Hello! New to Midi Translator Pro here.
I’m looking for the best solution for controlling an external analogue synth (Sequential OB-6) from Ableton.
I automate CC74 (filter cutoff) from Ableton, but I also want to take manual control from the synth panel itself during performance too, and perhaps interpolate between both methods (slide one into the other).
How could I build this?
Thank you,
Arnau
Hi and welcome to the Bome community!
You can indeed combine inputs from Ableton Live and your controller to go to the synth.
Switching is easier because the decision on which controller to use is well known based on the device you are switching to. Combining may be a bit trickier as there would need to be logic to determine which source overrides conflicting messages. For instance, if Ableton Live is sending a value of 25 and your controller is sending a value of 50, which one do you go with? If the controller overrides, then when you stop sending from your controller, do you want it to bounce back to what Ableton is sending. When does it pick up again. There would have to be logic to tell this set up in the translator.
As far as connecting, you would redirect Ableton Output to one BMT Input port with the output going to you synth (when enabled). The controller would be directed from it’s output port to the input port of your synth (when enabled). Again if both paths are enabled we need to know what values your synth needs and when one of the sources, stops sending, what needs to happen.
Steve Caldwell
Bome Customer Care
Also available for paid consulting services: bome@sniz.biz
Hi Steve,
Thanks for the quick reply.
I think actually my idea was to be switching between the controller and Ableton, but to do so ‘smoothly’, perhaps calculating the offset between the two values into one another (and use another controller to switch/crossfade). What would be the best approach for that? Is it possible in BMT?
Best,
Arnau
This depends on whether you can update the value of your hardware controller remotely. If so we could monitor the value coming from Ableton Live and set the value of the controller the same. Then when you move the controller, we could start by sending back the same value for a smooth transition. Ableton should then respond and then maybe Ableton could update its value from the controller. When the controller is moving, we would ignore messages coming back from Ableton Live.
If your controller’s value cannot be remotely updated from Ableton, it would be a bit different. It would operate more in “takeup” mode meaning the controller would not send anything to Ableton until it crosses last value send by Ableton.
Steve Caldwell
Bome Customer Care
Also available for paid consulting services: bome@sniz.biz