Quad Panner for Ableton Live

Overview
This is a quad panner for use with Ableton Live. A given track number is the target, and using the sends and returns within Live, the track is panned using the XY panner to left, right, left surround and right surround.

Download the panner as a Max patch: http://milkcrate.com.au/_other/downloads/max_patches/quadPanner/quadPanner_source.zip

Download the panner as an OS X app: http://milkcrate.com.au/_other/downloads/max_patches/quadPanner/quadPanner.zip





Setup
• Open the quad panner, and set the MIDI output to IAC Bus 1

• Open Live and set the input for IAC Bus 1 in Preferences > MIDI Sync to Track and Remote

 • In Live, create a total of four return tracks. Each new return track will automatically be shown as a corresponding send in an audio track.

• Set the audio output on each return track to ext. out, and route return A to output 1, return A to output 1, return C to output 3 and return D to output 4.

• Set the audio output for any audio tracks to Sends Only.

• In Live, enable MIDI mapping mode (apple m). Select send A on track 1 whilst in MIDI mapping mode. In the quad panner, set the track number to track 1. Click on the top left orange box, so that it is checked. This enables the data mapping for the front left speaker send. Move the panner, and you will see that a mapping is created for send A on track 1. In the quad panner, click on the top left orange box, so that it is unchecked, thereby disabling the sending of panning data. 

• In live, select send B on track 1 whilst in MIDI mapping mode. In the quad panner, set the track number to track 1. Click on the top right orange box, so that it is checked. This enables the data mapping for the front right speaker send. Move the panner, and you will see that a mapping is created for send B on track 1. In the quad panner, click on the top right orange box, so that it is unchecked, thereby disabling the sending of panning data.

• In live, select send C on track 1 whilst in MIDI mapping mode. In the quad panner, set the track number to track 1. Click on the bottom left orange box, so that it is checked. This enables the data mapping for the rear left speaker send. Move the panner, and you will see that a mapping is created for send C on track 1. In the quad panner, click on the top right orange box, so that it is unchecked, thereby disabling the sending of panning data. 

• In live, select send D on track 1 whilst in MIDI mapping mode. In the quad panner, set the track number to track 1. Click on the bottom right orange box, so that it is checked. This enables the data mapping for the rear right speaker send. Move the panner, and you will see that a mapping is created for send D on track 1. In the quad panner, click on the top right orange box, so that it is unchecked, thereby disabling the sending of panning data.

• Repeat the previous four steps for all applicable tracks of a Live set.

• 32 tracks can be panned in this way.

• Check on all four orange boxes, so that panning data is sent.

• Select a track, move the panner and watch the corresponding sends move accordingly.





Setup Screencast:

MIDI Input Mapping: 
The quad panner also allows control via a MIDI input. The mapping is as follows:
• Control X movement: MIDI channel 15, CC# 126
• Control Y movement: MIDI channel 15, CC# 127
• Select track: MIDI note on, MIDI channel 15, notes 0 - 31
• Enable panning output: MIDI note on, MIDI channel 15, note 127
• Disable panning output: MIDI note off, MIDI channel 15, note 127