Ableton Forum

Howdy all. First real post on here.

I just bought a BCF2000 and I am setting up to use it in Ableton. I am not using mackie mode as I would prefer to set everything up the way I like it to control the things I use most.

I need to know how I can set the device up so that when I start a live set with midi controls set up, the faders and knobs will all move to the positions that are shown in ableton. My template live set has 4 channels, each with an EQ3. MIDI knobs control the EQ's and low freq. per track, and this means I am using 2 encoder groups with 4 knobs per track. The faders are set only one Preset 1 with channel volume on fader 1-4, crossfader, track volume and tempo on the next 3. This is all I have set now and the numbers within ableton are set to be 0dB gain for low/med/hi EQ and at the marker for all volumes, x-fader,etc.

In future I will set up the other presets to control effects on the return channels. But for now I am just being simple.

I thought I should be able to do a data request or a snapshot send but neither of these work.


This is driving me insane and I have only had it for a week.

Please help me oh wise dj's of the world

cheers
Chris (destruct)

for feedback stuff, mackie mode would really be easier,

but I understand the problem with your custom mappings.

its very annoying. The only mapped controls that stay are the channel volume ones and the knobs assigned to encoder group 2. All other control points return to 0.

Could someone explain to me what the function of the data request and snapshot send is supposed to be?

I do this for automated one-button instant or smooth 4 to 128-beat crossfades, and to recall quadraphonic send positions, but you can use it to preset any control. Hitting one button not only sets everything in the right position in Live, but also on the BCR. I assume the BCF works the same.

Set a MIDI track to output to a virtual MIDI port. Create dummy clips in that MIDI track that have the CC values of the various parameters you want to set. Launch that dummy clip (with a button, or in a scene, or with another dummy clip), and all Live controls should jump to the required values.

Create another MIDI track that receives MIDI from the first track, and pipe that to your BCF. It will set the faders/rotaries/etc to the correct positions.

Hope that helps!

OMG I have no idea how to do that!

hambone, how is your BCR enabled in live? only as remote, or does it have a controller protocol from the top menus?

Only as a remote.

Intersting, I did not realize that Live would send feedback to a device like that... I thought it had to be using Mackie or automap/instant mapping

Nope. Send a CC from Live to the BCR, and the BCR's LEDs will update to show that CC's position.

I assume the BCF's motorized faders would do the same. My Yamaha 01v's faders do.

One button can set all Live values and the controllers to the required positions. That's why I prefer to use motorized faders, rotary encoders, and buttons with LEDs. It's really useful, as you don't get any nasty 'jumps' in values when moving controls after switching presets, because the hardware controls change to reflect Live's positions when you switch presets.

I found my solution:

In midi sync menu, I had Input and Output for the Control Surface menu set as the BCF. And then also had the box greened for the Track and Remote options below that. When I removed the input and output option, and only had the Control Surface as the CF, then it worked.

I have to have the BCF on when I start up ableton, and then the default template opens up with all my options and midi mappings and I am sweet and ready to roll!

I do not have to do any of the things you did hambone?

All I did was set a controller to midi, and set the default levels in the live set to where I wanted them. Then the BCF adjusts automatically when I open ableton

Cheers
Chris