Ableton Forum

Hi. Been wanting to add a midi foot controller to my Live set up, and I've read that the Behringer FCB1010 is good for the job. However, I've also heard that it can be troublesome getting it to work smoothly with Live in regards to MIDI messages being sent. Is it easy to set up with Live? I'm currently running live with the Korg Microkontrol and Edirol 1010 firewire interface. Does anyone have some experience using this pedal with Live, and how would you set it up? Just plug in the midi wires, step on the pedal in midi map mode and go? Thanks..... MAC ibook G4 1.2ghz 768RAM

It's easy to use, once it's been set up properly But there are software editors available online. Google is your friend!

Basically, all you need to do is to set up the buttons to transmit midi notes. Once that's done, assigning is as easy as with a keyboard.

I use this fott contoller with live and it does work well once it's setup. READ THE MANUAL, if you don't you'll get annoued with it but it'll take some time to set up the way you want it. Basically setup each switch to be a keynote, once that's done as said above it's a piece of cake. A software editor woulod help, I did it without however.

I just got one of these and It is great. Not only for performance but for the studio as well. I am able to start recording whatever I am playing by a toe tap. I can then work the tempo out the same way. I have to disagree somewhat about the note assignment. This is great in the beginning but if you want to assign a foot switch to make the expression pedals do different things for each one pushed then you'll want to delve deeper. I am still trying to wrap my head around it myself. I'm slow but I'll get it eventually.

Works GREAT with Live but was really confusing to set up. A Live user helped me out with some instructions which provided the "breakthrough" I was needing. I'd be happy to email a copy to anyone that needs it.

j

That would be great! I'd love a copy.....

Me too! Thanks!

mkb

Jaybone and Monkaiboy...check your private messages....hope it helps you out.

j

Thanks a lot - much appreciated....

Just got one myself, too, haven't gotten it all going yet, though. Being able to control programmed loops with my feet while I play guitar is a dream come true, and the reason I bought live. I'd like to read up on it too, J, I'll PM you. Oh, and there's a great Yahoo Group about the BCF, reading posts there has helped me some.

stinking double post...

Hey J, can you send me a message about setting this thing up without using software? thanks

booksix...
check your pm'z...uh the forum is running funny so let me know if you don't get that pm.

j

j, why not just post the info here? Seems easier...

oh ya...uh...that makes sense...it's kinda long but I guess that's ok.
Jeez hope I didn't make to much of these instructions but they sure made a difference for me.

First off--global settings. This is where you make choices that
effect all of your patches (patch=preset). Midi devices send and
recieve midi data on midi channels. there are 16 midi channels
availible to any midi device, no more no less. think of these like tv
channels, If Live is "watching" midi channel 1 for midi info, midi
data sent to live from 1010 on midi channel 6 won't be recieved. One
difference in the midi world and the tv analogy is that some midi
devices (or midi software, Live included) "listen" for midi info on
all 16 channels (often called omni mode). Back to the 1010 global--it
is here that you set up what midi channel different midi commands are
sent on (for example you could assing one exp pedal to always send
info on midi channel 5, and exp pedal B to always send on midi
channel 16). However, for simplification and ease of use, you want to
set it up co that all midi data is sent on one channel. Here's how:

hold "down" for a few seconds while powering up. This enters global
setup mode. If the light on footswitch 10/0 is lit, press it and hold
for a second to make the light go away. The reason for this is as
follows. There are two ways to select patches on the 1010-direct
select or bank mode. Direct select means that you simply "type" the
patch number with you feet, choosing any patch between 1-100 (to
choose patch 23 for example, you would hit "2" then "3", as soon as
you hit 3 it will jump to patch 23). This is okay, but bank mode is
more useful. In bank mode, ther are ten banks of ten presets. If you
are on bank 01 for instance, each of the pedals 1-10 instanly calls
up a patch (this is quicker than always hitting at least two pedals
to call up a patch in d.select mode). YOu switch between the ten
banks by pressing the up and down buttons. So making the light above
switch 10/0 go off upon entering global setup will put you in bank
mode, sweet. Now lets get back to the midi channels. Press "up" once,
the midi function led starts flasahing. now hit pedal "1", it
flashes, press "up/enter" and the light on pedal one should stay lit,
and a number should flash in the display. This flashing number is the
midi channel info is being sent on. If it isn't "01" then hit the "0"
then "1" pedals to make it read "01", then press up/enter to confirm.
Now the configuration LED lights up, hit "up" a few more times to get
back to the "midi function" LED flashing. Now repeat the exact same
proceedure for pedal "2". hit pedal 2, it flashes, press "up/enter"
and the light on pedal one should stay lit, and a number should flash
in the display. This flashing number is the midi channel info is
being sent on. If it isn't "01" then hit the "0" then "1" pedals to
make it read "01", then press up/enter to confirm. Then hit up a few
times to get back to midi function LED flashing, and repeat again
until each of the pedals 1-10 is sending out midi on channel 01. When
that is done, and your back to a flashing "configuration" LED--are
any pedal lights lit? If not, then hold "8" until it is lit--this
allows midi data coming in to fcb1010 to merge with 1010 data going
out--this will help if you are plugging ox8 into 1010 with midi
cable, then 1010 into usb interface. If thats not the plan, then get
it to where no pedals are lit when "config" LED is flashing. Exit
global setup mode with a long "down"press.

