Push Hacker - User Manual

Installation

Drag the Pushhacker-2.amxd device from Live’s Browser onto an empty MIDI track. For best results, keep Push Hacker on its own MIDI track.

If your Push is already powered and connected to Live, the device will connect automatically.

First Setup

Disconnecting Ableton Push

Before unplugging or powering off Push—or before removing Push Hacker from your Live set—deactivate the device to release all control assignments. This prevents pads/encoders from staying “stuck” on their last assignment.

assign a Function

You are able to assign every control Element (Buttons, Dials, Touchstrip) from Push 1, 2 or Push 3 to a specific Function from Push Hacker. 

global controls of the Function Modules

These controls appear the same across all function modules. They affect the currently selected control element (pad, button, dial/encoder, or touchstrip) and its assigned function. Available functions differ by control type—some are pad/button-only, others are specific to dials/encoders, and some are unique to the touchstrip.

Note: A few functions aren’t supported in Live 12 and Push 3 due to API/firmware differences; where this applies, the UI indicates the limitation (see Compatibility notes).

On/Off Switch

Enable or disable the selected function for the current control element. Turn it Off to temporarily mute the behavior without deleting the assignment.

1. here you see
   a) the On/Off Switch to Activate and Deactivate this Function.
   b) the Name of the Control the Function is map to and
   c) the delete button to unassign this function from this Button or Dial
2. Here you can assign the Function to a Group
3. Here you can usually set the color (in some Function Modules there are exceptions) and you have a Control which is you “virtual Push” Controller. You can test this function without having a Push connected.

Mapping Function

1. Switch the Behaviour of the Button between “Toggle” and “Gate”
2. Map up to eight Parameters *(note: there’s a known issue by mapping Parameters. If it shouldn’t be possible to map the parameter, go select any another Parameter in Ableton Live, then select the original Parameter again)
3. See the States of the mapped Parameters
4. Invert the Behaviour of the Parameters
5. Set the Range of the Parameters. This makes only sense, if the mapped Parameter is a Dial or a Fader
6. Type a message you want to send to the Push Display. (only Live 11)

Curve [Buttons]

1. You can draw a Curve here. Click on the Curve to create a breakpoint, Click + Shift to delete a breakpoint & alt + up/down to make a curve
2. Map up to four Parameters into Ableton Live.
3. Invert the Behaviour of the Parameters.
4. Set the Range of the Parameters. This makes only sense, if the mapped Parameter is a Dial or a Fader.
5. here you can set up the Speed the Parameter Moves while holding the assigned Button.
6. Type a message you want to send to the Push Display.

Groups

Here you can switch on/off all the other Fuctions which are assigned to this specific Group.

Move Clip Grip

(not compatible with Live 12)

1. This shows the Track & Scene Number of the actual selected Clipslot
2. here you can define how many Possitions you are able to control with the assigned Parameter.
3. to define the possition of the colored Frame, select a Clipslot in Ableton Live, then hit “learn” and the upper left corner of the colored Frame moves to this possition.

Select Track

1. select a Track in Ableton Live
2. the click “learn selected Track”

Solo Track

1. select a Track in Ableton Live
2. the click “learn selected Track”
3. switch between Toggle & Gate

Record Clip

1. Select a Clipslot inside your Ableton Live Project and hit “learn selected clipslot” to control this from inside Push Hacker.
2. If “follow selected Clipslot” is activated, there is no special Clipslot assigned to this Button, you can control the actual selected Clipslot.
3. Quick Controls to test the function.
4. Set the behaviour of the Pad when pushed or when hold a) while the Clip is Playing b) while the Clip is recording c) while the Clip is Stopped.
5. It’s possible to set the behaviour of the ARM Function. It’s set to “Auto” by default. That means, if you record a clip, the ARM button is activated then, if the Clip is playing the ARM button is deactivated. If you hold the ARM Button for 2 seconds, it is set to manually.

Midi Out

with the ability to send Midi Out messages from Push Hacker, you have a lot more possibilities, like selecting individual effects or instruments with one button or a dial.
For this you need to set up an virtual Midi Port in Ableton Live, please read the linked Tutorial.

• 

  Create a Virtual Midi Port

  You can set up a virtual Midi Port to send the …

Midi Out - Pads

1. here you can set the button behaviour and select beween “gate”, “toggle” and “auto”
2. you can set if the messages should be send at once or if they should be send step by step on each hit on the pad.
3. here you can set if it should output a CC or NOTE message.

Midi Out - Dials

1. if the “learn” button is activated you can input some notes or cc messages via your keyboard/controller. The values will be displayed in -> 3
2. set if you want to output cc or note messages
3. here you see all stored values
4. If “select & midi map” is activated there will be NO MIDI OUTPUT when turning the dial. You can select a stored midi value and output it if you click the “Trigger Output” button for example to map an instrument.

Midi Curve Out - Dials

1. create a curve to be output
2. select a curve
3. Midi CC Output 1 - 4 here you can set the values to be output. on the left button you can trigger the cc message manually.