Code the Ableton MacroPad

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Drag the contents of the uncompressed bundle directory onto your MACROPAD board's CIRCUITPY drive, replacing any existing files or directories with the same names, and adding any new ones that are necessary.

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# SPDX-FileCopyrightText: 2021 John Park for Adafruit Industries
# SPDX-License-Identifier: MIT
# Ableton Live Macropad Launcher
# In Ableton, choose "Launchpad Mini Mk3" as controller with MacroPad 2040 as in and out
# Use empty fifth scene to allow "unlaunching" of tracks with encoder modifier
import board
from adafruit_macropad import MacroPad
import displayio
import terminalio
from adafruit_simplemath import constrain
from adafruit_display_text import label
import usb_midi
import adafruit_midi
from adafruit_midi.control_change import ControlChange
from adafruit_midi.note_off import NoteOff
from adafruit_midi.note_on import NoteOn
from adafruit_midi.midi_message import MIDIUnknownEvent

macropad = MacroPad()

TITLE_TEXT = "Live Launcher 2040"
print(TITLE_TEXT)
TRACK_NAMES = ["DRUM", "BASS", "SYNTH"]  # Customize these
LIVE_CC_NUMBER = 74  # CC number to send w encoder
FADER_TEXT = "cutoff"  # change for intended CC name

# --- MIDI recieve is complex, so not using macropad.midi
midi = adafruit_midi.MIDI(
                        midi_in=usb_midi.ports[0],
                        in_channel=(0, 1, 2),
                        midi_out=usb_midi.ports[1],
                        out_channel=0
)


# ---Official Launchpad colors---
LP_COLORS = (
    0x000000, 0x101010, 0x202020, 0x3f3f3f, 0x3f0f0f, 0x3f0000, 0x200000, 0x100000,
    0x3f2e1a, 0x3f0f00, 0x200800, 0x100400, 0x3f2b0b, 0x3f3f00, 0x202000, 0x101000,
    0x213f0c, 0x143f00, 0x0a2000, 0x051000, 0x123f12, 0x003f00, 0x002000, 0x001000,
    0x123f17, 0x003f06, 0x002003, 0x001001, 0x123f16, 0x003f15, 0x00200b, 0x001006,
    0x123f2d, 0x003f25, 0x002012, 0x001009, 0x12303f, 0x00293f, 0x001520, 0x000b10,
    0x12213f, 0x00153f, 0x000b20, 0x000610, 0x0b093f, 0x00003f, 0x000020, 0x000010,
    0x1a0d3e, 0x0b003f, 0x060020, 0x030010, 0x3f0f3f, 0x3f003f, 0x200020, 0x100010,
    0x3f101b, 0x3f0014, 0x20000a, 0x100005, 0x3f0300, 0x250d00, 0x1d1400, 0x080d01,
    0x000e00, 0x001206, 0x00051b, 0x00003f, 0x001113, 0x040032, 0x1f1f1f, 0x070707,
    0x3f0000, 0x2e3f0b, 0x2b3a01, 0x183f02, 0x032200, 0x003f17, 0x00293f, 0x000a3f,
    0x06003f, 0x16003f, 0x2b061e, 0x0a0400, 0x3f0c00, 0x213701, 0x1c3f05, 0x003f00,
    0x0e3f09, 0x153f1b, 0x0d3f32, 0x16223f, 0x0c1430, 0x1a1439, 0x34073f, 0x3f0016,
    0x3f1100, 0x2d2900, 0x233f00, 0x201601, 0x0e0a00, 0x001203, 0x031308, 0x05050a,
    0x050716, 0x190e06, 0x200000, 0x36100a, 0x351204, 0x3f2f09, 0x27370b, 0x192c03,
    0x05050b, 0x36341a, 0x1f3a22, 0x26253f, 0x23193f, 0x0f0f0f, 0x1c1c1c, 0x373f3f,
    0x270000, 0x0d0000, 0x063300, 0x011000, 0x2d2b00, 0x0f0c00, 0x2c1400, 0x120500,
)

