ROLI Support

In this article, we'll walk through setting up the Lightpad Block and Control Blocks as control surfaces in Logic Pro X. With ROLI Dashboard you have the ability to use your BLOCKS to control faders, knobs, buttons, and much more.

Using the Lightpad Block as a control surface

1. In ROLI Dashboard load the Fader Block or Mixer Block app onto your Lightpad Block.

2. In Logic, from the Logic Pro X menu, navigate to Control Surfaces and select Controller Assignments.

3. Use your mouse to move the fader or knob you'd like to control.

4. Select Learn Mode and move the fader on your Lightpad Block, then unselect Learn Mode. (You may need to close ROLI Dashboard; it uses MIDI SysEx messages to communicate with Blocks, and these messages may confuse Logic.)

5. Under the Value heading in the Controller Assignments window, change Format to 'Unsigned' and Mode to 'Scaled'.

Repeat this process for any slider or knob you want to control with your Lightpad Block. If you want to change an assignment or remove it altogether, highlight it in the Controller Assignments window and hit the Delete key on your keyboard.

Using the Lightpad Block as an XY controller in Alchemy

• With the Lightpad Block connected, in ROLI Dashboard select the XYZ app and click 'Edit'
• In the 'Send' drop-down menu, choose X
• Quit ROLI Dashboard

With Alchemy loaded in Logic on a selected software instrument track, press 'B' to bring up the Smart Controls window. Click 'Controls' to show the two XY pads from Alchemy's Perform section.

• Press the 'i' on the left to show the Automatic Smart Controls panel and click to highlight the X axis (it should highlight):

• Click 'Learn' to the right of 'External Assignment' and press once on the Lightpad M in the same position as I've highlighted above. Press 'Learn' again so that the red highlight turns off.

Repeat the steps above, this time selecting 'Y' in ROLI Dashboard's 'Send' menu (remember to quit afterwards), selecting the Y axis in Alchemy's XY pad and then 'Learn' followed by a touch on the Lightpad M, followed by clicking 'Learn' once.

Next, in ROLI Dashboard change the 'Send' menu to 'All' and quit.

Now head to Logic Pro X > Control Surfaces > Controller Assignments and select 'Expert View'. You should have 2 learned parameters; it's important that they match these settings, so please adjust them accordingly:

Saw /  Square:

Sine / Comb:

The Lightpad will now adjust the X1 and Y1 controller.

Using Control Blocks as control surfaces

The Control Blocks – including the Live, Loop, and Touch Blocks – are well-suited for use in controlling common commands like Record, Play/Stop, and Quantize in Logic Pro X.

In the example below, we'll assign a typical command - Record - in Logic Pro to its corresponding button on the Loop Block.

Step 1: ROLI Dashboard Settings

In ROLI Dashboard, select your Loop Block and click MIDI CC Mode.

Step 2: Assigning Commands to your Loop Block

The easiest way to assign commands to your Loop Block is by using the Key Commands Edit window and searching for the command you would like to control.

1. From the Logic Pro X menu, select Key Commands then Edit.
   
2. Use the search bar in the Key Commands Edit window to select the command you want to control with your Loop Block.
3. When you find the command, select it and press the Learn New Assignment button.
4. Press the button on your Loop Block that you want to control the command. (You may need to close ROLI Dashboard; it uses MIDI SysEx messages to communicate with Blocks, and these messages may confuse Logic.)

In this example, we've assigned the 'Record' command in Logic Pro X to the Record button on the Loop Block. Now, when it's time to record, we can use our Loop Block to start recording on a track.

Next, try assigning the 'Play/Stop' command in Logic Pro X to the Play/Pause button on the Loop Block or the 'Metronome Click' command to the Click button. With ROLI Dashboard, you now have complete control over which buttons and faders do what!