CONTROLLER EDITOR

USER’S MANUAL
The information in this document is subject to change without notice and does not represent a
commitment on the part of Native Instruments GmbH. The software described by this document is
subject to a License Agreement and may not be copied to other media. No part of this publication
may be copied, reproduced or otherwise transmitted or recorded, for any purpose, without prior
written permission by Native Instruments GmbH, hereinafter referred to as Native Instruments. All
product and company names are ™ or ® trademarks of their respective owners.
KORE SOUND is a ® trademark of Native Instruments.

User’s Guide written by Nicolas Sidi

Document Version: 1.1 (06/2009)
Product Version: 1.1 (06/2009)

Special thanks to the Beta Test Team, who were invaluable not just in tracking down bugs, but in
making this a better product.
Germany
Native Instruments GmbH
Schlesische Str. 28
D-10997 Berlin
Germany
[email protected]
www.native-instruments.de

USA
Native Instruments North America, Inc.
5631 Hollywood Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90028
USA
[email protected]
www.native-instruments.com

MASSIVE was designed and developed entirely by Native Instruments GmbH. Solely the name
Massive is a registered trademark of Massive Audio Inc, USA.

© Native Instruments GmbH, 2009. All rights reserved.

Table Of Content
1 Welcome to the Controller Editor........................................................................................7
2 Installation........................................................................................................................8
2.1 MASCHINE Owners: Installing from the MASCHINE Installation DVD............................8
2.2 KORE Owners: Installing from the KORE 2.1 Update Installer.......................................8
2.3 Downloading the Controller Editor from the Native Instruments Website......................9
3 Quick Start...................................................................................................................... 10
3.1 Preparations.......................................................................................................... 10
3.2 Connecting your NI Controller to the Controller Editor Software................................ 10
3.3 Loading assignments.............................................................................................. 13
3.3.1 Selecting a Template.........................................................................13
3.3.2 Selecting Knob Pages and Pad Pages on the MASCHINE Controller.........15
3.3.3 Selecting Knob Pages on the KORE Controller......................................16
3.4 Modifying an Assignment....................................................................................... 17
3.5 Organizing Your Assignments.................................................................................. 19
3.6 Saving and Loading Templates................................................................................20
4 Basic Concepts................................................................................................................22
4.1 How the Controller Editor Works.............................................................................22
4.2 Overview of the User Interface................................................................................23
4.2.1 Application Menu Bar....................................................................... 24
4.2.2 Application Control Bar..................................................................... 24
4.2.3 Hardware Area................................................................................. 25
4.2.4 Inspector........................................................................................ 30

Controller Editor User’s Manual – IV

 4.3 The Mapping System..............................................................................................35
4.3.1 Assignments................................................................................... 35
4.3.2 Knob Pages.................................................................................... 35
4.3.3 Pad Pages (MASCHINE Controller only).............................................. 36
4.3.4 Templates....................................................................................... 36
4.3.5 Configuration................................................................................... 37
4.4 To sum up…..........................................................................................................38
5 Using your MASCHINE Controller.......................................................................................39
5.1 The Status LEDs.....................................................................................................39
5.1.1 Buttons.......................................................................................... 39
5.1.2 Knobs............................................................................................ 40
5.1.3 Pads.............................................................................................. 40
5.2 The Displays..........................................................................................................40
5.2.1 Switch between Display Modes...........................................................41
5.2.2 Knobs Display Mode..........................................................................41
5.2.3 Pad Pages Display Mode................................................................... 43
5.2.4 Knob Pages Display Mode................................................................. 43
5.2.5 Templates Display Mode................................................................... 44
5.2.6 Monitor Display Mode....................................................................... 45
5.2.7 Settings Display Mode...................................................................... 46
6 Using your KORE Controller...............................................................................................47
6.1 The Status LEDs.....................................................................................................47
6.1.1 Buttons.......................................................................................... 47
6.1.2 Knobs............................................................................................ 48
6.1.3 Scrollwheel..................................................................................... 48
6.1.4 Pedal Inputs and Footswitch Ports..................................................... 48

Controller Editor User’s Manual – V

 6.2 The Display............................................................................................................48
6.2.1 Switching between Display Modes...................................................... 49
6.2.2 The Control Display Mode................................................................. 50
6.2.3 The Knob Pages Display Mode........................................................... 52
6.2.4 Setup Display Mode......................................................................... 53
6.2.5 Options Display Mode....................................................................... 53
6.2.6 Templates Display Mode................................................................... 54
7 Reference........................................................................................................................55
7.1 The Application Menu Bar.......................................................................................55
7.1.1 File Menu....................................................................................... 55
7.1.2 View Menu...................................................................................... 58
7.1.3 Help Menu...................................................................................... 59
7.2 The Application Control Bar....................................................................................60
7.2.1 Device Menu................................................................................... 60
7.2.2 Connect Button............................................................................... 61
7.2.3 Template Select Menu...................................................................... 62
7.2.4 Minimize/Expand View Button........................................................... 63
7.2.5 MIDI Activity Indicator...................................................................... 64
7.2.6 NI Logo.......................................................................................... 64
7.3 The Hardware Area................................................................................................65
7.3.1 Label Fields.................................................................................... 65
7.3.2 Selection Frame............................................................................... 66
7.3.3 The Knob Page Area and Knob Page Menu......................................... 66
7.3.4 The Previous / Next Buttons.............................................................. 67
7.3.5 The Pad Pages (MASCHINE Controller only)........................................ 68
7.4 The Inspector.........................................................................................................70
7.4.1 The Templates Tab........................................................................... 71
7.4.2 The Pages Tab................................................................................. 75
7.4.3 The Assign Tab................................................................................ 79

Controller Editor User’s Manual – VI

1 Welcome to the Controller Editor
This powerful tool turns your Native Instruments hardware controller device into a versatile
and efficient MIDI remote control for your studio and/or live setup. ! This manual generally refers
to all Native Instruments hard-
ware controller devices simply as “NI
With the Controller Editor, you can precisely define which MIDI message has to be sent Controller.” If an information only applies
upon any action you do on your NI Controller. This way, you can put all you music to a specific device, e. g. the MASCHINE
setup right at your fingertips and remote control every MIDI-capable software or hardware Controller, this will be mentioned
from your NI Controller. The integrated display(s) keep(s) you informed about the current explicitly.
mappings, assignment pages and parameters being controlled. After having prepared
your MIDI assignments with the Controller Editor, you can focus on what it’s all about:
making music!

