5 replies to this topic

[dizzy]

hey there im still kinda new to ableton so sorry if this is a dumb q. i had a bit of a look on google and the ableton forums but couldnt see anything relevant.

in cubase, when i want to save the patch set im using on my virus, i create a new midi track, set its midi in to the midi in of my sound device, solo the track and hit record in cubase, then get the virus to send its patches. when i come back to the track i can set the midi out of that track to the virus's midi in, play back the track and it loads my patches again.

i've tried the equivalent steps in ableton but it doesnt seem to work. I create a midi track in ableton, I set it's midi in to the midi in of the sound device, but when I send the patches from the virus nothing comes through. If i twiddle a knob on the virus i see midi data coming through on the channel in ableton so the cables/channels seem to be all correct, what am I missing here?

oh another thing, if im using something like edirol orchestral, i load the plugin on a midi track, but how to i set the channel of the midi track in ableton? orchestral will load 16 instruments per instance, but i can only seem to get it to play whatever is loaded in slot 1 (= channel 1).  The midi track has a "Midi from" where you can set the input channel, but no "Midi to" where you can set the channel it sends to orchestral on. I've tried setting the channel on my midi controller but that didn't work.

ooooh and one more thing, if i use a vst that gives multiple audio output channels (stylus, battery, etc), how can i access the individual audio channels? I only see a master one.

thanks very much!

[dizzy]

after a closer look at the manual it seems the answer to question 2 and 3 is to create a new midi or audio track and then you can set the in/out to be vst instruments midi channels or audio outs.

still working on the synth patch thing though. i don't have to do it that way, its just the first way i worked out how to do it when i started. how do you guys store the per track patches for external gear you use?

[Spectrum]

Hi mate,

I'm not an Ableton user, but wondering whether there might be a MIDI input filter set in Ableton's preferences to block sysex messages, meaning your patch dump isn't being recorded. Might explain why "twiddle a knob" continues to work.

Also, what tempo are you recording/playing your sysex dumps? 120BPM is the generally recommended, though I've not had problems in any session running faster tempos.

Re: "store the per track patches for external gear you use?"...
I don't get too deep here. If it's something particularly creative, I'll save it as a user preset in the synth, making it available at any time, even when the computer's off. If its a subtle tweak of an existing preset, such as a touch more sustain, or slower attack, I might record the CC## tweak(s) at the head of the song, leaving the preset unaffected for other sessions.

This thread highlights that I really need to get stuck into a bit more synth programming. It's something I do less and less these days.

[dizzy]

hey thanks, i had a bit of a look but can't see anything in the config regarding sysex, ill keep digging though.

i do save my patches as presets, what i want is a way to associate patches with certain tracks in a project, so if i come back to it a month later it will load up the right patches on the virus. the virus can have 16 different patches loaded at once so being able to load a projects patches automagically is pretty handy (i also have a shit memory).

I guess normal people do it via patch change messages from within the sequencer? i think i played with this in cubase but couldn't get it to do what i wanted, i'll have another look and see if i can make it happen in ableton.

re synth programming, it can be daunting, especially if you're tired, and that's when i usually do it as something for the downtime. i usually start off taking a lead and making it into a pad, or finding a factory preset i like and recreating it, its a good way to get started and less daunting than a single saw buzzing away

[Spectrum]

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I guess normal people do it via patch change messages from within the sequencer? i think i played with this in cubase but couldn't get it to do what i wanted, i'll have another look and see if i can make it happen in ableton.

Yeah, that's absolutely how I do it. Whether they be preset patch name lists or a generic 0 - 127 list, all my synths are recalled using program changes. That would be my first suggestion. And then check out the input filter so that it's not blocking sysex. I usually use the filter to block aftertouch, which I find annoying and difficult to control.

Saving my patches as user presets, what I don't have is a reliable system to prevent me overwriting these presets with other presets. I've lost some great patches this way. The integration of the now defunct SoundDiver with Logic was brilliant as it would know what user presets from one session are being used in another and would warn you if you were going to overwrite anything.

There's no DAW package available anymore with such advanced patch name management, as far as I know.

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re synth programming, it can be daunting, especially if you're tired, and that's when i usually do it as something for the downtime. i usually start off taking a lead and making it into a pad, or finding a factory preset i like and recreating it, its a good way to get started and less daunting than a single saw buzzing away

I see nothing wrong with tweaking presets. I mean, what's a blank patch with a synth anyway? A basic saw? Well, the amplifier envelope is already going to be giving it character. Just tweak away, I say!

[Luko]

ableton does not allow sysex dumps like say cubase or another DAW, i have been down that road

to change patches on your connected hardware  - you set the midi track and channel in the midi clips properties