How to : MeloAudio MIDI Commander with Ableton Live (tutorial by Ken Shorley)

[@naja_molina]

I literally never used my middi commander like I should, I thought I had to give up and use bias fx forever. The video is gold, even more so since this thing is discontinued, thank you so much

[@germannishiyamamoto]

Thanks man for this tutorial. I saved money thanks to you. This is my first MIDI commander and I use it to play guitar. Switching effects on and off and many times 4 buttons is very little. Now I can assign 8 freely. I was going to sell this "MeloAudio" and buy the "Nektar Pacer" but now I don't need to do this. I love the size and build of this device and with this mode the options are much more interesting. Regards from Spain.

[@kenshorley]

Glad to hear this, Germán! Thanks for the kind words.

[@harrisongacer3391]

Thank you so much for this tutorial! I figured out how to midi map for MainStage

[@kenshorley]

Glad you found it useful!

[@martaselinda7126]

Been looking for one of these videos, thanks so much, keep up the awesome audio content, God Bless!!

[@kenshorley]

Thanks for watching!

[@laurentgl6848]

Very clear, very useful. Thank you !

[@kenshorley]

Thanks for the kind words!

[@Dimezis]

Huh, everyone complains that MIDI Commander is not flexible, because it can't send CC notes. I had no idea too, this video is so helpful!

[@kenshorley]

Glad you found it useful!

[@DanielSerra1]

This is the kind of videos I love. Solutions!! Thanks

[@kenshorley]

Thanks Daniel!

[@stekof290]

Thank you so much for this video. My gear was unused because I couldn’t figure how to make it work with ableton. Manual was so poorly made.... You have a new subscriber!

[@kenshorley]

Thanks so much! I agree about the poor manual. That was one of the main reasons I wanted to make this video!

[@alfromtx245]

Thanks for the video! I lead worship for my church and they bought me an Ableton Live license. For the controller, the last guy left one of these. Mapping the regular functions (start, stop, next, and previous) was easy. But I also wanted to be able to activate and deactivate a loop. However, it would only let me activate the loop. Turns out that toggle was turned off for all of the buttons, and I just needed one of them set to "on". Problem solved. Thanks again!

[@kenshorley]

Glad you found it helpful!

[@hanibani95]

This video solved all my problems. Thank u so much!!!

[@kenshorley]

Amazing! Glad you found the video useful.

[@danielross7899]

This was incredibly helpful, and greatly appreciated. Thank you!

[@ScalpWithMike]

Very helpful, thanks!

[@kenshorley]

Thanks, Mike!

[@nachopazzaglia]

Great guide!

[@kenshorley]

Thanks!

[@jackyangmusicvids]

Thank you for this video. I am using it with MainStage but I needed to know how to set up Channel 14 and know how to turn the toggles on and off. So within an hour or so I finished my programming. Thank you very much.

[@kenshorley]

Hi Jack. So glad you found the video useful!

[@NathanShoemaker]

This is a great video thank you sir!

[@kenshorley]

Thank you Nathan!

[@robertmartinmedia]

Great tutorial! Do you have instructions for using the up and down buttons to trigger samples and midi in the same column or track

[@kenshorley]

Hi! I need to do a bit more experimenting but I don't know if the up and down buttons are mappable on this unit the same way the other buttons are.

[@diogobernardes5369]

UAUUUUU YOU ARE A MESSENGER FROM GOD ITSELF!! Obrigado amigo! Abraço de Portugal

[@kenshorley]

Thank you! Glad you received the message! Peace from Canada!

[@neilkendall5499]

Thanks for this video. Is it possible to set the bottom 4 footswitches to change between 4 different guitar presets in Amplitube and the top 4 footswitches to start/stop in Ableton? Or would I need 2 separate MIDI footswitches to do this?

[@kenshorley]

Hi Neil. I've never done this type of configuration but in theory it should work. You'll need to be extra careful when configuring the buttons not to have midi conflicts... And to be honest, I don't know if the pedal can respond to two different apps (Ableton and Amplitube) at the same time without getting confused! I don't use Amplitube, but I'm wondering if it can operate as a plugin within Ableton? If so, it might make it easier to midi map the buttons the way you're hoping.

