This is an old revision of the document!
Novation Launchpad Button LED Matrix (BLM)
Since firmware version 87, the SEQ V4 supports the use of two Novation Launchpads as a BLM control surface. Two Launchpads form a 16×8+X BLM, and up to four can be connected to make a full 16×16+X control surface.
The Launchpad BLM is implemented as a feature of the JUCE-based BLM emulator software. The launchpads don't connect to the SEQ directly. Instead, they connect to a computer running the JUCE BLM emulator - the emulator software acts as a translator, converting the BLM Protocol sysex messages into midi signals to light the LEDs on the Launchpad, and translating button presses on the Launchpad into a format the SEQ can understand.
Support for button grid controllers other than the launchpad may be possible in the future.
SETUP
On The SEQ V4
- If your SEQ is not running firmware version 87 or greater, download the latest SEQ V4 firmware. Choose the right version for your MIDIbox Core.
- Unzip the firmware, and upload the project.hex file version to your SEQ using MIOS Studio.
- Power on your SEQ and go to the MIDI > Misc. menu page. Set “BLM Scalar Port” to one of the USB Ports. I use USB4.
On Your Computer
- Download the JUCE based “Virtual BLM 16×16+X” BLM emulator software for your operating system from this page.
- If you are using 64bit linux, you may have to install some 32bit compatibility libraries. On Ubuntu 14.04 I had to “apt-get install libfreetype6-dev:i386 libasound2-dev:i386 libasound2-plugins:i386 libgl1-mesa-glx:i386 libgl1-mesa-dev:i386” to get the software to run.
- Connect your SEQ V4 to a USB port on your computer.
- Connect two or four launchpads to USB ports on your computer.
- Open the Virtual BLM emulator software.
- If you're using two Launchpads, select “16×8+X” in the layout dropdown menu. If you're using 4, select “16×16+X”.