Preset Packs for Ableton Push
The push controller allows you to easily load and swap Ableton spcific devices directly from the controllers LCD displays "on-the-fly" without stopping playback or touching the computer. This is a great ability as it keeps a flow going and makes the controller really feel like an instrument. In order to even load a 3rd party VST instrument you first have to create an Instrument Rack containing the VST and then Save this into the User Library.
Saving a VST in an instrument rack allows you to load it as it was saved along with all the control mappings. This is the first step but doesn't allow you to browse the presets from the Push Controller.
So to get this functionality requires creating an instrument rack for EVERY preset in a VST instrument... And that is exactly what I set out to achieve.
Creating The Instrument Rack
The first step was to create a default instrument rack and program the Trilian Macro controls as the configurede parameters. This offers the user 12 controls to tweak each patch and the macro controls in Trilian are set to the most useful controls that apply to a spcific patch. This will mean that controls on Push will differfrom patch to patch but also means that you have the most useful tweakable controls directly on Push.
Values will update as you browse patches but the parameter names will only update when you change focus from the Trilian track to another Ableton track and back. This is an issue with Ableton.
Each preset rack is loaded with an EQ8 on the output ready for shaping the sound and also to offer a visual spectrum of the output. I applied a 40Hz low cut filter as this is something I like to apply to most elements to remove the unneeded frequencies below this point. The rest of the rack is empty / default
Why No Macro Knob Mappings?
You may notice that I have not used the Macro Knobs. While these can be used for your own requirements there is a reason the macros have not been used for VST patches
- The macro knobs will not update their position if you change a VST preset which results in sounds not being correct when switching from one preset to another
- The Macro Knobs will only display a generic 1---127 value instead of the actual controllers data. Configured controls will display the actual Time/Freq/Position data of the control
- You only have access to 8 Macro knobs whereas you really need access to many, many more and can easily access the configured controls with Push
- The Macro knobs can be utilized instead for MACRO control allowing mapping to multiple parameters when you dial in your sound.
Creating All The Preset Files
The aim was to closely mirror the Trilian folder structure to allow browsing by categories and models.
I had already created a very reliable and sophisticated script for Omnisphere using a scripting program called AutoITv3. I simply used this script which was able to run through every preset in Trilian in the same way as Omnisphere. I started with a single Instrument Rack loaded with a default Trilian patch and then mapped the Trilian Macro controls in the Instrument Rack. This was then used as the base template for every preset rack. The script simply stepped through each preset in Trilian, copied its patch name and saved this as an Ableton Instrument Rack.
Browsing via Push
The folder structure closely mirrors the Trilian browser structure with some of the obselete sorting categories combined to make browsing simple. Navigation from Push is quick and easy and allows any Trilian patches to be browsed, loaded or swapped. If it is desired to change the way the folders are displayed on Push the user can simply rearrange the folders and files to their liking.
I manually sorted patches into folders with a MAX limit of about 50-80 files. If there were more than this in a category I created numbered folders to help keep browsing on a small LCD simple.
It took some time to get this method working well and was the longest part of the manual process
Compatibility
- Works in Live 9+
- Supports Push MK1 + MK2
- VST Only (no AU Support)
- 32/64 Bit Compatible
- Requires Spectrasonics Trilian
Support
For any questions or support related matters please see the Ableton Push Forum
Please keep in mind this project was done out of a desire to have Trilian browsable from my own Push. I have created it for my own needs and offered it for FREE to those interested.
Please consider donating if you find it useful. A LOT of time and effort went into the creation of these patches and hosting the files costs me money so all donations are much appreciated.
Download
You can download a test version that has a handfull of presets to see how it will work for you
For the full version simply use the payment link and you will receive a download immediatly. The purchase will be added to your account for future download.