Using ESX as midi controller for Ableton

gil videla · Post by **gil videla** » Thu Oct 15, 2009 11:13 pm

This comes as no surprise anyone who has experience with Ableton
but I'm using 1 synth part of my ESX to controll stuff in Ableton

ESX has more midi compability that my cheap ol' M-Audio Ozone.
Guess what's going on ebay???

Since I don't use both Synth parts on the ESX, this is great and saves me some desk space...

cyberheater · Post by **cyberheater** » Mon Oct 19, 2009 6:32 pm

Very interesting. Can you explain you method?

Thanks.

gil videla · Post by **gil videla** » Tue Oct 20, 2009 9:05 pm

cyberheater wrote:Very interesting. Can you explain you method?

Thanks.

Well I always read about all this NPRN stuff, but it's all over my head.
In Ableton, however, with the MIDI learn function, I turn a knob on the ESX and Ableton recognizes it. SO....
IF I have a part on the ESX I'm not using, I can dedicate that to a Midi channel in Ableton, and that instrument can be controlled from the ESX will the remainder of the ESX (on different MIDI channel of course) is doing it's thing.

With the Keyboard (i.e.16 steps of ESX) I can play the instrument in Ableton (monophonically of course) as well, or set it to play Drum Racks or Impulse...

My Computer down right now, but I'm hoping the slider next to the Ribbon will transmit MIDI and I can use that as a fader.

I know for sure the ribbon will transmit notes (arpegiator)

cyberheater · Post by **cyberheater** » Thu Oct 22, 2009 11:26 am

Thanks gil videla

I was hoping that you could control clips with the keyboard thingy. It would be awesome to be able to launch clips etc... straight from the electribe.

gil videla · Post by **gil videla** » Mon Oct 26, 2009 5:41 pm

[quote="cyberheater"]Thanks gil videla

I was hoping that you could control clips with the keyboard thingy. It would be awesome to be able to launch clips etc... straight from the electribe.[/quote]

Hmmm...
I suppose you could, each step on the electribe certainly has a different note #, so with the 8 octaves of keys on the Electribe, you should be able to trigger clip. You have 8 octaves, 16 keys, 128 clips you can fire off is my guess. I'll try this tonight after work.

Organizing it though would be kind of hard to remember were you are
This is why I'm looking forward to the Novation Launchpad controller.

But if you can follow in your mind's eye where the clips are in relation to the note #'s, I can't see why it wouldn't work.

I very visual, so....(Launcpad will be great for me)

Ruso · Post by **Ruso** » Thu Oct 29, 2009 8:27 am

what you'd want to do is not trigger single clips but rather clip slots in the current scene from different tracks while being able to navigate up and down with two keys...

As I've stated before... the electribes make nifty controllers but they are a very big pain in the ass. Although they can be setup to be fairly versatile they end up over all being a pain and it's a lot easier to spend a couple of hundred bucks on something like a korg nanoKONTROL and have many times more midi ability that can be a lot better organized...

Even having all three of the korg nano controllers (nanokey, nanokontrol, and nanopad) for 150 bucks on ebay brand new would give you a TON more flexibility and midi power.... hell even running the nanoKONTROL with the nanoPAD could be made into a full control suite with a kaoss pad like effects pad (using Ruso's all famous ableton effect rack)

speaking of the rack... since the conversation popped up.... for those of you who are using ableton you should definitely check it out. It's a sonic monster of an effect rack that I've been working on for a long time. Here's a linky: http://electribe-forum.com/viewtopic.php?f=15&t=863

cyberheater · Post by **cyberheater** » Thu Oct 29, 2009 10:36 am

gil videla wrote: Organizing it though would be kind of hard to remember were you are
This is why I'm looking forward to the Novation Launchpad controller.

Yep. I'm going to get one as well. Not long now.

gil videla · Post by **gil videla** » Fri Oct 30, 2009 8:16 pm

Ruso wrote:
speaking of the rack... since the conversation popped up.... for those of you who are using ableton you should definitely check it out. It's a sonic monster of an effect rack that I've been working on for a long time. Here's a linky: http://electribe-forum.com/viewtopic.php?f=15&t=863

Downloaded this a few weeks ago, but i got a new lappie and moving everything over from the ol' desktop has been a slow transition

gil videla · Post by **gil videla** » Fri Oct 30, 2009 8:53 pm

[quote="Ruso"]what you'd want to do is not trigger single clips but rather clip slots in the current scene from different tracks while being able to navigate up and down with two keys...

As I've stated before... the electribes make nifty controllers but they are a very big pain in the ass. Although they can be setup to be fairly versatile they end up over all being a pain and it's a lot easier to spend a couple of hundred bucks on something like a korg nanoKONTROL and have many times more midi ability that can be a lot better organized...

Even having all three of the korg nano controllers (nanokey, nanokontrol, and nanopad) for 150 bucks on ebay brand new would give you a TON more flexibility and midi power.... hell even running the nanoKONTROL with the nanoPAD could be made into a full control suite with a kaoss pad like effects pad (using Ruso's all famous ableton effect rack)

[/quote]

it may not be as powerful as the nano series, but it can work as basic as say on old M-Audio Oxygen (sans Velocity/Aftertouch/pitchbend) Instead of telling us they're a pain in the ass, would you mind sharing some input on what is "nifty" about using one... I have a feeling it can go deeper than what I've mentioned thus far, maybe you have something to add?