Ableton Forum

hello.

i was wondering if anyone that uses one of these could help me. I am using ableton to dj.

on the left hand side are ten grey switches. i like to use 1-7 as tracks on 'deck A' and 3-9 as track launchers on 'deck B', with the ones going down the middle to trigger samples/drop in's etc

all fine so far

however, what do i do if i want to have more tracks to trigger? does this unit have a way of using the same buttons in a bank mode? because i have trawled through the manual and can't seem to find an answer.

or is there something i could do in ableton to have an infinate amount of tracks on the one switch.

i really hope this makes some kind of sense to someone.

i'm new to the hardware/software scene and am trying to teach myself via youtube/tom cosm etc etc, and while its fun learning, its frustrating when terminolgy is used that expects you to have at least a degree in sound engineering!

(btw i have a nanokey which i can trigger tracks in if i want, so i can do it if i want, but its just easier on the one unit!)

(oh and i have just picked up a nocturn as well, but i like the 'feel' of the uc 17)

afaik the buttons cannot be used as banks selector with build in functions.

you will have to make a convertor layer before it enters live. ie if all buttons send to CCs from 1 to 9 on midi Ch 1,
you could use a knob or buttons to change to midi ch2 to get more controls, aka banks.
ie if the soft receive a button 1 press, (ie channel01 CC01 127, it won't filter. but if it receives a CC02 of button 2,
it can rechannel all incoming messages to midiChanel 2 instead of 1, 3 if press button3 ect.
so live will get differents messages. Live natively can't do/resend rechaneling (shame).

this needs an extra software that can patch such midi behaviour. i use Usine for that, but Max, pd, or more simply glovePie
or bomes could let you patch/script such tweaks. mind ya they all have a learning curve, but glovePie and usine are booth free
and quite easy to learn. bomes could do that easily too, but im not an expert. (note you will need also virtual midi ports like
midi yoke or loopbe).

So not ultra easy but fairly doable, and then you will enjoy custom modes adapted to your needs.

edit: Note if don't want bother that much, you could use some buttons as navigation for the selection, then one for trig.
all are mappable too if im not wrong. (above master when u press midi).

Hi mate, thanks very much for your response.

I have managed to sort the problem i wasn't aware that all i had to do was when midi mapping, where the stop button usually is on a track, there it turns into a play button! so all i had to do was midi map one button to the one on deck A, and the same on deck B, and voila, just drag the track i want to play next into the deck that isn't playing, and i'm good to go- no need for more than two triggers!

sorry that you took the time to come up with an answer to a really simple question!

i have searched all over for the answer to this, and as usual i found out just by messing about in ableton!

thanks again

ok cool
this doesn't really makes 'banks', but if it solve your initial pb then it's a much much simpler and effective clever way!
just thought anyway you could also have used differents presets if really need more buttons that maybe what you called 'banks'?
but less is sometimes more and just 2 trig sounds via droping is a cool tek .

UC17 is a great good old rocking unit, i had few midi controllers over time and it finally always remained my prefered one,
i patched few extra personal modes with usine (banks and shift functions,ie pressing 1rst button and moving crossfader will make the cross emitt on ch1, but if i prss button2 it controls something different on ch2 ect..tons of possibilities with very low weight and good tactile feeling. i love it.

i think your last sentance hit the nail on the head. the weight and 'feel' of the unit are what i really like. it doesnt have endless pots, which is a preference for me, as i don't get lost with where the parameter is, and helps it feel more like a standard dj mixer.

i may have used banks in the wrong context, so apologies for the confusion