CRACKED IT! MPD24 + MidiPipe (Mac) = Aftertouch Control Joy
Posted: Wed Apr 29, 2009 8:42 am
Sorry for the piss-poor thread title; I couldn't think of anything better! Also, I wasn't sure where to post this... if a Mod. needs to move it, please do. OK. To the point...
In short, I've found a rather neat way to get aftertouch messages into Live with little trouble and zero cost. I'm sure there are many of you who know, but I thought I'd share it anyway. Just incase, you know? I've only tried this with my MPD24, but I'm sure it would be easy to set up for anything else.
First off, you'll need this - http://www.apple.com/downloads/macosx/a ... ipipe.html - very useful (and FREE) app for converting MIDI messages. Works as a bridge between your controller and Live.
Once that's running, load it up and create a MIDI In and MIDI Out. Set the 'in' port to your controller (MPD24 in this case) and the 'out' port to your IAC driver. I couldn't make Live see the MidiPipe Virtual Out, so IAC it has to be!
Now, over to your MPD. It took me a while to get this bit sorted (as I didn't know what I was doing prior to some research!). You need to set all of your pads to send Polyphonic Aftertouch messasges; this way, they'll send aftertouch message exclusive to the pad note you are sending, rather than a message exclusive to the MIDI channel. Really important, as you're going to want separate messages for each pad. Once you've done that for every pad, hop back into MidiPipe.
In MidiPipe, you need to create four 'tools'. One to select the incoming note, and then three to convert the note on, note off, and polyphonic aftertouch messages. Your pipe should look like this:
Midi In
Key Mapper
Message Converter
Message Converter
Message Converter
Midi Out
Key Mapper - set this to the note the pad you are hitting plays (Eg. C1 / 36). Both the in and the out need to be set to the same note, and the 'solo key' box must be checked.
Message Converter (1) - This needs to convert 'note on' to 'MIDI CC' (choose the controller message you want to use!)
Message Converter (2) - This needs to convert 'note off' to 'MIDI CC' (again, choose the controller you want to use!)
Message Converter (3) - This needs to convert 'Polyphonic Aftertouch' to 'MIDI CC' (Use the same controller message as note on if you like, or use a different one to control a different function - beat repeat on + filter change? Hmm!)
In Live, make sure that your MPD inputs are turned OFF and that the IAC driver is on; that way the MidiPipe input will be read rather than the movements from the MPD. Once all this is done, you should have some nice, reactive pad controls for your effects/clip launch/oojimaflips!
Hope someone makes a bit of use of it, anyroad. Ta much [/as you were]
In short, I've found a rather neat way to get aftertouch messages into Live with little trouble and zero cost. I'm sure there are many of you who know, but I thought I'd share it anyway. Just incase, you know? I've only tried this with my MPD24, but I'm sure it would be easy to set up for anything else.
First off, you'll need this - http://www.apple.com/downloads/macosx/a ... ipipe.html - very useful (and FREE) app for converting MIDI messages. Works as a bridge between your controller and Live.
Once that's running, load it up and create a MIDI In and MIDI Out. Set the 'in' port to your controller (MPD24 in this case) and the 'out' port to your IAC driver. I couldn't make Live see the MidiPipe Virtual Out, so IAC it has to be!
Now, over to your MPD. It took me a while to get this bit sorted (as I didn't know what I was doing prior to some research!). You need to set all of your pads to send Polyphonic Aftertouch messasges; this way, they'll send aftertouch message exclusive to the pad note you are sending, rather than a message exclusive to the MIDI channel. Really important, as you're going to want separate messages for each pad. Once you've done that for every pad, hop back into MidiPipe.
In MidiPipe, you need to create four 'tools'. One to select the incoming note, and then three to convert the note on, note off, and polyphonic aftertouch messages. Your pipe should look like this:
Midi In
Key Mapper
Message Converter
Message Converter
Message Converter
Midi Out
Key Mapper - set this to the note the pad you are hitting plays (Eg. C1 / 36). Both the in and the out need to be set to the same note, and the 'solo key' box must be checked.
Message Converter (1) - This needs to convert 'note on' to 'MIDI CC' (choose the controller message you want to use!)
Message Converter (2) - This needs to convert 'note off' to 'MIDI CC' (again, choose the controller you want to use!)
Message Converter (3) - This needs to convert 'Polyphonic Aftertouch' to 'MIDI CC' (Use the same controller message as note on if you like, or use a different one to control a different function - beat repeat on + filter change? Hmm!)
In Live, make sure that your MPD inputs are turned OFF and that the IAC driver is on; that way the MidiPipe input will be read rather than the movements from the MPD. Once all this is done, you should have some nice, reactive pad controls for your effects/clip launch/oojimaflips!
Hope someone makes a bit of use of it, anyroad. Ta much [/as you were]
I leaped at this post when I stumbled upon it...But....The dreaded "Mac Only" alarm smacked me right in the mouth 
It would be cool not to have to use a workaround "analogue stylee recording" for Symphonic Choirs