Ableton Forum

I am trying to get a better understanding Ableton's "user remote scripts" - because the way they automatically & dynamically assign 8 controls is very fast & convenient.

where can i get information - i've read the file - InstantMappings-HowTo.txt - in

[Library folder] > Preferences > Ableton > Live 8 > User Remote Scripts

Also it says on one of the forum posts
"Look up "Instant mapping" and "user remote scripts" in the manual or here on the forum; it will do exactly what you want it to."

But I can find nothing in the Live 8 manual & lots of mentions on the forum but very little explaining -

I've read the very informative article at -
http://createdigitalmusic.com/2009/07/2 ... s-control/

But still don't understand several things

Do you assign midi cc's by changing - eg like this

Encoder6: -1
Encoder7: -1
Encoder8: -1
EncoderChannel1: -1
EncoderChannel2: -1
EncoderChannel3: -1

to this -

Encoder6: -1cc1
Encoder7: -1cc2
Encoder8: -1cc3
EncoderChannel1: -1cc4
EncoderChannel2: -1cc5
EncoderChannel3: -1cc6

& if -1 = the default channel then what does "EncoderChannel 1/2/3" do ?

I'm using A novation SLMkII' & is there a specific script I should use to rewrite for the exact encoders &knobs buttons & faders on the remote SlMkII
so should the folder I put the "User Remote Scripts" in be called -

"SL MkII (Port 2)" or just "Remote SL"

Any help would be appreciated.

Hi,

You're right - as far as I remember, it's not really covered in the manual. It might seem a bit confusing at first, but it's reasonably straight-forward, mostly due to the limitation that you can only do exactly what it shows in the template file - there's no additional stuff you have to consider.

There's some useful info in this thread - http://forum.ableton.com/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=126497 - maybe gets you started... there's some example of the file contents there that maybe helps.

RTRT wrote: Do you assign midi cc's by changing - eg like this

Encoder6: -1
Encoder7: -1
Encoder8: -1
EncoderChannel1: -1
EncoderChannel2: -1
EncoderChannel3: -1

to this -

Encoder6: -1cc1
Encoder7: -1cc2
Encoder8: -1cc3
EncoderChannel1: -1cc4
EncoderChannel2: -1cc5
EncoderChannel3: -1cc6

& if -1 = the default channel then what does "EncoderChannel 1/2/3" do ?

I'm using A novation SLMkII' & is there a specific script I should use to rewrite for the exact encoders &knobs buttons & faders on the remote SlMkII
so should the folder I put the "User Remote Scripts" in be called -

"SL MkII (Port 2)" or just "Remote SL"

Any help would be appreciated.

no

to this -

Encoder6: 1
Encoder7: 2
Encoder8: 3
EncoderChannel6: -1
EncoderChannel7: -1
EncoderChannel8: -1

puts cc2,3,4 (!!) on encoders 6,7,8, all on global channel (cc's are labeled 0-127 in the file, not 1-128)

to this -

Encoder6: 1
Encoder7: 2
Encoder8: 3
EncoderChannel6: 1
EncoderChannel7: 2
EncoderChannel8: 3

puts cc2,3,4 (!!) on encoders 6,7,8, on midi channel 2,3,4 respectively (channels = 0-15)

you can name your script whatever you want. it has nothing to do with how it works. name it something easy to identify, as compared to the factory scripts, like "my kick-ass script"

the userconfiguration.txt file gives all parameters you have to work with.

what you need to know is the midi messages which are sent by your controller when you operate the encoders, etc. which you want to use in your script. you can use a monitoring program to learn that, if it is not documented in your controller manual.


then, it's just a matter of entering those numbers into the appropriate areas in the .txt file. (again, remember about the 1-digit offset on everything)

RTRT wrote:
"SL MkII (Port 2)" or just "Remote SL"

Any help would be appreciated.

in the .txt file you have to name the usb port you are using, if your device is connected by usb.

thanks it's getting clearer to understand. Now will try to get it to work

Well I've tried as a start to just simply to change the default midi channel from 1 to 9. But cant get it to work.

I have placed the "UserConfiguration.txt" file in a folder, which shows up in Ableton Preferences - Midi Sync - Control Surfaces

& I have tried changing to the following

GlobalChannel: 8
InputName: SL MkII (Port 1)
OutputName: SL MkII (Port 1)

Setting the Novation SLMkII to channel 9 & Usb Port 1, But i cant get any response from Ableton

Does anyone know what I can try next ?