Yours sincerely,
The team at Native Instruments

About this manual

This manual is divided into three parts:
1. First, we will introduce you to the Controller Editor: after a short description of the
installation procedure (chapter 2 “Installation”), we will start with a brief tutorial
(chapter 3 “Quick Start”).
2. The second part illustrates the software’s user interface, the Controller Editor’s
mapping scheme and the various ways to interact with the software (chapter 4 “Basic
Concepts”); it also shows you how to use your MASCHINE or KORE Controller (chapter
5 “Using your MASCHINE Controller” and chapter 6 “Using your KORE Controller”).
This will familiarize you with Controller Editor’s workflow.
3. The third part is a detailed reference, describing the software interface and its
operation. Read chapter 7 “Reference” for information on every knob, button or field
present on the Controller Editor’s interface.

Controller Editor User’s Manual – 7

2 Installation

2.1 MASCHINE Owners: Installing from the MASCHINE Installation DVD

The Controller Editor is included in the MASCHINE software package and should have
been installed during the MASCHINE installation process. Thus, normally it does not need
any specific installation. If for any reason the Controller Editor is not installed on your
computer, please insert the MASCHINE DVD into your optical drive and launch the
installation process (for a detailed description of the MASCHINE installation process, please
refer to the MASCHINE manual/Setup Guide). During this process, when you get to the step
asking you to choose which piece of software you wish to install, check only the Controller
Editor checkbox, and click on the Next button. You can leave all other options (installation
directory, etc.) to their default value or choose different settings according to your needs.

2.2 KORE Owners: Installing from the KORE 2.1 Update Installer
The Controller Editor is included in the KORE 2 software package starting from version 2.1.
If you purchased KORE 2 after this date, the Controller Editor should have been installed
during the KORE 2 installation process. Thus, it does not need any specific installation.
If for any reason the Controller Editor is not installed on your computer, please insert
the KORE 2 DVD into your optical drive and launch the installation process again (for a
detailed description of the KORE 2 installation process, please refer to the KORE 2 manual
/ Setup Guide). During this process, when you get to the step asking you to choose which
piece of software you wish to install, check only the Controller Editor checkbox, and click
on the Next button. You can leave all other options (installation directory, etc.) to their
default value or choose different settings according to your needs.

Controller Editor User’s Manual – 8

If you purchased KORE 2 prior to this date, launch the NI Service Center and download
and install the latest KORE 2 update – it will include the Controller Editor. During the
installation process, follow the instructions on the screen.
By default, the Controller Editor application will be installed in the directory “Programs/
Native Instruments/Controller Editor” (on Windows systems) or “Applications/Native
Instruments/Controller Editor” (on Mac OS X systems).

2.3 Downloading the Controller Editor from the Native Instruments

Website
You can also download the Controller Editor installer directly from the Native Instruments
website. To do this, open your favorite internet browser and go to the following URL:
native-instruments.com/updates
Follow the instructions on the website, download the file “Hardware Controller Support
Setup.exe” (Windows) or “Hardware Controller Support Installer” (Mac OS X) and save it
on your hard disk.
This downloaded file contains the full installation package, including the background
service needed to establish the connection between your NI Controller and your computer,
and the Controller Editor software described in this manual.
Once you have downloaded and saved the file, navigate to the directory where you
saved the file and double-click it. This launches the installer. The installation process is
straightforward: follow the instructions on the screen (you can leave the few options at
their default values), and you’re done.

Controller Editor User’s Manual – 9

3 Quick Start
This chapter provides a hands-on introduction to the Controller Editor. In chapter 7
“Reference”, you will find all details about every element of the software.
The use of the Controller Editor is straightforward. Most actions can be done either from
your NI Controller or via the Controller Editor interface, and this in various ways – you can
choose the one that best fits your needs. In the sections below, we will quickly mention
different ways-of-doing for each step – but you will find all possible actions described later
in this manual.

3.1 Preparations
At this point, we assume that:
1. your computer is up and running,
2. you have already installed the Controller Editor along with all its background
components (see chapter 2 for more info on this), and
3. your NI Controller is physically connected to your computer.

3.2 Connecting your NI Controller to the Controller Editor Software

In order to use your NI Controller as a MIDI remote control, you need to connect it to the
Controller Editor software first. ! It is not necessary to start
the Controller Editor Software
in order to use the Controller in MIDI
Launch the Controller Editor:
Mode. Pressing Shift+Control on the
►► On Windows XP, select Start > All Programs > Native Instruments > Controller Editor MASCHINE Controller or F1 then Control
> Controller Editor. on the KORE 2 Controller switches to
►► On Mac OS X, open the Finder and double-click Applications > Native Instruments MIDI Mode even without the Controller
Editor software running.
> Controller Editor.

Controller Editor User’s Manual – 10

This will automatically switch any connected Controller to the MIDI Mode. You can check
this by looking at the Connect button in the Application Control Bar, in the top part of the
Controller Editor window:

The Connect button.

If the Connect button is lit, your Controller is in MIDI Mode (and thus is connected to the
Controller Editor). If, for any reason, this is not the case (for example, if you have started
the MASCHINE or KORE software after the Controller Editor), use either way to establish
% If the Connect button is grayed
out and inactive, check the
connection between your NI Controller
the connection manually: and your computer.

►► On your MASCHINE Controller, press the buttons Shift + Control (MIDI) to activate
the MIDI Mode:

Press Shift + MIDI on your MASCHINE Controller to switch it to MIDI Mode.

►► On your KORE 2 Controller, press the buttons F1 followed by Control to activate the
MIDI Mode:

Press F1 followed by Control on your KORE 2 Controller to switch it to MIDI Mode.

