User Guide English Manual Version 1.
Table of Contents (Click a chapter/section to skip to it.) Introduction ..................................................................................................................................... 5 Box Contents ................................................................................................................................. 5 Support...........................................................................................................................................
Operation ....................................................................................................................................... 12 Setup Scenarios .......................................................................................................................... 13 With VIP in Your DAW ............................................................................................................... 13 With VIP in Standalone Mode (Without a DAW) .........................................
Control Edit Mode ..................................................................................................................... 29 Selecting Controls................................................................................................................. 29 Editing Control Parameters ................................................................................................... 29 Available Control Parameters ...............................................................................
Introduction Box Contents CTRL49 Power Adapter USB Cable Software Download Cards Quickstart Guide Safety & Warranty Manual Support For the latest information about this product (system requirements, compatibility information, etc.) and product registration, visit m-audio.com. For additional product support, visit m-audio.com/support. About This User Guide This User Guide was written to help you get familiar with the CTRL49 hardware.
Initial Setup 1. Software/Driver Download and Installation To download and install the required drivers, VIP software application, and virtual instruments: 1. Go to m-audio.com and register your product. If you don’t have an M-Audio account yet, you will be prompted to create one. 2. Download the CTRL49 Driver. 3. Open the file and double-click the installer application: .exe (Windows) or .dmg (Mac OS X). 4. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the installation. 5.
3. Software-Controller Configuration This section describes how to start using your CTRL49. We recommend using CTRL49 with the included VIP software which you can use to perform with, create, edit, and manage multiple plugin patches simultaneously. To learn more about how you can use CTRL49 in each kind of setup, please see the Operation chapter. Make sure you have installed the software (described earlier in 1.
With VIP in Standalone Mode (Without a DAW) To set up CTRL49 with VIP in Standalone Mode: 1. Power on your CTRL49. 2. Open VIP. By default, VIP is installed in [your hard drive] \ Program Files \ VstPlugins (Windows) or Applications (Mac OS X). 3. In VIP, click the Settings menu and select Plugin Manager. 4. At the bottom of the Plugin Manager window, click one of the Plugin Folder fields, and then select the folder where your instrument plugins are located on your computer.
Features Top Panel 23 19 7 7 7 7 7 5 6 21 20 20 14 15 16 17 25 2 8 9 18 13 12 12 12 22 10 11 11 11 11 23 26 24 3 4 1 1. Keyboard: This 49-note keyboard is velocity-sensitive, has aftertouch, and in conjunction with the Octave Up/Down buttons can access the full range of 128 available MIDI notes. 2. Octave / Transpose Down/Up: Use these buttons to shift the keyboard's range up or down. Press both buttons simultaneously to reset the octave shift to “zero.
11. Encoders: Use these 360º knobs to send MIDI CC or Increment/Decrement messages to your software or external MIDI device. 12. Pads: Use these pads to send MIDI Note messages to your software or external MIDI sound module. The pads are pressure- and velocity-sensitive, which makes them very responsive and intuitive to play when triggering drum hits or other samples. 13. Pad Banks / Banks: Use these buttons to select Pad Bank A, B, C, or D.
Rear Panel 1. Power Button: Press and hold this button to power the CTRL49 on or off. 2. Power Input: Connect this power input to a power outlet using the included power adapter (9V DC, 800 mA, center-positive). 7 6 5 4 2 1 3 8 3. USB Port: Use a standard USB cable to connect this USB port to your computer. If you connect it to a USB hub, make sure it is a powered hub. This connection is used to send and receive MIDI data to and from your computer.
Operation This chapter describes how you can use CTRL49 in your studio or performance setup. Read Setup Scenarios to learn how CTRL49 can function with software or hardware (with or without a DAW, with or without VIP, etc.). Read Display and Navigation to get a better understanding of CTRL49’s full-color display and how to move through its various menus and panels. Read Basic Functions to learn how to do some simple tasks with CTRL49.
Setup Scenarios With VIP in Your DAW The included VIP software lets you get the most control and function out of your CTRL49. VIP is essentially a host for your plugins, a hub where you can create, edit, and manage your patches (presets) for your various plugins. When VIP is used as a plugin, as in this scenario, all audio from VIP will be sent into your DAW on its track. You can switch between CTRL49’s Control Mode to control VIP or MIDI Mode to control your DAW.
With Your DAW Only You can use CTRL49 as a standard USB MIDI controller for your music creation software. We’ve created presets for several popular DAWs so you can use CTRL49 with your projects in the most ® ® logical and intuitive way possible. You can use CTRL49’s MIDI Mode and the Mackie Control /HUI faders, fader buttons, and transport controls to control your DAW (see the Modes section for more information). ® ® Follow these steps to set up Mackie Control /HUI communication with your DAW: 1.
