Sending & Receiving OSC Messages in Ableton Live (Ultimate Guide to TouchOSC)

We're going to take a look at how you can send & receive OSC messages in Ableton Live. To do this, you're going to want the Ableton Connection Kit. We'll also take a look at a Max 4 Live patch I made to send the track name to a label on TouchOSC.
If you need to connect TouchOSC with Ableton, check out the video below.
*Connecting TouchOSC with Ableton Live*
• Connecting Ableton & D...
*Ableton Live Connection Kit*
www.ableton.co...
*Get the Custom Max 4 Live Patch*
github.com/att...
timcorpus.net/...
*LINKS*
☕ www.buymeacoff...
🏠 timcorpus.net/...
🧑‍🤝‍🧑 / touch. .
🎮 discord.io/Tou...
💻 hexler.net/
📷 www.instagram/t...
🐦 / timcorpus
Additional videos have more about creating templates, specific uses, and tips & trips in Touch OSC, so be sure to check those out as well.
👉 kzbin.info....
✦ Setting up TouchOSC
✦ Buttons, Faders, & Radio Buttons
✦ Connecting Ableton & Digital Performer
✦ Changing Labels with Scripted Buttons
✦ Connecting Cubase & Controlling an EQ
✦ Sending & Receiving OSC Messages in Reaper
✦ TouchOSC Bridge, Protokol, and Editor Log
✦ Sending Keystrokes with TouchOSC
✦ Connecting PreSonus Studio One & Using Toggles
✦ Tips & Tricks for Building Your Template Part 1
✦ Tips & Tricks for Building Your Template Part 2
✦ Using TouchOSC with Make Music Finale
✦ Creating a Template for Reaper Plugins
✦ Making a MIDI Template for Reaper
✦ Adding a Dropdown Menu
✦ Pairing TouchOSC with GarageBand
✦ Pairing TouchOSC with LogicPro
✦ Updates in MkII since release
✦ Using Hidden Objects in your Template
✦ Using TouchOSC to control Zoom (Part 1)
✦ Using TouchOSC to control Zoom (Part 2)
✦ Using TouchOSC to control OBS
✦ Highlighting the Last Object Used
✦ TouchOSC Giveaway | Tips & Trcks
TouchOSC is a MIDI control surface for your old iPad, tablet, or phone to work with your DAW and other software. We are using the latest version of TouchOSC, Mk2. Hexler (hexler.net/tou...) came out with the 2nd version (Mk 2) of TouchOSC in the summer of 2021.
Music (0:10) by Tim Corpus www.pond5.com/....
*GEAR*
Full List: timcorpus.net/....
TouchOSC: hexler.net/tou...
My Code Editor: atom.io/
Icon Qcon Pro G2: iconproaudio.c....
RODE NT2-A: www.rode.com/m...
Komplete Audio 6: www.native-ins....
iPad (Air Gen 2): www.apple.com/...

[@defacres]

Hey Tim, I just discovered your channel by chance, but super glad I did. Some really great content here. I used to use TouchOSC, but I moved over to Open Stage Control. Complete open source server / client setup, based on a web interface for OSC messages. Fully customizable and provides a lot of functionality to my Reaper / Logic Pro setup.

[@TimCorpus]

Thanks for checking out my channel. Hopefully the OSC information helps with Open Stage Control as well.

[@WebHamster-tf5ro]

Thank you for these video's. However, I've noticed that you tend to skip a lot of details, which make it hard to replicate and if needed find issues.

[@davismusic8090]

thank you so much for the video! I would like to ask you if it was possible to change the color of a button based on the velocity of the incoming note on touch osc, a bit like it happens with the launchpad, alternatively if it weren't possible, simply change the color of the button based on the incoming note .. eg c=red , d=green, e=yellow.. and so on. thank you very much!

[@TimCorpus]

Definitely possible. You could use a local message on the object and impact the value of a color.

[@davismusic8090]

@@TimCorpus Hi, thank you so much for your reply, however I don't think I could do it without more detailed explanations. I need to monitor the status of some motors connected to the arduino. arduino sends me the note relating to the motor with velocity 10 when the motor is in error, velocity 20 when it is ready, 30 when it is initializing. I'm currently using a launchpad that automatically lights up its pads based on velocity. I have a solution to do it with touch osc, but it is certainly too elaborate: I would convert the incoming midi with midi bome converter (e.g. C with velocity 10 -> D, C with velocity 20->E etc..) I would create overlapping buttons with opacity anything of a different color that lights up when your note arrives... how could i get the same result without using boom converter? thank you very much. if you want we can talk by mail. my email is [e-mail], however let me know here if you write me an email. Thanks again

[@TimCorpus]

@@davismusic8090 glad the videos can help! Have you asked the community about this on Discord or Facebook? Someone may have already solved this sort of thing. If you're trying to just change color of an object when a message comes in, you shouldn't need to convert MIDI. One idea would be if an object receives a specific MIDI message, that object then sends a local message to change a color. Hope that helps.

