Set up your Launchpad,
in seconds.
Introducing MIDI Manager v7
MIDI Manager is the convenient and lightning fast plugin enabling quick set up of your Launchpad or other MIDI controller in your Ableton Live set, ready for visual performances. MIDI Manager enables complete uniformity across 13 different controllers for a seamless experience throughout multiple devices.
MIDI Manager v7 introduces SmartIO, the intelligent configuration engine designed specifically to find and connect your performance device. SmartIO can automatically configure ports, MIDI translation and output channel, simply by connecting a device.
Connection and setup is simply plug & play.
Setup: Simplified, Standardised, Smart.
MIDI Manager is designed to make Launchpad project setup almost instantaneous. When a device is connected, SmartIO looks at all the available input and output ports, then pairs an input port with an output port, then scans the device to determine the device type. The device type then informs MIDI Manager exactly how to treat the connected device, enables MIDI translation, like enabling top lights on certain models of Launchpad, then kicks the output track within Ableton to send MIDI to the correct MIDI channel based on the device you have connected to enable MIDI out, and Lightshows, and for some models, it can even kick the device into the required mode (Legacy, User 1 mode etc.). SmartIO will also verify any changes it makes to port or channel.
If required, SmartIO can be disabled to allow for manual port selection and channel selection. Some projects may require channel 3 to be set for a Launchpad Pro where the device normally uses channel 6. Channel 3 enables a different view of the output lights. Disabling SmartIO can help in scenarios like this and enable true manual set up.
I’ll tell you what’s up
MIDI Manager carried out the whole setup while sending convenient and understandable animations to the connected device, and showing an easy-to-understand status LED within MIDI Manager itself. The device animations help to detail the current state of the Launchpad, or connected device, and act as an easy way to tell if something is not working as expected. As the animations are pre-set, if the colours, or note position looks off, you will immediately know if there is an issue, but when set up as expected, a satisfying, and deliberate animation will play to confirm setup completion
Green - Device Connected & Ready
Orange - Configuring Device
Purple - Device Suspended (Ableton has remembered previous port & channel information, but the device is not currently connected)
Red - No Device (No device is connected or configured)
Multiple devices? Multiple Solutions.
How does MIDI Manager behave with multiple devices?
MIDI Manager looks through the ports list to determine if a compatible device is connected. When the count of compatible devices goes from 0 to 1, and there is only one MIDI Manager in the entire project, SmartIO takes over immediately and instantly sets up the connected device.
If this count raises from 1 to 2, MIDI Manager stays locked on the connected device.
If the original device is disconnected, and the compatible devices count changes from 2 to 1, the ports stay suspended and MIDI Manager does not replace the ports of your original device, with the ports of the secondary connected device, even if the ports are reset to “No Input, No Output”.
If two devices are connected, SmartIO will not automatically engage. However, when you choose an input port or output port for device 1 or 2, Smart IO will then engage, and build a controller profile surrounding the port that you selected, finding a matching port, device type, channel, and will kick the device into the required mode for a visual performance, while playing matching animations.
If no matching ports can be found, i.e. if the output port is not configured yet in your Ableton settings, SmartIO will stop, report a failure, and will then try again when both input and output ports are detected.
Multiple devices can be configured using the Device ID within the creator settings.
Same same, but different
MIDI Manager contains colour emulation modes to ensure that projects work as similarly as they can when viewed across different devices with alternative colour palettes. For example, a project made for Launchpad Pro (which has full RGB LEDs) can be emulated to match as closely as possible on a Launchpad S (which only has red and green LEDs).
Colour emulation works across multiple devices, enabling a Launchpad S to work like a Pro, and vice versa, as well as dedicated palette conversion algorithms for Ableton Push 2.
The colour emulation mode will auto-configure itself based on your connected device, and what device the project creator designs the project to be best compatible with. If an incompatible device is detected, MM7 will warn you of the incompatibility.
Smart options for creators
A very important part of creating a Launchpad project is ensuring proper credit is given to whomever worked on the project, as well as detailing exactly how each connected controller will work with your project file. Creator settings within MM7 (MIDI Manager 7) enable a new ease of proof of ownership across all the projects you create. MM7 allows you to configure a custom logo to be displayed to the performer of your project, as well as an author name, and even a name for the connected device, particularly helpful if your project uses multiple Launchpads, you can name them “Left Launchpad, Right Launchpad” etc, or… get creative.
