Ableton Forum

I'm looking for a good, small (two octave) midi controller to save space. I'm intrigued by the M-Audio Axiom 25 because it can do aftertouch. Any thoughts?

Main Question: I've read some mixed opinions regarding Ableton's support for aftertouch. I'm hoping to be able to make Ableton's Orchestral Strings sound more expressive, using an aftertouch keyboard. Will I be happy using a controller like the Axiom 25 to do this?

I've read a lot of complaints about Live but none about aftertouch.

M-Audio is an option but many find their stuff to be too cheap. some get along with it. I haven't shopped lately enough to give a solid recommendation.

The #1 problem with 25 keys is you only have 25 keys. Kinda zen...

For orchestral parts you'll do a lot of octave shifting.

Pretty much anything you can do with aftertouch can also be done with the mod wheel (or any other CC). Live will record aftertouch but I don't think you can edit it...pls correct me if I'm wrong. If you check the manual, the only reference to aftertouch/channel pressure is in the instrument descriptions.

Channel Pressure can be edited in the Envelopes section under MIDI Ctrl

sersun wrote:I'm looking for a good, small (two octave) midi controller to save space. I'm intrigued by the M-Audio Axiom 25 because it can do aftertouch. Any thoughts?

Main Question: I've read some mixed opinions regarding Ableton's support for aftertouch. I'm hoping to be able to make Ableton's Orchestral Strings sound more expressive, using an aftertouch keyboard. Will I be happy using a controller like the Axiom 25 to do this?

I have the axiom 49 and it runs a treat. I dont get why people would have beef with it. Rotary encoders not great though. After touch works fine.

Aftertouch works here...using Clip Envelopes.
Using a Remote25 by Novation.

It is recorded as a CC, so is within each Clip.
It is editable as such by opening Clip Envelopes and the Midi Cntr as stated above.

Dif is, it is not seen directly (in Arrange mode) as it is not an Arrangement Track automation (like an assigned param on a VST).
Sorta like the dif between track automation and region automation in Logic.

Took me a bit of digging to find it the first time.. but now its second nature.

Ditto on the Novation ReMOTE. I use 61 SL, but my x girlfriend had a 25 that I kind of wish I had stolen.

That said, I also use two different M-Audio controllers (though not the Axiom) and I have been very happy with them.

But again, ReMOTE -- the automap support for Live is pretty great too -- intuitive, and you get to see what EACH control is mapped to and the control input level.

Chris