Better Support For Wacom Tablets in Live 8.0.2
For the past year, I’ve been using a Wacom Bamboo tablet as an alternative input device for a mouse. It works well with VSTs. However, in Ableton Live, the pen stroke length to move a knob through it’s entire range of values is too short.
In the recently released Ableton Live 8.0.2 update, there is a new improvement:
“Added an option for the Options.txt file to support Wacom Tablets. Adding the line ”-AbsoluteMouseMode” into Options.txt file switches Live into absolute mouse position mode.”
I just installed 8.0.2 on Windows Vista (32) and I am happy to report that pen control is now MUCH better. It takes a much bigger stroke to move a knob through it’s entire range. Therefore, it is much easier to move the knob to the value you want.
Options.txt Parameters
In order to enable this feature you need to modify (or create if it doesn’t exist) a file called options.txt. Live reads the parameters within this file on startup. As the 8.0.2 description indicates, this file supports a new parameter “-AbsoluteMouseMode”. Adding the parameter adds the new Wacom support.
I want to also mention another parameter you may not be aware of,
“–_EnsureKeyMessagesForPlugins”. Add this parameter if some of your VSTs won’t accept keyboard input when hosted from Live. Native Instruments plugins such as Absynth and Kore2 come to mind.
Adding Parameters to Options.txt
- Find/create options.txt
The file resides in the preferences sub-folder:MAC: userxxx/library/preferences/ableton/live 8.x
XP: C:Documents and SettingsuserxxxApplication
DataAbletonLive 7.0.15PreferencesVista: C:UsersuserxxxAppDataRoamingAbletonLive 8.0.2Preferences
- Use a text editor to create or edit the file.
- Save the file and restart Live
Links:
- Full list of Live 8.0.2 improvements and fixes
- Wacom Bamboo on Amazon.com – $62.31
- Post on Ableton forum about Wacom Tablets
- Post on NI forum about keyboard input
Mark Mosher
http://www.modulatethis.com
http://www.markmoshermusic.com
http://www.twitter.com/markmosher
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