MCCGenerator setup in Ableton, and what it can control

[DrRefract]

I don't seem able to get MCCGenerator controlling plugins in Ableton Live. They're VST's (not VST3). Is there a basic step-by-step walkthrough?

Also, what's necessary for MCCGenerator to be able to control a given plugin? I ask because right now I'm using the Max4Live device "Max API Ctrl1LFO," which is like a far more primitive version of MCCGenerator--but it can control any parameter in any plugin, through Live, without the plugin needing to be MIDI-configurable.

If MCCGenerator can't do that, could there be a Max4Live device that acts as a bridge--its knob is MIDI-configurable and controlled by MCCGenerator, and then it controls any parameter in any plugin (which is clearly possible)?

[David]

Here's one way I've gotten it to work, may be others. The issue I believe is that very few if any Live instruments respond to MIDI CC, without some M4L device inserted in front that converts that to the standard Live Mapping protocol. But once you've got MCCGen sending MIDI to some other track as in my example, you just have to put something on that track that does respond to CC, and MIDI Learn whatever parameter. Note also that both tracks are armed… (It's hard to believe there's not a more elegant way to do this, but this at least works!)

[David]

This is worth checking out I guess:
http://jgarcia.hungry.jp/project/manual-cc-mapper/

[David]

Yup, that works with Live instrument mapping:)

[ericzang]

An alternate approach, especially if cpu usage is critical and you don't want to add a max device, is to use the MIDI loopback approach. https://help.ableton.com/hc/en-us/artic ... l-MIDI-bus

On mac this would typically use IAC. On PC there are various options such as https://www.tobias-erichsen.de/software/loopmidi.html

In my screen shot, the loopback's out is represented by "BMT9". MUtility is the "Target Plugin" which has the Basic Volume parameter midi mapped via Ableton's typical method (responding to MCCGen).

[DrRefract]

Hi David, thank you for this!

In the example with the M4L device, what steps did you take to get the device's slider to respond to the MCCGenerator knob? I have all visible settings the same as in your screenshot. When I try to use Live's MIDI mapping function, it doesn't work because it expects a signal from a physical controller.

[DarkStar]

It looks to me that the mapping was done using the JCJP CC Mapper (Max for Live) plug-in

[DrRefract]

Sorry to be the guy who just says "I don't get it" over and over...

I have JCJP installed, and its first slider is successfully controlling a VST parameter (when I move it manually). It's set to CC 1.

The CC 1 knob in MCCGenerator is enabled and set to Channel 1. I left "Controller" on "Global 001 Modulation wheel."

I move the MCCGenerator knob, and... nothing. The CCmapper isn't getting the message.

I launched the third-party program MIDI Monitor, and it doesn't react to the MCCGenerator knob either. It looks like, for some reason, I'm not doing a whole lot of CC generating.

[David]

Sorry, I’m away from my computer til later today, but ASAP I’ll send you my
Live set; maybe that’ll be helpful?

I assume you’ve tried just starting over, a time or two, rebooting Live, etc.?

[David]

Also note that for vsts, I haven’t needed the JCJP thing, just sending direct and MIDI-LEARNING...

[DrRefract]

Hey, I really appreciate it! Beyond that, I don't want to presume on your time--it sounds like this may be a MCCGenerator bug if it's not clear why it's not generating, which I'll report to Melda.

[David]

Here's the Live session from my gifs (also includes the M4L track going into Buzzheng); just swap in any other vst that offers MIDI Learn if you don't have Omnisphere; should work the same…? We'll see:)

[ericzang]

Make sure you are using the vst2 version of MCCGen, not vst3. Ableton has not been updated yet to be compatible with vst3 midi out in this kind of case. Reaper had this issue also at first, but now Reaper has this corrected.

[DrRefract]

Thanks again--I see how it works now: MCCGenerator is on a MIDI track (with no instrument), and the other tracks are set to get MIDI In from it.

I still want to work out how to use MCCGenerator to modulate an effect VST on an audio track (which has Audio In instead of MIDI In), particularly in the case in which MCCGenerator's Mod is in Follower mode, following the audio signal right before the VST I'm modulating.

[David]

If you only want to use MCCGen as an envelop follower in Live, why not just use the much simpler and very effective builtin M4L Envelop Follower? With its built-in mapper, it can modulate any Live parameter.