Ableton Forum

Hi -- I recently purchased and updated. The problem is that I can not find the chain list. I do have a single instrument chain, and can do everything one expects there. But there is no chain list.

One post refers to an icon with 3 horizontal lines to the left o the device chain, to show/hide the chain list, but there is nothing visible like that. There is nothing at all to the left of the chain. Left most is the input level indicator. After that, macro controls or devices and so forth.

I've done a lot of searching on the web, but it looks like it is supposed to be obvious what to click on. There simply is nothing there! Nothing in either session nor arrangement views. Checked program options, view menu -- nothing at all regarding this. No right-click (PC) menu either in the chain itself -- just context menus for the various devices.

pre-programmed instruments seem to have this icon and chain list, but just starting a new track doesn't. For example, I can start a new audio track, record a bit so there's something there. I can then drop, say, a effect on the chain. It appears, it works, etc. But there's no chain list, so I can't start a new chain. I say this is for pre-programmed ones - but dropping a"basic" instrument, like Simpler, doesn't show the chain-list icon. So perhaps what I'm seeing are simply pre-stored chains as part of these instruments. Which leaves me where I started -- unable to see a chain list generally.

Note: Dropping an empty "Audio Effect Rack" will give me a chain list - is that how it is SUPPOSED to be done?

At the very least, the documentation is missing, out of sequence, or incredibly obtuse about when one should see a chain list. Perhaps it is obvious from the text, but it needs to be punched up that one needs a RACK before one has any CHAIN, but that instruments don't need a rack to have the one (default?) chain only

Hi StickPlayer,

I cannot figure out what you exactly mean, but I make a guess...

"Chain Lists" are part of a "Rack", therefore you have to "group" the devices you want to put into a rack.

For example, if you put devices on a track they are placed in serial order. If you want to have a chain list you have to select all the devices and right-click (on Mac ->ctrl-click) on the title bar of one device and select "group". All selected devices are now grouped and put into a "Rack" where you can access the individual devices via the chain list.

Just for the understanding I would like to make you aware that the chain list is not primarily made for a better overview of your chained devices, but for the ability to built more complex multi effect/multi instrument devices with definable or remotable assignments...

As I understood, you expected to have a chain list whenever you put one or more devices in serial order on a track, right?

Hope this helps,

Stefan

I do understand what a chain list is and what chains are for.

I think the problem is that it is not made clear that a "rack" is NOT the same thing as the area where you drop devices of effects.

For example, if I create an audio track and then drop an effect in the area for that purpose, it does NOT create a rack with one chain. There is no chain list. It may be a sort of de facto rack of only one chain, and it works exactly that way, but there is no chain list at all.

I have to drop a rack in the device/effects area first, by going to the list of effects and selecting the heading listing for racks, and dropping that in the area. Now I have a chain list.

I think the devices/effects area should be, by default, a rack with a chain list. Anyway, section 16.2 of the manual does state how to create a rack, so I missed that a rack is not the default state for a new track. I'd say this question is answered now.