[@neilkendall5499]

@@kenshorley Hey Ken, many thanks for your reply! I will try your suggestions. I was also wondering, is it possible to send MIDI note data with this footswitch, so I can trigger keyboard notes from a synth VST with the footswitches on this unit? And also, can a footswitch on this be set to the 'Tap Tempo' button in Ableton? (If so, how to set it up?). Thanks.

[@jamisonfrench]

This video is clutch! 👌

[@kenshorley]

Thanks!

[@ggrdina]

Hi Ken Is it only possible to have 8 midi mapping buttons or is there a way to use the chg up to a new channel and have 8 more midi mapping buttons? I have used it to map 8 ableton midi commands but wanted to add more is there anyway to do this?

[@kenshorley]

Hi. As far as I am aware, there may be a new firmware that allows for multiple banks of 8 buttons on this unit, but it doesn't seem to be available for Mac users (which I am).

[@sbrave]

Hey Ken, I noticed when I press on the footswitches, none of the footswitch lights are responding. They all flash when I turn the unit on, but that's it. Is there a setting that needs to be enabled, etc? I'm running this on batteries, and the batter level is approx 80%. I also tried powering it via USB, and still no lights

[@kenshorley]

Interesting. There's not much visual feedback on this pedal, even when the lights activate. I'm not sure if running the unit on batteries dims the lights as a battery-saving feature... I guess as long as it still does what you're hoping it will do, it should be fine!

[@sbrave]

@@kenshorley I did get the lights to work, but there seemed to be an extra necessary press of the footswitch to turn off the light, even tho the effect in my Headrush was off? It was basically: press the footswitch = light on, effect on. Press the footswitch again, light still on, effect off. press the footswitch a 3rd time, light off and effect still off. Maybe it's something in the CUS1 settings, but I think I tried all the options, CC vs PC etc. Probably best to just use it as I am and everything is working as expected (except the lights, haha)

[@sbrave]

I'm also trying to send program changes, but they aren't working. I'm using CUS1, choosing Footswitch A, assigning as PC then a PC number. Switches 1-4 don't work for sending PC's? When I power cycle the controller and press Footswitch A, the display is showing as a CC with nothing else. No PC number, etc. What am I doing wrong? I really want to use this pedal, but it seems pretty squirrely

[@benhonna]

Thanks. Saved me some frustration, the manual isn’t so clear.

[@AlexandreSoma]

But, the bank buttons on the right are uselless in this config? To change for the user bank 1 do you have to reboot it?

[@kenshorley]

Yes that's one of the limitations of this unit. To switch between the different presets, I believe you need to turn the pedal off and back on.

[@AlexandreSoma]

@@kenshorley And the up and down button on the right... Are they mappable on Ableton to cc messages?

[@sisizhang6157]

Thank you! I have a question: Can you use the Top 4 buttons (1,2,3,4) to be "pages" or groups and (a,b,c,d) the CC signals to DAW? For example: each button on top (1-4) has 4 unique buttons under its own group(a-d). Hope that made sense!

[@kenshorley]

Hi Sisi. I'll look into this further, but I don't think what you're describing is possible with this pedal.

[@sisizhang6157]

@@kenshorley Thanks again! This is just what I needed to link the buttons to my DAW.

[@ToineThys]

Hello Ken, This is a nice and clear tutorial, thank you for that. I do meet problems while using it specifically on the LOOP on ABLETON. Any tips on that topic ?

[@kenshorley]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/oqOndHl5fJZsoqM This video may help. It's a tutorial for setting up Ableton as a multi-channel loop station. The Midi Commander pedal doesn't work as easily with this (for instance you can't change banks easily) but the basic principles are the same.

[@OscarMartinez-qy6qk]

Hey everyone, there is an update that you Can load it on it and all preset are Cc#! And you have also pages! 8 pages x 8 button 64 cc# /!

