MK2 Programmer’s Reference Manual Version 1.
Table of Contents About this Guide Number Systems and MIDI conventions For Max Users 3! 3! 3! Bootloader 4! Basic Features Basic Communication Colours Layouts Channels Flashing Pulsing Device Inquiry 5! 5! 5! 6! 8! 9! 10! 10! Advanced Features Lighting LEDs Using SysEx Messages RGB Mode MIDI Clock Virtual Faders Text scrolling System Exclusive Messages Other SysEx Messages 11 ! 11! 12! 12! 13! 14! 15! 16! © Focusrite Audio Engineering LTD 2
About this Guide Launchpad MK2 communicates using MIDI over USB in both directions. This manual, describing the MIDI communication format, is all the information you need to be able to write software that is customised for Launchpad MK2. This is not an exhaustive document. Certain extra System Exclusive messages are used for authentication, and for remote firmware upgrade.
Bootloader ! Launchpad MK2 has a bootloader mode that allows the user to configure and save certain settings. The bootloader is accessed by holding the Session, User 1, User 2 and M ixer buttons while plugging the device in. Figure 1 shows the functions of the bootloader. The top two rows of square buttons can be used to set the device ID of Launchpad MK2. The device ID ranges from 1 – 16 and the selected ID is represented by an orange button. This also sets the USB identity, which ranges from 69h to 78h.
Basic Features $ Basic Communication ! The central grid of 64 square buttons and the 8 right-hand round buttons send note data to the host. A note-on message with maximum velocity is sent when the button is pressed, and a noteon message with velocity 0 when released. Note-on messages can also be used to light the LED behind each button. The velocity of the noteon message determines the colour of the LED. A note-on message with velocity 0, or a note-off message of any velocity will turn the LED off.
Layouts ! Launchpad MK2 has three layouts that respond to note messages – Session, User 1 (Drum) and User 2. Volume and Pan layouts are discussed in the “Advanced Features” section of this guide.
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ Figure 4: Session (L) and Drum (R) layouts in decimal$ $ $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ Figure 5: Session (L) and Drum (R) layouts note names$ ! The controller numbers for the top row of round buttons does not change with layout and is always as 68h to 6Fh (104 – 111), as shown in figure 6.
Channels $ In order to prevent messages intended for one layout interfering with the others, each layout sends and receives messages on a different channel. Session layout uses channel 1.
Flashing ! Launchpad MK2 supports flashing between two colours on all three layouts. The flash colour is set by sending a note-on message (or CC for the top 8 round buttons) to the device on channel 2. When a message is received on channel 2, Launchpad MK2 will then begin to flash between the flash colour (B) and the current colour of the LED (A), with a 50% duty cycle (shown in figure 7).
Pulsing ! Launchpad MK2 also supports pulsing, where the colour of the LED rhythmically increases and decreases in brightness (as shown in figure 8). Pulsing is started by sending the LED a note-on message (or CC for the top 8 round buttons) on channel 3 and can be stopped by sending a message to the LED on channel 1. ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! Figur e 8: T he pulsing wave form ! ! Example: set a single pad to pulse purple (Session layout) $ The LEDs are all off. Set the top right grid LED to pulse purple.
Advanced Features $ Lighting LEDs Using SysEx Messages $ It is possible to control Launchpad MK2’s LEDs using SysEx messages. This allows a number of LEDs to be updated quickly with one message. The index of the LED is taken to be the same as Session layout, regardless of the layout Launchpad MK2 is currently in, with the top 8 round buttons indexed as 68h to 6Fh (104 – 111).
! Flash LED using SysEx $ The LED will flash between the chosen colour and its current colour. $ Host >> Launchpad MK2: F0h 00h 20h 29h 02h 18h 23h F7h (240, 0, 32, 41, 2, 24, 35, 247) Message can be repeated up to 80 times. ! ! Pulse LED using SysEx $ Host >> Launchpad MK2: F0h 00h 20h 29h 02h 18h 28h F7h (240, 0, 32, 41, 2, 24, 40, 247) Message can be repeated up to 80 times.
Virtual Faders $ Launchpad MK2 has two virtual fader modes, one with volume style faders and one with pan style (the two styles cannot be mixed). In fader mode the grid becomes 8 faders controlled by CC messages. To enter fader mode use the layout change SysEx message with the layout byte set to 04h (4) for volume faders and 05h (5) for pan faders.
Text scrolling $ Launchpad MK2 natively supports scrolling text. ASCII text can be embedded in a System Exclusive message. Additional bytes are reserved the change the colour, looping and speed.
System Exclusive Messages ! Each of the following SysEx messages have the same header ! F0h 00h 20h 29h 02h 18h (240, 00, 32, 41, 2, 24) Following this is the 6th byte and then further values depending on the message.
Pulse LED 28h (40) Mode (unused, 0) Scroll text across pads 14h (20) Colour 00h - 7Fh (0-127) LED 0Bh - 6Fh (11-111) Colour 00h - 7Fh (0-127) -- Yes, up to 80 times Loop 0 = loop off 1 = loop on Text -- No Text can be standard ASCII characters or plain values 1 - 7 to change speed No 00 - Session 01 - User 1 (Drum Rack) 02 - User 2 04 - Fader 05 - Pan Layout selection 22h (34) Layout (0-5) -- -- -- Fader Setup 2Bh (43) Fader number (07) Fader type 0=volume 1=pan Colour 00h - 7Fh (
