How to change instruments in Ableton Live or Garageband from MAX using Program Change
Hi... I'm not a beginner, but this is a beginner-level problem, and I'm having trouble solving it.
I've got patches in Max that are sending MIDI notes via noteout and midiout.
I want to send specific program change (or specific notes, if that works) to either Ableton Live or Garageband in order to change instruments in AL or GB on the fly. I want to do this from within MAX, and not by hitting a key on a control module (like a keyboard or foot pedal).
How do I do this? After a weekend of fighting with this, I'm still not finding a listing of program changes for changing instruments in either AL or GB. In AL I know how to change instruments by training a foot pedal or keyboard, but I can't seem to get it to work by sending it MIDI events from within MAX.
All help is appreciated. Thanks.
Robert
It's around here in the forums somewhere, it requires several specific midi messages sent in direct sequence, and there are a couple ways to do it depending on vst. For Ableton devices, using racks with macro to power button works pretty well CPU wise with a virtual midi port installed for max midi to a ableton midi mapping. Otherwise you'll need to use pattrstorage with one of the live parameter control methods. Or use Ableton macro rack presets.
"I'm still not finding a listing of program changes for changing instruments in either AL or GB"
exactly that is a problem.
sending midi program change is easy to do from max,
including possible need for bank change messages,
but the more complicated thing is to get Live to react to it.
it must listen to incoming midi, which means track input monitor activated.
Don't know about Garage Band specifically ,
but in any DAW you activate midi input for a Track,
and then receive whatever Midi Messages.
If midi receiver reacts to program change messages, all ok.
Another topic is midi link, on Windows you need to install some virtual midi port software
to send midi between different apps.
Thank you Jamesway and Source Audio for your replies.
One more aspect that I'm trying to handle is to have more than one Noteout sending from Max, so that I can send multiple note streams to the DAW, each of which is being played by a separate instrument.
Essentially, I want to use MAX for creating multiple streams of notes, and have the DAW (probably, at this point, Ableton Live) receive each stream separately, giving each its own instrument.
Ableton seems to provide one connection per outside source. So I'm not sure how to address it so that it distinguishes between the MAX noteouts.
Is this something that requires Max for Live?
I can only guess that this has been done a thousand times...
-Robert
you can send notes on separate midi channels.
or even separate midi ports to different tracks in Live.
On mac you can create as many IAC busses as you want.
And Live - it has many limits compared to other DAWs
when it comes to multichannel midi.
Thanks, Source Audio. Yes, sending on separate midi channels I can certainly do from within Max. I'll look further into Live, to see if I can set it up to accept different channels from the same patch. I've found a couple of Live documents that should help. If I can't find a way to do it, I'll go back to trying Logic Pro.
I do appreciate your help!
Robert
I'll go back to trying Logic Pro
It works in Logic Pro. You have to set the channel and possibly the Max port for all instrument tracks. Then you send the notes from Max on the respective channels. A single MIDI port is sufficient for this.
In the newer Logic versions, you only need to select one of the instrument tracks and activate the ‘R’ buttons on all tracks. Logic will then play the instruments and also record separately on the tracks.
In older Logic versions, the track setting is the same, but you have to create a summing stack and play and record on the master of the stack. After recording, you will have to do this awkward ‘separate by MIDI channel’ and probably tidy things up manually.
I see the problem in Live more with multitimbral Instruments,
which in mature DAWs can receive midi on separate channels in a single track.
In Live you need a track per midi channel, no matter
if you load single voice Instrument or multitimbral monster.
In terms of CPU strain, it should in theory make no difference
if you play 6 instrument instances in a single track or in separate tracks,
but that has to be proven.
More important is handling of Tracks, Instruments and the whole flow.
which might differ if you need this on stage or at place where you have plenty of time
to deal with it.