Newb...Using MIDI to control Tracks in Ableton

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Phil Bhoy
Posts: 2
Joined: Sun Mar 21, 2010 9:28 pm
Location: Berkeley CA

Newb...Using MIDI to control Tracks in Ableton

Post by Phil Bhoy » Mon Mar 22, 2010 7:21 pm

Hi there,

I'm new to Ableton and to digital music software in general (Musically I'm an analogue dinosaur!)

Basically I have recorded guitar tracks in a live set and am adding more tracks. However, I have a Korg Nanokey midi device which I want to use as a 'remote control' for playing and stopping individual tracks of this live set...

Essentially I want to be able to hit a key (on the nanokey) to play the rhythm guitar track...hit it again and it stops. Hit another key to play the Bass track, hit it again and it stops, so on and so forth.

Is this possible? I'm still going through the starter lessons and tutorials but have not been able to find anything that will allow me to use the nanokey as a remote control in this fashion.

Any help greatly appreciated!!

PS I have my nanokey assigned in the 'preferences' section for midi in and out...


Tone Deft
Posts: 24152
Joined: Mon Oct 02, 2006 5:19 pm

Re: Newb...Using MIDI to control Tracks in Ableton

Post by Tone Deft » Mon Mar 22, 2010 7:37 pm

click on a clip to open Clip View, then for each clip set the Launch Mode to toggle.

at the top right of the Live GUI there are midi in/out indicators, use those to see if you controller is being seen by Live.

then ctrl-m to go into midi map mode, click a clip, twiddle your device's control, hit ctrl-m to leave midi map mode and try it out.

btw learn to leave the Help Box open and hover the mouse over parts of Live's GUI to learn about them. I loved that when I was learning (still use it. :oops: )
In my life
Why do I smile
At people who I'd much rather kick in the eye?
-Moz

Phil Bhoy
Posts: 2
Joined: Sun Mar 21, 2010 9:28 pm
Location: Berkeley CA

Re: Newb...Using MIDI to control Tracks in Ableton

Post by Phil Bhoy » Mon Mar 22, 2010 8:37 pm

Excellent, thanks guys. Another quick (newb) question...is it possible to use the key that you've mapped to start the clip to stop it also or do they have to be separate keys for separate functions?

As part of a project I'm doing it's essential that the same midi key starts and stops a particular track/clip

Tone Deft
Posts: 24152
Joined: Mon Oct 02, 2006 5:19 pm

Re: Newb...Using MIDI to control Tracks in Ableton

Post by Tone Deft » Mon Mar 22, 2010 8:42 pm

it can only be the same key. although there might be workarounds for that.

try it out, you'll see.
In my life
Why do I smile
At people who I'd much rather kick in the eye?
-Moz

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