Is it possible to use A4's Mute/Track Buttons to toggle a track sequenced in Ableton off/on?

Elektron Gear Analog Keys/Four
1

Dear folks, I wonder if it’s possible to use A4’s Mute/Track Buttons to toggle a A4 track sequenced in Ableton off/on? How to do it, if possible?

Any ideas are warmly welcome. Thanks for your time and knowledge!

2

It should be possible using midi.

Muting on A4 sends a midi CC message (manual has a chart with the exact CC number)

So, use Ableton’s midi learn function and you can assign A4’s mute buttons to whatever Ableton function you want (for example mute Ableton track or launch midi clip) just like you would with another midi controller.

1 Like
3

Thanks a lot for your dear answer. I can get something like this working only by using potis (I’ve tried encoder E), but not using the knobs T1, T2, and so on. So I can switch the related “internal instrument” on or off sending MIDI. It would be great if it also worked by using the track buttons.

4

Sorry for making waves, I may have made a mistake. I’ll try again on my own. I’ll let you know if I can or can’t get it working.

Edit: Now I can switch a MIDI track in Ableton using T1 etc. one way, either on OR off, using the MIDI mapping function, but not on AND off. Ableton’s article on “Toggle and Momentary MIDI functions” doesn’t really make me wiser.

Is maybe here a mistake? If i hit the virtual on/off button on the “external instrument” it switches the T1 track light from yellow to red an vice versa. So does it switch itself to the other side again? Like Shannon’s on/off machine?

5

I think elektron devices can’t send two similar midi cc message in a row, just one, and then something has to happen to reset the data so I’m guessing that this may be related. Try using track to mute, then turn an encoder or use another midi function or another track button, then try your same track again and if it works then it’s probably just going to need setting up a different value for the second press or I read about a workaround using an lfo which resets the value.

I’m just guessing based on what you’re saying though, you’ll need to confirm whether or not sending a different midi command allows you to then press the track again and has the desired result (or not).

6

Thank you very much. This info’s helpful to me. I’ll try this in a bit.

7

Ok if it doesn’t work as expected I might ask @sezare56 how the lfo trick to reset the midi data works, maybe he’ll have time to comment here. I think he said it uses a half wave lfo to reset the value but don’t quote me on that part, I never had to try it.

1 Like
8

Thank you! I’ll try it a little bit later.

1 Like
9

ok no problem, good luck.

10

Thanks so much for your suggestion. Unfortunately, though, it doesn’t work for me.

What I’ve come across, as mentioned before, is a strange behaviour. I’m unsure if it’s possibly related to the problem: Although in Ableton’s MIDI Out section only Track is highlighted, I can switch the T1 button on the A4 by klicking the External Instrument button with the mouse.

11

I used to use my keyboard of my cv track as midi out for ableton clips

12

Thanks. Interesting idea.