Launchpad X configuration messages

Updated

The messages described further can be used to change various settings of the Launchpad X.

Brightness level

This message sets the Launchpad X’s brightness level on a 0 – 127 scale. Value 0 corresponds to the lowest brightness level, 127 to the highest. This setting is normally available on the LED view of the Setup menu, where 8 brightness levels can be set.

Host → Launchpad X:
Hex:    F0h    00h    20h    29h    02h    0Ch    08h    <brightness>    F7h
Dec:    240    0      32     41     2      12     8      <brightness>    247
Host → Launchpad X:
Hex:    F0h    00h    20h    29h    02h    0Ch    08h    <brightness>    F7h
Dec:    240    0      32     41     2      12     8      <brightness>    247

Readback variant is available by the following SysEx message:

Host → Launchpad X:
Hex:    F0h    00h    20h    29h    02h    0Dh    08h    F7h
Dec:    240    0      32     41     2      13     8      247
Host → Launchpad X:
Hex:    F0h    00h    20h    29h    02h    0Dh    08h    F7h
Dec:    240    0      32     41     2      13     8      247

LED Feedbacks

This message sets the Internal and External Feedbacks, which are normally available on the LED view of the Setup menu:

  • Internal Feedback: Whether notes played, or controls activated should light up.

  • External Feedback: Whether MIDI notes coming from the MIDI In / Out interface should light up corresponding pads.

Host → Launchpad X:
Hex:    F0h    00h  20h   29h   02h  0Ch   0Ah   <internal>    <external>    F7h
Dec:    240    0    32    41    2    12    10    <internal>    <external>    247
Host → Launchpad X:
Hex:    F0h    00h  20h   29h   02h  0Dh   0Ah   <internal>    <external>    F7h
Dec:    240    0    32    41    2    13    10    <internal>    <external>    247

For both <internal> and <external>, 0 corresponds to inactive, 1 to active.

Readback variant is available by the following SysEx message:

Host → Launchpad X:
Hex:    F0h    00h    20h    29h    02h    0Ch    0Ah    F7h
Dec:    240    0      32     41     2      12     10     247
Host → Launchpad X:
Hex:    F0h    00h    20h    29h    02h    0Dh    0Ah    F7h
Dec:    240    0      32     41     2      13     10     247

Velocity curve

This message configures the Velocity curve, which is normally available on the VEL view of the Setup menu:

Host → Launchpad X:
Hex:    F0h    00h    20h    29h    02h    0Ch    04h    <curve>    <fixed>    F7h
Dec:    240    0      32     41     2      12     4      <curve>    <fixed>    247

For <curve>, the followings are available:

  • 0: Low (Playing soft notes is easier).

  • 1: Medium.

  • 2: High (Playing hard notes is easier).

  • 3: Fixed velocity.

The <fixed> parameter provides the fixed velocity value to use when selecting Fixed velocity. By default, this is 7Fh. Changing this is not possible on the Setup menu.

The velocity curve (or fixed velocity) is also used for Faders when the Faders are configured to be Velocity sensitive.

Readback variant is available by the following SysEx message:

Host → Launchpad X:
Hex:    F0h    00h    20h    29h    02h    0Ch    04h    F7h
Dec:    240    0      32     41     2      12     4      247

Aftertouch

This message configures Aftertouch, which is normally available on the AFT view of the Setup menu:

Host → Launchpad X:
Hex:    F0h    00h  20h   29h   02h  0Ch   0Bh   <type>    <threshold>    F7h
Dec:    240    0    32    41    2    12    11    <type>    <threshold>    247

For <type>, the followings are available:

  • 0: Polyphonic Aftertouch (Key Pressure events, A0h – AFh).

  • 1: Channel Aftertouch (Channel Pressure events, D0h – DFh).

  • 2: Aftertouch Off.

For <threshold>, the followings are available:

  • 0: Low (Aftertouch is very sensitive)

  • 1: Medium

  • 2: High (Aftertouch only kicks in at high pressure on the pads)

Readback variant is available by the following SysEx message:

Host → Launchpad X:
Hex:    F0h    00h  20h   29h   02h  0Ch   0Bh   F7h
Dec:    240    0    32    41    2    12    11    247

Fader velocity toggle

This message configures whether Faders should be velocity sensitive, which is normally available on the FAD view of the Setup menu:

Host → Launchpad X:
Hex:    F0h    00h  20h   29h   02h  0Ch   0Dh   <mode>    F7h
Dec:    240    0    32    41    2    12    13    <mode>    247

Setting <mode> 0 turns off Fader velocity sensitivity, 1 turns it on.

