Overview

The MIDI input feature in Scratch LIVE is a great way to add flexibility and speed to your performances by mapping scratch live controls to MIDI controllers such as knobs, sliders, pads, and keys.

In this introduction, I'll take you through the basics of mapping MIDI controls in Scratch LIVE, by showing you how I map a Korg microKONTROL controller for use with my system.

Aims

What I want, is to be able to mostly cut out using the computer keyboard or mouse during my performances, and instead use the controls of the MicroKONTROL. Some of the different controls on the Korg seem to naturally lend themselves to the different controls in Scratch LIVE, and I'll go over how I mapped things on the next page.

Equipment

My current setup consists of a laptop, Rane TTM 56 mixer, two turntables, and the Korg microKONTROL:

The Korg MicroKONTROL

Some related links

Wikipedia MIDI article

Korg MicroKONTROL product page

Deciding which controls to map

Since I'm using turntables, I decide against mapping any of the internal mode playback controls (pitch, play etc) to the MicroKONTROL, and focus on the more advanced performance controls. My list is:

Cues

Temp cue

Loops

Auto loops

Library navigation

Looking at my controller surface, I decided which MIDI controls would suit mapping to what SSL controls, and came up with the following:

Click the image for a larger version.

So down each side of the trigger pads, I have the first 4 cue points for each deck, then at the bottom in the center there's the temp cue point and trigger for each deck.

On the keyboard, there's all the auto loop keys for each deck across the white keys, loop in/out and loop on are up on the black keys, and in the middle is load left and right, directly below the knob I'll assign to navigating the library.

Assigning the MIDI controls

As you know from reading the manual, to assign MIDI controls in Scratch LIVE, you enter MIDI assign mode by clicking the MIDI button:

Once in MIDI assign mode it's very straightforward to assign the controls, you just click the control on the Scratch LIVE GUI, then move the desired MIDI control to map the two together.

Things only get slightly tricky in a couple of places:

With the auto-loop triggers, since not all of them are on screen at once. All you need to do in that case is briefly hop out of MIDI assign mode, shift the auto loop triggers along, then click the MIDI button again and keep assigning.

When assigning the temp cue point and navigation controls, since they're not normally on the GUI, a special panel pops up at the bottom of the screen for just that purpose: