

Geezus, I tried what you explain but it's totally new for me this "automap universal" software. I just download it to try this out. It didn't work but I'm not sure I did it properly...I'm gonna investigate around it.

Thanks a lot for your help and if you have something else, shoot! I really can't believe I lived all this time with this cc problem...

make sure you have the latest version of the SL drivers and automap universal installed from the novation website. Then use their quickstart guide to make sure you have it set up correctly in ableton live.

When you have the server running, choose your midi device output (usually automap midi or midi yoke or anything like that) from the automap server icon, then open a MIDI channel (also from the server icon). Be sure that whatever device you choose has to be enabled remote enabled in live. you can even use another midi device that you are using on your computer, just make sure that you use a different channel than the one it is currently set to.

Then change your SL template to 38, choose the MIDI channel map that you opened from the "user" menu, and open the user interface. it should have a bunch of midi cc assignments to all the SL controls. From there, select a button you want to use, and change the step size to "0". The min and max should also be 0 and 1 respectively, unless you want the control to behave backwards. Then you assign that button to the control in ableton live using the MIDI assign mode, and presto! that button now acts like a hold toggle that is only activated when you hold it down.