[@davismusic8090]

@@TimCorpus Thank you very much for the advice, today I tried a lot and searched a lot online, unfortunately with little success. at the moment I'm continuing with the conversion through bome midi converter. I tried to create local messages from one button to another by putting the color property instead of the value, however I can choose a dynamic scale in which the parameter acts (it makes the object ever brighter) not a range in which the object it works and then it shuts down. unfortunately I have to give up at the moment, the solution with the conversion of midi boom converter is still effective. Thanks again

[@davismusic8090]

@@TimCorpus Thank you very much for the advice, today I tried a lot and searched a lot online, unfortunately with little success. at the moment I'm continuing with the conversion through bome midi converter. I tried to create local messages from one button to another by putting the color property instead of the value, however I can choose a dynamic scale in which the parameter acts (it makes the object ever brighter) not a range in which the object it works and then it shuts down. unfortunately I have to give up at the moment, the solution with the conversion of midi boom converter is still effective. Thanks again

[@pandasoniccollective]

If you use [pak arg1 arg2] and input a [textedit] as the first arg and the track name [message] as the second arg, then input that into your [s tname] it allows you to let the user input the osc address in the patch UI instead of having edit [message $1] and save a new patch every single time.

[@thierryangers9997]

Thanks for the video How would I get Live's scene names to show on my iPad in TouchOSC?

[@TimCorpus]

Check this video out: kzbin.info/www/bejne/d5_GgJ6qiLGLmas

[@JacobMedrea]

for some reason they got the connection kit for ableton 12 only. nothing below that :-(

[@TimCorpus]

Their website says it works with 9 and above, but if you're having trouble with getting that set, I'd recommend reaching out to their support.

[@beatmac]

Thank you! You make the best TouchOSC tutorials in Internet. Is there a way to monitor an Ableton looper's state through TouchOSC? I mean being able to see on your TouchOSC layout if a looper is in playing, stop or recording state.

[@TimCorpus]

Thanks for watching! So, I haven't tried it, but ya that should be doable. In fact it looks like someone already has a patch to show it in Ableton's UI: maxforlive.com/library/device/5526/live-looper-visuals-large-screen-looper-state

[@beatmac]

@@TimCorpus That's the M4L device I'm currently using in Ableton. Although I'd like to see it in a touchOSC layout since I need to play away from my laptop. Thanks again Tim. I'll keep looking for a workaround.

[@TimCorpus]

@@beatmac ya I can add this idea to my list of tutorial ideas. It should work to reroute that patch to TouchOSC.

[@beatmac]

@@TimCorpus That would be amazing! 👏👏👏

[@sanderschat]

ah yes, i was using that visual looper too. Was wondering idd if this was possible to route it back to TouchOSC too

[@marianofernandez7125]

great video !, i've mk1 app because of my ipad 3. this version doesnt open .tosc files, so i've to create the layouts in the old TouschOSC editor, i put the OSC name "/drums" but nothing changes, when i change the label in live i see the msj receiving in my ipad !, but nothing changes, is there another syntax or something diferent in this version ? thanks ! Ps: my layoust working perfect with buttoms and faders

[@TimCorpus]

When you say "nothing changes" what do you mean exactly? The label doesn't change or a message doesn't go through? My guess is the OSC isn't clearing through

[@marianofernandez7125]

@@TimCorpus the label doesnt change, but at the time i change the label in live i see the blinking in my ipad, on the top rigth. the incoming messages. is there a way to see what msj im receiving in ipad ?

[@Musica_Com_T.I]

Tenho o mesmo problema tento de alguma forma não chega a mensagem no MK1

[@deryflores9225]

i would love to see touch OSC and touch portal work in conjunction with each other

[@TimCorpus]

Interesting idea. What do you think TouchOSC could do that Touch Portal doesn't currently do?

