Triggering one sample using ableton live through PA

keefislegend · Post by **keefislegend** » Tue Nov 18, 2008 8:45 pm

I have recently got a USB footswitch/cables to hook my laptop up to a venue's PA system. I'm trying to utilize a bass drop sound clip, which is just a bass boom that is about 3 seconds long.

My footswitch can automatically be assigned to any keyboard key, so that doesn't matter. I have no knowledge of using Ableton Live yet, so my question is how to open up my bass drop clip and set it so that a certain keyboard key being pressed makes the clip play ONE TIME, and then each time I press it again it also plays ONE TIME.

Thank you so much for your help

keefislegend · Post by **keefislegend** » Tue Nov 18, 2008 9:27 pm

I realize this is a very noobish question, but I can't seem to get it figured out.

chapelier fou · Post by **chapelier fou** » Tue Nov 18, 2008 9:33 pm

desactive the "loop" thing in the clip.

keefislegend · Post by **keefislegend** » Tue Nov 18, 2008 9:37 pm

To be honest, I have no idea where to even start. I dragged the sample into the first audio box. This is my screen so far:

http://img523.imageshack.us/my.php?imag ... 235wl0.gif

What do I do now?

chapelier fou · Post by **chapelier fou** » Tue Nov 18, 2008 9:47 pm

double-click on the coloured zone of the clip, it will appear on the bottom of the screen. Then, de-hilight the "loop" button.

keefislegend · Post by **keefislegend** » Tue Nov 18, 2008 9:47 pm

I found the clip/launch view and the trigger tab, but all I want Ableton to do is play my sample when I hit a certain button (the space bar for example), stop the sample when it is over, and when I hit the space bar again, play it again. I know this is fairly simple, so please give me a simple explanation. Right now when I hit the space bar, nothing plays, but if I hit the play button next to the sample it plays

keefislegend · Post by **keefislegend** » Tue Nov 18, 2008 9:50 pm

I dehighlighted loop. Now how do I get the sample to play from the start each time I hit the spacebar with no delay?

keefislegend · Post by **keefislegend** » Tue Nov 18, 2008 10:07 pm

I have also figured out how to use Quantization to restart the clip, but what keyboard shortcut allows me to play the sample without just hitting the play button?

keefislegend · Post by **keefislegend** » Tue Nov 18, 2008 10:20 pm

Sorry for so many posts, but this may be the last one:
I took off looping and quantization (so that it would start without any delay? Is this right?), and now I realized if I select the sample and hit the "enter" Key, it plays it.

So, if I have it selected and make my footswitch respond using the enter key, is this all I need to do?

kraze · Post by **kraze** » Wed Nov 19, 2008 12:18 am

You're definently overthinking this man. If you're trying to do what i think you are (play in a metal/hardcore/rock band and do the heavy bass drop when the breakdowns hit) you're doing waaayyy too much. There's no need to have a laptop, footpedal, interface and ableton for this.

keefislegend · Post by **keefislegend** » Wed Nov 19, 2008 12:44 am

How so? I'm trying to do this live at shows, not in recordings. Drum modules/trigger pads cost a lot of money, and this way is only costing me around 30 bucks.

doogs · Post by **doogs** » Wed Nov 19, 2008 4:41 am

OK, from the sceenie you posted above :

- hit the button that says 'MIDI' at the top right hand corner of the screen. (everything should then go a blueish tinge)
- click the play arrow on yr 'bass boom' clip
- step on the footswitch you want to active the clip (a midi CC number should then appear on the clip)
- click the MIDI button again.

The above assumes yr footswitch is midi-capable, hooked up and working correctly.

kraze · Post by **kraze** » Wed Nov 19, 2008 5:20 pm

keefislegend wrote:How so? I'm trying to do this live at shows, not in recordings. Drum modules/trigger pads cost a lot of money, and this way is only costing me around 30 bucks.

That's exactly what i'm talking about, you're going to lugg around a laptop and worry about ableton and audio issues, for a 3 second sample?

keefislegend · Post by **keefislegend** » Wed Nov 19, 2008 8:59 pm

kraze wrote:
That's exactly what i'm talking about, you're going to lugg around a laptop and worry about ableton and audio issues, for a 3 second sample?

I already take my laptop to most gigs out of boredom, and already had ableton, so I might as well if I only had to purchase the foot pedal.

Thanks for the help about the midi menu, it worked out for me

Jekblad · Post by **Jekblad** » Wed Nov 19, 2008 11:49 pm

dude you need like way more samples!

how about:

-a woman screaming
-a buzzsaw
-"say hello to my little friend"
-gunshots

These are all perfect for breakdowns. Do you have more buttons on that thing? You can assign them to each clip.