Applies to:
- Launchpad X and Launchpad Pro [MK3]
- Launchkey [MK3] and Launchkey Mini [MK3]
- Launchkey MK4 and Launchkey MK4 Mini
- SL MkIII
Launchpad X / Launchpad Pro [MK3]
When a track with a Drum Rack is selected In Ableton Live, the Note Mode on the Launchpad X or Pro [MK3] will change the layout to create a visual representation of the Drum Rack you are controlling.
The view is divided into four 4×4 areas, each of which represents the areas of the Drum Rack, as shown below:
This layout is assigned to MIDI Channel 2 within Ableton Live, so long as you have set up your Launchpad X or Launchpad Pro [MK3] as outlined in the below articles
when setting up a Drum Rack track and another MIDI Instrument track, you will find that, if both tracks are enabled (i.e. record armed), you will hear both channels when using Note Mode. To avoid this, you need to assign the Drum Rack to MIDI Channel 2:
Note that when assigning the Drum Rack to any channel other than All Channels or MIDI Channel 2, Note Mode will appear to freeze. This is because what you see on the Launchpad is still a representation of that Drum Rack, and that Drum Rack is not receiving MIDI.
The Launchpad will still send MIDI data, however, as Drum Mode is assigned to Ableton Live as MIDI Channel 2, Drum Mode will not function on other channels. To 'unfreeze' this, change the MIDI channel of the drums back to Channel 2 or All Channels.
Launchkey [MK3]
When a track with a Drum Rack is selected In Ableton Live, and Drum Mode is selected on Launchkey [MK3], the pads will match a 2x8 visual representation of the Drum Rack you are controlling.
This layout is assigned to MIDI Channel 2 within Ableton Live, so long as you have set up your Launchkey [MK3] as outlined in the below articles
- Getting Started With Launchkey [MK3] Ableton Live Setup
- Launchkey Mini MK3 Getting Started | Ableton Live Setup
when setting up a Drum Rack track and another MIDI Instrument track, you will find that, if both tracks are enabled (i.e. record armed), you will hear both channels when using Drum Mode. To avoid this, you need to assign the Drum Rack to MIDI Channel 2:
Note that when assigning the Drum Rack to any channel other than All Channels or MIDI Channel 2, Drum Mode will appear to freeze. This is because what you see on the Launchkey is still a representation of that Drum Rack, and that Drum Rack is not receiving MIDI.
The Launchkey will still send MIDI data, however, as Drum Mode is assigned to Ableton Live as MIDI Channel 2, Drum Mode will not function on other channels. To 'unfreeze' this, change the MIDI channel of the drums back to Channel 2 or All Channels.
You can see a video demonstration of Launchkey [MK3]'s Drum Mode in Ableton Live here:
Launchkey MK4
When a track with a Drum Rack is selected In Ableton Live, and Drum Mode is selected on Launchkey MK4, the pads will match a 2x8 visual representation of the Drum Rack you are controlling.
This layout is assigned to MIDI Channel 16 within Ableton Live, so long as you have set up your Launchkey MK4 as outlined in the below articles
when setting up a Drum Rack track and another MIDI Instrument track, you will find that, if both tracks are enabled (i.e. record armed), you will hear both channels when using Drum Mode. To avoid this, you need to assign the Drum Rack to MIDI Channel 16:
You can see a video demonstration of Launchkey MK4's Drum Mode in Ableton Live here:
SL MkIII
When a track with a Drum Rack is selected In Ableton Live, and Grid is active in InControl Mode on SL MkIII, the pads will match a 2x8 visual representation of the Drum Rack you are controlling.
This layout is assigned to MIDI Channel 5 within Ableton Live, so long as you have set up your SL MkIII as outlined in the below article
when setting up a Drum Rack track and another MIDI Instrument track, you will find that, if both tracks are enabled (i.e. record armed), you will hear both channels when using Grid in InControl Mode. To avoid this, you need to assign the Drum Rack to MIDI Channel 5:
Note that when assigning the Drum Rack to any channel other than All Channels or MIDI Channel 5, Grid will appear to freeze. This is because what you see on the SL is still a representation of that Drum Rack, and that Drum Rack is not receiving MIDI.
The SL will still send MIDI data, however, as Drum Mode is assigned to Ableton Live as MIDI Channel 5, Grid will not function on other channels. To 'unfreeze' this, change the MIDI channel of the drums back to Channel 5 or All Channels.
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