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Ableton Live Setup Guide

How to route MIDI through VEX MIDI EXPRESSION in Ableton Live.

Important: Ableton MIDI Routing

Ableton Live does not support third-party VST3 MIDI effects in the device chain before instruments. This is an Ableton limitation - only Ableton's built-in MIDI effects can be placed before instruments on the same track.

VEX works perfectly in Ableton using MIDI track routing, which is the standard method for all third-party MIDI effect plugins.

How It Works

VEX receives MIDI input, transforms it using physics-based processing, and outputs transformed MIDI. In Ableton, you route this output to a separate instrument track.

MIDI Controller → VEX Track → [MIDI Routing] → Instrument Track → Audio Output

Setup Guide

Step 1: Create the VEX Track

  1. Create a new MIDI Track (Cmd+Shift+T / Ctrl+Shift+T)
  2. Name it "VEX" or "VEX Transform" (double-click the track name)
  3. Load VEX MIDI EXPRESSION on this track:
    • In the Browser, go to Plug-ins → VST3 (or Audio Units on macOS)
    • Find "VEX MIDI EXPRESSION"
    • Drag it onto the track

Step 2: Set Up MIDI Input on VEX Track

  1. In the track's I/O Section (press Cmd+Opt+I / Ctrl+Alt+I if not visible):
    • MIDI From: Select your MIDI controller
    • Channel: "All Channels" (or specific channel if needed)
    • Monitor: Set to "In" to always receive MIDI

Disable Control Surface for Your Controller

Ableton may intercept your MIDI controller's data for its own remote control features. To fix this:

  1. Go to Live → Preferences → Link, Tempo & MIDI
  2. In the Control Surface section, check if your controller is assigned
  3. If it appears, set that slot to "None"
  4. Or disable Remote for your controller's input (keep Track enabled)

Step 3: Configure VEX

  1. Open VEX MIDI EXPRESSION (double-click the device)
  2. Add a mapping for your CC number:
    • Click + Add Mapping
    • Set the CC number (e.g., CC1 for Mod Wheel, CC74 for Filter)
    • Choose a transform type (Bouncy, Spring, Warp, etc.)
  3. Move your controller to verify input is received

Step 4: Create the Instrument Track

  1. Create another MIDI Track (Cmd+Shift+T / Ctrl+Shift+T)
  2. Name it "Synth" (or your instrument name)
  3. Load your instrument (e.g., Analog, Wavetable, Serum, etc.)

Step 5: Route VEX Output to Instrument

On the "Synth" instrument track (not the VEX track):

  1. In the I/O Section, find the MIDI From dropdown
  2. Change it from "All Ins" to "VEX" (your VEX track name)
  3. Set the second dropdown to "Post FX"
  4. Set Monitor to "In"

Step 6: Arm and Play

  1. Arm the "VEX" track for recording
  2. The "Synth" track does NOT need to be armed
  3. Play your MIDI controller - the instrument responds with transformed CC data!

Troubleshooting

VEX doesn't receive MIDI input

  • Most common cause: Ableton is intercepting your controller as a Control Surface
  • Check MIDI From is set to your controller
  • Ensure Monitor is set to "In"
  • Verify your controller is sending on the correct CC number

Instrument doesn't respond to transformed MIDI

  • Verify MIDI From on the instrument track is set to your VEX track
  • Make sure the second dropdown shows "Post FX"
  • Ensure the instrument track's Monitor is set to "In"
  • The VEX track should be armed, the instrument track should NOT be armed

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