The release of Touch Me 2 by Elisabeth Homeland has marked a well-received innovation in how music producers and performers interact with Ableton Live. Published by IsotonikStudios, this cutting-edge Max4Live audio effect device has revolutionized the experience of MIDI mapping within Ableton Live.
Touch Me 2 allows for dynamic assignment of controls to parameters by simply activating the "Learn" function and adjusting a knob or fader on the controller. This stands in stark contrast to conventional MIDI mapping that often interrupts the flow of the musically creative process with its cumbersome adjustments.
The best part about using Touch Me 2 is that it supports the endeavor of writing automation with a controller without having the need to map the parameters time and time again. The ability to assign a MIDI fader or knob to follow and control the last touched or selected parameter in a project eliminates the redundant task. Thus, users are afforded more uninterrupted time to stay "in the zone", enhancing the speed and efficiency of their workflow.
Conceived for Live version 12.0.5 and Max 8.6.2, Touch Me 2 by Elisabeth Homeland 1.0, though a new entrant in the digital marketplace, holds strong promise to be a cornerstone tool in streamlining the music-creation process. Intriguingly, despite being new to the scene, the device has already garnered attention and is poised to gain traction in the market: there have been numerous visits to its page with increasing downloads reported, reinforcing its potential to be a game-changer.
It should be noted that, so far, this innovative Max4Live device has seen no updates, maintaining its original version as it was presented upon its release on June 13, 2024. Further details and information about Touch Me 2 particularities and functionalities can be accessed through the official page on Isotonik Studios' website or directly on the MaxforLive.com page. The device can be downloaded freely, yet it is advised for users to familiarize themselves with the device's specs before integrating it into their workflow.
Given its promise to enhance workflow, Touch Me 2 could easily steal the show as a go-to audio effect device. Its convenience, practicality, and potential to foster creativity ensure Touch Me 2 by Elisabeth Homeland will find its rightful place in the pantheon of indispensable Max4Live devices.
Example Usage
Imagine you're in the middle of a live set with Ableton Live, and you want the crowd to feel the impact of a filter sweep on your lead synth. You want to avoid the hassle of pre-mapping your MIDI controller to every parameter you might want to tweak during the performance.
Enter 'Touch Me 2' by Elisabeth Homeland.
To use this device, you'll follow these simple steps:
- Drag 'Touch Me 2' into any track in your Ableton Live set.
- Click the “Learn” button on the device. This activates the MIDI mapping mode.
- Now, touch the parameter in Ableton Live you wish to control – for example, the frequency knob on the Auto Filter effect on your lead synth.
- Move a fader or turn a knob on your MIDI controller. 'Touch Me 2' will note this movement and associate it with the last touched parameter.
- You can now control that Auto Filter frequency with your chosen fader or knob, without having to go into the MIDI map mode in Ableton Live.
This dynamic mapping allows you to freely improvise and interact with your music. Whether it's a resonance control on a bassline or the decay time on a reverb, 'Touch Me 2' lets you fluidly move from one parameter to another, assigning your physical controls on the fly to shape your sound in real-time, keeping you in the creative flow.
In a live performance scenario, let's explore how we can utilize Touch Me 2 to seamlessly improvise with effect parameters across multiple tracks without the hassle of manually re-mapping MIDI controls.
Imagine you're performing a set with Ableton Live, and you want to be able to manipulate the filter cutoff on a synth track, the feedback of a delay on a vocal track, and the decay time of a reverb on your drum bus, using just one knob on your MIDI controller. To achieve this, follow these steps:
- Insert Touch Me 2 on each of the tracks you want to control: one on your synth track, one on your vocal track, and one on your drum bus. To find it quickly, type "Touch Me 2" into Ableton Live's browser search bar and drag it onto each desired track.
- Engage the "Learn" mode on the Touch Me 2 device on your synth track. Move the parameter you want to control (for instance, the filter cutoff), and then move the knob on your MIDI controller you’d like to assign. Touch Me 2 will now link the two together.
- Disable "Learn" mode on the first track, and move on to the vocal track. Repeat the process, this time possibly linking the delay feedback to the same knob on your controller with Touch Me 2 on the vocal track.
- Continue this process with the drum bus, linking the reverb decay time to the same controller knob using the instance of Touch Me 2 on this track.
Now, with Touch Me 2 configured on each track, whenever you select a different track, the knob on your MIDI controller will control the parameter you’ve "taught" Touch Me 2. This means during your performance, you can select the synth track and immediately have control over the filter cutoff; select the vocal track, and the same knob will now control the delay feedback; select the drum bus, and instantly you'll be manipulating the reverb decay.
Touch Me 2 ensures that whatever parameter you select last, with the respective device active, it becomes the controllable focus for your MIDI knob, making on-the-fly adjustments intuitive and fluid. This effectively maximizes your creative potential in a live setting by removing the barriers of constant MIDI re-mapping and allowing you to maintain the flow of your performance while engaging with your music on a deeper level.
Further Thoughts
Let's take a deep dive into the workflow enhancements that Touch Me 2 by Elisabeth Homeland brings to Ableton Live, especially when paired with a physical MIDI controller. Imagine you've just crafted a rich soundscape using Ableton's Wavetable synthesizer and now, you're ready to perform an automation pass to inject life into your pad sound.
First, you drop the Touch Me 2 device onto the Wavetable track. With the synth parameter controls at your fingertips, tweak the filter cutoff to find that sweet spot. Instead of the usual MIDI mapping routine, you hit the 'Learn' button on Touch Me 2 and then simply twist a knob on your MIDI controller. Instantly, the controller is linked to the last parameter you touched - the filter cutoff. As you move the knob, the filter responds in real-time, and can even record this automation data on the fly.
Next, you want to add movement to the resonance parameter, and without losing a beat, simply adjust the resonance knob directly on Wavetable. Touch Me 2 dynamically assigns the MIDI control to this fresh parameter, and your MIDI hardware now seamlessly maps to resonance. This on-the-fly mapping makes your recording process fluid, intuitive, and locked into the creative flow.
The real magic happens during a live performance. You've set up several key parameters across different devices in your set – the reverb dry/wet on a vocal track, the decay time on a snare drum, a delay feedback on a lead synth line. With Touch Me 2, you no longer need to pre-map or remember which knob controls which parameter. Touch any parameter on the screen, and it's instantly at your command via your MIDI controller.
To illustrate this real-world application, let's create a breakdown section in your set. As the energy dips, you start shaping the atmosphere by tweaking Ableton's Echo device on a lead sound. Your MIDI controller is right there with you, instantly controlling the feedback amount as you build tension. As you approach the drop, you touch the device's dry/wet control to dial back the effect and your controller responds in kind, giving you tactile dominance over the build.
Through this example, it's clear that Touch Me 2 by Elisabeth Homeland elevates the Ableton Live experience by marrying the tactility of hardware with the flexibility of software. This Max4Live device enables you to keep your eyes on the stage and your hands on your instrument, ensuring a performance that is as dynamic as it is immersive. Whether in-studio automation or onstage action, Touch Me 2 harmonizes the gap between controller and software, letting your creativity take center stage.