►► On your KORE 1 Controller, press the buttons View followed by Control to activate the
MIDI Mode.
►► In the Controller Editor, click the Connect button to (re)connect your NI Controller to
the Controller Editor.
Now, your Controller acts as a MIDI remote control and you can use the Controller Editor
to create and edit MIDI assignments.

Controller Editor User’s Manual – 11

Re-connecting the MASCHINE Controller to the MASCHINE Software
If you want the MASCHINE Controller to control the MASCHINE software again, you need
to re-connect it. To establish a connection between the MASCHINE Controller and the ! The MASCHINE Controller can
be connected either to the
MASCHINE software or to a MIDI-enabled
MASCHINE software again, use either one of the following methods:
software (via the Controller Editor).
1. On your MASCHINE Controller, press the buttons Shift + Control (MIDI):

Press Shift + Control (MIDI) on your MASCHINE Controller to switch it to MASCHINE Mode.

2. Click the Connect button in the MASCHINE software’s Header:

Click the Connect Button in the MASCHINE software’s Header to switch the MASCHINE Controller to
MASCHINE Mode.

More information on switching the MASCHINE Controller‘s modes is available in the

MASCHINE manual and in section 7.2.2 “Connect Button” in this manual.

Controller Editor User’s Manual – 12

Re-connecting the KORE Controller to the KORE 2 Software
If you want the KORE Controller to control the KORE 2 software again, you need to
re-connect it. To establish a connection between the KORE Controller and the KORE 2 ! The KORE Controller can be
connected either to the KORE
software or to a MIDI-enabled software
software again, do the following:
(via the Controller Editor).
►► On your KORE Controller, press the buttons F1, then Control (or View, then Control on
the KORE 1 Controller):

Press F1 followed by Control on your KORE 2 Controller (or View then Control on your KORE 1 Controller
to switch it back to KORE Mode.

More information on switching the KORE Controller‘s modes is in section 7.2.2 “Connect
Button” in this manual.

3.3 Loading assignments

3.3.1 Selecting a Template

You first have to select a Template – a full set of assignments for all assignable control % A Template is a whole set of
MIDI assignments for your NI
Controller. More info on this in section
elements on your NI Controller. You can do this either from your NI Controller or from the
4.3 “The Mapping System”!
Controller Editor software.

Controller Editor User’s Manual – 13

Hardware
►► On your MASCHINE Controller, while holding the Shift button depressed, use the
Previous/Next Buttons (the two arrow buttons in the top left part) to scroll through all
available Templates.

You can select a Template you want to load via the Shift + Previous/Next Buttons on your MASCHINE
Controller.

►► On your KORE 2 Controller, press the F1 button and use the Up/Down Arrow Buttons
to scroll through all available Templates. % If you have the KORE 1
Controller, use the View Button
instead of the F1 Button.

You can select a Template to load via the F1 + Up/Down Arrow Buttons on your KORE 2 Controller.

Software
1. In the Controller Editor, select a Template from the Template Select Menu in the
Application Control Bar, in the top part of the Controller Editor window.

The Template Select Menu also allows you to load the desired Template.

Either way, the Template will automatically be loaded, and the assignments will be
displayed. You can now control the software from your NI Controller.
Each assignment is recalled at the last state of use: the software remembers the last value
for each of the control elements assigned in this Template. If it’s the first time that you
load a Template, all assignments are at their default value.

Controller Editor User’s Manual – 14

3.3.2 Selecting Knob Pages and Pad Pages on the MASCHINE Controller
Some of the control elements of your MASCHINE Controller can have multiple assignments
which are organized in Pages:
►► The eight buttons and eight knobs sitting around the two Displays. The so-called
“Knob Pages” are subgroups of assignments for these control elements. %

More info on Knob Pages and
Pad Pages in section 4.3 “The
Mapping System”!
►► The sixteen Pads. The so-called “Pad Pages” are subgroups of assignments for these
control elements. The Pad Page feature may be activated or not in the selected Template.

Thus, you may need to select a particular Knob Page and/or Pad Page of assignments for
loading. To do this, follow these steps:
1. Select the Knob Page that you want to use. Again, you can do this from your MASCHINE
Controller, for example by using the Previous/Next Buttons (the same two arrow
buttons as above, but without holding Shift depressed – see picture below), or in the
Controller Editor, for example by using the Knob Page Menu (the orange menu above
the orange frame).

You can select a Knob Page via the Previous/Next Buttons on your MASCHINE Controller.

2. Provided that the Pad Pages are activated in the current Template (see section 4.3
“The Mapping System”), select the Pad Page that you want to use. This can be done
both from your MASCHINE Controller by pressing one of the Group Buttons labeled A
to H in the Groups Area (see picture below), and in the Controller Editor, for example
by using the Pad Page Menu (the blue menu above the blue frame around the Pads).

The Group Buttons on your MASCHINE Controller allow you to select the desired Pad Page (a set of as
signments for the Pads).

Controller Editor User’s Manual – 15

Section 5.2 “The Displays” will show you another way to select and load Templates and
Knob Pages from your MASCHINE Controller, via its two Displays.

3.3.3 Selecting Knob Pages on the KORE Controller

Some of the control elements of your KORE Controller can have multiple assignments
which are organized in Pages:
►► The eight Controller Knobs and eight Controller Buttons. The so-called “Knob Pages”
are subgroups of assignments for these control elements.

Thus, you may need to select a particular Knob Page of assignments for loading. To do
this, use one of the following methods:
1. From your KORE Controller, use the Up and Down Arrow Buttons to switch to the
previous or next Knob Page (provided that you are not in the Settings nor Options
Display Mode – see section 6.2 “The Display”):

You can select the previous/next Knob Page via the Up/Down Arrows Buttons on your KORE Controller.

2. In the Controller Editor, use the Knob Page Menu (the orange menu above the orange
frame) to select the desired Knob Page.

Section 6.2 “The Display” will show you another way to select and load Templates and
Knob Pages from your KORE Controller, via its Main Display.

