- \n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\tEnglish<\/span><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/li>
- \n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\tDeutsch<\/span><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/li><\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
First, I would like to thank all of you for your constructive feedback, ideas and wishes over the last few months which helped enormously to take another big step towards making Ableton Live from the best and most stable DAW to a great tool for orchestration with VST instruments as well!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
A special thank you goes to Claire, Elias, Andrew, Enrique, Alex, Steve, Kim, Robin, Daniel, Susan and Norbert who are so kind to give in advance a little try to the beta version.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
The official release is planned for the beginning of March 2021<\/strong> and all users will receive automatically a download link by mail afterwards. I am still updating the manual!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Eight device controls for instant mapping<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
From now on, you can dynamically<\/strong> map your key switches and MIDI controls to your MIDI controller. The MIDI controls are organised in four banks<\/strong>. For a quick workflow, you can customise the first bank to group your most frequently used MIDI controls into eight device controls<\/strong>, as you know them from other devices in Ableton. The first dial lets you control additionally your key switches.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
To use this option, you need Ableton Live 10<\/strong> or 11<\/strong> and your MIDI controller must be chosen as Control Surface<\/strong> in the preferences. In case that you do not know exactly what this is, have a look here<\/a>. I still update the manual, but I have already uploaded a PDF with more information about this topic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.swub.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/KeySwitchAndExpressionMap_DeviceControls-1024x325.png\")
<\/a>If you like, you can rename the labels from their default \u201cControl 1-8\u201d to a more meaningful name so that you can easily remember what they control. (e.g. Dynamics, Vibrato, Volume, Attack, Legato Blur etc.)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Show your XY-Faders in the display<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
If the player of your VST library offers you to xy-fade<\/strong> between articulations (e.g AB Switch<\/strong> for Runs Up or Down<\/em>, Crescendo or Diminuendo<\/em> \/ Crossfade<\/strong> from Sustain to Tremolo<\/em> or Non Vibrato to Vibrato<\/em> etc.), you can show the assigned velocity or CC values for a better overview in the display.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The yellow<\/strong> lines indicate 1\/4, 1\/2 and 3\/4. The black<\/strong> lines 1\/3 and 2\/3.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You can change the shape<\/strong> of the XY-Faders and choose between a filled rectangle or a discreet line.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Furthermore, you are able to invert with the Up\/Down<\/strong>-button the values of the Y-Fader to show the fader’s indicator accordingly to the layout of articulation slots in your VST-plug-in to avoid confusion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.swub.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/KeySwitchAndExpressionMap_XY-Fader_VSLInstrumentsPlayerPro.png\")
<\/a>Show for example the MIDI Control Change (CC20) to control the horizontal slots<\/strong> as X-Fader and the velocity for the vertical slots<\/strong> as Y-Fader in VSL’s Vienna Instruments Player<\/strong>.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n \n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.swub.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/KeySwitchAndExpressionMap_XY-Fader_SpitfireChamberStrings.png\")
<\/a>Likewise, the XY-Faders give you a great visual feedback in Spitfire’s Chamber Strings<\/strong> on the dynamics<\/strong> (CC1) or the intensity of the vibrato<\/strong> (CC21) right in Ableton’s user interface.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Additional Key<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Some VST libraries work with combinations of multiple keys to switch matrices<\/strong> or dimensions<\/strong>. Although it has already been possible to control these kind of players remotely with the main key, program changes, bank (CC 0), sub (CC 32) and CC, with the additional key<\/strong> (+Key) you can either set up the folder and patch slots (parent and child slots) quicker or you use the additional key to keep the main key available for the KeySwitch & Expression Map to define own key switches for your piano.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.swub.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/KeySwitchAndExpressionMap_AdditionalKeyForSynchronPlayer_VSL_01-1.png\")
<\/a>With this set-up, it is not possible anymore to define own notes for key switches to play them with your piano. However, it is a super quick way to set up the KeySwitch & Expression Map in case that you want to use only automation envelopes<\/strong> or your MIDI controller<\/strong> – especially for the Basic Presets<\/em> of the VSL Synchron Player<\/strong>.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n ![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.swub.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/KeySwitchAndExpressionMap_AdditionalKeyForSynchronPlayer_VSL_02-1.png\")
<\/a>Using only the additional key in combination with Bank<\/strong>, Sub Bank<\/strong>, Program Changes<\/strong> and CC<\/strong> messages, allows you to still use the main key to control your key switches with a single key on your piano even if you use a Full Preset<\/em> with multiple dimensions of the VSL Synchron Player<\/strong>.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Automatic Delay Compensation<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