Now on to midi. The 1010 sends 3 basic types of midi commands.
PRogram change commands are used to instantly select a patch on a
midi keyboard or sound module. Sending a program change of "112"
command will tell whatever device is listening to go to patch 112.
Program change commands do nothing in Live so you won't be needing
those. Second, and most important are control change commands. ccc's
are midi commands that are used to virtuallly turn knobs, move
sliders, turn things on and off, etc. They can be used two ways with
the 1010--to send a fixed command (like turning on an effect, or
instanly switching the pan knob to a desired location), or to send a
range of commands with an expression pedal (so that you can use the
exp like a volume or pan knob, or more creativly in Live assign it to
the cutoff on the auto filter for a wah type pedal, or to other
effect parameters--thus allowing you via the exp pedal to manipulated
the sound in real time). So there are two parts to any midi ccc--what
it is controlling (volume, pan, effect parameter, etc.
) and what the command will do to what it is contolling (for example.
a fixed ccc might turn the volume to a certain level, while the exp
pedal will change the volume with each discrete movement of the exp
pedal.). So whereas program change commands are simply one number
(patch 112, or patch 23) ccc's need to send two or more numbers-first
a number that selects what parameter is to be manipulated (volume,
pan, etc.), and second a number to which the "knob" will be tuned to
(if sending a "fixed" ccc), or if using an exp pedal, a range of
numbers will be sent. There are 127 (1-127) possible contol change
channels (the first number, which selects volume or pan or whatever),
and also 127 (1-127) possible settings on any given "knob" (for
example, if controlling volume 1=no sound, 127=max volume). The third
type of midi info sent by 1010 is note on/off, which is just like it
sounds. YOu are either turning on a midi note (the same as hitting a
key on a midi keyboard), or turning it off. YOu can use these midi
signals most usefully in Live as a way to have a 1010 patch that
turns something on when you hit it, turns it off when you hit it
again, turns it back on when you hit it a third time, off the
fourth......

Back to the 1010 patches. NOw we're in bank mode, the led display
will read 01 if your in bank 1, or 02 in bank 2, on up to bank 10. In
any given bank, all 10 pedals are each individual patches, giving you
10 patches, each a single button press away. So lets go to bank 02,
and edit patch 3. Use up or down buttons to make the number display
read 02 (bank 2), and then hit the "3" pedal--it should light up--
this means you have selected patch 3 in bank 2. Now hold "down" for a
few seconds to enter programming mode.Now you are in programming mode for that singular patch. Each of the 10 pedals now represent midi
data that you can choose to send (or not to send) for that one
specific patch. If none of the pedals are lit, then that patch will
not send any midi data at all when you hit the pedal in normal bank
mode (not programming mode). For each individual patch in programming
mode, Pedals 1-5 send program change commands exclusively, which do
nothing in Live that i can tell, so for all of your patches that you
use, you wan't NONE of the 1-5 lights lit up when in programming
mode.

Pedals 6 and 7 send "fixed" ccc's. If you want to send a fixed ccc on
a patch you are editing (lets use pedal "6"), hold "6" until the
light comes on, then tap it to make the light flash. Confirm that you
are about to edit by pressing "up/enter". Now a number is displayed--
this is the control change channel--it determines what is going to be
manipulated (volume, pan, effect parameters, etc.) With a keyboard or
midi sound module, you have to read the keyboards manual and find out
what control change channel volume is on (usually 07), then tell the
1010 to send out a c.c.command on c.c.channels 07. HOwever with Live,
life is easier because you can arbitrarily assign any c.c.channel to
any knob or effect parameter in Live--the only catch is to make sure
there are no overlaps. For instance, if you assinged a patch to turn
Lives master volume to a fixed place on c.c.channel 54, but also had
another different patch where you turn the auto filter on using
c.c.channel 54, whenever you hit either of those patches, it would
manipulate both the master volume and the auto filter, so one and
only one c.c.channel per thing in Live that you wish to manipulate
with 1010. So back to our patch. YOu hit up/enter to confirm that we
are editing the midi control change command sent, and a number
started flashing. Lets make that number 101 (hit "1" then "0"
then "1") just for fun. then hit up/enter to confirm. now another
number flashes--this number represents the value of the controle
change 1-127 (like 0=minimum, 127=maximum). SOmetimes a control
change is used to simply turn things on or off, like stating
recording of a clip in live. Since these types of commands are
usually on or off, they are not like a volume knob. Therefore, often
a range of control change values will have the same effect (it is
common for ccvalues 1-63 to turn something off, while values 64-127
turn it on). back to the patch. Lets choose 127, as we are making a
patch to record a clip in live, and it wants any number from 64-127.
hit "1" then "2" then 7" and the confirm with up/enter. NOw the "6"
light should be lit. If any other lights are lit besides 6, hold them
until they shut off. Now exit programming mode with a long "down"
press, and we should be back to bank 02, with the "3" pedal lit up.
Patch 3 on bank 2 is now programmed to send a control change command
on control change channel 102, with a control change value of 127. In
live go to edit midi map, and mouse click on a clip slot on a track.
then hit your patch on the 1010 (just hit "3"). a number should
appear in live. Now exit the midi map in live. now hit you patch
again ("3") and recording should start in the clip slot (if you are
quantizing, you'll need to start playback then hit you patch). hit
your patch again to stop the clip from recording and loop it. See my
previous messages for quantiztion info.

