Setup Guide

MIDI Setup Guide: Controlling Ableton Live
TM
3•6
Exit Live’s MIDI Map Mode and give it a try - You should see the Chorus Dry/Wet knob respond to
your Expression Pedal’s movement! You can repeat the above steps and map the pedal to any other
Live effects’ knobs or even the Live Mixer faders & knobs. Or, if you have a KB37, you can map KB37’s
knob or Mod Wheel controllers following the above steps as well.
Mapping to an AU/VST Effect Parameter
As with most other DAW software, with Ableton Live you are not just limited to mapping your
controllers to Live’s parameters. Once a 3rd party AU or VST Plug-In is loaded in the software, it
is also possible to map to the Plug-In’s parameters. In this example we’ll show you how to map the
Expression Pedal controller to the Line 6 POD Farm Plug-In’s Wah Position parameter. This allows
you work the pedal and control the POD Farm Wah effect in real-time! These steps would be similar
for the Line 6 POD GearBox Plug-In, or most any 3rd party AU or VST Plug-In effect you might have
available.
• In the Line 6 MIDI Control Settings dialog, configure your Expression Pedal controller to send a
MIDI CC - we’ll again use CC 5. Your settings should look like this (and remember to click the
Apply button when done):
• In Ableton Live, record or load an audio file in an audio track. A recorded clean rhythm guitar
would work nicely here. We’re working in Live’s “Arrangement View” here.
• In Live’s Plug-In Devices Browser panel, select your Plug-In and drag it on top of your audio
track.
• You’ll see the effect module load into Live’s lower panel. If you click on the little arrow at the
top of this effect module, you’ll see it expands to expose a Configure option. This allows you to
add parameters from the Plug-In’s edit window so that it is accessible within the effect module
display.