How to make a step drum sequencer in Ableton 8 for APC Part 2.wmv

This is part 2 of a video on how to make an 8-step drum sequencer in Ableton Live 8. The sequencer is designed for the APC 40 and does not require MAX or any other application. I am only mapping buttons on the APC so you could use any MIDI control device with enough buttons to do the same. This drum sequencer is built with chains for 4 different drum sounds but you could adjust the project easily with more chains for more hits. This sequencer is designed to keep as much of the auto-map functions intact as possible while using dedicated buttons for sequencer control that I find are not used as ofter, CLIP STOP, ACTIVATOR, SOLO, and RECORD. By using these buttons and not the clip lauchpad, you are free to use the navigation and launch pads for other loops, samples and instruments. You can also use the device control knobs and track control to control the drum sounds as well as all of your other tracks. I do use the last row of the lauchpad section to blink as LEDs with the beat. This gives you a visual reference of the beat and still allows you to use the rest of the clip launch area to trigger your other clips and sounds.

I have uploaded a demonstration set that works "out of the box" with the APC. Just unzip the archive, install the Live Pack and then open the live set. In the .zip you will also find a text file with some additional tips in regards to mapping and expanding the device to include additional drum/instrument sounds.

http://www.aceoproductions.com/tutorials/DMJ-4-piece-expandable-drum-sequence...

Enjoy!
DMJ

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• How to
• Ableton live 8
• step drum sequencer
• DIY
• AKAI
• APC 40
• tutorial
• music production
• DMJ
• ACEO productions
• Blue Bishop Records
• Jeremiah DiMatteo

[niteryderbilly]

Great video, I always wondered how they did that. Any idea how to do the transformer voice? Did you have to upgrade to suite to do this sequencer? It wouldnt let me input the drum sounds into the pads w/out upgrading to suite. It said it required the use of operator.

[DMJmaChineandi]

@niteryderbilly Regarding using Suite, I made this using Suite so and I used some default sounds from the library. You can just replace the samples in my drum rack with your own and VOILA! you can begin to sequence.

[gdomusic]

This is great, man. Thanks for sharing.

[DMJmaChineandi]

@gdomusic Glad you like it! I have some other concepts that I am working on as well so stay tuned for more updates.

[derekisthebest1]

kk for everyone that says its too complex. i just watched the video a couple times and i managed to get to the end with a final result of my ableton crashing after i edit the midi notes. seems everytime i make one of these it crashes. any knowledge behind why this may be happining (cpu,asio ect....). thanks for your input

[DMJmaChineandi]

@derekisthebest1 I just uploaded a working .alp for demonstration purposes. Hope that helps!

[DMJmaChineandi]

@Miroslawsnketr You should be able to put a drum rack after the sequencer rack and all you have to map are the chain mute buttons for each sounds step chains. I will be uploading a working set with the chains and drums mapped accordingly in the next few days. The set should work without any need to map as long as you are using the APC 40 and I assume it works with the 20 as well.

[DMJmaChineandi]

@derekisthebest1 This is very strange as I use this step sequencer in almost all of my sets, some of which require 6 gigs of RAM and I have no issues. I have an i5 with 8 gigs of RAM using the internal sound card and "ASIO 4 ALL" Are you starting with a completely new set? I will be uploading a working set in the next few days and I hope that helps.

[Miroslawsnketr]

@DMJmaChineandi Hey man i try to make this with my APC and it wont work ;/ could you upload this sequencer so i can try to see if thats what i need? im looking to, somehow launch instantaneously some samples as a drum sequencer and using any button from the APC...someone told me that the best way is to use a Drumrack and put all the samples, then map..but i dont know if its that easy, i dont have currently time to do this, but please respond on how to make this for a larger amount of samples thx

[DMJmaChineandi]

@Miroslawsnketr Good point, I see that now lol