Controller Editor User’s Manual – 16

Ready to go?
If you only plan to use this Template (and Knob Page/Pad Page) as it is, i.e. without
modifying any of its MIDI assignments, you’re done! As you may have noticed, you can do
all this from within your MASCHINE or KORE Controller – this being of course the preferred
way for any live situation. If you used the Controller Editor, you can close the application
now – the corresponding background service will take care of everything – and you can
start using your NI Controller as a MIDI remote control right away!

3.4 Modifying an Assignment

Now, if you want to modify some of the assignments stored in the selected Template (and
possibly one of its Knob Pages and/or Pad Pages), continue with these few more steps:
1. Select the control element for which you want to edit the assignment. You can do this
either in the Controller Editor by clicking on the control element within the hardware
representation (see picture below), or from your NI Controller by touching the control
element (for this, the Touch Select option needs to be activated in the General Tab of
the Preferences window (default setting)). The control element selected for editing is
then surrounded by the red Selection Frame in the Controller Editor.

When you click on a control element, the Selection Frame puts the focus on it (here the example on
MASCHINE Controller’s Grid Button).

2. Go to the Inspector (the right part of the Controller Editor’s interface), click on the
Assign Tab: % A double-click on the control
element (instead of a single
click) at the previous step brings the
Inspector’s Assign Tab automatically to
the front, for a faster editing!
To open the Inspector’s Assign Tab, click on its header.

Controller Editor User’s Manual – 17

3. In this tab, all assignment’s properties for that control element are displayed. Modify
them according to your needs: at the top, you can edit the name of the assignment,
and below, all MIDI properties like the type of MIDI message to be sent, the MIDI
channel to use, and so on. The assignment’s details differ depending on the type of
MIDI message you choose.

Modify the assignment’s properties in the Assign Tab.

You will find a detailed explanation of all possible tweaks on the MIDI assignment in the
chapter 7 “Reference.”
4. That’s it! Now, the corresponding control element on your NI Controller triggers the
MIDI message that you just defined.

Controller Editor User’s Manual – 18

3.5 Organizing Your Assignments
Thanks to its powerful mapping system, the Controller Editor lets you organize your assign-
ments as you like. You can define various Knob Pages, Pad Pages and Templates to address
various situations: for example, you could define different Knob Pages to control different
instruments in your setup. Furthermore, you could prepare different Templates for different
songs of your live performance, with all necessary Pad Pages and Knob Pages inside.
To manage (create, delete, duplicate, etc.) your Templates, Knob Pages or Pad Pages, use
the two other tabs of the Inspector, namely Templates and Pages.

The Templates Tab and Pages Tab allow you to organize your assignments.

On the Templates Tab, you find a list of all available Templates (both factory and
user-defined), along with an Edit Menu holding all managing commands (e.g. New, Duplicate,
Delete, etc.). Below, one or two additional menus allow you to choose a Pad sensitivity
(MASCHINE Controller only) and the MIDI port to use (either internal or external) with the
selected Template.
On the Pages Tab, an equivalent list is available for the Knob Pages (at the top) and,
only for the MASCHINE Controller, for the Pad Pages (at the bottom), along with their
corresponding Edit Menus.
Let’s say you have just defined a Knob Page that controls one of your software
synthesizers. You might want to rename it so that you easily remember its purpose:
►► In the Knob Page List, double-click on the Knob Page that you just defined (let’s say
“Knob Page 3”). This highlights its name and you can type a new name for this Knob
Page. Type the desired name (for example, “Absynth Lead”) and press Enter on your
computer keyboard to confirm the change.

Typing a new name for the Knob Page.

Controller Editor User’s Manual – 19

You may want to put this Knob Page at the top of the list, e.g. if you plan to use this
synthesizer at first in your song and want to have direct access to its parameters from
your Controller:
1. Click on the Knob Page “Absynth Lead” in the list, hold the mouse button depressed
and drag your mouse toward the top of the list. An insertion line appears to show you
the place where the Knob Page is going to be moved to.
2. When the insertion line reaches the top of the list (or the desired insertion place,
wherever it is), release the mouse button. The Knob Page “Absynth Lead” takes its
new place in the list.

This way-of-doing can also be applied to the Pad Pages (at the bottom of this Pages Tab,
only for the MASCHINE Controller) as well as to the Templates (on the Templates Tab).
The Edit Menus offer more managing features – you will find all necessary info in the next
chapters (mainly sections 4.2.4 “Inspector” and 7.4.3 “The Assign Tab”). For a detailed
description of the mapping system, please refer to section 4.3 “The Mapping System.”

3.6 Saving and Loading Templates

Once you have defined a set of assignments that fits your needs, you have the possibility
to save it.
Actually, you don’t necessarily need to save it, since the Controller Editor automatically
saves any changes made to the Template on which you are working (and its included Knob
Pages, Pad Pages and single assignments). So if you only plan to use this Template later on
the same computer, you can quit the Controller Editor, the Template will be recalled with all
modifications next time you switch your NI Controller to MIDI Mode and select this Template.
But you may want to use a modified or a newly created Template on another computer
or you may want to share your Template with other users. For that, the Controller Editor
allows you to export a Template as a Template file (extension “.ncm” or “.nck”):

Controller Editor User’s Manual – 20

1. Go to the Templates Tab of the Inspector and select the desired Template by clicking
its entry in the Template List. The selected Template is highlighted.

Select the desired Template in the Template List.

2. Below the list, click on the Edit Menu and select Save As:

The Edit Menu with its Save As command.

3. A Save template dialog opens and let you choose the destination and the name of the
Template file to be exported. Please note that the file name that you choose can be
different from the Template’s name inside the Controller Editor. Once this is done,
click Save to export the file and you’re done.

You can now transfer this Template file to another computer, share it with a friend, etc.
On the other side, as you would expect, the Controller Editor also allows you to load
a Template file. To do this:
In the Templates Tab of the Inspector, click on the Edit Menu, select Append and choose
Open. An “Open template” dialog appears that lets you navigate through your file system
on your computer and choose a Template file to import. Select the desired Template file
and click Open. The Template will be loaded and appended to your Template List.

