Controllers compatible with Ableton Live

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Posted by JPlay on Nov-11-2009 01:35:

Controllers compatible with Ableton Live

Hi guys,

I have a question, are all controllers compatible with Ableton Live? I have Live LE 7 and am interested in looking to buy a controller. What are some good cheap ones you can recommend? I'm not looking for anything crazy or big (physically).

I saw the Akai APC40 and it looked too big for me, so I guess I'm looking for something smaller/more compact and also cheaper.

Thanks in advance!

Posted by Terrence Parker on Nov-11-2009 15:49:

Re: Controllers compatible with Ableton Live

quote:
Originally posted by JPlay
Hi guys,

I have a question, are all controllers compatible with Ableton Live? I have Live LE 7 and am interested in looking to buy a controller. What are some good cheap ones you can recommend? I'm not looking for anything crazy or big (physically).

I saw the Akai APC40 and it looked too big for me, so I guess I'm looking for something smaller/more compact and also cheaper.

Thanks in advance!

http://www.abletonlivedj.com/forum/...pic.php?t=18378

Posted by SPAWNmaster on Nov-11-2009 16:00:

So far Ableton is only MIDI compliant. You can set up special instances of OSC dialog between those type of devices/controllers and Ableton but that usually requires Max/MSP hacking and some clever routing with your interface and computer. It's easier with a mac.

Posted by Demoted on Nov-11-2009 16:18:

M-Audio UC-33e

Posted by DJ_Lord on Nov-12-2009 00:00:

quote:
Originally posted by SPAWNmaster
So far Ableton is only MIDI compliant. You can set up special instances of OSC dialog between those type of devices/controllers and Ableton but that usually requires Max/MSP hacking and some clever routing with your interface and computer. It's easier with a mac.

So you're saying that I cannot play any of my mp3s using a controller?

Posted by Zak McKracken on Nov-12-2009 10:23:

quote:
Originally posted by Demoted
Evolution UC-33e

Posted by SPAWNmaster on Nov-12-2009 14:19:

quote:
Originally posted by DJ_Lord
So you're saying that I cannot play any of my mp3s using a controller?

Nope, I didn't say that at all. Not sure how you got that from my comment.

Posted by JPlay on Nov-13-2009 06:46:

i think he meant that you can play midis but not mp3s, since u only mentioned midis. i guess i'm not the only amateur around here...

Posted by Teezdalien on Nov-13-2009 13:23:

If you have dough, the VCM600 is a nice choice. I'm very happy with mine.

Posted by DJ_Lord on Nov-13-2009 18:50:

what JPlay said...that's what I meant.

I don't have that much money to spend on this to be honest. I'm actually looking to drop 250-350 tops.

so any more recommendations...?

thanks

Posted by SPAWNmaster on Nov-13-2009 20:34:

quote:
Originally posted by DJ_Lord
what JPlay said...that's what I meant.

I don't have that much money to spend on this to be honest. I'm actually looking to drop 250-350 tops.

so any more recommendations...?

thanks

Still unsure what you mean as any MIDI controller is compatible with Ableton.

Either way there have been a great set of recommendations so far here. The UC-33e is one of the more popular ones among ALDJ's. I'd make a recommendation of the Novation Remote SL Zero...I think they have a newer version out but it's a great machine, no doubt.

Posted by Teezdalien on Nov-14-2009 08:52:

Posted by Stu Cox on Nov-14-2009 10:39:

quote:
Originally posted by Teezdalien
If you have dough, the VCM600 is a nice choice. I'm very happy with mine.

I've always thought if I was doing sets with Ableton, I'd get one of these. It's just got exactly the controls I'd want, where I'd want them.

The only reason I didn't get one to use with Traktor myself is because it's a bit too big to carry around to gigs with you and some smaller clubs haven't got a lot of room in the booth!

At the lower end of the scale, I quite like the look of the Novation Zero SL for Ableton, but can't say I've used one.

Posted by Teezdalien on Nov-14-2009 11:00:

quote:
Originally posted by Stu Cox
I've always thought if I was doing sets with Ableton, I'd get one of these. It's just got exactly the controls I'd want, where I'd want them.

The only reason I didn't get one to use with Traktor myself is because it's a bit too big to carry around to gigs with you and some smaller clubs haven't got a lot of room in the booth!

At the lower end of the scale, I quite like the look of the Novation Zero SL for Ableton, but can't say I've used one.