Readback variant is available by the following SysEx message:

Host → Launchpad X:
Hex:    F0h    00h    20h    29h    02h    0Ch    0Dh    F7h
Dec:    240    0      32     41     2      12     13     247

Set Note Mode’s mode

This message can set Note Mode’s mode: either Chromatic or Scale mode. This setting is independent of DAW Drum Racks and is normally accessible on the Note Mode setup display.

Host → Launchpad X:
Hex:    F0h    00h  20h   29h   02h  0Ch   15h   <mode>    F7h
Dec:    240    0    32    41    2    12    21    <mode>    247

Where <mode> is 0 for Chromatic mode, 1 is for Scale mode.

Readback variant is available by the following SysEx message:

Host → Launchpad X:
Hex:    F0h    00h  20h   29h   02h  0Ch   15h   F7h
Dec:    240    0    32    41    2    12    21    247

Set Note Mode’s configuration

This message configures either the Chromatic or Scale mode of Note Mode. Most of the settings are shared, except for Width. These configuration options are normally accessible on the Note Mode setup display.

Host → Launchpad X:
Hex:    F0h    00h  20h   29h   02h  0Ch   16h   <mode>    <parameters>    F7h
Dec:    240    0    32    41    2    12    22    <mode>    <parameters>    247

The <mode> byte is 0 for configuring Chromatic mode, 1 for Scale mode.

Where <parameters> are as follows:

  • Selected octave (1 byte), signed 2’s complement, with 0 selecting C2.

  • Selected transposition (1 byte), signed 2’s complement, -12 to +12.

  • MIDI channel (1 byte), 0 – 15 selecting MIDI channels 1 to 16 respectively.

  • Width (1 byte), number of pads which don’t overlap (fingers).

  • Scale type (1 byte), 0 for selecting one of the presets, 1 for a custom scale.

  • Scale definition (1 or 11 bytes).

When Scale type is 0, the Scale definition is 1 byte, ranging from 0 to 15, selecting one of the preset scales on the Note Mode setup display.

When Scale type is 1, a custom scale can be supplied, 11 bytes, specifying whether each note is in-scale (1) or out-of-scale (0), apart from the Root note, which is always in-scale.

For Octave and Transposition, signed 2’s complement means that values including and above 40h represent negative numbers, which can be obtained by subtracting 80h from the message byte.

The Note Mode setup display adapts to the changes performed by this message, always matching its surface as best as possible for the past configuration (such as recognizing if a custom scale matched one of the presets). If a configuration is not possible to be represented (Width or Scale), neither of the corresponding set of pads would light up.

For navigating on Note Mode, you can send this message only supplying Octave and Transposition:

Host → Launchpad X:
Hex:    F0h    00h  20h   29h   02h  0Ch   16h   <mode>    <octave>    <transposition>    F7h
Dec:    240    0    32    41    2    12    22    <mode>    <octave>    <transposition>    247

Readback variant is available by the following SysEx message:

Host → Launchpad X:
Hex:    F0h    00h  20h   29h   02h  0Ch   16h   F7h
Dec:    240    0    32    41    2    12    22    247

This reads back the currently selected mode’s (Chromatic / Scale) configuration.

Host → Launchpad X:
Hex:    F0h    00h  20h   29h   02h  0Ch   16h   <mode>    F7h
Dec:    240    0    32    41    2    12    22    <mode>    247

This reads back the specified mode’s (0: Chromatic, 1: Scale) configuration.

Example:

Host → Launchpad X:
Hex:    F0h    00h  20h   29h   02h  0Ch   16h   01h  7Fh    02h  04h  05h  00h  00h  F7h
Dec:    240    0    32    41    2    12    22    1    127    2    4    5    0    0    247

This message sets Scale mode configuration, Octave at C1, Transposed to D1, MIDI channel to 5, Width to 5 (5 fingers), and a Major scale.

  • First Yellow: Selects Scale mode to configure.

  • First Green: Octave set to -1 (127 in 7 bits signed 2’s complement corresponds to -1).

  • First Turquoise: Transposition set to +2.

  • Second Yellow: Midi channel set to 5 (Note: the value of 0 corresponds to Channel 1).

  • Second Green: Width set to 5 fingers.

  • Second Turquoise: Scale type is one of the 16 presets, selects Preset 0 (Major scale).