Controller Editor User’s Manual – 21

4 Basic Concepts
In this chapter we will introduce you to the basics of the Controller Editor. You might
have already checked the previous chapter, which gives you a first idea of how to use the
Controller Editor. Here, we will approach the system in a more general way.

4.1 How the Controller Editor Works

The Controller Editor allows you to define the links between your NI Controller and the audio
applications running on your computer or your external MIDI devices. It lets you decide how
your actions on the NI Controller will be interpreted. For this purpose, the Controller Editor
implements a powerful mapping system allowing you to define as many MIDI assignments
as you want for each Knob, Pad or Button available on your NI Controller.
The Controller Editor works in conjunction with a small background service installed on
your computer during the Controller Editor installation procedure. This background service
takes care of all communication matters between your NI Controller and your MIDI-capable
targets, both on the software side and on the hardware side. It stays alive even if you close
the Controller Editor application. This especially means that you don’t necessarily need
to have the Controller Editor open on your computer to use your NI Controller as a MIDI
remote control! You can select and/or tweak your assignments in the Controller Editor and
then quit the application – the assignments (and Templates/Knob Pages/Pad Pages, see
below) stay active thanks to this small background service. Thus, the Controller Editor can
be seen as an assignment editor: use it to check or edit your assignments.

Controller Editor User’s Manual – 22

4.2 Overview of the User Interface
Let us have a closer look at the Controller Editor user interface now. When you bring the
Controller Editor to the front in your operating system, you can see something like this:

The Controller Editor user interface: the big view (Windows version pictured, with the MASCHINE Controller in
the Hardware Area).

The user interface is divided into four main areas, namely:

1 Application Menu Bar
2 Application Control Bar
3 Hardware Area
4 Inspector

In the following sections you will find a brief introduction to all areas of the software and
their corresponding control elements. For a detailed description of each of these elements,
please refer to chapter 7.

Controller Editor User’s Manual – 23

4.2.1 Application Menu Bar
At the top of the Controller Editor window (or at the top of your computer screen on Mac
OS X), the Application Menu Bar is similar to the one found in most applications on your
operating system. It consists of three menus (File, View and Help) controlling the general
functions of the software:

The Controller Editor’s Application Menu Bar with its three menus (Windows version pictured).

4.2.2 Application Control Bar

Right under the Application Menu Bar, the Application Control Bar holds menus and
buttons controlling the overall mapping system:

The Application Control Bar.

From left to right, we have the following controls:

1 The Device Menu allows you to switch to another Controller and states which Controller
you are currently working with.
2 The Connect Button allows you to “call” your hardware so that it connects to the
Controller Editor (in case it is currently connected to its dedicated software).
3 The Template Select Menu allows to select the desired Template (Templates are
explained in the next section, 4.3 “The Mapping System”).
4 The Minimize /Expand View Button (the little arrow) switches between two Views of the
Controller Editor, by hiding/showing the Hardware Area.
5 The MIDI Activity Indicator shows any incoming/outgoing MIDI data.
6 Finally, the NI Logo opens the About dialog.

Controller Editor User’s Manual – 24

4.2.3 Hardware Area
Below the two previous bars, the left (and biggest) part of the user interface holds the
Hardware Area. The Hardware Area basically represents your NI Controller and all its % If the Controller Editor is re-
duced to a small column on
your screen, it means that the Hardware
control elements – most of them are freely assignable to MIDI messages.
Area is hidden. To show it, click on the
The Controller depicted in the Hardware Area depends on the device selected in the Device Minimize/Expand View Button (the little ar-
Menu located in the Application Control Bar (see above). row) in the Application Control Bar above.
Compared to your real NI Controller, the Hardware Area holds a few additional graphical
elements:
►► Every control element that can be assigned to a MIDI message comes with a
Label Field which displays a name describing its current assignment.
►► A red Selection Frame highlights the currently selected control element.
►► An orange Knob Page Menu allows you to select a particular Knob Page of assignments
(see section 4.3 “The Mapping System” for more info on this). The Knob Page Area,
denoted by an orange frame, holds the control elements affected by the Knob Page
selection in the Knob Page Menu.
►► MASCHINE Controller only: If the Pad Page feature is activated, an additional blue
Pad Page Menu allows you to select a particular page of assignments for the Pads. The
blue frame highlights the Pad Page Area, which holds the control elements included
in the Pad Pages – namely the Pads. For more info on this, please see section
4.3 “The Mapping System.”

Controller Editor User’s Manual – 25

MASCHINE Controller
If you selected the MASCHINE Controller in the Application Control Bar’s Device Menu,
here is how the Hardware Area looks like:

The Hardware Area representing the MASCHINE Controller, with the Knob Page Menu and its associated Knob
Page Area (orange frame), the Pad Page Menu and its associated Pad Page Area (blue frame), and the Selection
Frame (red) on the currently selected control element (here the Pad #1).

