I'll explain the easy things first: controlAid is a stand alone app that is designed to help using Live with MIDI controllers in a live performance setting, although it can be helpful for anyone using Live in anyway, or other software that lets you use MIDI mapping. I created it so I could have hands free operation of Live using my FCB1010, although it also works great with my Oxygen. It does the following:
- converts program change messages to note on messages for people with foot controllers that only send program change.
- allows you to delete a selected clip in Live using a user-defined note on message. This is useful for deleting clips from a pedalboard in the event you create an undesirable loop.
- allows you to have three "one-to-many" note on or cc triggers. When these notes or cc messages are received, controlAid will create 3 additional cc / note on messages as defined by the user. Examples of use include triggering 4 one-shot clips with a single note, or controlling the cutoff frequency for the filters of 4 different tracks with a single knob, slider or pedal.
The next part is not as easy to understand, but is really what makes the program cool (in my humble opinion).
- divides your control change and note on messages into 8 groups, or "tracks" in Ableton speak.
- assigns one control change message to be used as the track selector
- once you choose a track using the track selector your sliders, knobs and buttons now control parameters for the selected track
- this allows the same set of NoteOn messages and CC messages to control the same parameters on every track. For example, you could have two knobs which control the volume and pan on 8 different tracks, all depending on which track is currently selected.
- when a track is selected for control using the track selector, it is automatically selected and highlighted in Ableton Live so that you can view the effects for the track you are now modifying.
The whole idea of the above part works by using a customised MIDI map along with some MIDI transformations. You can learn more about it at the link given at the top of the post.
here is a pic of part of the app so you can at least get an idea:
The two other tabs have interfaces which allow you to setup your MIDI sources, enable the 1->many function, select the note on message used to delete clips and some other stuff as well...
The program is freeware and runs under 10.2 and higher, although the GUI currently looks best in 10.3 (panther).
Please please please give me feature requests and or any other feedback. There is a MIDI Map included for Live to get you started using it.
Enjoy. - Charlie
I would give my left nut for a Windows/pc version......