Within creator settings is the Device ID. Think of this as the “channel” that the current MM7 uses to talk to the partnering IM7 (Input Manager 7) and OM7 (Output Manager 7). 3 tracks, a MIDI Input, MIDI Output, and Device Setup track are required for configuration. Additional connected devices require their own Input and Output tracks, to which all MIDI is sent/received from. laying the project out this way massively cuts down on the time it takes to load a port when there is only one port to load. A heavy project can sometimes take upwards of 30 seconds to load on slower machines. Keeping the time to load ports low keeps the user happy, even if setup is a tad more complex.
Happy with your creator settings? When you save creator settings, those settings are locked in and then cannot be modified going foward, protecting your ownership of the project. When you then collect all and save your Ableton set, your logo image will also be transferred.
Through creator settings, you can also configure the device in which the project is designed for, this benefits the end user as their copy of MM7 will detect if they connect a controller which is compatible or not with the controller the project was designed to be used with. If it is slightly different, colour emulation modes can kick in and make sure colour matches closely, and if the device is not compatible (like if the project is designed for a Launchpad MK2 and you connect a Roli Lumi), it can warn the end user that the connected controller is not compatible. “This project is designed for” will automatically set itself up based on the first device you connect to your new project, but can still be changed in a drop down menu later. This auto-selection is only used for first time set up.
For peace of mind, and new to MM7, creator settings save to an options file in your Ableton user library, so if you start a new project, your name and logo will already be loaded into the next MM7 you load up, for quick and easy project creation.
MIDI Manager v7 is the most important thing to happen to Ableton Launchpad Projects in years, shattering the barrier of entry to anyone new to Launchpad.
What is MIDI Manager?
MIDI Manager, formerly MIDI LED Setup, Output Manager, PMO, or Top/Mode Lights, is by far the simplest way to configure your visual performance device in Ableton Live, including unique features such as remote port selection, automatic channel setting based on device, and auto kicking into Legacy or User mode.
MIDI Manager allows for the outgoing MIDI messages to be standardised so that any visual performance device can read it, allowing for harmony between many Launchpads and other controller options. MIDI Manager can adapt the way your Launchpad works with features such as colour profiles, which can be switched to match Launchpad S colours etc, as well as Top Light conversion, to enable to use of every single LED on your device. Finally, MIDI Manager has integrated flicker reduction, tailored towards Windows users who are experiencing issues with light feedback.
MIDI Manager works in conjunction with Input Manager and Output Manager to give the end user the ability to control exactly how their device is configured, right down to being able to select the IO ports, right from inside MIDI Manager itself, meaning the entire set up process can be done without leaving this single plugin.
How to use MIDI Manager
MIDI Manager works best when OM (Output Manager) and IM (Input Manager) are placed on their own standalone MIDI tracks and your Audio/Lights tracks are routed to these tracks specifically. The result of this is a single track that handles the outgoing lights for one device, rather than potentially having multiple tracks that all send to the same port, multiple times over. MM (MIDI Manager) is then placed on its own track and is used as a remote controller for the IM and OM devices. Doing this consolidates all controls needs in order to activate and control your project
Thank you to my Beta testers!
Whiffy, Boxter, Eviternity, Alanko, Syrania, Pepsicle, Sirkit
Changelog
MIDI Manager v7.1
v7.1
Added support for coreFW by Anth
Changed smartIO behaviour to now activate when it finds a matching pair of IO ports, rather than just a new input port
Increased port registration efficiency
Added port name rejection to ignore ports such as Bootloaders
Increased compatibility with Launchpad Classic
Added foundational support for MicroLight 4
MIDI Manager v7.0
v7.0.1
Added channel number indication to console view
Fixed MIDI Fighter compatibility with a naming issue and changed auto-channel to ch3
Added warning if port name does not match any device
Fixed issue where Ableton settings file couldn’t be detected if an Ableton bugfix version number was not present, ie. Live 12.3
Fixed issue where MIDI Manager would hang if device setup was incomplete
Fixed an issue where Launchpad Mini MK3 would not be detected correctly
v7.0
Introducing SmartIO, a new and easy way to configure any 64 button controller ready for any visual performance.
Smart IO will attempt to discover a matching port based on the Input/Output Port you select
Device type is also determined via the name of the connected device after the input and output ports have been set
Device type will also determine what channel the MIDI lights should be sent to
SmartIO will also attempt to kick your device into its dedicated performance mode, i.e. User 1, Legacy, User etc.
