Ableton Forum

I've been having a bit of a go-round with the Ableton folks on this.

While Live is an awesome tool, no doubt about it I was a bit optimistic about controlling external MIDI hardware, real time via Live.
Sadly Live does not provide Vol or Pan controls on a MIDI track until an External Instrument is dropped on it.

Unfortunately this Instrument only represents the audio output of the external hardware.
So if a sound module is producing 2 or more sounds, these Vol & Pan controls don't map to MIDI Vol & Pan, just the hardware's output.

I've decided to buy in to the Ableton methodology, so I have a Novation Zero SL on the way compensate for this shortcoming.

Just wondering others out there are dealing with this issue.
Considering we are now in version 8, I'm sure more than a few of you are integrating your multi-timbral sound modules.

Lots of hardware, but never tried controlling volume actually.
Probably because most of it is too old to understand that.

If i need more audio inputs for the external instrument i use an extra external instrument assigned to different inputs on the sound card.
But then you need multiple outputs on the module.

My experience with running many external synths at the same time are not that great.
So mostly i just record the output and mess around with that in live.

There's been loads of discussion about live's midi capabilities and timing,
some people are happy, but if you've grown up with midi in other daw's it's just not there yet.

There's been loads of discussion about live's midi capabilities and timing,
some people are happy, but if you've grown up with midi in other daw's it's just not there yet.

Lots of hardware, but never tried controlling volume actually.
Probably because most of it is too old to understand that.

I wouldn't expect that. Any multi-timbral sound module from the 80's on should respond to MIDI Volume.

If i need more audio inputs for the external instrument i use an extra external instrument assigned to different inputs on the sound card.
But then you need multiple outputs on the module.

Yep

My experience with running many external synths at the same time are not that great.
So mostly i just record the output and mess around with that in live.

Well it's looking like Live pretty much forces users to work this way.
It's their way or the highway at this point in time.

There's been loads of discussion about live's midi capabilities and timing,
some people are happy, but if you've grown up with midi in other daw's it's just not there yet.

Yeah .. I've been sequencing since the days of hardware sequencers, so I'm a bit struck by Ableton's somewhat strange relationship with MIDI.

I had hoped Live was going to be the holy grail of sequencing.

It's strange to think there would be MIDI timing issues .. more than say .. with audio loops.
MIDI is so much less demanding than audio.

It's really too bad about the whole MaxForLive thing. If they made it free or much lower cost, this would spawn a lot more adoption of Live.
Kind of like any other company providing SDKs for their platform (e.g. iPhone etc.)

Musicians already struggle to pay for all the hardware and software they need. Another $1200 or so for M4L seems pretty steep just to get MIDI Vol & Pan.

I wouldn't expect that. Any multi-timbral sound module from the 80's on should respond to MIDI Volume.

Yes, but there was a time before multi timbral modules. Some understand only note messages.
Anyway, i never bothered.

I had hoped Live was going to be the holy grail of sequencing.

Not for midi. Not even sysex.

Another $1200 or so for M4L seems pretty steep

I think m4l is a lot cheaper than you say, that's not what i paid.
M4l is cool, but max4l uses lives io, so it has about the same limitations as live for midi.
You can work around that, but most workarounds use the runtime, osc, or other clever hacks.
Max can do sysex, but not when you stay within live.