Create Digital Music » All-Arcade Ableton Live Controller, DIY Hardware by The Prevolt

Mar 25 2008

All-Arcade Ableton Live Controller, DIY Hardware by The Prevolt

The Prevolt has put up some photos of his Ableton Live controller, dubbed Ambassador. I love that it shares a moniker with the AMC Rambler automobile, though I suspect that wasn’t intentional (pictured at right, photo: Ty Sonneil).

Prevolt describes the gear, which features analog-y, arcade-style hardware controls and a custom case:

This is what I’m using to control Ableton now. All arcade hardware, aluminum top panel by FPE, and a nice wood case courtesy of my man Michael Yates. It uses all key commands through a custom driver to handle playback, effects, editing, warping, UI, mouse clicks, scroll messages, and more, with a lot of tweaks (some strobe, some send double messages, etc):

Finished Ambassador Pics (blog for the Aux Armes VJ/DJ collective)

I got to look over Prevolt’s shoulder while he used the Ambassador in an epic music set in Austin at our SxSW party. It’s really remarkable: those controls may look like overkill, but he’s managed to map just about everything th Live software does to hardware control. To anyone who complains Ableton hasn’t yet done their hardware, this illustrates why that might not even be a good idea — Live users seem to come up with endless control schemes, all different.

Not to mention, with this controller you could get a little Street Fighter in between sets on nice, arcade buttons.

And yes, you even get a little trackball.

After the jump, the whole AV collective in action at SxSW’s closing:

Aux Armes at SXSW 2008 from Aux Armes on Vimeo.

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11 Comments

corporation

damn that’s cool.

looks like it’s built like a tank…

March 25, 2008 @ 6:56 pm

Stephen Haunts

Now that looks good. Be interesting if he could make those at a decent price. I would certainly be interested in one as Live is my main DAW.

Steve

March 26, 2008 @ 3:37 am

maomao

cool video.. great sound (Para One rules!!)

March 26, 2008 @ 4:16 am

gavspav

Looks like a good controller. Arcade Games and Music Software are becoming more and more similar these days!. Live is great fun to play. When do you get an extra man though?

I hope its relevant to shamelessly plug my AV Arcade Table <a href=”http://www.digitalfunfair.co.uk/arcade.htm”
Its not a performance tool but a 2 player game and features AV cutups by some well known acts (as well as myself)

While making this I also discovered http://www.abletonator.com which is on a similar tip!

Gavin

March 26, 2008 @ 4:42 am

gavspav

My shameless plug has no become shameful!
It should’ve been http://www.digitalfunfair.co.uk/arcade.htm
If it doesn’t work this time I give up.

Gav

March 26, 2008 @ 4:43 am

Beamer Arduino, 3 dimensional photo-realistic paper portraits and sculptures, All-Arcade Ableton Live Controller, DIY Hardware by The Prevolt, and Advertising Vs Reality - A Product Comparison Project

[...] All-Arcade Ableton Live Controller, DIY Hardware by The Prevolt – All arcade hardware, aluminum top panel by FPE, and a nice wood case courtesy of my man Michael Yates. It uses all key commands through a custom driver to handle playback, effects, editing, warping, UI, mouse clicks, scroll messages, and more. [...]

March 26, 2008 @ 5:44 am

nq

looks ace.

those buttons look really sturdy

March 26, 2008 @ 10:57 am

Create Digital Music » Abletonator: Ableton Live as Arcade Cabinet

[...] cabinet form-factor. Why? Because. (Thanks to comments by Gavin for the tip!) So, if you liked the Ambassador Live controller with arcade buttons, but wanted a full cabinet so it’s impossible to lift, you’ll love [...]