Ableton Forum

1. I would like to see a chord rack device in which one could drag/drop chord midi effect devices onto pads (similar to dropping samples onto drum rack pads), and have the midi outputs go to the same instrument (either a VST placed after the rack, or a different track, or, hey, multiple tracks). The chord devices would be user defined (with the user selecting the lowest note), and independent of scales except for the interval definition; they would be named by the user on the pad. The user would have complete freedom in the pad position of each chord, and also its color (so chords could be arranged in position as substitutions in progressions).

This would mean accidentals (e.g. dominant 7th (E7 -> Am - (E,G#,B,D)-> (A,C,E) in related harmonic minor), secondary dominants, and especially power chords, like those used for guitar including open strings)

2. I would like to see all available pads used for this "Note mode"; and a Push mode available so that all 64 pads would trigger chords with an option to use all 128 via the up/down buttons.

3. Of course, there can also be a Push mode "Rack mode" that retains the drum rack configuration, so the step sequencer could be included).

This would mean a Push or Launchpad could be "strummed" like a guitar, with chord changes initiated by a single press of a button. A complete configuration could be defined for each chord rack - and the cpu hit would be only one vst per chord rack - instruments could be changed easily....

(The lack of the ability to play dominant 7th chords "InKey" at least for relative harmonic minor is a huge limitation of Live/Push's configuration.)

YES! I agree with BuleriaChk.

The ability to accompany other musicians with one finger chords in a rack with output to a single multi-timbral instrument (say, a guitar emulator) (say, even with Launchpad, with the right hand playing melody on Push in a second track) AND the ability to include Dominant 7th chords, so one could accompany "Michael, Row The Boat Ashore" and not sound like Muzak or bad jazz and would add SO much for accompanying in a Live performing situation.

BuleriaChk is particularly right on this one, and there is no reason it can't be created using Drum Rack as a basis and incorporating in Live.

We all think this should be implemented as soon as possible, to support those of us who perform with our iPads in coffeehouses, clubhouses, bars, bar-mitzvahs, and Flamenco fiestas ....

Ableton t/s suggested that the Chord Generator Max4Live device

http://www.maxforlive.com/library/devic ... -generator

might work. It is a good start, but it is still extremely limited - I tried the common guitar chord starting on the fifth string (A,E,A,C#,E), and it omitted the second A (an octave higher then the first), so I only got A,C#,E). So no power chords?

Why not a GUITAR chord emulator with complete freedom to configure chords? (I'm beginning to appreciate how flexible the guitar is, and how limited Push/Ableton is. Of course, a general chord rack would accomplish this and SO much more.....

Ableton's Chord Midi Effect is like a dog walking on its hind legs; it is not done well, but one is surprised it is done at all.... Why on earth would I want to play the same chord over and over and over again in a track and only be able to change pitch?

Well, ok, maybe Ableton has a different target market than guys like me....