Been using Renoise since 2011, trackers since, phew, OctaMED around 1990. Until now I’ve solely used them standalone. A computer, a keyboard, and a sample/instrument library.
Recently started using an MPK Mini to control and record VST parameters with the knobs and keyboard note entry with velocity &c (feels good! took some getting used to), and I’ve been using the MPK/MPC pads to toggle tracks on/off when performing. Works great, feels good, but I’d love if the pad LED colour reflected whether a track was on/off (white for on, red for off, or whatever).
The MPK has a ‘toggle’ mode in the device for the pads that cycles the LED on taps from on to off, but it only seems to send MIDI data on the ON command, so if I hit a pad to mute it turns red, but if I hit it again it doesn’t send anything back to Renoise despite toggling the LED back to the ON colour, so I have to hit it again to unmute a track and the LED is meaningless. Does anyone know a way I could have visual feedback on the controller for when a track is on or off without having to look at my monitor?
I assume when you use the toggle mode the MPK sends a note-on when first pressed, then a note-off when pressed again. In that case you could use the Gate mode in the MIDI Map window when assigning the pad. This would only turn on mute while a midi key is being held (which is what toggle mode simulates usually) and turn it off when the key is released.
By default the Trigger mode is selected which only responds to note-on, this explains why you are only seeing a change on every second press because every other press sends a note-off.
Alternatively if the pads send CC, you could configure it via the Velocity mode.
You can inspect what the pads actually send on the MIDI tab.
If you use a lua script you can send out midi messages and respond to them however you like, letting you drive the pad leds and what they do with a lot more control, but I think the built-in mapping with the right setup should work for your usecase as well.
i already have a stepsequencer (groovebox8120) running in paketti, for mpk mini control. i can make another flavor into paketti with the on/off mute controls.
i already have a stepsequencer (groovebox8120) running in paketti, for mpk mini control. i can make another flavor into paketti with the on/off mute controls.
Would I be sequencing things in paketti instead of tracker columns in this case? From a quick search (on my phone, on a train) I see it writes to the pattern editor (cool!) but without Renoise in front of me I can’t quite wrap my head around it. I’m away from my setup but I’ve been thinking about what @unless said in their reply, looking forward to experimenting.
I’ve got a lot of tracker muscle memory in me, I’d like it to ‘just work’ within my workflow but I’m not opposed to having to roll my sleeves up to get it set up the first time. I understand the simplicity of the concept (track on: one colour, track off: another colour) might need a bit of initial faffing about to get to it
edit: from what i can remember though, i think setting the pads to ‘toggle’ on the MPK itself they only send on the ON (or the OFF? but they didn’t seem to be sending each time i hit the pad, just toggling the pad colour on the device itself)
nope, groovebox8120 is just one feature in paketti. i wrote a separate APC/MPK reader/writer that maintains the mute states. have a look. btw, wanted to say, since you’re an OctaMED user or used to be, would love to chat with you about which OctaMED features were the most powerful for you, and see if the OctaMED suite in Paketti already addresses those or if it’s a matter of just tweaking a bit and getting the rest in.
Toggle Off, On: This switches the pad modes from momentary behavior to toggle.
When on, hitting the pad triggers a Note On message (or CC value), and it
must be hit again to trigger a Note Off message (or CC 0 value). MPK Downloads | Akai Professional
I finally installed Paketti, holy cow (or vau! it’s beautiful to see Finns continuing to play a major part in tracker heritage). I’m sad I have plans tonight because I have a lot to play with here.
i haven’t been an OctaMED user in some three decades , it took me forever to get used to PC trackers afterwards. operations involving patterns and sequences, and moving parts around, changed a lot in that transition, but i’ve since adjusted so much that i wouldn’t remember unless you put me in front of an A500 plugged into a 1084 (not even ‘S,’ but i piped the audio out through my parents’ stereo)
eventually landing on ModPlug, then OpenMPT, and then from there into Renoise. Renoise is incredible, everything i dreamed of in my Amiga days and so many things i couldn’t even imagine at the time.
indeed, it looks like i have a good evening or two ahead of me
Thanks for being so helpful, both of you, sincerely
, it took me forever to get used to PC trackers afterwards. operations involving patterns and sequences, and moving parts around, changed a lot in that transition, but i’ve since adjusted so much that i wouldn’t remember unless you put me in front of an A500 plugged into a 1084 (not even ‘S,’ but i piped the audio out through my parents’ stereo)