$Page Controlling Live
$TargetName Controlling Live

*Learning to control Live*
This lesson touches on the fundamentals of controlling Live with Max using the Live API.

*Note:* this lesson assumes you have followed the $Link Introduction <Set:../../../Part 2 - Introduction/Introduction.als>.

*Building the Launcher device*
Let’s build a device that allows the user to launch clips in the same track with its Progress dial. With the Random dial it can also trigger clips randomly at a set interval.

Launcher.png

The Live API lets you design devices that behave differently to other Live devices. This is a powerful feature, but it can also have unanticipated side effects.

This device, for example, has some uncommon behavior. We're using a dial to trigger events rather than set a value. Plus, the Progress and Random dials define a clip’s “launching range,” but you can still launch other clips manually.

*Topics*
This lesson will show you how to:
-> Get information about a device
-> Listen to changes in a Live Set
-> Launch clips from a Max device
-> Browse the $Link Live Object Model <https://docs.cycling74.com/max8/vignettes/live_object_model>
-> Deal with errors from the API
-> Account for various edge-case scenarios

*Bonus*
-> Build an atypical user interface

After the last step, continue to $Link Routing and modulating <Set:../../5 Routing and modulating/Routing and modulating.als>