If you do not use a rack, the delay times are now compensated automatically by Delay Compensation<\/strong> which uses the defined latency of the patch to balance it out automatically. Just like other devices in Ableton Live, the currently set latency will be displayed in the status bar of Ableton when you hover with the mouse about the title bar of the device. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In case that you use a rack, you still have to compensate the delays manually with the track delay section<\/strong> to use Ableton’s option Chase MIDI notes<\/em>. However, you can now choose between presets<\/strong> to find out quickly the perfect delay times for your set-up. They are named like Buffer Sizes<\/strong> because the necessary delay is connected to the preferences which are set for your sound card. The delays are chosen generously so that they should work out of the box for all users. Thus, you can try out as well shorter times if desired.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Please note that the delay times are only necessary if you want to manage your key switches automatically. In case that you play them solely live<\/strong> on your piano with the defined keys, you can set all delays to 0 ms because you will always press intuitively the key switch more than a few milliseconds in advance – unless you are a robot or at least a cyborg? Hence, no worries about any delay of the passed through MIDI note in this context! Without the defined delays, the device itself does not cause any latency.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.swub.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/KeySwitchAndExpressionMap_DelayCompensation-TrackDelaySection.png\")
<\/a>In case that you have any trouble, please check if you have activated Menu\/Options\/Delay Compensation<\/strong><\/em>. To show the Track Delay Section you have to press the small D<\/strong>-button in the bottom right of Ableton’s interface.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Re-Enabling of Automations<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Three new features for automation envelopes have been added and with them a separate tab in the settings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- You can choose whether the button should globally re-enable all automations of the entire project<\/strong> or only of the key switch<\/strong>.<\/li>
- While pressing keys on your piano to record the automation envelopes for the articulations, the note of the key switch is as well captured into the MIDI clip<\/strong>. During playback, these notes can deactivate the automation envelope because they trigger the already set articulation a second time. To prevent this and to avoid that you have to manually delete the notes for the articulation after recording, you can activate this button.<\/li>
- Last but not least, you can let the device trigger the currently selected key switch as soon as you start a recording<\/strong>. In this way, you can conveniently set an articulation before recording, even if the automation of the envelope for the keyswitch gets deactivated by the manual switching beforehand. If you are used to work with the MIDI Arrangement Overdub<\/em> it might bother you. Leave it switched off then.<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.swub.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/KeySwitchAndExpressionMap_AutomationSettings.png\")
<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Memos on the surface of the piano<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
A list of 27 articulations can become a visual jungle of information – especially if you have just created the key switches or open an old project. It is only a very limited gadget (no backspace, eraser or save), but perhaps it could be for example useful to briefly draw<\/strong> a series of articulations for a recording on the surface of the piano. Alternatively, you can of course just use it to vent your anger after a failed recording through some kind of art therapy!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.swub.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/KeySwitchAndExpressionMap_MemoOnPianoSurface.png\")
<\/a>You can draw<\/strong> and write<\/strong> (double-click) in three different colours. The X<\/strong>-button will cover your tracks and erase all your notes;-)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Optimised design<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
The design has been revised and now offers a better overview when setting up the key switches in all available colour schemes of Ableton Live. For this, the unselected parameters of a keyswitch are greyed out and remain visually in the background.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The virtual piano<\/strong> has also been given a new look and can now be displayed together with the MIDI controls<\/strong>. If you wish, you can minimise the area of the MIDI controls to only the eight device controls with the custom bank in order to save space.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.swub.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/KeySwitchAndExpressionMap_OptimisedDesign-1024x267.png\")
<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
No obligation to assign a key<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
- While pressing keys on your piano to record the automation envelopes for the articulations, the note of the key switch is as well captured into the MIDI clip<\/strong>. During playback, these notes can deactivate the automation envelope because they trigger the already set articulation a second time. To prevent this and to avoid that you have to manually delete the notes for the articulation after recording, you can activate this button.<\/li>
- \n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\tDeutsch<\/span><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/li><\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.swub.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/KeySwitchAndExpressionMap_ProgramChangesWithSinePlayer-1024x348.png\")
<\/a>