I've tried changing to port 2, with no effect. But Ableton live is still responding on Channel 1. Can anyone help ?

please post your userconfiguration.txt file in it's entirety, so we can have a look

bonus points for a screenshot of your preferences / midi tab

I don't know how to post a picture, but here is the text. of userconfiguraion. I tried removing the help lines


GlobalChannel: 8
InputName: SL MkII (Port 1)
OutputName: SL MkII (Port 1)
Pad1Note: -1
Pad2Note: -1
Pad3Note: -1
Pad4Note: -1
Pad5Note: -1
Pad6Note: -1
Pad7Note: -1
Pad8Note: -1
Pad9Note: -1
Pad10Note: -1
Pad11Note: -1
Pad12Note: -1
Pad13Note: -1
Pad14Note: -1
Pad15Note: -1
Pad16Note: -1
Pad1Channel: -1
Pad2Channel: -1
Pad3Channel: -1
Pad4Channel: -1
Pad5Channel: -1
Pad6Channel: -1
Pad7Channel: -1
Pad8Channel: -1
Pad9Channel: -1
Pad10Channel: -1
Pad11Channel: -1
Pad12Channel: -1
Pad13Channel: -1
Pad14Channel: -1
Pad15Channel: -1
Pad16Channel: -1
Encoder1: -1
Encoder2: -1
Encoder3: -1
Encoder4: -1
Encoder5: -1
Encoder6: -1
Encoder7: -1
Encoder8: -1
EncoderChannel1: -1
EncoderChannel2: -1
EncoderChannel3: -1
EncoderChannel4: -1
EncoderChannel5: -1
EncoderChannel6: -1
EncoderChannel7: -1
EncoderChannel8: -1
EncoderMapMode: Absolute
Bank1Button: -1
Bank2Button: -1
Bank3Button: -1
Bank4Button: -1
Bank5Button: -1
Bank6Button: -1
Bank7Button: -1
Bank8Button: -1
NextBankButton: -1
PrevBankButton: -1
LockButton: -1
[MixerControls]
VolumeSlider1: -1
VolumeSlider2: -1
VolumeSlider3: -1
VolumeSlider4: -1
VolumeSlider5: -1
VolumeSlider6: -1
VolumeSlider7: -1
VolumeSlider8: -1
Slider1Channel: -1
Slider2Channel: -1
Slider3Channel: -1
Slider4Channel: -1
Slider5Channel: -1
Slider6Channel: -1
Slider7Channel: -1
Slider8Channel: -1
MasterVolumeSlider: -1
MasterSliderChannel: -1
Send1Knob1: -1
Send1Knob2: -1
Send1Knob3: -1
Send1Knob4: -1
Send1Knob5: -1
Send1Knob6: -1
Send1Knob7: -1
Send1Knob8: -1
Send2Knob1: -1
Send2Knob2: -1
Send2Knob3: -1
Send2Knob4: -1
Send2Knob5: -1
Send2Knob6: -1
Send2Knob7: -1
Send2Knob8: -1
TrackArmButton1: -1
TrackArmButton2: -1
TrackArmButton3: -1
TrackArmButton4: -1
TrackArmButton5: -1
TrackArmButton6: -1
TrackArmButton7: -1
TrackArmButton8: -1
VolumeMapMode: Absolute
SendsMapMode: Absolute
[TransportControls]
StopButton: -1
PlayButton: -1
RecButton: -1
LoopButton: -1
RwdButton: -1
FfwdButton: -1

there you have a script which will use midi channel 9 on port "SL MkII (Port 1)"

...

to do absolutely nothing

...

what cc's do the encoders you want to use send??????

put those cc#'s in the encoder section!

many thanks for your reply, though have added cc;s but still cant get it to work.
heres a link to a pic of my Midi Preferences setup

http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i224/ ... diPref.png

The SlMkII is set to send on Channel 9 on Port 1 heres the cc's i added to match the SlMkII


GlobalChannel: 8
InputName: SL MkII (Port 1)
OutputName: SL MkII (Port 1)
Pad1Note: -1
Pad2Note: -1
....................... . . . . . . . etc
LockButton: -1
[MixerControls]
VolumeSlider1: 15
VolumeSlider2: 16
VolumeSlider3: 17
VolumeSlider4: 18
VolumeSlider5: -1
. . . . . . . etc
Pad16Channel: -1
Encoder1: 23
Encoder2: 24
Encoder3: 25
Encoder4: -1
Encoder5: -1
. . . . . . . etc

heres a link to a pic of my Midi Preferences setup

http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i224/ ... diPref.png

i don't see any problem, although you should not need to activate the ports in the lower section, for a control surface which is assigned in the top section. (unless you want to make manual mappings on that controller too)

it's interesting that you seem to have been able to rename midi ports. I assume that is done in the SL driver software?

try disabling the main SL surface assignment. can you get the blue hand on a device with just your script active??

i'm running out of ideas, since i dont have an SL myself, and can't play around ..

can you post the whole .txt file again, without the ...etc...