Launch Ableton Live clips with the MacroPad RP2040! Mechanical keyswitch clip launching is now a reality. Sync NeoPixel LEDs with your Live session via USB MIDI.

All coded in CircuitPython and customizable to suit your needs. It's the tiny little Launchpad or Push you've always dreamed of!

The basic code concept can be adapted to Pure Data with r_cycle or Max/MSP.

Sync with MIDI

One of the coolest things about this project is how you can keep the MacroPad and Ableton in sync so that any clip launched in the software UI will light up the related keyswitch LED. This is accomplished with bi-directional MIDI messages.

For example, when Ableton launches a clip, it sends a MIDI message to the MacroPad to say "hey, turn the LED green, this clip is running!" It doesn't matter if the clip was launched with the hardware or software, Ableton takes care of all the LED MIDI message logic. In fact, it even encodes the LED color in the MIDI message. Clever!

Parts

Video of a hand playing with a rainbow-glowing keypad.
Strap yourself in, we're launching in T-minus 10 seconds...Destination? A new Class M planet called MACROPAD! M here stands for Microcontroller because this 3x4 keyboard controller...
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-or-

Angled shot of MacroPad
Strap yourself in, we're launching in T-minus 10 seconds...Destination? A new Class M planet called MACROPAD! M here, stands for Microcontroller because this 3x4 keyboard...
Out of Stock
Top view of MacroPad add on pack
Dress up your Adafruit Macropad with PaintYourDragon's fabulous decorative silkscreen enclosure and hardware kit. You get the two custom PCBs that are cut to act as a protective...
$4.95
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Top shot of 12 pack Red Kailh Mechanical Key Switches
For crafting your very own custom keyboard, these Kailh Red Linear mechanical key switches are deeee-luxe! With smooth actuation and Cherry MX compatibility,...
$7.95
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Group shot of Clear DSA Keycaps for MX Compatible Switches - 12 pack
Here is a 12 pack of Clear DSA keycaps for your next mechanical keyboard or 
$6.95
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or

12 x Black Windowed Lamp R4 Keycap
for MX Compatible Switches
Angled shot of coiled pink and purple USB cable with USB A and USB C connectors.
This cable is not only super-fashionable, with a woven pink and purple Blinka-like pattern, it's also made for USB C for our modernized breakout boards, Feathers, and...
$2.95
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Optional for use with 3D Printed Case

Angled shot of two black aluminum bumper feet.
Keep your electronics from going barefoot, and give them sleek cyberpunk metal feet! These aluminum bumpers are originally designed for keyboard enclosures that are made of anodized...
$8.95
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CircuitPython is a derivative of MicroPython designed to simplify experimentation and education on low-cost microcontrollers. It makes it easier than ever to get prototyping by requiring no upfront desktop software downloads. Simply copy and edit files on the CIRCUITPY drive to iterate.

CircuitPython Quickstart

Follow this step-by-step to quickly get CircuitPython running on your board.

Click the link above to download the latest CircuitPython UF2 file.

Save it wherever is convenient for you.

The BOOT button is the button switch in the rotary encoder! To engage the BOOT button, simply press down on the rotary encoder.

To enter the bootloader, hold down the BOOT/BOOTSEL button (highlighted in red above), and while continuing to hold it (don't let go!), press and release the reset button (highlighted in blue above). Continue to hold the BOOT/BOOTSEL button until the RPI-RP2 drive appears!

If the drive does not appear, release all the buttons, and then repeat the process above.

You can also start with your board unplugged from USB, press and hold the BOOTSEL button (highlighted in red above), continue to hold it while plugging it into USB, and wait for the drive to appear before releasing the button.

A lot of people end up using charge-only USB cables and it is very frustrating! Make sure you have a USB cable you know is good for data sync.

You will see a new disk drive appear called RPI-RP2.

 

Drag the adafruit_circuitpython_etc.uf2 file to RPI-RP2.

