Is Novation SL61 MK3 the right controller
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kurtvs
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nero
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kurtvs
5
New AFfiliate
Member 1 month ago
nero
13
Site Admin
Member 21 years ago
kurtvs
5
New AFfiliate
Member 1 month ago
kurtvs
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New AFfiliate
Member 1 month ago
Hello Nero,
thanks for the info above, you already answerd a few questions, but still after fiddling and reading, I don't get where I need to.
So I wrote out what I try to achieve. I hope that whoever reads this can finally answer my questions:
I own Ableton Live Suite, running on an iMac with 24GB RAM, quad i5 3.3Ghz.
I do not own hardware instruments, only software ones like form Ableton and 3r party brands.
I want to work with a regular setup, starting with the same instruments and amount of tracks. In total up to 78 tracks already.
I created groups like Drums, Percussion, Kbd Perc, Shakers, Bass, Guitars, Keys, Synths, Winds, Brass, etc…
(See screenshot below)
I will also probably never use the internal function of the sequencer or patterns of the SL61, as I will use Ableton’s functionalities for that.
I will also always record one instrument at a time and if necessary, I will route midi internal in the DAW.
You can also be sure, I correctly configured the Control Surface in and outputs already in the MIDI settings of Ableton, midi usb cable is in place etc…
All these tracks contain a mix of Ableton devices, Spitfire and other 3rd party vst’s like from Arturia.
Some of them are in a Rack with some eq and effects effects.
Goal 1: Mapping
The goals is to use the SL61 to switch between channels so that I can play and control one individual channel each time.
For channels with multiple devices, such as a rack with instrument and effects, the latter should also be controllable with the keyboard.
Apparently this is possible in InControl mode by using buttons on the SL61.
But there must mappings and these must be recalled when I open my Ableton project.
I know that by default the SL61 can detect some Ableton devices but that’s usually limited to a few rotating knobs showing labels and levels on the lcd’s.
• I want to be able to choose which param of the instrument is mapped and potentially override the default mapped control.
• I want to extend this mapping also to buttons like for selecting the next/previous preset in a vst instrument.
• I want to be able to map 3rd party vst params to the SL61 controls.
• In case of drums or percussion, I want to be able to map the 16 pads.
• When switching from one track to another in the DAW, the SL61 needs to also switch and recognize which mapping to use on that selected track!
Things that are mostly mapped by default: Ableton, spitfire orchestra instruments
Things that are not at all: Arturia synths and almost any other 3rd party instruments.
I want to be able to decide for myself when I’m using the SL61, whether I’m overriding basic functionalities or not,
like the faders that normally control mixer levels.
In case of an ARP2300 synth for example, I might need to map a lot more fader controls.
I do not mind losing control over volume faders while playing the instrument itself, because this will usually remain the same.
if it requires me to ‘switch’ once I recorded something, that would be acceptable.
On Ableton side, there are two ways of mapping instruments:
• By using macro’s in a rack and mapping them to a controller
• By using the configure option of an instrument/device and mapping those to a controller.
I prefer the latter since this is not limited to 16 like the macro’s is.
Goal 2: Zones
Some instruments have separate zones on itself.
Like in the example of the AMPL Bass guitar. Octave C0 contains only switch keys.
I want to visually mark these zones with the light assistance in the SL61 by giving them separate colors.
In the case of the AMPL Bass, this means a total of 3 zones as seen marked in the screenshot. (yellow, red, green)
Of course, these zones must only apply to the instrument that I want, as it’s obviously the example does not fit other instruments.
When I shift the SL61 keyboard an octave, I would like to have the leds follow.
Goal 3: Scales
I had a classic music training, but lack practicing, so light assistance with scales was one of the key points to buy this controller.
I need to be able to set the scale and select what to light, but even better would be that it syncs of follows the chosen scale from the DAW’s project.
Doubts and questions:
Even though I read a lot and viewed a lot of videos, the actual meaning and relationship of Sessions, Templates, Patterns, Zones and how they all fit together is not well explained in the official docs! Online Novation video’s mainly focus on hardware setups.
Components itself wasn’t also very intuitive.
Some gave the advice to setup a session(s), but I noticed that enabling this immediately disables transport and other basic functions, which of course for me is a no-go.
Is it true that when InControl is activated, all other mentioned functionalities like sessions and templates are actually mutually exclusive with InControl?
