JuanLittleDevil

APC40 users!!!

This weeks post is more of a thank you for the great work that Hanz Petrov is doing with his python remote scripts for Ableton Live.These are by far the BEST mods to the APC40 I’ve tested so far, reason being that they’re rock solid! Furthermore, they do NOT require maxforlive at all. The two device chains for download here are “Sequencer Aid” and “Chords”. I will get into detail further in the post. But first, if you haven’t already installed the latest version of his script be sure to head to his site and download it: http://remotescripts.blogspot.com/p/apc-64-40.html.

LittleDevil – Sequencer Aid

Sequencer Aid is a little device chain which makes live easier to work with when using the sequencer mode (shift-master) on the apc40 script. It is used to select the pitch for each of the 5 sequence parts in the loop. Each voice is mapped  as follows:

Each of the voices has a +/-36 steps or (+/- 3 octaves), so if you have a drum rack following this device, macros 1-5 will allow you to select the drum part for each of the 5 sequences. Additionally, I’ve mapped some pitch change and chord devices to macros 6-8. This is useful if you are using a synth instead of drum racks, or if you want to layer your drums.

Macro 6 is the root key of the chord, this also acts as an additional pitch changer which applies to all 5 parts. If you were to put this in front of a commercial drum machine plugin and your pitches don’t fall in the same scale, then you can shift all the parts by an octave (+/1 12 steps).

Macros 7 and 8 create a chord so up to 3 parts can play for each of the voices. Now, I undertand that you may not want to have chords play for all 5 parts. If you need to disable this functionality for a particular part, all you have to do is expand the detail view of the chain for that voice, and disable (click on the off button) the chord device inside that chain.

LittleDevil – Chords

Chords is a harmonization tool based on basic music theory principles. The idea here is that you press a key, and the key plays a chord. This device is capable of playing triads, first inversions, second inversions and 7th chords for all the notes in a given key.

Chords is designed to work with “MATRIX MODE 7 “ of the script by Hanz. To engage this mode press “Shift” + “Track Select 7″.

The image below shows how the chords are laid out on the matrix keys:

“key scale” – Use this macro to select the key 0 = Cmaj.

• 0 – C
• 1 – C#/Db
• 2 – D
• 3 – D#/Eb
• 4 – E
• 5 – F
• 6 – F#/Gb
• 7 – G
• 8 – G#/Ab
• 9 – A
• 10 – A#/Bb
• 11 – B

If you want to move the scale up or down an octave you need to add or subtract 12 steps to the values above. Although, I suggest adding a pitch device after and shifting by 12 steps instead.

“arpeggiator” – There are 3 controls mapped to the arpeggiator, the gate encoder also functions as an off/on button. At 0 value, the arpeggiator is OFF.

“velocity” – Velocity controls, including random range.

“note length” – You can fix the note length here if you like. The note length dial also works as an off/on button at 0 value (10ms) the device is bypassed (OFF). At 1 or 11ms the device is on and ranges from 11ms to 60s (127).

NOTE: The devices above are somewhat finished, but still could use some improvements. “Chords” for example still has room for one more set of chords. Be sure to check this site again, as I will be replacing the current files with new versions once I’ve had more time to make some changes. If you have some suggestions or requests please be sure to contact me. I check my comments all the time.

Enjoy!

Download the plugin here:  APC40 Aid.alp

As usual to install:

1. download file
2. unzip
3. double click on the APC40 Aid.alp
4. the above command will create a project folder in the location you specify, so open that project.
5. from the “File Menu” select manage files
6. click on manage project
7. click on import into library