How to use the Ableton X-Y Control

Ableton Live’s XY Control can appear confusing–and it’s not obvious how useful it can be for your music-making and mixing processes.

But the X-Y control in Ableton has several great uses that can make your processes more efficient and more creative. This guide shows you how to:

  • Set up controls for easily using one-knob plug-ins
  • Assign X-Y parameters to mixing plugins, such as the Waves CLA-1176j
  • Use the custom assignment options for VST instruments to control automation and stylistic parameters

While it can be easy to overlook, the X-Y control contains a lot of potential. It might take some getting used to, but try it out and see if it adds a new opportunity for your workflow.

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