So can somebody, please give me a step by step guidance as to how I need to configure this?
Or at least be clear on what’s possible or not.
Lots of thanks in advance.
thanks for the info above, you already answerd a few questions, but still after fiddling and reading, I don't get where I need to.
So I wrote out what I try to achieve. I hope that whoever reads this can finally answer my questions:
I own Ableton Live Suite, running on an iMac with 24GB RAM, quad i5 3.3Ghz.
I do not own hardware instruments, only software ones like form Ableton and 3r party brands.
I want to work with a regular setup, starting with the same instruments and amount of tracks. In total up to 78 tracks already.
I created groups like Drums, Percussion, Kbd Perc, Shakers, Bass, Guitars, Keys, Synths, Winds, Brass, etc…
(See screenshot below)
I will also probably never use the internal function of the sequencer or patterns of the SL61, as I will use Ableton’s functionalities for that.
I will also always record one instrument at a time and if necessary, I will route midi internal in the DAW.
You can also be sure, I correctly configured the Control Surface in and outputs already in the MIDI settings of Ableton, midi usb cable is in place etc…
All these tracks contain a mix of Ableton devices, Spitfire and other 3rd party vst’s like from Arturia.
Some of them are in a Rack with some eq and effects effects.
Goal 1: Mapping
The goals is to use the SL61 to switch between channels so that I can play and control one individual channel each time.
For channels with multiple devices, such as a rack with instrument and effects, the latter should also be controllable with the keyboard.
Apparently this is possible in InControl mode by using buttons on the SL61.
But there must mappings and these must be recalled when I open my Ableton project.
I know that by default the SL61 can detect some Ableton devices but that’s usually limited to a few rotating knobs showing labels and levels on the lcd’s.
• I want to be able to choose which param of the instrument is mapped and potentially override the default mapped control.
• I want to extend this mapping also to buttons like for selecting the next/previous preset in a vst instrument.
• I want to be able to map 3rd party vst params to the SL61 controls.
• In case of drums or percussion, I want to be able to map the 16 pads.
• When switching from one track to another in the DAW, the SL61 needs to also switch and recognize which mapping to use on that selected track!
Things that are mostly mapped by default: Ableton, spitfire orchestra instruments
Things that are not at all: Arturia synths and almost any other 3rd party instruments.
I want to be able to decide for myself when I’m using the SL61, whether I’m overriding basic functionalities or not,
like the faders that normally control mixer levels.
In case of an ARP2300 synth for example, I might need to map a lot more fader controls.
I do not mind losing control over volume faders while playing the instrument itself, because this will usually remain the same.
if it requires me to ‘switch’ once I recorded something, that would be acceptable.
On Ableton side, there are two ways of mapping instruments:
• By using macro’s in a rack and mapping them to a controller
• By using the configure option of an instrument/device and mapping those to a controller.
I prefer the latter since this is not limited to 16 like the macro’s is.
Goal 2: Zones
Some instruments have separate zones on itself.
Like in the example of the AMPL Bass guitar. Octave C0 contains only switch keys.
I want to visually mark these zones with the light assistance in the SL61 by giving them separate colors.
In the case of the AMPL Bass, this means a total of 3 zones as seen marked in the screenshot. (yellow, red, green)
Of course, these zones must only apply to the instrument that I want, as it’s obviously the example does not fit other instruments.
When I shift the SL61 keyboard an octave, I would like to have the leds follow.
Goal 3: Scales
I had a classic music training, but lack practicing, so light assistance with scales was one of the key points to buy this controller.
I need to be able to set the scale and select what to light, but even better would be that it syncs of follows the chosen scale from the DAW’s project.
Doubts and questions:
Even though I read a lot and viewed a lot of videos, the actual meaning and relationship of Sessions, Templates, Patterns, Zones and how they all fit together is not well explained in the official docs! Online Novation video’s mainly focus on hardware setups.
Components itself wasn’t also very intuitive.
Some gave the advice to setup a session(s), but I noticed that enabling this immediately disables transport and other basic functions, which of course for me is a no-go.
Is it true that when InControl is activated, all other mentioned functionalities like sessions and templates are actually mutually exclusive with InControl?
So can somebody, please give me a step by step guidance as to how I need to configure this?
Or at least be clear on what’s possible or not.
Lots of thanks in advance.
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