[@OscarMartinez-qy6qk]

It's all Allcc# 2

[@kenshorley]

Nice! Is this firmware update available for MacOS or is it only for Windows? Last time I checked on this, Mac users like me were out of luck!

[@OscarMartinez-qy6qk]

I have bit done it yet mine arrived today, I bought it because of your video (I need it to control my multitracks) there are something similar but way more expensive (looptimus) like 300, in their web site you will see you need their software (to upload the finware) but I don't know if they have it for windows, Mac or both, I'll let you know when I get it, the finware should work on any os

[@OscarMartinez-qy6qk]

@@kenshorley also it will replace Atom preset for the new one call Allcc#

[@kenshorley]

@@OscarMartinez-qy6qk Thanks for this info, Oscar!

[@daisyroberts7401]

Nice Energy 👏

[@BigDoeJ424]

Daisy Roberts he's the Ableton Bob Ross

[@kenshorley]

@jjeep91 "Happy little tracks..."

[@digitalion6713]

Hello, thank you for the great video :) Although, I’ve done everything you explained, the midi signal is acting very flakey with Ableton. For example, I’ll midi map one of the buttons - Ableton registers and maps it - the mapping works for one or two pushes and then completely stops responding or picking up the midi signal. I’ve tried on Custom 1 and 2. Im on Mac OS Mojave 10.14.06 and Ableton 10.0.1. What could be the issue? Thank you!

[@kenshorley]

Hi. I don't know for sure but this could be a firmware issue. I don't think MeloAudio has updated their firmware for this product recently, so it might not function as expected these days! Best to contact support at MeloAudio I guess. Good luck!

[@digitalion6713]

@@kenshorley Thanks for the response! I figured it out - you have to have ableton closed when doing the custom edits - at least that worked for me.

[@kenshorley]

@@digitalion6713 That's great!

[@simontate3321]

Hi Ken - thanks for the video. However I can't seem to set up my Ableton to respond to my midi commander, so can't map anything. TSMIDI2.0 shows up in the midi ports preferences but it doesn't work. can you help?

[@kenshorley]

Sorry to hear that, Simon. What version of Ableton are you using?

[@simontate3321]

@@kenshorley the new one 11.0.6- however having tried it again just now and it seems to be working. I'd changed the midi commander to my other custom setting and it recognized it, but then stopped working (I think because of the toggle on/off thing) then I switched it back to the other custom setting (which I'd programmed like you suggest) and it started working. go figure, as they say - thanks Ken!

[@kenshorley]

Excellent! So glad it's working for you!

[@dinkocicvaric7859]

Hello Ken. Very interesting music in your project! I’m thinking of buying a midi commander, wondering if it’s possible to map the last two switches too (bank up, bank down), to move up and down in Ableton scenes? Also, can the first 6 modes be completely reprogrammed? Thank you.

[@dinkocicvaric7859]

does it send any midi message out?

[@kenshorley]

Hi Dinko! Thanks for the comment. From what I've gathered, the last two buttons cannot be mapped like the others. There are two expression jacks though, and these can be custom mapped. Also, I haven't tried to custom map buttons on the other 6 preset templates. I don't think it's possible, but now I want to check it out to be sure!

[@dinkocicvaric7859]

@@kenshorley Thank You!

[@luapmartin]

@@kenshorley Hi, thanks for this interesting video, have you made more tests ? have you been able to map the last 2 buttons to browse pages up and down ? cheers, Paul

[@marshallflashmusic]

Hi friend, can i use it with layers? I mean, havig 8 CC, andwithe the switches on the side move up and down with another CC´s??? Hope to read you saying Yes and how XD

[@marshallflashmusic]

and how can i change from custom one to custom two with out switching it off??? THANKS

[@kenshorley]

Hello Miguel! I wish I had better news for you! Unfortunately this pedal does not allow for different banks of assignable buttons. And also unfortunately, it's not possible to change between the Custom 1 and Custom 2 menus without turning off the unit. The main midi foot controller I use is called Looptimus, and with that pedal one has access to 20 banks of 7 assignable buttons, and it's easy to change banks during live looping. Sorry I couldn't help!

