This MIDI Foot Controller for Ableton Live BLEW MY MIND: Morningstar MC8

Learn how to connect and program the Morningstar MC8 to control Ableton Live.
I’ve heard a lot of chatter about this pedal, and I figured the big appeal was the display screen. And that is a big plus, but the thing that absolutely floored me was how simple and easy it was to use.
If you want a simple yet extremely powerful way to control Ableton Live with your feet, look no further than the Morningstar MC8.
Here’s what you’ll learn:
- The basic features, controls, and modifications of the MC8
- How to connect the MC8 to your computer via USB
- An overview and guide to Morningstar’s MIDI editor
- How to set up and configure the MC8
- How to program the MC8 to control Ableton Live
- How to create and program settings for a specific song in Ableton Live
- How to create a new audio track from the MC8
- Jumping to a specific bank with one button (all-access mode)
- Some more things you can do with the MC8
PS. Any of you use the Morningstar MC8? Drop a comment to let me know what you love about or if I missed a feature that you love!
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0:00 MC-8 Morningstar Review: The Perfect Pedal Tool to Use
0:19 Program the MC-8 In Ableton Live to Do Anything
1:22 MC-8 Morningstar Pedal: The Controls and Modifications
2:19 Connect the MC-8 to Your Computer With USB
3:16 Benefits of Using the Morningstar MIDI Editor
3:48 How to Navigate the Morningstar Midi Editor
4:29 How to Edit the Bank and Setup
5:53 Configure and Program the Presets
9:21 Program the MC-8 to Ableton Live
11:25 Create Specific Settings for a Certain Song
14:01 Consider subscribing if you enjoy my content!
14:25 Create a New Audio Track with the MC-8
17:20 All-Access Mode: Jump to a Specific Bank with One Button
22:46 More You Can Do: External, Expression Pedals, etc.
23:45 Purchase this Pedal and Subscribe to Receive Daily Tutorials
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I thought the draw of this pedal was the screen...
And that certainly is a plus... but the big draw is programmability w/ simplicity
If you're doing a live looping setup with Ableton Live...this is THE best MIDI foot controller..
-Build quality
-Screen
-Tilt of pedal
-connectivity with other gear
Connecting to your computer
USB
5-Pin MIDI
30 Banks
2 Pages each bank
8 presets per page..
16 total presets per bank
Each preset is completely programmable
Ableton Setup
*Enable Remote
Programming Morningstar (via Browser)
1) Simple Setup
Play
Stop
Previous
Next
2) Programming an All-Access mode on MC-8
3) Keyboard shortcuts w/ Live
-Tab
#midicontroller #mc-8 #midi

[@chrisminor6362]

Welcome to the party Will. Everytime you talk about midi controllers, I've wondered why this one has never been mentioned. I believe this to be the best controller on the market.

[@fromstudiotostage]

this one made my list for top 5 earlier in the year, I just didn't personally have one. Now I do!

[@juliusway]

Thanks for this video, considering picking one of these up, this is super helpful to watch.

[@adrianswebvideos]

Love this controller! I picked one up a while back when my DMC6 died.

[@fromstudiotostage]

Adrian! So good to see your name pop up here. I think this is a great next step after the DMC!

[@AdamFBuchanan]

love your vid. thank you :) holy jeebas, this pedal and programming is amaz-balls

[@fromstudiotostage]

Thanks for watching! Soooo many possibilities with this pedal!

[@bvrbvs]

Just picked up the MC6 pro. Looks great. I wish it would also Integrate as a control surface for tighter integration with Ableton, but regardless, great product

[@contactnathanlee]

Hey buddy, thanks for the video. Any idea if the quickkeys can be transmitted via midi cable to Ableton or does it only transmit via USB? Thanks

[@donmathews109]

ive been using this since July along with LK so that i can see which songs im firing. Rock solid with some small adjustment and the perfect setup for bassists and/or guitarists in live situations.

[@fromstudiotostage]

Awesome!

[@tommyclay6922]

what is the LK? can you provide a link

[@donmathews109]

@@tommyclay6922 my engineer set me up a screen which mirrors the computer, so Im not using LK as of last week.

[@donmathews109]

@@fromstudiotostage I also use it to send sysex to my Yamaha Montage for handsfree scene switching via 5pin midi.

[@juliusway]

With the 4 expression ports on the back - could I, for instance, plug in 4 expression pedals and assign each on to a parameter on an Ableton Live Plugin? So eg one controls dry/wet on a delay, one controls overall volume, one controls frequency of a HP filter, and one controls reverb time? Thanks!

[@toddniemann1921]

So, hopefully you an answer me this, but my start button in Ableton is programmed as G2 note on, as mapped by the Looptimus controller I used previously. Now when I hook up the Morningstar and try to program a button to G2 note on value 127, to start Ableton, I have to map it to G3. To use existing mappings set by Looptimus, I can use the same channel, but I have to change it by an octave. Is there some setting I am missing? Thanks Will. :)

[@jahstix]

Which do u prefer LOOPTIMUS or MC6 ?

[@davidgeorge3381]

You haven't even touched on the idea of sending a MIDI control to press a specific MC8 button which can then send a whole bunch of MIDI controls to other equipment potentially using the 5 pin MIDI out. THAT is a game changer for stage automation.

[@fromstudiotostage]

That's the beauty of this pedal, it can do SOO much!

[@roscius6204]

Yes.... it's a powerful option

[@johnnorland5177]

Can Morningstar MC8 do the following within an Ableton Live set of 30 or 40 songs. A = Jump to verse (when current loop/section finishes) B = Jump to chorus (when current loop/section finishes) C = Jump to bridge (when current loop/section finishes) D = Start/stop when current loop/section finishes E = Track 1 (drums) on/off F = Track 2 (bass) on/off G = Track 3 (rhythm guitar) on/off H = Jump to next song

[@fromstudiotostage]

MC-8 can do anything you want it to do :)

[@toddniemann1921]

Link? Thanks!

[@AdamRoubek]

Can I plug guitar into this pedal?

[@tommyclay6922]

What’s the ETA of the deep dive for this pedal on your site? Thanks for all your hard work! Appreciate you!!

[@fromstudiotostage]

Q1 for sure

[@pkishimoto]

can I plug it in my play audio 12?

[@fromstudiotostage]

Any class compliant MIDI controller works on host ports… so yes!

[@tommyclay6922]

Dude, the looking out the corner of your eye shot.......no

[@fromstudiotostage]

Thanks for being here! Hope you know you’re loved and have an amazing purpose!

[@tommyclay6922]

@@fromstudiotostage Hey, same to you. Im just helping a brother out :)