LP_PADS = {
    81: 0, 82: 1, 83: 2,
    71: 3, 72: 4, 73: 5,
    61: 6, 62: 7, 63: 8,
    51: 9, 52: 10, 53: 11
}

LIVE_NOTES = [81, 82, 83, 71, 72, 73, 61, 62, 63, 51, 52, 53]
CC_OFFSET = 20
modifier = False  # use to add encoder switch modifier to keys for clip mute
MODIFIER_NOTES = [41, 42, 43, 41, 42, 43, 41, 42, 43, 41, 42, 43]  # blank row in Live

last_position = 0  # encoder position state

# ---NeoPixel setup---
BRIGHT = 0.125
DIM = 0.0625
macropad.pixels.brightness = BRIGHT

# ---Display setup---
display = board.DISPLAY
screen = displayio.Group()
display.show(screen)
WIDTH = 128
HEIGHT = 64
FONT = terminalio.FONT
# Draw a title label
title = TITLE_TEXT
title_area = label.Label(FONT, text=title, color=0xFFFFFF, x=6, y=3)
screen.append(title_area)

# --- create display strings and positions
x1 = 5
x2 = 35
x3 = 65
y1 = 17
y2 = 27
y3 = 37
y4 = 47
y5 = 57

# ---Push knob text setup
push_text_area = label.Label(FONT, text="[o]", color=0xffffff, x=WIDTH-22, y=y2)
screen.append(push_text_area)

# ---CC knob text setup
fader_text_area = label.Label(FONT, text=FADER_TEXT, color=0xffffff, x=WIDTH - 42, y=y4)
screen.append(fader_text_area)
# --- cc value display
cc_val_text = str(CC_OFFSET)
cc_val_text_area = label.Label(FONT, text=cc_val_text, color=0xffffff, x=WIDTH - 20, y=y5)
screen.append(cc_val_text_area)

label_data = (
    # text, x, y
    (TRACK_NAMES[0], x1, y1), (TRACK_NAMES[1], x2, y1), (TRACK_NAMES[2], x3, y1),
    (".", x1, y2), (".", x2, y2), (".", x3, y2),
    (".", x1, y3), (".", x2, y3), (".", x3, y3),
    (".", x1, y4), (".", x2, y4), (".", x3, y4),
    (".", x1, y5), (".", x2, y5), (".", x3, y5)
)

labels = []

for data in label_data:
    text, x, y = data
    label_area = label.Label(FONT, text=text, color=0xffffff)
    group = displayio.Group(x=x, y=y)
    group.append(label_area)
    screen.append(group)
    labels.append(label_area)  # these are individually addressed later

num = 1

while True:
    msg_in = midi.receive()
    if isinstance(msg_in, NoteOn) and msg_in.velocity != 0:
        print(
            "received NoteOn",
            "from channel",
            msg_in.channel + 1,
            "MIDI note",
            msg_in.note,
            "velocity",
            msg_in.velocity,
            "\n"
        )
    # send neopixel lightup code to key, text to display
        if msg_in.note in LP_PADS:
            macropad.pixels[LP_PADS[msg_in.note]] = LP_COLORS[msg_in.velocity]
            macropad.pixels.show()
            if msg_in.velocity == 21:  # active pad is indicated by Live as vel 21
                labels[LP_PADS[msg_in.note]+3].text = "o"
            else:
                labels[LP_PADS[msg_in.note]+3].text = "."

    elif isinstance(msg_in, NoteOff):
        print(
            "received NoteOff",
            "from channel",
            msg_in.channel + 1,
            "\n"
        )

    elif isinstance(msg_in, NoteOn) and msg_in.velocity == 0:
        print(
            "received NoteOff",
            "from channel",
            msg_in.channel + 1,
            "MIDI note",
            msg_in.note,
            "velocity",
            msg_in.velocity,
            "\n"
        )

    elif isinstance(msg_in, ControlChange):
        print(
            "received CC",
            "from channel",
            msg_in.channel + 1,
            "controller",
            msg_in.control,
            "value",
            msg_in.value,
            "\n"
        )