Display and Navigation Display 4 2 3 4 3 1 2 4 CTRL49’s display shows information about its current mode and operations. You can navigate its different modes, pages, etc. by using the following controls: 1. Data Dial: Use this dial to change a selected parameter values, settings, etc. in the display. Press the dial to enter or confirm a command or setting. 2. Cursors: Use these buttons to navigate through the menus and options in the current page in the display. 3.
Basic Functions Loading Presets Setup Mode will show a list of presets that help you use CTRL49 to control your DAW or other setups. We’ve pre-mapped each so you can use CTRL49 to control your DAW or external MIDI equipment in the most logical and intuitive way possible. To load a preset: 1. Press the Setup button to enter Setup Mode. 2. Turn the Data Dial to scroll through the list. 3. Press the Data Dial to load a preset. The loaded preset will be highlighted.
Controlling Your Patch or Your DAW CTRL49 has two modes that let you view and control your patch parameters in VIP or functions in your DAW: Control Mode and MIDI Mode. Control Mode shows you the current settings of CTRL49’s controls in VIP. Press the Control button to enter it. You can access this mode only when using VIP. To adjust the value or change the state of a control, simply turn the encoder or press the switch or pad.
Modes CTRL49 has ten different modes of operation. Enter each mode by pressing its corresponding mode button. Note that a mode’s appearance may depend on whether or not you are using the VIP software. Click a link below to jump to the description of that mode: Main Mode Control Mode Multi Mode Setup Mode Control Edit Mode Split Mode Browser Mode MIDI Mode Global Mode MIDI Edit Mode Main Mode When using VIP, Main Mode shows a list of all available patches for all plugins in VIP.
Selecting the Browser or Setlists While using VIP with CTRL49, the Patch Browser (the right half of the display) will show the patches and multis that are (A) currently in VIP’s Patch Browser or (B) in a setlist. The currently selected one will be shaded grey in the upper-right part of the display. To select the Browser: 1. Use the Cursor Buttons to select Instrument (at the top of the display). 2. Press the Data Dial. The patches and multis shown in VIP’s Patch Browser will appear below.
Editing Various Global Settings You can change some of CTRL49’s global settings in Main Mode. See Global Mode for the full list of global settings. To adjust global settings in Main Mode: 1. Use the Cursor Buttons to select any of the three fields in the lower-left corner of the display: • MIDI Ch: CTRL49 will send its messages over this MIDI channel. This is the same as the Common Channel setting in Global Mode. • Oct: CTRL49’s keyboard will be offset by this many octaves.
Setup Mode Setup Mode shows a list of available presets that help you use CTRL49 to control your DAW or other setups. We’ve pre-mapped each so you can use CTRL49 to control your DAW or external MIDI equipment in the most logical and intuitive way possible. To navigate this mode: 1. Press the Setup button to enter Setup Mode. 2. Use the Cursors to move between different fields and tabs.
You can also save presets with your own custom MIDI mappings (made in MIDI Edit Mode). You can do so by either saving over an existing preset or editing one of the user presets (User Preset Default ##). To save a preset: 1. With the desired preset already selected, use the Cursor Buttons to select Save in the upper-right corner of the display. 2. Press the Data Dial. The preset’s name in the left half of the display will be highlighted. 3.
Browser Mode Browser Mode lets you browse and select patches of your plugins. You can access this mode only when using VIP. 1. Press the Browse button to enter Browser Mode. 2. Use the Cursors to move between different fields and tabs. 3. Use the Data Dial to select a plugin or patch. 4. Use the Page Left/Right buttons to view each plugin category (Plugin, Instruments, Style, etc.). See the following sections to learn more about using Browser Mode.
Loading Patches Browser Mode also lets you load a patch using the Patch Browser (the right half of the display), which will show all available patches or multis currently in VIP’s Patch Browser. To load a patch: 1. Use the Cursor Buttons to select the Patch Browser (the list of patches in the right half of the display). 2. Turn the Data Dial to scroll through the list. 3. Press the Data Dial to load a patch. The loaded patch will be highlighted.
Global Mode Global Mode lets you set parameters and make changes to CTRL49’s general (“global”) settings that are not specific to a preset. To navigate this mode: 1. Press the Global button to enter Global Mode. 2. Use the Page Left/Right buttons to view each page of settings. 3. Use the Cursors to select the setting you want to edit. 4. Use the Data Dial to change a value or setting. Important: To retain your new settings for future sessions, save them.
Transpose CTRL49’s keyboard will be transposed by this many semitones. This is the same as the Trans setting in Main Mode or Setup Mode. The available range is -36 to +36. 0 indicates the center (no transposition). Keybed Curve This is the velocity curve of CTRL49’s keyboard. The available settings are Linear, Exp1 (exponential), and Exp2 (exponential). Keybed Sensitivity This is the overall velocity sensitivity of CTRL49’s keyboard. The available range is 1–10.
