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live.modulate~ Reference

Modulate Ableton Live and Max for Live Parameters

live.modulate~

Description

The live.modulate~ object enables you to modulate the value of Live parameters in realtime using signal objects. To understand more about Live's parameters, look up the DeviceParameter Object Class in the Live Object Model.

Examples

Discussion

live.modulate~ modulates a valid Live parameter by sending an identifier such as id 3 to the right inlet. A signal to the left inlet within the range -1 to 1 modulates that parameter.

The input range is mapped to the full range of the mapped parameter. This means that for a 'bipolar' parameter, a signal value of 1 will modulate the current base value by the maximum - minimum. For example, if the current value is 50 and the minimum and maximum are 0 and 100 respectively and the modulation signal is 1, the resulting modulated value would be 50 + 100. The result is then clamped to the minimum and maximum.

For unipolar parameters, the input range of -1 to 1 is interpreted as a percentage of the range between the minimum and current value. For example, if the minimum is 0 and the current value is 50, a modulation signal value of 0.0 would result in a modulated parameter value of 25 (halfway between the current and minimum). A modulation signal value of -1 would result in a modulated parameter value of 0.

See the live.modulate~ help patch for more information on how scaling and parameter modulation types work together to change the behaviour of the object.

In this sense, it is similar to live.remote~, however, live.modulate~ does not take over control of the parameter it is modulating. Instead, the current value acts as a 'nominal' reference point that can be changed, with the input signal applying an offset to that reference.

To stop modulating a parameter, send an id 0 message to the right inlet of live.modulate~.

Arguments

None.

Attributes

depth [float]

The live.modulate~ object has an input range of -1 to 1 which maps onto the full range of the modulated parameter.
You can control the depth of the modulation with the depth attribute. In other words, you can constrain the modulation to a smaller amount than the full range, expressed as a depth amount between 0 and 1.

smoothing [float]

Set the ramp time that is used for each incoming event. This also performs an automatic downsampling of any signal you send in. For example, a smoothing value of 1 ms will downsample the signal to 1 ms and send ramp events which output a linear approximation of the initial signal. This attribute defaults to 1 ms.

Common Box Attributes

annotation [symbol]

Sets the text that will be displayed in the Clue window when the user moves the mouse over the object.

background [int] (default: 0)

Adds or removes the object from the patcher's background layer. background 1 adds the object to the background layer, background 0 removes it. Objects in the background layer are shown behind all objects in the default foreground layer.

color [4 floats]

Sets the color for the object box outline.

fontface [int]

Sets the type style used by the object. The options are:

plain
bold
italic
bold italic Possible values:

0 = 'regular'
1 = 'bold'
2 = 'italic'
3 = 'bold italic'

fontname [symbol]

Sets the object's font.

fontsize [float]

Sets the object's font size (in points). Possible values:

'8'
'9'
'10'
'11'
'12'
'13'
'14'
'16'
'18'
'20'
'24'
'30'
'36'
'48'
'64'
'72'

hidden [int] (default: 0)

Toggles whether an object is hidden when the patcher is locked.

hint [symbol]

Sets the text that will be displayed in as a pop-up hint when the user moves the mouse over the object in a locked patcher.

ignoreclick [int] (default: 0)

Toggles whether an object ignores mouse clicks in a locked patcher.

jspainterfile [symbol]

JS Painter File

patching_rect [4 floats] (default: 0. 0. 100. 0.)

Sets the position and size of the object in the patcher window.

position [2 floats]

g/s(set)

Sets the object's x and y position in both patching and presentation modes (if the object belongs to its patcher's presentation), leaving its size unchanged.

presentation [int] (default: 0)

Sets whether an object belongs to the patcher's presentation.

presentation_rect [4 floats] (default: 0. 0. 0. 0.)

Sets the x and y position and width and height of the object in the patcher's presentation, leaving its patching position unchanged.

rect [4 floats]

g/s(set)

Sets the x and y position and width and height of the object in both patching and presentation modes (if the object belongs to its patcher's presentation).

size [2 floats]

g/s(set)

Sets the object's width and height in both patching and presentation modes (if the object belongs to its patcher's presentation), leaving its position unchanged.

textcolor [4 floats]

Sets the color for the object's text in RGBA format.

textjustification [int]

Sets the justification for the object's text. Possible values:

0 = 'left'
1 = 'center'
2 = 'right'

varname [symbol]

Sets the patcher's scripting name, which can be used to address the object by name in pattr, scripting messages to thispatcher, and the js object.

Messages

int

Arguments

value [int]
An integer number value received in the left inlet will be applied to the selected Live parameter (DeviceParameter Object), if any, at the beginning of the next audio buffer, or at the end of a pending ramp (see smoothing).

float

Arguments

value [float]
A floating point number value received in the left inlet will be applied to the selected Live parameter (DeviceParameter Object), if any, at the beginning of the next audio buffer, or at the end of a pending ramp (see smoothing).

list

Arguments

target-value [float]
delta-time [number]
Start a ramp with a list of two floats, similar to the line~ object. Sending in “1 500” means that the value 1 will be reached in 500 ms, starting at the current value. New ramps will always override the current ramp, so if you want to cut short a ramp, send another value.

getid

The mapped object's id is sent from the outlet, preceded by the word id. If there is no mapped object, id 0 will be sent.

id

Arguments

parameter id [int]
In right inlet: Sets the selected Live object. The message has no effect if the id is not a parameter (DeviceParameter Object).

signal

Signal input values received in the left inlet will be applied to the selected parameter (DeviceParameter Object), if any, in realtime.

Inspector

Persistence

The live.modulate~ object has a special entry in its inspector labelled "Use Persistent Mapping". This setting, when enabled, causes the id associated with the object to persist when the Live document is saved and restored, and when the Max Device is moved between the Live application and the Max editor, or within the Live Set. Beginning in Live 8.2.2, Live API ids remain persistent between launches of Live, which in conjunction with the Persistence feature of live.modulate~, live.object, live.observer and live.remote~, makes it possible to create simpler devices which retain their association with elements in the Live user interface.

See Also

Name Description
Live API Overview Live API Overview
Live Object Model LOM - The Live Object Model
live.remote~ Realtime control of parameters in Ableton Live and Max for Live.
live.object Perform operations on Live objects
live.path Navigate to objects in the Live application
live.map Simplify the process of selecting Live interface elements for use with the Live API.
live.observer Monitor changes in Live objects
Using the Live API Creating Devices that use the Live API
The LiveAPI JavaScript Object (jsliveapi) The LiveAPI Object