Controller Editor User’s Manual – 26

The MASCHINE Controller interface holds the following areas:
1 In the top left part, you find a set of eight buttons arranged into four rows of two
buttons. From these eight buttons, six are freely assignable (Control and Step, Browse % The names that you see on
many control elements only
refer to their original function in the
and Sample, Snap (F1) and Autowrite (F2)) and two have a specific function: the Previous
MASCHINE software. We use these
and Next Buttons (1), showing little orange left/right arrows. These two buttons allow
names here to describe the interface!
you to switch to the previous/next Knob Page in the current Template, or to switch to
the previous/next Template if you press the Shift Button at the same time (see below,
section 4.3 “The Mapping System”, for more info on Knob Pages and Templates).
2 On its right, the Knob Page Area (2) holds a set of eight buttons and eight knobs,
with the buttons being placed above and the knobs being placed below the two Displays.
These sixteen control elements are freely assignable. The Knob Page Area is headed
by the Knob Page Menu.
3 In the bottom right part, the Pads Area shows a column of eight freely assignable
buttons (namely Scene, Pattern, Keyboard, Navigate, Duplicate, Select, Solo and Mute)
as well as a square of sixteen freely assignable Pads, grouped in the so-called Pad
Page Area (3). If the Pad Pages Button is activated in the Pages Tab of the Inspector
(see section 4.2.4 below), these Pads are headed by the Pad Page Menu and you can
switch between different sets of assignments for the Pads.
4 On its left, the Master Area (4) holds four freely assignable control elements
(three knobs and one button).
5 Below, the Groups Area (5) contains eight buttons labeled from A to H: the
Group Buttons. If you activated the Pad Pages Button in the Inspector, these buttons
allow you to select the desired page of assignments for the Pads. If you didn’t activate
the Pad Pages, these eight buttons are freely assignable to MIDI events.
6 Finally, the Transport Area (6) contains eight buttons. Seven of them are freely
assignable (Loop, Prev, Next, Grid, Play, Record and Erase). The last one, Shift, is a
special button: on your MASCHINE Controller, pressing this Shift button changes the
behavior of the Previous and Next buttons – they don’t navigate through the Knob Pages
anymore, but through the Templates. Moreover, it allows you to switch the Display Mode
on your MASCHINE Controller (more on this at section 5.2 “The Displays”). Therefore,
this button cannot be assigned in the Controller Editor interface itself.

Controller Editor User’s Manual – 27

To sum up, the control elements of the MASCHINE Controller are freely assignable to any
MIDI event (with the limitations due to the type of control element), with the following
exceptions:
►► The Previous/Next Buttons and the Shift Button have a predefined function.
►► The Group Buttons of the Groups Area, labeled A to H, are not assignable if you use
the Pad Page feature (by activating the Pad Pages Button, see the Inspector below).
If you deactivate this feature, these eight buttons are freely assignable like any other.

KORE 2 Controller
If you selected the KORE 2 Controller in the Application Control Bar’s Device Menu, here
is how the Hardware Area looks like:

The Hardware Area representing the KORE 2 Controller, with the Knob Page Menu and its associated Knob Page Area
(orange frame) and the Selection Frame (red) on the currently selected control element (here Controller Knob #2).

Controller Editor User’s Manual – 28

The KORE 2 Controller interface holds the following areas:
1 In the left part, the Knob Page Area (1) holds a set of eight buttons and eight knobs,
representing the eight Controller Buttons and eight Controller Knobs of your KORE 2
Controller. These sixteen control elements are freely assignable. The Knob Page Area
is headed by the Knob Page Menu.
2 On the top right, the Pedal Area (2) holds four freely assignable control elements cor-
responding to the two Pedal Inputs and the two Footswitch Ports.
3 In the central part of the KORE 2 Controller view, the four buttons (3) have specific
functions: the Previous and Next buttons, showing little orange up/down arrows, allow
you to navigate the Knob Pages in the current Template; the Previous and Next buttons,
showing little gray left/right arrows, allow you to navigate the Templates (see below,
section 4.3 “The Mapping System”, for more info on Knob Pages and Templates).
4 In the right part, the Scrollwheel and the surrounding four buttons (namely Control,
Sound, Esc and Enter on your KORE 2 Controller) define five freely assignable control
elements (4). The two other buttons, F1 and F2, have predefined functions (see later
in this manual) and cannot be assigned to any MIDI command.
5 Finally, the Transport Area (5) contains four buttons (Stop, Start, Record and
Pre-Listen). All of them are freely assignable.

To sum up, all control elements of the KORE 2 Controller are freely assignable to any MIDI
event (with the limitations due to the type of control element), with the following exceptions:
►► The Previous/Next Buttons.
►► The F1 and F2 Buttons.

Controller Editor User’s Manual – 29

KORE 1 Controller
The KORE 1 Controller is very similar to the KORE 2 Controller. Regarding MIDI remote
control, these are the differences:
►► In the Pedal Area, there is only one pedal input instead of two.
►► The Buttons around the Scrollwheel have slightly different layout and names:
If the four freely assignable buttons are exactly the same as on the KORE 2 Controller,
the two function buttons are called View (instead of F1) and Menu (instead of F2) and
laid out vertically instead of horizontally around the Scrollwheel. But since these
Buttons are not assignable, it won’t change much for us. If you own a KORE 1
Controller, simply think “View” when we say “F1”, and “Menu” when we say F2.

4.2.4 Inspector
At the right of the Hardware Area, the Inspector is the control tower of your mapping
system. There, you can precisely define what has to be done on your target when you press
or turn anything on your NI Controller. Moreover, you can organize all your assignments
into Knob Pages, Pad Pages (for the MASCHINE Controller) and Templates. Section 7.4
“The Inspector” of the reference chapter will give you a detailed description of all what
you can do with the Inspector.
The Inspector is divided into three Tabs, each of them controlling a specific part of the
mapping scheme: the Templates Tab, the Pages Tab and the Assign Tab.

Controller Editor User’s Manual – 30

The Templates Tab
The Templates Tab allows you to manage your Templates. It shows a list of available
Templates along with a few editing functions. % A Template holds a whole map-
ping configuration for all control
elements of your NI Controller. For more
info, please read chapter 4.3.4 below.

The Templates Tab in the Inspector (here for the MASCHINE Controller).

The Templates Tab holds the following elements, from top to bottom:
1 The Template List (1) shows all available Templates with, for each Template, an index
number (not editable) and a name (editable). There, you can select a Template for
editing by clicking on its name, and modify its name by double-clicking on it.
% You can also select a particu-
lar Template via the Template
Select Menu in the Application Control
Bar, or from your NI Controller.
2 The Template Edit Menu (2) provides you with editing functions like New, Save As, etc.
3 The Template Properties Area (3) gives you access to the properties of the Template
that is currently selected in the upper Template List.

Controller Editor User’s Manual – 31

The Pages Tab
The Pages Tab allows you to manage your Pages. When working with the MASCHINE
Controller, if the Pad Pages Button of this tab is activated, you can also manage your % A Knob Page/Pad Page is a
set of assignments for the con-
trol elements located in the Knob Page
Pad Pages here.
Area or for the Pads (on the MASCHINE
Controller only), respectively. For more
info, please read section 4.3 below.