Control Mode Control Mode shows you the current settings of CTRL49’s controls in VIP. You can access this mode only when using VIP. Orange/yellow controls are assigned to parameters in VIP. Green/aqua controls are assigned to MIDI CC messages, which are sent to your DAW. To navigate this mode: 1. Press the Control button to enter Control Mode. 2. Press the Control button again to view each set of controls (encoders, switches, and pads). 3.
Selecting Controls In Control Mode, you can select a control (A) to view its settings or (B) to edit it in Control Edit Mode. To select a control: 1. Select the type of control by pressing the Control button. Each time you press it, the display will show the next type of control: encoders, switches, and pads. 2. Use the Page Left/Right buttons to select the desired bank of that control type. For pads, you can alternatively use the Pad Bank buttons. 3.
Control Edit Mode Control Edit Mode lets you edit the parameters of your controls (minimum values, maximum values, CC or note numbers, etc.) for the current patch in VIP. You can access this mode only when using VIP. Orange/yellow controls are assigned to parameters in VIP. Green/aqua controls are assigned to MIDI CC messages, which are sent to your DAW. Because VIP lets you control multiple patches, make sure you have selected the one you want before making adjustments in this mode.
Available Control Parameters Below is a list of available parameters for each type of control. Encoders 1 3 3 4 2 1 3 3 4 5 6 2 5 6 1. Channel/Slot This determines what channel or effects slot of a multi you are viewing. You can also use this to select what patch in the multi the encoder controls when making a Custom layout (see Custom Control Mode above) 2. Parameter or CC When Type is set to VST Param, this is the parameter for a VST plugin in VIP that is controlled by the encoder.
Switches Channel/Slot This determines what channel or effects slot of a multi you are viewing. You can also use this to select what patch in the multi the switch controls when making a Custom layout (see Custom Control Mode above) Parameter or CC When Type is set to VST Param, this is the parameter for a plugin in VIP that is controlled by the switch. When Type is set to MIDI CC, this is the MIDI CC number for a parameter in your DAW that the switch controls.
MIDI Mode MIDI Mode shows you the current settings of CTRL49’s controls when used with your DAW. To navigate this mode: 1. Press the MIDI button to enter MIDI mode. 2. Press the MIDI button again to view each set of controls (encoders, switches, and pads). Note: When viewing the pads, use the Page Left/Right buttons to view each pad bank. 3. Use the Cursors to select a control. Alternatively, turn or press a control to select it directly. 4. Press the Data Dial to enter MIDI Edit Mode.
MIDI Edit Mode MIDI Edit Mode lets you edit the parameters of your controls (minimum values, maximum values, CC or note numbers, etc.) when used with your DAW. To navigate this mode: 1. From MIDI Mode, press the Data Dial to enter MIDI Edit Mode. 2. Press the MIDI button again to view each set of controls (encoders, switches, pads, footswitch, expression pedal, modulation wheel, pitch-bend wheel, and faders). Note: When viewing the pads, use the Page Left/Right buttons to view each pad bank. 3.
Available Control Parameters Below is a list of available parameters for each type of control. Encoders 34 1 2 3 4 4 5 1 2 3 1. Type This determines whether the encoder sends a MIDI CC message or an increment/decrement message (Inc/Dec). 2. CC# This is the MIDI CC number that the encoder controls. The available range is 0–127. 3. MIDI Channel This is the MIDI channel over which the encoder will send its MIDI message when you turn it.
Switches Type This determines whether the switch sends a MIDI CC message, Program Change message (Program Chn), or Program Bank message. CC# When Type is set to CC, this is the MIDI CC number that the switch controls. The available range is 0–127. Program When Type is set to Program Chn or Program Bank, this is the Program number that the switch sends. MIDI Channel This is the MIDI channel over which the switch will send its MIDI message when you press it.
Pads Important: Remember that you can use the Page Left/Right buttons or the Pad Bank buttons to select the desired bank, which is shown in the upper-left corner of the display. Note This is the MIDI note that the pad will send when you press it. Tip: You can set whether this appears as a Name (e.g., C1, F#2, etc.) or a Number (e.g., 36, 66, etc.) in Global Mode. MIDI Channel This is the MIDI channel over which the pad will send its MIDI note when you press it.
Footswitch Type This is the type of message that the footswitch will send when you press it. The footswitch can send a Sustain message, send a MIDI CC message, or act as a switch for Tap Tempo, Play, Record, Stop, Play/Stop, or Arp On/Off. MIDI Channel When Type is set to Sustain or MIDI CC, this is the MIDI channel over which the footswitch will send its MIDI note when you press it. You can select the Common Channel (Common:##) or any one of Channels A1–16 or B1–16.