Set Note Mode’s colours

This message sets the colours Note mode uses.

Host → Launchpad X:
Hex:    F0h    00h  20h   29h   02h  0Ch   22h   <active>    <root>    <inscale>    <ooscale>    F7h
Dec:    240    0    32    41    2    12    34    <active>    <root>    <inscale>    <ooscale>    247

Each of the colours is taken from the palette.

  • The <active> colour shows when interacting with the surface, normally this is green.

  • The <root> colour is for root notes, normally this is purple.

  • The <inscale> colour is for in-scale notes, normally this is turquoise.

  • The <ooscale> colour is for out-of-scale notes (only present in Chromatic view), normally dark.

Readback variant is available by the following SysEx message:

Host → Launchpad X:
Hex:    F0h    00h  20h   29h   02h  0Ch   22h   F7h
Dec:    240    0    32    41    2    12    34    247

Example:

Host → Launchpad X:
Hex:    F0h    00h  20h   29h   02h  0Ch   22h   15h   5Eh   24h   00h  F7h
Dec:    240    0    32    41    2    12    34    21    94    36    0    247

This message restores the normal colours of Note mode, setting Active colour to Green, Root note colour to Purple, In-scale note colour to turquoise and Out-of-scale note colour to dark.

Rotation feature toggle

The Launchpad X is capable to provide a surface rotation feature which you may find useful if you own multiple units, making it possible to arrange them with adjoining grids. This interface can be toggled with the following SysEx message:

Host → Launchpad X:
Hex:    F0h    00h  20h   29h   02h  0Ch   23h   <enable>    F7h
Dec:    240    0    32    41    2    12    35    <enable>    247

Setting <enable> 1 turns the feature On, setting it to 0 turns it Off.

When the feature is turned On, entering the Setup menu, the upper left directional buttons will be lit up. You can then rotate the Launchpad to the orientation you like and press the button whose arrow faces up to align the menus, Faders, Custom Modes and Note mode with this orientation.

Note that the feature is remembered across power cycles (so once it is turned on, the buttons in the Setup menu will remain available), however the rotation set is not, the Launchpad will always start up with its normal orientation.

Readback variant is available by the following SysEx message:

Host → Launchpad X:
Hex:    F0h    00h  20h   29h   02h  0Ch   23h   F7h
Dec:    240    0    32    41    2    12    35    247

Startup animation

The Launchpad X’s Startup animation can be modified by the following SysEx:

Host → Launchpad X:
Hex:    F0h    00h  20h   29h   02h  0Ch    78h    <interval>    <rgb>    [<rgb> […]]    F7h
Dec:    240    0    32    41    2    12     120    <interval>    <rgb>    [<rgb> […]]    247

The <interval> byte specifies the interval in 2 millisecond units for advancing one pad towards the right and up.

The <rgb> field is a triplet of Red, Green, and Blue components (0 – 127 range each), specifying the colour to scroll in on the subsequent step. The animation is smoothly interpolated between the steps. Up to 56 steps may be added, further steps are ignored.

Upon receiving this message, the Launchpad X runs the Startup animation set up (without actually rebooting), so the result can be immediately observed.

Readback variant is available by the following SysEx message:

Host → Launchpad X:
Hex:    F0h    00h  20h   29h   02h  0Ch   78h    F7h
Dec:    240    0    32    41    2    12    120    247

The following SysEx message encodes the original Startup animation:

Host → Launchpad X:
Hex:    1:    F0h    00h  20h   29h   02h  0Ch   78h    1Eh   04h  00h  00h  0Ch   
        2:    00h  00h  25h   00h  00h  4Eh   04h  00h  7Fh    0Ch   00h  7Fh    25h   
        3:    25h    00h  4Eh   4Eh   04h  25h   7Fh    0Ch   0Ch   7Fh    25h   04h  4Eh   
        4:    4Eh    4Eh   00h  25h   7Fh    00h  0Ch   7Fh    00h  04h  4Eh   00h  00h     
        5:    25h    25h    00h  00h  0Ch   00h  00h  04h  F7h

Dec:    1:    240    0    32    41    2    12    120    40    4    0    0    12    
        2:    0    0    37    0    0    78    4    0    127    12    0    127    37    
        3:    37    0    78    78    4    37    127    12    12    127    37    4    78    
        4:    78    78    0    37    127    0    12    127    0    4    78    0    0        
        5:    37    37    0    0    12    0    0    4    247

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