The layout of the VCM600 was specifacally designed for use with ableton although it can be used with other apps. Honestly they're not cheap though but there are good alternatives for those on a budget (UC-33). The build quality is excellent and it feels like a proper dj mixer, not just a plastic toy like so many other controllers on the market.

Posted by Stu Cox on Nov-14-2009 11:26:

quote:
Originally posted by Teezdalien
The layout of the VCM600 was specifacally designed for use with ableton although it can be used with other apps. Honestly they're not cheap though but there are good alternatives for those on a budget (UC-33). The build quality is excellent and it feels like a proper dj mixer, not just a plastic toy like so many other controllers on the market.

Vestax are good at that Although bear in mind, if Allen & Heath brought out something like that it'd be twice the price, I actually think the VCM600's a bit of a bargain!

I've just bought myself a Xone:2D to have a play around with as it looked like the best thing for what I wanted to do. There are cheaper alternatives, but I always think there's no substitute for getting the bit of kit which does EXACTLY what you want - and getting rid of the feeling of "if only I'd paid the extra for that..." However everyone has some limit on budget of course.

Actually, as an exercise for working out what bit of kit to get, I always think it's a good idea to work out what your ideal would be, regardless of price. That gets you thinking purely about functionality:
- How many sliders/knobs/buttons/jog wheels do I need?
- What kind of layout would work for what I want to do?
- Do I want some kind of display?
- Does it have to be portable?
- Does it have to be quick and easy to connect?

Then find the bits of kit which match those requirements. If they're all out of your price range, at least you've then got a "model" you can work down from by sacrificing the least important requirements, until you find something you can afford which does most of what you want. And even say to people "I want a ... but can't afford it. Does anyone know of a cheaper alternative with a similar layout/functionality?"

Posted by Teezdalien on Nov-14-2009 14:14:

quote:
Originally posted by Stu Cox
Vestax are good at that Although bear in mind, if Allen & Heath brought out something like that it'd be twice the price, I actually think the VCM600's a bit of a bargain!

I've just bought myself a Xone:2D to have a play around with as it looked like the best thing for what I wanted to do. There are cheaper alternatives, but I always think there's no substitute for getting the bit of kit which does EXACTLY what you want - and getting rid of the feeling of "if only I'd paid the extra for that..." However everyone has some limit on budget of course.

Actually, as an exercise for working out what bit of kit to get, I always think it's a good idea to work out what your ideal would be, regardless of price. That gets you thinking purely about functionality:
- How many sliders/knobs/buttons/jog wheels do I need?
- What kind of layout would work for what I want to do?
- Do I want some kind of display?
- Does it have to be portable?
- Does it have to be quick and easy to connect?

Then find the bits of kit which match those requirements. If they're all out of your price range, at least you've then got a "model" you can work down from by sacrificing the least important requirements, until you find something you can afford which does most of what you want. And even say to people "I want a ... but can't afford it. Does anyone know of a cheaper alternative with a similar layout/functionality?"

I fully agree with this post although I still think $1500AU is a bit pricey for a midi controller. I'm not sure how much the 2D retail for here, but I wouldn't have thought any midi controllers to be worth as much as proper solid state mixers.

Posted by Stu Cox on Nov-14-2009 15:06:

quote:
Originally posted by Teezdalien
I fully agree with this post although I still think $1500AU is a bit pricey for a midi controller. I'm not sure how much the 2D retail for here, but I wouldn't have thought any midi controllers to be worth as much as proper solid state mixers.

The 2D's �480 here, while the VCM600 is about �560, if that gives some kind of scale. But the 2D does a hell of a lot less than the VCM, the only thing it's really got over the VCM is it's got a built-in soundcard. I bought it for portability really.

I think generally MIDI controllers are cheaper than mixers, although you've got to compare like for like: your laptop + midi controller are replacing 2 or more decks/CD decks and a mixer. In terms of what it actually does, yeah a MIDI controller is basically a digital mixer which doesn't actually do any processing (i.e. a bunch of digital controls) so from that respect I agree it should be cheaper. But I think you'd be hard pushed to find a 6 channel mixer with the same build quality as the VCM600 for the same price!

Actually in my case I'm still using a mixer and just using the MIDI controller for transport / looping, so MIDI controller + laptop are just replacing 3 or 4 CDJs. I'm not doing it for cost saving, but written like that it sounds pretty good!

Posted by JPlay on Nov-14-2009 19:37:

it seems that it came down to the novation remote zero sl vs the m-audio uc33e and the m-audio won simply because it's smaller and cheaper! in any case, i noticed they carry it at b&h photo so i will check it out this week to get the feel of it.

thanks again guys!