Ableton Forum

Hello guys,
do you think is an Ableton bug or a misunderstanding?

When automating an analog synth without a VST editor (OB-6 in this case) I can't see the envelope that I'm performing in an arrangement clip via MIDI.

Since this synth does not have a VST editor, I can't select the parameters to be automated with an envelope in the arrangement, so inconveniently, we need to do it inside a clip as a modulation envelope in the "MIDI Ctrl" of Ableton Live, BUT, when I record, suddenly you get the clip unselected and you can't see the envelope being drawn, why?? there should be a way to check the envelope that you are drawing like in the arrangement with automation.



Why not to add the modulation envelope of a clip also in the Arrangement in blue color for example to differentiate it from the automation envelopes?



Let me know if I explained myself.

It isn’t clear for me how you try to do this. Do you use the control on the plugin itself ? Or on a controller mapped to the synth parameter ?
I think you should do this using CC control in the midi devices.

Hi, thanks for chiming in
I probably didn't explain it crearly, sorry for my english.

What I'm trying to automate is a parameter of the analog synth Oberheim OB6 via CC, but you can't see the envelope while you are drawing it inside a clip as modulation, like it happens when you automate a VST plugin parameter in the arrangement.

I think Ableton should show the modulation envelopes in the arrangement same as automation, then you could have all the automations/modulations envelopes at sight. Or at least, to show the drawing of the envelope in real time and not to get the screen as you can see above where you get a "NOT CLIP SELECTED" message until you finish recording.

Modulations are only visible in the detailed clip view.
You can probably work around this by using the CC Control midi device.

[jur] wrote: ↑

Wed Sep 10, 2025 2:03 am

Modulations are only visible in the detailed clip view.
You can probably work around this by using the CC Control midi device.

Hi!
it's exactly what I'm doing, using the new "CC Control" but that does not change that you can't see the modulation envelope while you are "drawing it" live.
If you draw it by hand with the mouse it is ok, but if you want to "perform" a live recording, you can't see it until you finish the recording, you just get a "Not clip selected" message.
I feel that as a bug and should change, and also to be able to see ALL the envelopes in the arrangement (automation & modulations)

papawise wrote: ↑

Wed Sep 17, 2025 8:57 am

it's exactly what I'm doing, using the new "CC Control" but that does not change that you can't see the modulation envelope while you are "drawing it" live.

If you're using CC Control, then it's "not" a modulation (in-clip view) anymore but a (red line) automation (in the arrangement timeline).