[@primaskateboutique]

Any way you can show if/how it works with loopy pro on ipad? I can get it to connect in any way. Works great with loopy hd.

[@kenshorley]

I don't do much looping with the iPad, but I'll see what I can do!

[@primaskateboutique]

@@kenshorley WOW thank you for the reply you rock!!! 🤘🏼🙏🏼

[@MarkSmith-kl9fq]

I’m currently using mixcraft 9 tried to use your set up it just keeps crashing .I know it’s me ,and I don’t think mixcraft is compatible.

[@kenshorley]

Sorry I don't know about mixcraft...

[@blancobuho630]

Can i use this to live looping? recording audio on different channels and play and stop?

[@kenshorley]

Yes you can use midi mapping in Ableton to control live looping functions with this pedal.

[@ulyssestay9220]

Hi, can I just use the midi controller live on stage without plugging it to ipad/phone once I have set all the settings? Can it restore all presets and be a standalone pedal?

[@kenshorley]

Hi. No it's not a self contained brain like a guitar looper pedal. This midi controller needs to be connected either to Ableton or another DAW on a computer in order to function as described in this video.

[@ulyssestay9220]

@@kenshorley Thanks for the clarification

[@Crispeacock]

is it possible to do the same thing in Cubase?

[@kenshorley]

Hi. I'm not a Cubase user, but if it has a midi mapping or midi learn function it should also work with this pedal.

[@giraffey8974]

Does it work with logic pro x live?

[@kenshorley]

I haven't used Logic Pro X Live... but if that software allows for MIDI mapping, I think it should work! If you decide to try it, let me know how it goes!

[@giraffey8974]

@@kenshorley tried it today, Every time I open the Logic pro x , the controller gets frozen. So it’s not compatible with logic pro

[@EternalWorship]

Are you able to program CC notes to the Bank Up and Down buttons?

[@kenshorley]

I don't think so. Those two buttons seem to operate differently than the others, so I haven't found a way to customize their midi mapping.

[@EternalWorship]

Thanks for getting back to me. I was really hoping it was possible because it would be the perfect pedal for what I need. I can’t find one with 10 standard switches that isn’t enormous. LOL

[@kenshorley]

@@EternalWorship No problem! What I did find out is related to the two Expression pedal jacks on the back of the instrument, which I believe can each be programmed to send a midi CC command. You would need external expression pedals connected to the unit, but it would give two more options!

[@zapata.music1989]

niiiiiceeeeee

[@zapata.music1989]

finally, thanks!!

[@kenshorley]

Glad you enjoyed the video!

[@tn0wl361]

This device pisses me off so bad. Why can I only use program changes to have banks of cc controls unless I'm in all cc mode? Why can't I make it so that some of the buttons are momentary and others are toggle? Heck they're not even momentary, they're a single firing of a 127 value. Ugh I'm about to return mine because this is seriously unbearable. They didnt bother to make a half-decent desktop configuration editor either. Such laziness. And to think it was so promising. It's sad how much of a piece of crap thos thing turned out to be.

[@kenshorley]

Hi! I'm sorry to read about your frustrations with this device. I can't speak to some of the problems you mentioned, but I believe it is possible (using the Custom Modes) to set up some buttons and not others to toggle mode.

[@tn0wl361]

@@kenshorley It is, yes, but then you are limited to only prorgram changes for the far right buttons which i do not have the technical know-how to use with software that I would like to have just been able to easily use. The custom mode allows for, honestly, lacking amounts of customization. I decided to return my midi commander and buy a nektar pacer. It's a bit more expensive but a community member made and open-sourced a webmidi editor for it which includes up to 24 (i think) different pages of configuration complete with even jacks for adding even more foot pedals to it, not just two expression pedals. It's been an absolute joy to work with. Anyway, on a continued note, if someone were using the midi commander with reaper and using realearn, they could actually very easily bypass this annoying issue with the midi commander's lack of customization, it's been a joy to use with my dj techtools midi fighter. Thank you for reaching out :)