Short video on controlling FLX Playbacks with midi

[stowedout]

I wanted to get this up before the training on the 30th in case anyone had particular interest in midi . The video is too big to upload here so it's now on Youtube https://youtu.be/GQCX_Ww1YbM

Over the past couple of months I’ve been chipping away with this FLX midi note project. I had a bit of a boost to get this finished when I saw the LD at a recent Cage the Elephant gig running macros on his Grand MA from a launchpad.

I spend a lot of my time busking bands and I like to keep my intensities, speed, variable position and effects on page 1. The aim with this project was have access to 86 playbacks without moving FLX pages, 24 on page 1 of the FLX and 62 via midi pads.

Basic set up (Not covered in this post)

A midi controller with the addition of a usb to Midi interface (Zero88 recommend MOYT FastLane Interface) will trigger a FLX without additional software but the buttons on the midi controller will not provide any feedback (eg light up)  and it will be mapped midi pad 1 to playback 1 or however the midi controller comes set up from the manufacturer (I think A Novation Launchpad comes out of the box with the bottom left pad set to midi note 12 (also known as C0) so it would trigger playback 12)

My Set up

Software This is required to map the buttons on the Launchpad to any playbacks on a FLX. And to set the colours of the pads and how they react when used with a FLX. I chose to use Lightjams https://www.lightjams.com/ The free version is fully functional and allows you to experiment but hangs for 30 sec every 15 min. There are other software applications that can map midi notes that you may want to look at.

Hardware

Novation Launchpad MK2

Steinberg UR22 MkII USB Audio Interface  with midi ports (any quality USB to midi interface would work but I already owned the Steinberg. Zero88 recommend the MOYT FastLane Interface.  Do not use the cheap ones on internet auction sites. They probably won’t work!)

An old laptop

1x midi cable

2x usb cables

Dymo label printer and a roll of clear printer roll

Why did I use this set up?

In the event of tech issues I wanted I system that could be ignored and revert to the FLX to control playbacks directly

I chose the Novation Launchpad mk2 as the buttons could be programed in RGBW rather than the 4 colours on the launch pad mini mk2 (in this project I only wanted to trigger playbacks eg send a 100% signal however it is possible to control levels on a MFF from a midi controller with midi faders or via the intensity of a tap on a pad)

I have programmed the Lightjams software to provide variable static colours to each button. I can group buttons by colour e.g.  I have a square of pink buttons which control various attributes of my beams like position, effect, colour strobe (with intensity kept on page 1 of my FLX)

Once a pad is pressed to activate a playback it turns bright red to indicate it has been pressed. Through the Lightjams software It is on a toggle setting so once the button is pressed again to take the Playback back to 0 the Launchpad button returns to its basic programed colour.

I have attached my Lightjams .ljp file. Feel free to play with it. Lightjams is a lighting control program  that works like nothing else I have ever seen. There is no detailed documentation but the French developer is helpful. I got myself totally lost numerous times! I have added a number of virtual sticky notes on the Lightjams control screen to give you some pointers to what you are looking at and where the data comes from.  

I would have loved to have videoed this in my venue with the lighting rig in full gig mode but we are in lockdown so the video is rather basic but you should be able to see  the potential of the set up. Excuse the slightly shaky video work, holding a camera and triggering cues is not the easiest thing.

Cheers

Chris

Launchpad to FLX.ljp

[Edward Z88]

Hi Chris,

This is excellent.

Thanks for the write-up, and taking the time to make the video. Really shows how FLX can be triggered as part of a larger system to make life easier!

Topic pinned for if anyone else wants to give information on how they use MIDI with FLX.

Look forward to seeing you on the training session next week!

Cheers,

Edward

[stowedout]

Thanks Edward. Personally I always found your videos very helpful especially the short Christmas ones. We are all very good about asking you guys for manuals/videos/advice so the least I could do was put a bit of effort in. I will edit and add to this as it starts to get some proper action.

Chris 

[Edward Z88]

29 minutes ago, stowedout said:

Thanks Edward. Personally I always found your videos very helpful especially the short Christmas ones. We are all very good about asking you guys for manuals/videos/advice so the least I could do was put a bit of effort in. I will edit and add to this as it starts to get some proper action.

Chris 

Thanks Chris, appreciate it.

Edward