The RPI-RP2 drive will disappear and a new disk drive called CIRCUITPY will appear.

That's it, you're done! :)

Safe Mode

You want to edit your code.py or modify the files on your CIRCUITPY drive, but find that you can't. Perhaps your board has gotten into a state where CIRCUITPY is read-only. You may have turned off the CIRCUITPY drive altogether. Whatever the reason, safe mode can help.

Safe mode in CircuitPython does not run any user code on startup, and disables auto-reload. This means a few things. First, safe mode bypasses any code in boot.py (where you can set CIRCUITPY read-only or turn it off completely). Second, it does not run the code in code.py. And finally, it does not automatically soft-reload when data is written to the CIRCUITPY drive.

Therefore, whatever you may have done to put your board in a non-interactive state, safe mode gives you the opportunity to correct it without losing all of the data on the CIRCUITPY drive.

Entering Safe Mode

To enter safe mode when using CircuitPython, plug in your board or hit reset (highlighted in red above). Immediately after the board starts up or resets, it waits 1000ms. On some boards, the onboard status LED (highlighted in green above) will blink yellow during that time. If you press reset during that 1000ms, the board will start up in safe mode. It can be difficult to react to the yellow LED, so you may want to think of it simply as a slow double click of the reset button. (Remember, a fast double click of reset enters the bootloader.)

In Safe Mode

If you successfully enter safe mode on CircuitPython, the LED will intermittently blink yellow three times.

If you connect to the serial console, you'll find the following message.

Auto-reload is off.
Running in safe mode! Not running saved code.

CircuitPython is in safe mode because you pressed the reset button during boot. Press again to exit safe mode.

Press any key to enter the REPL. Use CTRL-D to reload.

You can now edit the contents of the CIRCUITPY drive. Remember, your code will not run until you press the reset button, or unplug and plug in your board, to get out of safe mode.

Flash Resetting UF2

If your board ever gets into a really weird state and doesn't even show up as a disk drive when installing CircuitPython, try loading this 'nuke' UF2 which will do a 'deep clean' on your Flash Memory. You will lose all the files on the board, but at least you'll be able to revive it! After loading this UF2, follow the steps above to re-install CircuitPython.

Follow the basic instructions for MacroPad assembly in the main guide -- but don't attach the back plate. Switch plate, keyswitches, encoder knob, keycaps, and the MacroPad itself should be assembled first, as shown above.

Print the 3D model using the file linked below. I used these settings:

  • PLA filament
  • 0.2mm height
  • 10% gyroid infill
  • overhang support to keep ports nice and straight

Optional Feet

If you'd like to use the optional keyboard feet for that sweet angled action, start by placing one of the foot screws into it's hole from the topside of the case.

You'll see there are four of these countersunk, M4 holes to choose from, depending on your preferred board orientation. We'll choose "screen on top" orientation and screw in the feet at the top.

Thread each foot onto its screw from the bottom, and tighten it well, but not so tight as to break anything!

Forgot to get a keyswitch plate? This community member shared a 3D printable model that works nicely and fits inside the case! 

Insert Macropad

Insert the Macropad into the case as shown, tilting the USB port into place and then pressing the board in snugly.

Fasten Case and MacroPad

Thread the four M3 screws into the case and the MacroPad's threaded standoffs.

Plug in USB C cable through the top port.

Access the STEMMA QT I2C port and the reset button from the left side of the case.

Text Editor

Adafruit recommends using the Mu editor for editing your CircuitPython code. You can get more info in this guide.

Alternatively, you can use any text editor that saves simple text files.

Download the Project Bundle

Your project will use a specific set of CircuitPython libraries and the code.py file, along with a folder full of key configuration files. To get everything you need, click on the Download Project Bundle link below, and uncompress the .zip file.

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.

# 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.root_group = 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()

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).

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!

This guide was first published on Jul 17, 2021. It was last updated on Mar 27, 2024.