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You can do that by tranferring either MIDI or Audio.
I use a M-Audio FireWire 410 as my soundcard and all connections. Connect all your audio output cables (SPDIF) from the 909 to your soundcard. Do the same for MIDI in/out.
For MIDI transfer and control, you need to use the 909 as the master sync, go to Menu -> System -> Seq/MIDI, and make sure Sync Mode is set to Master and sync output on.
In Live, go to Options -> Preferences -> MIDI Sync. Under the midi input section, make sure that you turn on Track, Sync, and Remote. This allows the 909 to send MIDI messages to each Live track, as well as sync timing and remote control through the 909.
Create 16 MIDI tracks in Live, one for each 909 MIDI track. Then, find the I/O section under the MIDI track info, set MIDI from to your MIDI source (mine is FW 410 MIDI), and underneath that, set the MIDI channel to 1. Make sure you do this for each track input, 2, 3, 4, etc. And no output (when recording in).
Try experimenting with recording each midi track. To record track 1, simply mute all other tracks on the 909 (Part mute -> Shift and track button 1), arm the track to record in live, click record for the MIDI slot, and play on the 909. Watch the midi notes roll in. Do the same for all the rest.
After you've recorded each midi track, you can turn off the MIDI inputs in Live, and then turn the MIDI out port to each corresponding track. In the 909, goto Menu -> MIDI -> MIDI Rx, and turn Remote Keyobard Switch to OFF. You'll need a blank pattern in the 909 with each patch that you used for sounds. Hit play to wach Live trigger notes on the 909.
So that's how you use Live as the midi source to trigger sounds on the 909. You can then edit and arrage midi on your computer.
To do the same for audio, simply change the source input for each track in Live from MIDI to your audio source such as the 909's SPDIF.
I also like to control Live from the 909. You can enter MIDI map mode by clicking the MIDI button in the top right of Live. Every configurable parameter through MIDI will turn a purple color. Click a sample for example, then a key on the 909, and you just configured it as a trigger. You can try experimenting with any knob that sends MIDI data as a control for Live. Just look in the very top right corner of Live at the MIDI Track In Indicator to see if the 909's knob is sending data.
It may sound complicated, but you've just got to try experimenting on your own to see how it all works together. Good luck!
This article got me inspired. I have been thinking of picking up a 909 and the way you have it working hand in hand with Ableton is just the icing on the cake. Thanks for sharing!
Great, glad to hear it was helpful for you! The MC-909s have really come down in price so it shouldn't be too much of an investment. It's a great piece of hardware and is pretty flexible.
Another great thing about it is that most of the knobs (including the infrared beams) send midi controls to Ableton, so you can practically control most of Live through an external interface. Have fun!
Hi Jason,
For a while I thought your site was down for good. Glad to see it is still alive and well. I bought the 909 like I planned and this week I have the 410 Firewire coming in the mail. Can't wait to get those working together.
Sorry to hear you couldn't reach the site, not sure why it wouldn't show up for you. Were you able to get everything working together ok?
This information helped alot. but for some reason when i press play on the mc909, ableton will not start playing. i have the 909 to master sending sync, and ableton as slave with ext sync turned on and track, sync, remote for the interface enabled.
In Ableton there are some indicators showing that midi data is being transmitted/received. I believe they're in the top right corner of Live. Are you seeing those light up when you press any of the pads on the 909?
EXCELLENT! Thanks, I didn't have Ableton, but was wondering how this would work. Imma have to pick pick up Ableton Live Intro now. Don't think I'll ever get rid of this bugger now, always thought he'd make a great control surface.
Oh, don't sweat it if you haven't tried it, but can you assign the Shift combos to send MIDI? Like for soloing tracks?
Great blog. Hope to see you on MC909.org if you're not already there!
Yea, I wish the 909 would be able to send midi info via other keys, but it does not seem possible using the shift combos. However, in Live you can go into midi mapping mode and try pressing different keys on the 909. Live will give you an indication on whether or not midi data is being sent for that key.
When you find a key that you want to use, just assign it to the solo function in Live. It won't be as intuitive, but will still accomplish the same thing.
Thanks for the heads up on mc909.org, I have yet to explore the site and will def check it out!