Ableton Forum

Tarekith wrote:One of my favorite new features in live 6, is the instant mapping feature. Makes it so easy to use a limited number of controls to ummm... control many different devices. However, the major flaw with this scheme, is that you have to still use a mouse to actually select the device you want to control first. Not a biggy in the studio, but live it's one more reason to mouse around. One way i think this could be avoided, is to add a new column to the MIDI map editor (and Key map Editor) in browser view, a check box for each assignment called "Change Focus". If checked, using that controller automatically would shift the focus to whatever it was controlling. However, this doesn't have to be tied in to instant mapping either. Examples:

- You have a button assigned to turn loop on or off for a clip. With Change Focus selected for that button assignment, Live now shifts the focus to the loop brace. This would let you not only turn the loop on or off, but control loop start and length without clicking on it first.

- You have a button mapped to turn an effect rack on or off. If Change Focus is selected, that effect rack now gets the focus so you could use 8 knobs on your controller to control the macro knobs ala instant mapping.

- You have a key command assigned to trigger a scene launch. You could use the "Change Focus" to specify whether or not launching this scene selects the clips in it, or whether the focus stays on whatever clip you were currrently controlling.


One more idea, if you leave the max and min values for any assignment so they are both '0', then you can assign a button or midi command that does nothing BUT change the focus. This way you can select different devices without having to actual send a command to change any parameters.

So, for instance you could assign a key command to the tempo field that only puts it in focus, allowing you to arrow the tempo up or down from your computer keyboard without needing to mouse over there first. Just one more way to remove reliance on the laptop screen and mouse.

Comments?