I have published another M4L device called “Push 3 MTR Manual Sequencer”.
PUSH 3 MTR Manual Sequencer
“Push 3 MTR Manual Sequencer” is an M4L device that allows you to enter notes into a sequencer, and then advance each note within said sequences manually, step by step. This allows, for example, to create scores in which we will advance the control of each note when we decide, without a pre-established metric or control. Time is detached from the performance itself and controlled by the performer. This device works on computers, but is especially designed to be used on the Push 3 Standalone.
The basic controls are spread over pages that are controlled with the dial on the right. The first 4 pages control the 4 independent sequencers and players. On each of these pages the same controls are repeated for each of the 4 sequencers. In the first position we have the selector to record the sequence using CW rotation. If we move it CCW we rewind the sequence to the beginning. Next we have the “Advance” control, which advances note by note, holding the notes while the dial is in its right position and killing them if we move it back to the left position. Then the “Advance Hold” that advances each step without cutting the notes specially designed for ambient or drone performances. Then the “Notes Off” that turns off all the active notes of this sequence. Later we have the selector to send the midi notes in that sequencer to the receiver of the M4L device “Push 3 MTR Receiver” (included in the pack), the “Bypass” selector that cuts off the input of notes to the recorder in case we want to practice or have doubts about the notes while we are recording a sequence, and finally the “MIDI IN” selector common to the 4 sequencers that cuts the note input to all recorders and the instruments after that (this function and why it has been designed will be explained later).
On page 5 are the 4 “Advance” controls of the 4 sequencers, on page 6 the 4 “Advance Hold” controls and on page 7 the “Note Off”. There are several ways to advance the sequences. The first one is by moving each dial (Advance or Advance Hold). The other one is by selecting the corresponding midi note on pages 10 and 11 and pressing them. By default the Advance and Advance Hold notes start at C-2 note. The last one, which is quite experimental and is not yet working 100 % of the times (the Ableton people need to polish a little bit the P3 SA firmware … :)) is by tapping the jog wheel and the 8 different pots. The first 4 pots advance each sequencer and the last 4 advance and hold them.
Additionally, on pages 8 and 9 we can select the sequence that we want to store or load from the Push’s internal disk (for this we will have to create a folder with the structure “…/User Library/MTR Sequences”) by moving the dial of each CW sequence to read or CCW to write. The sequences can be downloaded from the Push 3 using a computer and renamed them. Within the Push 3 all sequences must have the “seq#.alc” structure (these are NOT actual Ableton ALC files but renamed TXT files. They are saved under ALC extension to be seen by Ableton Live. If you want to edit them just use a simple TXT editor or Sublime Text App).
Finally, on pages 10 and 11 there are the midi note selectors that will “Advance” or “Advance Hold” each sequence.
Along with the “Push 3 MTR” is included the “Push 3 MTR Receiver” which is used to send the signal from each sequencer to different midi tracks and different instruments. To do this, we will select the desired send in the sequencer and in the MTR Receiver located on another midi track the channel we want to listen to. We can also send the midi signal back to the track where the Push 3 MTR is located so that the keys light up with the notes being played. If we also want to record these notes in a clip, it will be important to activate the “MIDI IN” in its “OFF” position so as not to create a feedback loop of notes that go to the RECEIVER and back to the MTR. The “MIDI IN” dial cuts off external note input, so notes can be recorded to a track clip without problems by turning the dial to the “OFF” position when recording the clips and then back to “ON” to listen to external midi notes.
Here’s a demo video: https://vimeo.com/947063208/230d68a994
