Here we will go through how to assign the Seaboard RISE 2's 5D touch to any parameter in Ableton's built-in instruments. There are differences in setup when using MPE or not, so feel free to head to the section that interests you first. 


We're going to use Slide as an example in this guide. Mapping Slide is pretty straightforward and you can either manually assign this in your VST or achieve it through Ableton's MIDI mapping.


TABLE OF CONTENTS

Mapping Slide in MPE instruments


For MPE instruments like Sampler, we can do this within the instrument itself.


First, put the Seaboard into MPE mode in Dashboard.


Back in Ableton, add Sampler to an empty MIDI track. Drop a sample of your choice into the sample area. Here I've used a simple sawtooth wave and set it to loop.



Now let's make Slide open and close the filter. Open the MIDI tab in Sampler, find the Pressure mapping section and choose 'Filter Freq' from the drop-down list. Set the range to 100.



There won't be any difference in sound yet, so head to the Filter/Global tab and lower the filter's frequency. Below I've set the frequency to 224 Hz. This gives the filter room to open up when you use Slide. Feel free to tweak the filter around some more if you like. 



Since it's an MPE instrument, each note controls the filter individually - meaning you can keep a note in your left hand filtered but also use Slide on a note in your right hand to open the filter.


Mapping other the 5D touches


You can apply this method to any of the other 5 dimensions of touch. In the MIDI tab, Ableton refers to each touch as follows:


Velocity = Strike

Note PB = Glide

Slide = Slide 

Pressure = Press

Off Vel = Lift


Just repeat the steps above for any of these to create your own customized MIDI mapping for all 5 dimensions of touch. 


Mapping Slide in non-MPE instruments


MIDI mapping with non-MPE instruments is slightly different and follows the normal MIDI mapping method between a controller and a synth's parameter. 

First, open Dashboard and put the Seaboard into Single-Channel mode. 



As we're only mapping Slide, turn the Glide and Press sliders down completely in Dashboard so they don't interfere with the mapping process.


Open Ableton and set the RISE as a Remote in MIDI Settings.

Then, add a non-MPE instrument like Operator to a MIDI track. 

Click the MIDI mapping icon in the top right of Ableton, select the parameter you want to change and move your finger up and down one keywave. In the example below I'm again mapping the filter's frequency to Slide.


Now you'll be able to open and close the filter using Slide. 


Adjusting the Slide mode


Feel free to change the Slide Mode in Dashboard for different ways of using Slide. For example, in Absolute mode, the precise position on the keywave affects the sound - e.g. the whole keywave's vertical axis will have a different value. In the Relative modes, the sound will only change when moving your finger up or down on the keywave.


For more information on this, see the article: Slide: Absolute vs. Relative