Modulation Wheel MIDI Channel This is the MIDI channel over which the modulation wheel will send its MIDI message when you turn it. You can select the Common Channel (Common:##) or any one of Channels A1–16 or B1–16. CC# When Type is set to MIDI CC, this is the MIDI CC number that the modulation wheel controls. The available range is 0–127. Min / Max When Type is set to MIDI CC, these determine the lowest (Min) and highest (Max) values. The available range is 0–127.
DAW DAW This is the preset that corresponds to your DAW for setting up Mackie ® ® Control /HUI communication with the faders and fader buttons. You can select None, PT (ProTools), Logic, Cubase, Bitwig, Ableton, Reaper, Studio One, Reason, Mackie Ctrl, or Mackie HUI. Each preset uses LED colors that are set match the look of functions in the corresponding DAW.
Multi Mode About Multis Multi Mode lets you use your CTRL49 to control a multi in VIP. A multi is collection of 2–8 patches (from 1 or more plugins). Each patch is assigned to a channel, and each channel has an assigned color. When using a multi, you can simultaneously control volume, panning, solos, and mutes for each channel in a mixer-style interface. You can also access sends and inserts from this mode. You can do this only when using VIP. To navigate this mode: 1.
To save patches to a multi: 1. In Multi Mode, use the Cursors to select the Save Multi icon in the upper-right corner. 2. Press the Data Dial to save the patches to the multi. It will be named automatically. You can rename your multi in the VIP window. To clear patches from a multi: 1. In Multi Mode, use the Cursors to select the Clear Multi icon in the upper-right corner. 2. Press the Data Dial to clear the multi. All instruments and effects will be removed.
Adjusting Bus Sends 1. Press the Multi button a second time to view the Sends page. 2. Use the Up/Down Cursors to select the desired bus row number (Bus 1–Bus 4). 3. Use the Encoders to adjust the level of the bus send. Adjusting Inserts 1. Press the Multi button a third time to view the Inserts page. 2. Use the Page Left/Right buttons to switch between each view of 4 channels, as well as the bus Sends, and Master Channel. 3. Use the Cursors or the Data Dial to select the desired effect slot. 4.
Split Mode Split Mode lets you edit the various settings of each slot when using CTRL49 (keyboard range, transposition, MIDI channel, and mute or solo status). You can access this mode only when using VIP. To navigate this mode: 1. Press the Split button to enter Split Mode. Alternatively, press the Data Dial while in Multi Mode. 2. Press the Split button again to switch between the multi channels (1–8). 3. Use the Cursors to select the parameter you want to edit. 4.
Available Split Mode Parameters Below is a list of available parameters for each multi slot. 1. Lo Key / Hi Key 1 1 2 3 4 5 These fields indicate (respectively) the lowest and highest incoming MIDI notes that the slot will use to play its patch. The slot will ignore any incoming notes outside of this range. Tip: This is also useful for playing multiple patches simultaneously.
Timing Functions Overview Between your VIP, your DAW, and/or an external MIDI device, your CTRL49 will be working within a setup that requires a MIDI clock source. Here are some things to keep in mind when (1) selecting the MIDI clock source and (2) adjusting/editing any timing-related settings in your setup. Tempo External MIDI Clock Source: To use your DAW or external MIDI device as your MIDI clock source, set CTRL49’s Clock Source (in Global Mode) to External.
Time Division CTRL49’s time division setting determines how each beat is divided. The setting is a subdivision of the tempo: 1/4, 1/4T, 1/8, 1/8T, 1/16, 1/16T, 1/32, and 1/32T (T denotes a triplet-based time division). This feature works whether CTRL49’s Clock Source is set to Internal or External. You can set the time division by pressing Time Division and pressing one of the 8 switches. Alternatively, set the Time Division parameter in the configuration pages for the Arpeggiator or Note Repeat (Roll).
Arpeggiator CTRL49’s Arpeggiator separates chords whose rate is based on the current tempo and time division settings. The Arpeggiator will function on notes being played on the keyboard only. You can sync the Arpeggiator to an internal or external MIDI clock source. To edit the Arpeggiator’s parameters, press and hold Shift and then press Arp. The Arpeggiator’s parameters will appear in the display.
Appendix Technical Specifications Keyboard 49 velocity- and pressure-sensitive keys 128-note range with Octave Down/Up buttons Pitch-bend wheel Modulation wheel Faders 9 Mackie Control®/HUI® faders Encoders 8 360° assignable encoders 1 360° encoder with push function for display navigation Pads 8 velocity- and pressure-sensitive pads, multicolor-backlit Switches 33 function switches, single color-backlit 11 Mackie Control®/HUI® switches, multicolor-backlit 8 assignable switches, amber-backlit 4 dir
Manual Version 1.