The Pages Tab in the Inspector for the MASCHINE Controller.

Controller Editor User’s Manual – 32

The Pages Tab in the Inspector for the KORE Controllers.

The Pages Tab holds the following elements:

1 The Knob Page List (1) shows a list with all available Knob Pages with, for each of
them, an index number (not editable) and a name (editable). There, you can select a % You can also select a Knob
Page via the Knob Page Menu
above the Knob Page Area, or from your
Knob Page for editing by clicking on its name, and modify its name by double-clicking
Controller.
on it. You can rearrange the Knob Pages’ order via drag&drop.
2 The Knob Page Edit Menu (2) provides you with editing functions like New, Duplicate, etc.
If you are working on the assignments for the MASCHINE Controller, the Pages Tab holds
a few additional elements:
1 The Pad Pages Button (3) activates/deactivates the Pad Page feature. If the Pad Page
feature is deactivated, the rest of the area is grayed out and won’t react to user action.
2 The Pad Page List (4) shows a list with all available Pad Pages with, for each of them,
an index number (not editable) and a name (editable). There, you can select a Pad
Page for editing by clicking on its name, and modify its name by double-clicking on
% You can also select a Pad Page
via the Pad Page Menu above
the Pads, or with the Groups Buttons (la-
it. You can rearrange the Pad Pages’ order via drag&drop. beled A to H) in the Hardware Area and
on your NI Hardware Controller.
3 The Pad Page Edit Menu (5) provides you with editing functions, like New, Duplicate, etc.

Controller Editor User’s Manual – 33

The Assign Tab
The last tab in the Inspector is the Assign Tab. This is where you specify all details of the
assignment for a particular control element. This tab shows the properties of the currently
selected control element:

The Assign Tab in the Inspector.

The Assign Tab shows different properties depending on the type of element currently
selected. The Description Area (1), at the top of the tab, is common to all control elements.
It shows the following information about the currently selected control element:
►► The index number and the name of the Knob Page or Pad Page of the selected control
element (this is empty for the elements not included in a Knob Page/Pad Page),
►► The element description (not editable) and its name (editable).

Controller Editor User’s Manual – 34

We will not describe all possible MIDI assignment properties for each type of control element
that the Assign Tab might show in the Properties Area (2) here. Please refer to section 7.4.3
“The Assign Tab” of the reference chapter for a detailed explanation of all these properties.

4.3 The Mapping System

Whatever you do on your NI Controller, the Controller Editor translates it into a MIDI
message that is then sent to the desired MIDI port – this is what the Controller Editor is
all about: mapping human actions to MIDI events.
The Controller Editor’s mapping system is structured in a way that allows you to efficiently
organize your assignments. This makes the whole mapping process a lot easier and informs
you about what will happen whenever you actuate a control element on your NI Controller.
The next paragraphs will introduce you to some basic concepts.

4.3.1 Assignments
Assignment define which MIDI event is triggered by a particular control element. Available
MIDI event types are “MIDI Note-On”, “MIDI CC”, etc. Every action on a control element
is translated into one MIDI event, the corresponding assignment defining the rules of
that translation.
Depending on the type of control element (button, knob, pad, pedal input, footswitch),
the available assignments will differ. For more details about all available assignments for
each type of control, please refer to chapter 7 “Reference.”

4.3.2 Knob Pages

For some of the control elements, you can have multiple assignments, stored on so-called
“Knob Pages.” Those particular control elements are located in the Knob Page Area (the
orange frame, see section 4.2.3 “Hardware Area” above). A Knob Page is a set of
% On the KORE Controller, the
Knob Pages are the MIDI equiv-
alent to the Control Pages in the KORE
assignments for all control elements in this Knob Page Area. One Knob Page can be 2 software.
selected (and loaded) at a time.

Controller Editor User’s Manual – 35

You can switch the available Knob Pages (either built-in or user-defined) via the Knob
Page Menu, via the Previous/Next Buttons or via the Knob Page List in the Inspector (see
section 4.2 “Overview of the User Interface” above for a brief description of the interface).
You can do it as well from your NI Controller, either via the same Previous/Next Buttons
or via the Knob Pages Display Mode – more on this in section 5.2.4 (for the MASCHINE
Controller) or 6.2.3 (for the KORE Controller).
When you select another Knob Page, all assignments for the control elements in the Knob
Page Area are updated accordingly. All Knob Pages are stored as an editable list on the
Pages Tab in the Inspector (for detailed information about the Inspector, please refer to
section 7.4 “The Inspector” of this manual).

4.3.3 Pad Pages (MASCHINE Controller only)

On the MASCHINE Controller, you also have access to a similar (but optional) paging system
dedicated to the Pads: the Pad Pages. The Pad Pages work like the Knob Pages explained
above, but they affect the sixteen Pads instead of the Knob Page Area’s knobs and buttons.
Unlike the Knob Pages, which can be as many as you want, the number of Pad Pages is
limited to eight. One Pad Page can be selected at a time.
The Pad Pages can be activated or deactivated, depending on your needs, via the Pad
Pages Button in the Inspector’s Assign Tab. If activated, you can switch the available Pad
Pages via the Pad Page Menu or the eight Group Buttons in the Hardware Area, or via the
Pad Page List in the Inspector. Again, you can do it as well from your NI Controller, via the
same Group Buttons (labeled from A to H).
When you select another Pad Page, all assignments for the sixteen Pads are updated
accordingly. The eight available Pad Pages are stored as an editable list on the Pages Tab
in the Inspector (you will find all details about the Inspector in section 7.4 “The Inspector”).

