MIDI/Sync

The MPC can be used to control Live. You can use the MPC pads to trigger clips in Live and sync Live to the MPC sequencer. You will need a MIDI interface to send information to Live and to sync Live with the MPC.

Some MIDI controllers, such as some touch-sensitive motorized faders, can send complex MIDI messages. The control may be sending a MIDI message when it is first touched or moved and another message when the control is released. Live may not assign the control correctly because it is learning the last MIDI message that it receives. Below is a solution for controls that have this behavior:

1. Turn on MIDI Map Mode in Live.
2. Select the parameter you want to control.
3. Touch and hold the control on the MIDI device.
4. Turn off MIDI Map Mode.
5. Release the control on the MIDI device.

You must set up Live to either transmit or receive MIDI sync via the Live Preferences MIDI/Sync tab. You will need a MIDI interface connected to your computer and configured to transmit or receive MIDI Clock. Please consult the documentation of the other device or software for instructions on setting up sync.

Some MIDI devices have presets containing assignments that do not use MIDI CC values. Live only recognizes MIDI CC. Usually you can use another preset that uses only CC values or try to manually reassign the fader/knob/button on the device.

Make sure that the "Favour MIDI Timing" option is enabled in Cubase 5. Also check the buffer size for the audio device; the lower the buffer size, the better sync in most cases.

Please check the Preferences Audio tab in Live and make sure you do not have the buffer size of the audio device set high.

If you are using Live 4 or later and Reason 2 or later versions, you can send MIDI from Live's tracks to the devices in Reason via ReWire by following these steps:

1. Start Live, then start Reason. This sets Reason up as a ReWire slave. Set up the modules in Reason the way you want them.
2. If necessary, create a new MIDI track in Live. (From the Insert menu, select "Insert MIDI Track.")
3. Make sure that the View menu's "In/Out" option is checked.
4. To route MIDI from Live into Reason, choose "Reason" from the new track's "MIDI To" Output Type chooser.
5. Below the Output Type chooser, select the specific Reason device to which you'd like to send MIDI from the Output Channel chooser.