Ableton Forum

Hi - new Live user here with a pretty basic question:

I'm using Live to build up a large Set containing several songs (for a live performance). I'd like to keep the Live Set as visually simple as possible and for this purpose would like to limit the number of Tracks I use where possible.

I understand that any one Track can only contain one Instrument. I'm using, for example, Electric on several of my songs and will use a different Electric Preset for each song. Is there a way of having Electric contained in just one Track for the entire Set and automatically switching from one Electric Preset to another depending on the Clip that is playing?

Thanks for any advice.

empty looped midi clip with chain selection automation?

Unfortunately there is still no comfortable way of switching presets via clip information.

You can create a rack containing one instance of electric for each preset, distribute the chains equally in the chainselector, and then adjust the corresponding value of the chain-selector in the clips, but that can be lots of work, as you need to adjust it in all of your clip.

Also you have to bear in mind that the clip-automation is relative, so once you have moved the chainselector manually during your set, everything can get out of control (relatively).

Another way would be to put all presets you use into one folder, and then access your presets by clicking the hotswap-button, arrow down and enter. That way you don't need to search them from different spots in your library.

Would be really cool to have a more comfortable way of switching presets.

there is another way, more time-consuming at start but more useful while performing..i used it especially for fx but it should work for instruments as well..that is you have to program your presets "into" midi clips with the envelope. if you leave all the parameters of the device or plugin at their max value (say 1) and then create a midi clip, in the envelope window of the clip you can set the various levels of those parameters as a percentage of their initial value (this is why its better to leave them at max).As i said, it is a bit of a pain in the **s to program them, i found it boring even for distortions with 7 parameters..but then when you start the clip the instrument sets up as you wanted, and you can keep only 1 instance for the whole set...hope it helps, cheers