Hi, everyone

I'm still learning the deep dive into Ableton 12 and have a question. I loaded a Max for Live device, Akihiko Matsumoto Ableton Air 4.3 Max for Live Ambient Generative Sequencer from the sister site, and when I drop it in, it automatically starts playing, even when I don't have a clip recorded. I'd like to be able to bring it in and out as needed... is there something else, like another device, that I need to put in front of it? I vaguely remember this happening with some other devices, too. What's the solution to this? Thanks in advance.

 

it's a Generative Sequencer as clearly stated in the description.

 

Use a utility to cut gain or mute with automation. It's generative. Just produces sound with no input.

 

Yeah, I know. Got a solution? It's still possible to control it, I am looking for help on that.

 

You know that but you still asking this question as if Ableton has anything to do with that. Again that's a Generative Sequencer, it generates notes on it's own. But you are lucky with this one, since it's a Max instrument you can go under the hood and tweak it to your liking, although not sure why would anyone do that.

What kind of help do you need? If you want to control notes you can add them yourself and if you want random you use it as it is. On top of that there are tools that can generate sime-random notes and chords for you like Music Developments Rapid Composer, Mario Nieto Chord Generator or Scaler 2 or 3 basically anything with "generative" in it's description

 

I'd like to be able to turn it on and off so it's not running constantly and is actually usable, preferably in a clip.

 

You've already received that tip - use on/off automation

 

That doesn't work. It plays regardless of what you put in a clip. I think I need to put some other thing before or after it in the device view in order to control it.

 

So you mean it plays even when you switch it off? I find it hard to believe. Try to put utility, volume down and then automate utility on/off

 

So you mean put a utility in front of it in the rack?

 

At the end of your chain,so you control volume instead of the device

 

Okay, good, this is what I was looking for, thanks.

 

also just noticed that the sequencer in question does even have a Velocity dial which goes to zero, so you could just grab this and do what I suggested with the Velocity device...

 

You automate the device on/off. I just tested, with the device in question, and it works.

 

im assuning when you say ,"plays" you mean it cycles thru the bar (be it 4 beats or however many you set it to.) which is odd, as most sequencers only start rolling when you hit play. And i also aassume you DON'T mean it plays even when its turned off (the little button on the top, click it nto turn device off or on) because... no devices work like that. right from the jump;

midi map it to any cc button (ctrl-m then click the on/off button then click the cc button on whatever kind of controller you use)

key map it ctrl-k and you can literally turn it off with any keyboard letter. if you use your keyboard tk olay notes (M) then letters q and p will work as theyre not notes snd most of the bottom row save the first 4 ir so that control velocity

automate it in your song. Not a fan of that in this instance because part of writing your song or melodic/harmonoc stuff depends on that cycling or not cycling. So in thay respect - for me - i like to be sble to control thngs as if i were playing an instrument

map it to an LFO youre into "generative stuff" then maybe to tou it will be cool if an LFO playing some crazy shape at vatiable speeds turns it on when its at or above point X. I would never do this because im more into me generating music than some hack whos trhing to push plugins and apps thay do everything for you.

all these guys talking about using a utilitie, all thays gonna do is mute what its playing. using a utility to mute the instrument is more expensive snd redundant thay just... turnng the instrument off. But thay also assumed you want the sequence tj be cycling when its quiet, where as i got the jist that you didnt want the seauence progressing until you turned jt back on.

 

ableton crossfader is always cool to cut off a channel often forgotten cause its hidden away theres are a few free max 4 live crossfaders that can be mapped

 

No, I do mean that. The minute you put it in there, it starts playing, even when you don't have a clip. I don't seem to be able to have any control over it.

 

just turn off all the voices (yellow to white save as preset) ?