Say you wanted to edit an expression pedal of a patch. lets do patch
4 in bank 2. with 02 showing (means your in bank 2), hit pedal "4".
you just selected that patch. now hold "down" for a bit to enter
programming mode. Hold down the pedals that have lights lit until all
pedal lights are out. now hold down "8" until it is lit, then tap it
to make it flash. then hit up/enter to confirm you're about to edit
exp pedal "a" for this patch (exp. pedal b is controlled by "9" is
the same way exp pedal a is controlled by "8"). First select the
control change channel the pedal will send info on (1-127)--lets
choose 98--hit "9" then "8" then up/enter to confirm. Now another
number is flashing--this is the lowest range your pedal will send, if
we using this as a volume pedal, and we want it to go all the way to
silence, choose "00" here (by hitting "0" then "0"). if we want the
volume to not fully cut off when the pedal is fully back choose a
value higher, like 28. confirm your choice by pressing up/enter. now
yet another number appears--this is the upper range of the exp.
pedal. If we want to be able to go to full volume, choose 127 then
up/enter to confirm. NOw the "8" light should be lit. hold "down" to
exit programming mode, and were back to bank 02, patch 4. now when
you select patch 4 in bank 2 on the 1010 (by simply hittin "4" while
in bank 02) the exp pedal A is will send control change commands on
control change channel 98, when fully back the pedal will transmit a
signal of 28 (or whatever you chose), and when fully forward it will
send a value of 127 (max). It will smoothly glide between these two
values as you rock exp pedal a back and forth. now all thats left is
to tell Live what to do with this midi information. Goto edit midi
map in live, and click on a fader of a track. then hit your 1010
patch (just hit "4"). numbers should appear in Live. exit edit midi
map in live. now try rocking the exp pedal a back and forth while a
clip plays or while you play your intrument on that track--should act
as a volume pedal.

One other thing i forgot to mention was the use of midi note
on/off. When in programming mode for a patch, pedals 1-5 are used
for midi program change signal, 6-7 are used to send "fixed" control change commands, 8-9 are used with exp pedals to send variable ccc's, and pedal 10 is used to send note on/off. If you hold down "10" while in programming mode for a patch, then tap it to make it flash, then press up/enter to confirm editing--now a number should flash--this number represents a midi note. I use either the lowest numbers or highest numbers--these represent the lowest and highest keys on a keyboard. I use these to control things in Live with 1010 so that when playing the keyboard, I am unlikely to accidentally turn something on or off in Live as I rarely play in those regions of the keyboard. So, choose a number low or high, and press up.enter to confirm. Then a long "down" press to exit programming mode. Now that patch will sen midi note on when you hit it (it will turn something on in Live once you assign it) and midi note off when you hit it again (turning whatever off in Live). If you hit it again its back on, a fourth time its off again, and so on. Use this to make patches that turn effects on a off, or turn monitoring for a channel on and off. What is useful about midi note on/off is that one patch pedal can be use to turn an effect on and off, just like a guitar stomp box pedal, whereas you would need two 1010 patches using ccc's to turn a device on and off (though you could use a patch with an exp. pedal sending cccs that would turn something on when the pedal is forward, and off when back). Now that you're off and running, the sky is the limit.

Both the1010 and Live are so flexible, just about anything can be
accomplished. One other thing to note, and given 1010 patch can send many midi signals at once--i.e. when in programming mode for a specific patch, you might end up with lights 6-10 light up for a patch (though unlikely). More likely might be a patch that uses note on/off to turn on the auto filter, and has one exp pedal assinged to the freq., and another to the "q" (resonance). Hit that patch, the auto filter turns on, and the pedals are ready to tweak the filter.

Yikes thatz alot of text!!!
To the Live user who originally set me up with this help...thanx again.