[@Hellemmm]

Hi, thank you for your videos! Can you help me plese? I have a knob i touchOSC, and it receives value from max4live ableton device which takes it from another devices parameter. So i would like to change a color for that knob if parameter is automated. I have figured out how to capture automation_stete in max4live, but i cant figre out how to send automation_state data to touchOSC so it would change the color of knob.. Can it be done with a single message like 'adress-message' where 'adress' = a knob name 'message' = value+automation_state ? i see that there is a scripting options like - function onReceiveOSC(message, connections) local path = message[1] local arguments = message[2] for i=1,#arguments do print('\t argument =', arguments[i].tag, arguments[i].value) end end so message can have children? can i put there value and color? thanks! any help would be aprecitaed ASAP)))))

[@TimCorpus]

Hey! Sorry I'm on the road these days, hence the lack in video updates. I recommend asking on the Discord server, there are a lot of scripts available there too.

[@Hellemmm]

@@TimCorpus thank you! I am already there, discovering tons of characters) have a good road! I have solved just all of my issues and I am pretty close to finishing the best Ableton script )

[@rattamahattab9154]

Hi, I tried the TouchOSC M4L device but somehow mapping is not working if I store and reopen my live set. Even mapping is displayed in device it will only work if I redo mapping again. Anyone face similat issues or know how to resolve?

[@TimCorpus]

Just confirming, the issue is in the M4L device? It's not saving information?

[@rattamahattab9154]

@@TimCorpus Actually I see the mapping but it is not getting effective. If I redo the mapping it is fine.

[@davidpoissonnier5726]

Hi Tim, thanks a lot for your videos. I tried to use OSC touchOSC. Everything is working fine, but when I save and reload the live session, the connection doesn't work anymore, even if the OSC address and map seems to be correct, and I see that the osc messages are received (thanks to the small led next to the port) it doesn't work until I hit learn again. Am I missing one step ? Thanks 🙂

[@TimCorpus]

Hey! Glad the videos are helpful. Is the address changing on your computer? Have you been able to determine where the break is in the connection?

[@FemiFleming]

Hi! How do I map the x y and z information coming in from touches to ableton parameters?

[@TimCorpus]

Are you trying to send data from the gyroscope in TouchOSC?

[@FemiFleming]

@@TimCorpus yes

[@nvscharan5655]

Hi Tim, where can I find the connection kit in Ableton? Because I am using Ableton live 11 but I am unable to find the connection kit in the software, I have tried downloading it but it's saying it's included in Ableton live 11, can you please help me with that. Thank you.

[@TimCorpus]

The link to the connection kit download is in the video description. 🔗👇

[@ZbynekDrlik]

Hi, still looking for osc control ableton similar as midi, when mapped control is not dissabled after mapping.

[@schlapbe]

It is a rabbit hole, but ClyphX Pro (from Isotonik Studios) can do that. With that software (and the Bindings extension) you can permanently map parameters to a midi controller. You could use touchosc as a midi controller and off you go.

[@jeremymiller3466]

Is it possible to run more than 1 tablet or iPad in Ableton 11 using touch osc? I was able to get both Samsung tablets to show up in protokol but only one shows up in live 11. Ideally id like to use several devices. So far in protokol I see each device has unique ip endpoints as I was hoping, however I only see one in live 11 under link/tempo/midi.

[@TimCorpus]

Ya you would just have to set different ports in both the app and the M4L patch.

[@nicolajesteban9211]

can I ask how do you know the port number? I tried everything and just can't establish a connection between the osc app and ableton :/

[@TimCorpus]

It is whatever you assign it in your touch OSC connections. You'll set the port number in both locations (the patch and the device). I explain a bit about the connections in my last video on the basics of touch OSC.

[@nicolajesteban9211]

@@TimCorpus awesome! thank you so much for the quick reply :D

[@pandasoniccollective]

@@TimCorpus Which video are you referring to? I'm having a hard time figuring this one out too

[@TimCorpus]

@@pandasoniccollective kzbin.info/www/bejne/sHu3qGuHiNqfaJo

[@pandasoniccollective]

@@TimCorpus Thank you!

[@cadenbush2354]

How do you figure out the port number?

[@cadenbush2354]

Got it!

[@TimCorpus]

Hi Caden, check out my latest video that talks about ports and connections. kzbin.info/www/bejne/hKDVdKVmh6l1o6c

[@davismusic8090]

thank you so much for the video! I would like to ask you if it was possible to change the color of a button based on the velocity of the incoming note on touch osc, a bit like it happens with the launchpad, alternatively if it weren't possible, simply change the color of the button based on the incoming note .. eg c=red , d=green, e=yellow.. and so on. thank you very much!

[@TimCorpus]

Sorry for the delay. Changing color per a specific note key would be rad! You'd have to set up some sort of MIDI send from a device to TouchOSC and then set that the received CC then triggers a local message to change a color. There may be another way to do that, but that's what first comes to mind.