Part 2: Software - Roland SPD S as MIDI drum trigger input for Ableton Live Session Drums

[jjjm94jjjm94]

Can you do it with the SPD-30? Supermuch thanks

[SuperRomlo]

Hi everyone !

I own a SPD20, and i did the pitch mapping as showned in the video! It's great and thank for this trick!

But I althought own a Roland kd-8 and Roland triggers rt-10S and rt-10T, which I don't manage to map on Ableton Live (they are not reconized, the yellow light doesn't appear in the soft right corner).

Does anyone have this problem with spd-20 ?

It may be the Fast Track Pro, cause ableton doesn't reconize it, it shows "MIDI USB peripherique" in section IN and OUT in Midi Sync...

[onetrillionrpm]

I'm using my SPD-S with the version of Ableton that came with the M-Audio Fast Track Pro (Ableton Live 8 Lite). The part of this process that I'm getting caught on is when we bring the GM Drum Map to the Audio Effect area. When you do it, we see a keyboard appear in the GM Drum Map box, which you use to assign remote parameters. When I do it, all I see is a group of 8 Macro toggles in the GM Drum Map box. Is this due to the version of Ableton that I am using or am I doing something wrong?

[Fabbydabbydoozy]

Hi. Thanks for the upload.

Early on in the video, you hit the pad and it fires an empty G sharp box. Why do you not just drag the sample you want into that empty box? Would that not be a more straightforward way of doing it?

[drumminhands]

@Fabbydabbydoozy That's a good question. Your method would work too, but then my drum samples are kind of all over the screen. I prefer to map them into a 9-grid pattern that matches the drum pad visually. It's just easier for me if I want to swap something in and out. But really it's anyone's call on what they want to do.

[tchekitout]

@drumminhands Youre right, this guy takes a very long road for a short cut.

[lukefenech]

Thank you very much. I am new to Ableton and have a Roland TD12 I have been unsuccessfully attempting to map. I will attempt to use your method of adding pitch and individual chains and if it works I owe you a big debt of gratitude.

Kind regards

[eternalhideful]

Hi.. i am using some direct midi to USB cables.. Thus i want to know weather this kind of setup would work for triggering or not. Hope an answer from anyone.. Pleased for some help..

-Revanth

[Rotsdrum]

Thanx! Great Work..Just a question..:

how can I check the volumes (increase, decrease) for each pad (snare, kick etc..)??

Please if any knows answer as soon as possible!

Thanx in advance!

[TtimePoi]

you can't map things directly to a drum rack you need to send the right notes into the drum rack in order to trigger them..

[TtimePoi]

you can also map the effect control knob on the ROLAND

[drumminhands]

@ApocalisseOra that's a great trick too. I like to control the device in Ableton myself but I'm glad you have another solution that others might be able to use.

[drumminhands]

@sseos are you seeing a signal light change of the fastrack pro? If so then the problem is probably in Ableton. If not, try reconnecting the MIDI cables (in and out both sides. Try switching them out in case you have them crossed.) if you get signal in the Fasttrack pro, then see if you get a MIDI light in the upper right-hand corner of Ableton as you trigger the pad. If so then your track may not be listening to the right channel. If not, then your configuration may be wrong in preferences. Ho

[sseos]

@drumminhands

hey thx for replying. I just checked. there is no signal light on fasttrack pro. I don't know if it matters but I only have one midi cable connected: midi-out from spd to midi-in in fasttrack pro. I just need that, right? What about all the options in the spd about midi? device id, midi channel, software thrugh bla bla???

[sseos]

it works man! I switched the cables and it works.going back to work now. cheers!

[sseos]

hey i just got my hands on the spd-s and my trying to do the same thing with live. i got the fasttrack pro as well but i cannot get it to send any midi signals to live. any suggestions?

[ApocalisseOra]

you can change the keys in the MIDI patch of the SPD-.s without changing the pitch of all notes of ableton in half the time!

It is inside the setup of the patches pads, so you can assign the right note to the trigger without using a key transpose inside the program.

[sseos]

@ApocalisseOra.

hey i tried to do this but it doesn't work. I assigned the right midi note to the sound i want to be produced but it doesnt do anything. even when i change the note in the spd, ableton recognizes it as a different note when i use the midi mapping mode in live. any ideas???

[ApocalisseOra]

@sseos

I can't help you now, the setup of the midi notes in my spd s and in ableton works. I will post anyway a new comment explaining the setting up i've done.

sorry for the english! See ya.

To drumminhands:

You are welcome!!

[sseos]

@ApocalisseOra

one small question. what device do you choose as the control surface in the midi/preferences in live? of course spd-s is not listed.

[TtimePoi]

@sseos you don't need to select a control surface, thats only if you have a script set up for the Roland. cheers!

[zubba82]

Instead of doing the whole pitch effect thing you can just drag the sound to the right spot! i.e. if you have a snre on a G but the pad you're using is playng an empty C box, just drag the snare box to the C! Hope I explained myself!

[sseos]

I agree, but then if you would change another drum kit then he had to move everything allover again. But this way enables you to use all drum kits because they always use the same midi notes. It takes some time to set it up but once you have it then it's easier, I think. I never tried it but this is how I imagine it...

[saultie]

Sweet, man! Thanks for posting . . . There must be an easier way to do it, but, 'till then, this shall do!

[fionnion]

Great vid thanks!

[drumminhands]

Yeah, apparently I was sleepy when I made the title screens. We'll just pretend the "h" is silent.

[kb1629]

Rohland, lol :) No but seriously: nice videos, thanks for posting.