Setting up Palette Gear as a MIDI controller

Jump to:

1. Creating a MIDI Profile
2. Module Assignments
3. Mapping Palette to your DAW
   • Logic Pro X
   • FL Studio
   • Ableton Live

Creating a MIDI Profile

To enable Palette as MIDI controller for your DAW there are a few steps required in the PaletteApp before you can start using it as a controller.

1. Create a MIDI profile. The first step in getting your Palette to act as a MIDI device is to open up the PaletteApp and open a MIDI profile.
   
   
   
   
2. Set the MIDI channel. By clicking on the core module when on a MIDI profile, you can change what MIDI channel the current profile is set for. You can select MIDI channels from 1-16.
   
   
   
   
3. Map your Palette modules. At this point, you can start setting up the modules for different MIDI functions or keyboard shortcuts.
   
   
4. Follow this guide to use standardized MIDI CC mappings for articulation and instrument control.

Module Assignments

When creating a MIDI Profile for your Palette Gear, you are not limited solely to MIDI assignments.

MIDI controls can be used alongside Keyboard Shortcuts and Media/OS controls (example: mouse scroll, system volume) in the same profile.

You may also use a button or dial to switch between multiple MIDI profiles to control different applications or to switch between performance and mixing modes, for example.

Each profile is assigned a MIDI channel, and multiple profiles can be assigned to the same channel.

Core

• MIDI channel assigned per-profile by selecting the core module. PaletteApp supports assignment of channels 1-16.

Buttons

• MIDI Notes from C0 to B10
• Keyboard Shortcuts (Macros available in PaletteApp Beta)
• Media/OS Mode
• Function Switching (Next/previous profile)

Dials

• MIDI CC from 0-127 (dial turn)
• MIDI Notes from C0 to B10 (dial press)
• Keyboard Shortcuts (discrete shortcuts for left turn, right turn, and press; adjustable sensitivity)
• Media/OS Mode (adjustable sensitivity)
• Function Switching (Cycle profiles)

Sliders

• MIDI CC from 0-127
• Media/OS Mode
  

Mapping Palette to your DAW

Logic Pro X

Please Note: Assignments of MIDI CC # 1-11 will automatically control Modulation through to Expression, respectively, for Logic virtual instruments without assigning Palette Gear as a controller.

Use the below steps to set up Palette Gear as a MIDI control surface:

1. Open/Restart Logic Pro X
   
   
2. Navigate to Logic Pro X > Preferences > Advanced Tools
   
   
3. Select "Show Advanced Menus" and then enable "Control Surfaces"
   
   
4. Use your mouse or trackpad to adjust the parameter you want to control with Palette Gear
   
   
5. Press Command+L
   
   
6. Move your desired Palette Gear module. You should see the incoming MIDI CC "bind" to the parameter in Logic's Controller Assignments window.

FL Studio

1. Open/Restart FL Studio 11 or higher.
   
   
2. Navigate to "Options" tab and then select the "MIDI Settings" option.
   
   
3. Select "Palette Multi-Function Device" from the list of MIDI controllers. Select "Refresh device list" from the bottom left-hand side if you do not see Palette listed.
   
   
4. Wait a few seconds for FL Studio to detect Palette. Making an adjustment with the MIDI mapped controls should trigger MIDI events in FL Studio. You can map controls in the DAW following this guide.

Ableton Live

To connect Palette to Ableton Live follow the instructions below:

1. Open/Restart Ableton Live 9 or higher.
   
   
2. Select Live > Preferences > MIDI Sync.
   
   
3. Use the following settings to configure Palette (see illustration below):
   
   Input
   Track = On
   Sync = Off
   Remote = On
   
   Output
   Track = Off
   Sync = Off
   Remote = Off
   
   
   
   
4. Moving a mapped dial or slider should now show a flashing yellow light in the top right box. You will need to arm the track in order to record MIDI data.
   
   
5. Map your Palette modules to Ableton following this guide.

Known Issues

1. MIDI Mode - MMC Incompatibility
   
   When MMC is enabled in your DAW, you may notice interruptions in Palette's MIDI signal. Please refer to your DAW's documentation for instructions to disable MMC. Here are instructions for Apple Logic Pro X and Steinberg Cubase:
   
   Logic Pro X
   Cubase
   
   
2. Logic Pro X - Button MIDI Mapping
   
   If you are trying to map a Palette button to a MIDI note for Logic Pro you may experience up to a 5-second delay.
   
   The solution for this is to quickly press and release the button when mapping. If you hold the button pressed for too long when mapping it initially it will be unable to capture the button "release" event resulting in a 5-second timeout when sending the note data.

If attempting to connect your Palette kit as a MIDI controller did not work, contact us directly at support@palettegear.com