SmartIO will detect changing from 0 to 1 device, and attempt to set up automatically
SmartIO can be used with multiple devices, but automatic set up will not engage until at least one port has been manually selected
SmartIO will also verify any changes it makes to IO ports and channel before continuing to next operation. A significant improvement over V6, which would wait 2 seconds before reporting a success, whether it was successful or not
Full Live 12 Support
Graphical re-design
UI Overhaul and simplification
Re-vamped creator settings including Device ID, changes to device name and project author, along with more security to prevent changing icon or name once a project has been completed and creator settings have been locked
Changed default logo from Kaskobi logo to a more neutral logo to encourage changing of icon
Added new checks to confirm that all relevant devices are found within ableton before proceeding, fixing some nasty unwanted bugs
Added new “Connected successfully” animation for any devices configured using MIDI Manager as well as other device animations to indicate loading, or unsuccessful setup
Fixed issues with status bar frantically updating and will now accurately show the current status of your connected device, and will also include any errors with a new visual improvement to highlight ongoing issues
Changing project author and icon now saves as a default by writing to a .txt in User Library, making it easy to keep author and icon consistent between projects
New setting “This project is designed for:” to automatically set things up such as device colour emulation to ensure colours look as accurate as possible between devices without doing any further set up
Enabled automatic updates for changes to IO ports
Automatic filtering of likely non-hardware devices from IO ports list
New SmartIO Indicator to show device readiness
Increased robustness of changing project author and logo
Added new “Configuring” text to IM and OM to indicate when actions are being performed
Re-vamped method to determine incompatible file types when selecting custom logo
Option to set logo now appears as a button & a drag/drop, rather than just drag/drop
Reset button now only resets currently selected device and other devices on the same Device ID. Holding shift shows “Reset All” allowing for full reset of project, ready for sharing, and behaves the same as the previous Reset button
Bug Fixes
Fixed status bar to show accurate device information and appear less sporadic
MIDI Manager v6.0
v6.0
- New name! Introducing MIDI Manager
- Introducing the ability to set your IO ports remotely, all in one place
- Set your input and output port using MIDI Manager
- Introducing Creator Settings, this allows the project creator to list themselves or others as the creator of a launchpad project and upload a custom logo to associate with it
- Added new Copy & Paste settings buttons, to quickly copy device configurations between MIDI managers
- Introducing Controller ID, enabling the use of Multi Launchpads with MIDI Manager for the first time
- Full Live 11 Support
- Added Support for Roli Lumi with custom firmware
v5.0.2
- Removed auto flicker reduction setting when selecting Launchpad Pro MK3
v5.0.1
- Fixed some test spacing options
- Fixed a bug that caused some settings to unload when a project is reloaded
v5.0
- Added full support for Launchpad Pro MK3's new Legacy mode
- Added Auto Channel-setting
- Added Auto Mode-switching
- Added toggle for auto channel and mode switching
- Hidden away settings for ease of use
- Added full support for Launchpad Pro MK1 running CFW on Ch16
- UI redesign
- Removed mode selector and replaced with auto kicking into the correct mode
- Removed textbox telling you which channel to choose
v4.1
- Added full support for Launchpad Pro MK3 and Legacy Mode
v4.0.1
- Added full support for Launchpad Mini MK3
v4.0
- Heavily Re-designed UI and simplified code
- Flicker reduction support added for live 10.1.3
- Support for Launchpad X
- Precise scale correction added through performance mode selection
- Mode Light Control added for LP PRO
- Simplified settings
- Added Auto-configure to set all other project manager devices to the same settings in one click
v3.1.2
- Used this device to fix an issue with Live 10 where MIDI would freeze on some Launchpads when playback is paused
v3.1.1
- Allowed MIDI through when no device is selected
v3.1
- Renamed to Output Manager to keep it simple
- Fixed the upper half of the RGB >> RG conversion profile
- Added support for setting all Project Managers to the same device to save some time
- Added output rotation controls
v3.0.1
- Fixed a bug that would cause Mode Light and Flicker Reduction warnings to become “un-closeable” after reloading a project. Fixed by removing those warnings entirely.
v3.0
- Heavily re-designed UI
- Added color profile conversion
- Added scale types
- Added custom channel support
- Added Ableton Push 2 support
- Added MF64 support
- Added Matrix support
- Added Flicker Reduction
- Added Global Reset Button
- Added Tutorial element
v2.0
- Re-designed UI
- Added Shortcut to hide extra lights such as User, User 1 or the Mode light on Launchpad Pro
- Added control for the Mode Light on Launchpad Pro (One Launchpad only)
v1.0
- Enabled support for top lights on Launchpad Pro, MK2, Launchpad S and Launchpad Mini MK1/2