    elif isinstance(msg_in, MIDIUnknownEvent):
        # Message are only known if they are imported
        print("Unknown MIDI event status ", msg_in.status)

    elif msg_in is not None:
        midi.send(msg_in)

    key_event = macropad.keys.events.get()  # check for keypad events

    if not key_event:  # Event is None; no keypad event happened, do other stuff

        position = macropad.encoder  # store encoder position state
        cc_position = int(constrain((position + CC_OFFSET), 0, 127))  # lock to cc range
        if last_position is None or position != last_position:

            if position < last_position:
                midi.send(ControlChange(LIVE_CC_NUMBER, cc_position))
                print("CC", cc_position)
                cc_val_text_area.text = str(cc_position)

            elif position > last_position:
                midi.send(ControlChange(LIVE_CC_NUMBER, cc_position))
                print("CC", cc_position)
                cc_val_text_area.text = str(cc_position)
        last_position = position

        macropad.encoder_switch_debounced.update()  # check the encoder switch w debouncer
        if macropad.encoder_switch_debounced.pressed:
            print("Mod")
            push_text_area.text = "[.]"
            modifier = True
            macropad.pixels.brightness = DIM

        if macropad.encoder_switch_debounced.released:
            modifier = False
            push_text_area.text = "[o]"
            macropad.pixels.brightness = BRIGHT

        continue

    num = key_event.key_number

    if key_event.pressed and not modifier:
        midi.send(NoteOn(LIVE_NOTES[num], 127))
        print("\nsent note", LIVE_NOTES[num], "\n")

    if key_event.pressed and modifier:
        midi.send(NoteOn(MODIFIER_NOTES[num], 127))

    if key_event.released and not modifier:
        midi.send(NoteOff(LIVE_NOTES[num], 0))

    if key_event.released and modifier:
        midi.send(NoteOff(MODIFIER_NOTES[num], 0))

    macropad.pixels.show()
View on GitHub

Use It

The key (pun unavoidable) to all of this is the use of Ableton Live's MIDI control surface setup. Commercial controllers, such as the Novation Launchpad Mini Mk3, communicate bidirectionally with Ableton using MIDI messages for everything from clip launching, to scene navigation, to LED color and animation syncing.

 

Controller Setup

With the MacroPad plugged into your computer using a USB data cable, launch Ableton Live.

In Ableton, open the preferences by clicking Live > Preferences...

In the Preference window, click on the tab labeled "Link Tempo MIDI"

Control Surface

In the Control Surface list, select Launchpad Mini Mk3. This is the scheme used in the code we put on the MacroPad.

NOTE: Be careful not to pick the similarly named "Launchkey" item, this has a different MIDI syncing scheme.

Input

In the Input list, select the MacroPad RP2040 (CircuitPython usb midi.ports[0]) item.

This is the device that Ableton will be listening to for MIDI messages.

Output

In the Output list, select the MacroPad RP2040 (CircuitPython usb midi.ports[0]) item.

This is the device to which Ableton will send MIDI messages to keep things in sync.

Track and Remote

Ableton's Track, Sync, and Remote switches are used to enable different types of MIDI messages between devices and the software. Read more details here.

Turn on both the Track and Remote switches for the Input port, and just the Remote switch for the Output.

Sync is used for MIDI Clock and Timecode, neither of which are needed for this project.

 

Clip Setup

The MacroPad will launch clips in the first three tracks (columns) and four scenes (rows) of your Ableton session. Load up some samples, loops, MIDI notes, etc. and you'll see the Macropad LEDs match the colors of the clips!

Leave the fifth scene empty, as this is used for "stopping" clips in the MacroPad code by using the encoder switch combined with any key in a column.

You can also use the rotary encoder knob to adjust CC #74 (customizable in code).

projects_macrolive1.jpg

You can read lots of great details in the Novation Launchpad Mini Mk3 Programmer's Reference guide. If you'd like to implement other features or customize things to your liking, go for it!

 Build the MacroPad

This guide was first published on Jul 17, 2021. It was last updated on Jul 17, 2021.

This page (Code the Ableton MacroPad) was last updated on May 31, 2023.

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