Using Syntakt as a Control Surface - Send Relative MIDI cc?

Elektron Gear
1

Hi guys, I was wondering if anyone could help me solve an issue with macro parameters jumping in Ableton when using Syntakt as a control surface.

A bit of background on what I’m trying to do: I’ve built a drum machine inside ableton Live and I’m using Syntakt’s sequencer to control it, I also have a User Remote Script that lets me control whatever rack is selected using Syntakt’s encoders and there’s a midi machine on every single track with those encoder CC values set to control Ableton via the blue hand.

The problem arises when I press play and the encoder positions in syntakt don’t match those of the macros of a selected rack in Ableton. They immediately jump to match the encoders on Syntakt.

Here’s a video showing the problem https://youtu.be/YB-TbWRv9Fs?si=fCG_8cN9Qxn7AwQk

I figured it’s because Syntakt is sending absolute CC encoder values. Is there a way to send relative midi CC? If not is there some other solution?

Makes me wish the syntakt had multiple 8 knob banks per midi track so I could just hardmap them all

2

Look into “takeover mode” in Ableton MIDI and Key Remote Control — Ableton Reference Manual Version 12 | Ableton
Similar to the difference between “jump” and “catch” / “pick-up” on some hardware.

1 Like
3

Thanks! I’ll have a look shortly and test it out.

4

Hi so I gave this a try. It still happens. Sometimes the macros even jump as soon as the rack is selected with the mouse before I press play or turn any encoders(they jump match wherever the encoders on Syntakt show).

Can syntakt’s knobs output relative midi data?

I have no idea what’s going on with it. Sometimes it will jump when I select a different midi track on syntakt, sometimes it doesn’t. Like sometimes the rack in Ableton resets to match the syntakt knobs. Other times nothing happens

If I make a new pattern and only have one midi track in it then it works fine and there’s no value jumps so long as that track isn’t playing any notes

Edit: So after some more testing the problem only happens when there is more than one Syntakt midi track with the same control surface CC as the other track. So I guess I’ll have to compromise and just use one track or pattern for controlling Ableton devices.