Applies to Launchpad Mini MK3, Launchpad X, and Launchpad Pro Mk3
This article describes the functions of the Launchpad Custom Mode editor.
Components is the software used to manage the firmware and templates on many of our products. You can download a standalone version when you register your Launchpad or access our web-based version in browsers that support WebMIDI such as Chrome, Opera and Microsoft Edge.
The Custom Mode editor can be used with or without a unit connected, but this article will assume that one is connected.
If using a browser, you may need to allow the page access to your MIDI devices, as prompted when first loading the page:
You do not need to log in to use Components, but this allows you to back up all your data to your account.
You can make templates in the editor whether the Launchpad is connected to Components or not. To see if the Launchpad is connected, check the indicator in the top right which can be one of 3 colours:
Not Connected: this means that the device cannot be seen by Components.
If the device is in this state it could either mean the device is not connected, not powered, or you are using a browser which does not support WebMIDI, as mentioned above.
Wrong Mode: this means the device is connected and recognised, but is in the wrong state, in this case, it could mean the Launchpad is in Bootloader mode. Pressing the green pad at the bottom right will let it start as normal. If not, please try reinstalling the firmware from the Firmware tab.
Connected: the Launchpad is connected and ready to use.
Once on the appropriate Launchpad page, you can either get the Custom Mode from the Launchpad, create a new Custom Mode, or upload one from your computer:
Along the top row, you can name the Custom Mode, save the Custom Mode, send it to your Launchpad, and customise how it appears in the Librarian on the left-hand side:
Librarian:
Down the right-hand side of Components you'll have access to your templates as well as the templates we have provided:
Custom Mode Creation:
Creating a template on the Launchpad is done through the use of Widgets, each of these has different functions:
- Vertical and Horizontal Unipolar Faders allow you to send a CC message on a chosen channel - these faders start low and move to the highest value.
- Vertical and Horizontal Bipolar Faders are the same but show lights on either side of the centre. This is useful for assigning pan controls, as the centre value will be equivalent to central panning.
- The Chromatic Keyboard includes all 12 notes in an octave. You can customise which octave and which channel this sends out on.
- The Scale Keyboard includes up to 8 notes from a scale. You can choose which scale, which root note, which MIDI channel and which octave this uses.
- The Drum Grid includes sets of 16 pads to play notes across two octaves in a square. You can customise the octave and channel. By default, this is set to Octave 3.
- MIDI Note lets you assign a note to a single pad. You can customise the note, the octave, and the channel, as well as change the behaviour of the note to be:
- Momentary - continues to play while held but releasing stops the note
- Toggle - Starts playing when pressed, stops playing when pressed again
- Program Change allows you to have the pad send a program change message on a chosen channel. This is useful for selecting certain patches on VSTs or hardware.
- CC Button allows you to send a Control Change message. You can determine the CC number, the 'on' value, the 'off' value, the channel, and the behaviour (Momentary, Toggle, and Trigger which lets you increment through values). Control Change messages are useful for mapping to various functions, you can map them to things in Ableton such as device or transport controls.
Launchpad Mini MK3 and Launchpad X also feature the ability to add Custom Keystroke widgets which send a key or combination of keys at the press of a pad.
Selecting a widget will allow you to change its settings:
Each widget has different settings, some of this has been explained above. All widgets allow you to change the MIDI channel, and Widgets on the same template can have different channels. Selecting "Global Channel" will mean this widget uses the channel selected from the Launchpad itself, allowing you to change what the control is interacting with from the hardware.
When dragging a Widget onto a slot with a Widget already in place, the previous Widget will be removed:
Keyboard shortcuts such as alt to copy can also be used.
When finished, you can either send it to one of the Custom Modes using the button at the top right:
You can also save them to your Components account or download them as a SysEx file so you can share them with others using the Save button.
If you're using Windows and you'd like to use the Launchpad with Components and Ableton simultaneously, please install the driver found here (the same driver is used for both).
Updates:
On the Updates page, you can update and reinstall the firmware of your Launchpad. When you first get the Launchpad it is worth checking here to see that you have the latest firmware. This will list all the changes we've made to the firmware as well.