Controller Editor User’s Manual – 36

4.3.4 Templates
A Template holds a mapping configuration for all control elements on your NI Controller,
including the Knob Pages and Pad Pages that might exist. One Template can be selected
at a time. The Template also determines if the generated MIDI events have to be sent to
the internal MIDI port (to access an application listening to MIDI on your computer) or to
the external MIDI port (to access an external MIDI-capable device). Switching between
different Templates can be used, for example, to address different applications on your
computer or different hardware instruments.
The Template contains all Knob Page/Pad Page data, the list of Knob Pages/Pad Pages
and the index of the last selected Knob Page/Pad Page. The Template also stores the last
state of each control element.
The Templates can be stored as distinct files on your computer. These files have the
extension “.ncm” (for the MASCHINE Controller) or “.nck” (for the KORE Controller).
You can switch among the available Templates (either built-in or user-defined) via the
Template Select Menu in the Application Control Bar, via the Previous/Next Buttons or
via the Inspector. This can also be done from your NI Controller, either via the Previous/
Next Buttons or via the Templates Display Mode – more on this in section 5.2.5 (for the
MASCHINE Controller) or 6.2.6 (for the KORE Controller).
When you select another Template, all assignments for all control elements of the
interface are updated accordingly, including the Knob/Pad Pages. All Templates are stored
as an editable list on the Templates Tab in the Inspector (see section 7.4 “The Inspector”
in this manual).

4.3.5 Configuration
For each NI Controller, the working set of data contains the current list of Templates,
all data of the Templates in the list, and the index of the currently selected Template.
The group of all data sets is automatically stored as a single Configuration file on
your computer. This type of file has the extension “.ncc.” This Configuration file is
automatically loaded by the Hardware Controller Support background service as soon as
you start your computer.

Controller Editor User’s Manual – 37

4.4 To sum up…
By utilizing your NI Controller and the Hardware Controller Support (the Controller Editor
and the NI background service) you can remote-control any MIDI target. The Hardware
Controller Support was designed in a way that allows you to forget its presence in a live
situation: after having configured your assignments, you can rely on your NI Controller
to control everything you need during your performance. Triggering MIDI hardware
devices and applications in various ways, switching in real time to other sets (or subsets) of
assignments… all this can be done directly by utilizing your NI Controller.
Actually, the only thing that you can not do from the Controller is modify your
assignments… For that, you will need to use the Controller Editor! But thanks to the
powerful mapping scheme using Templates, Knob Pages and Pad Pages, which is fully
mirrored on your NI Controller, you can prepare as many assignments as you want and
recall them instantly during live performance.
In the next chapters, we will show you how to use your Controller(s) with the assignments
defined within the Controller Editor.

Controller Editor User’s Manual – 38

5 Using your MASCHINE Controller
In this chapter, we will focus on what’s happening on your MASCHINE Controller.
We will first describe how the various luminous elements give you some important
information about their state, and we will then describe thoroughly the powerful Displays
of your MASCHINE Controller.

5.1 The Status LEDs

Many control elements on your MASCHINE Controller are equipped with LEDs that inform
you about the assignment status of the control elements in real time. The fast bidirectional
communication between your MASCHINE Controller and the Hardware Controller Support
on the software side allows updating in real time all status indications on your NI Controller.
The LEDs below each control element can have three states: off, low brightness and high
brightness. Their lighting behavior depends on the type and status of the control element.

5.1.1 Buttons
Here are the rules for the Buttons on your MASCHINE Controller:
►► If the Button is not assigned, the LED is completely dark.
►► If the Button is assigned and in Gate or Toggle Mode, the LED has a low brightness
to show the Off state and a high brightness to show the On state. % For more info on the various
Button Modes, please refer to
section 7.4.3 “The Assign Tab” in the
►► If the Button is assigned and in Trigger or Increment Mode, the LED stays at Reference chapter.
low brightness.
►► Moreover, for the eight Buttons above the Displays, the particular assignment is shown
within the Displays in Knobs Display Mode (see section 5.2.2 below).

Controller Editor User’s Manual – 39

5.1.2 Knobs
Here are the rules for the Knobs on your MASCHINE Controller:
►► The assignments for the eight Knobs under the Displays are indicated within these
Displays in Knobs Display Mode (see section 5.2.2 below). If a Knob is not assigned,
the Display reads Off.
►► The Volume, Tempo and Swing Knobs in the Master Area have no display, but, like for
all other controls, their value is shown in the Displays in the Event line of the
Monitor Mode.

5.1.3 Pads
Here are the rules for the Pads on your MASCHINE Controller. Since the Pads have two
functions (they are pressure-sensitive), the states are indicated as follows:
►► If the Pad is not assigned, its LED is completely dark.
►► If there is an assignment for the Hit action, the behaviour is the same as for the
Buttons above: in Gate or Toggle Mode, the LED has a low brightness to show the Off % For more info on the various
Button Modes, please refer to
section 7.4.3 “The Assign Tab” in the
state and a high brightness to show the On state, whereas in Trigger or Increment
Reference chapter.
Mode, the LED stays at low brightness.
►► If there is no assignment for the Hit action but an assignment for the Press action to
the Note message type, the LED has a low brightness to show the Off state and a high
brightness to show the On state. For all other message types, the LED stays at
low brightness.

5.2 The Displays

The Displays can show different parts of your mapping configuration, depending on the
Display Mode that is activated. Each Display Mode modifies the behavior of the upper
button row and lower knob row. Learn more about the different Display Modes available
for the MASCHINE Controller’s displays in the following sections.

Controller Editor User’s Manual – 40

5.2.1 Switch between Display Modes
First of all, to switch between Display Modes, press the Shift button on your MASCHINE
Controller and hold it. On the Displays, you see something like this:

Here is how the Displays on your MASCHINE Controller look like when the Shift button is pressed.

This screen allows you to select the desired Display Mode. On the top, you find six fields
representing the six Display Modes. The six modes are, from left to right: Monitor, Settings,
Knobs, Pads, Page and Template. To switch to any of them, press the corresponding
button in the row above the Displays. At any time, you can press the Shift button again
and switch to another Display Mode.
In the middle part of the left Display, you see the currently loaded Template. This is
common to all Display Modes (except the Settings Display Mode), so that you can always
be sure about which Template is currently selected.
Below, a message reminds you that you can switch to another Template simply by pressing
the Previous/Next Buttons (since you are already pressing the Shift button).

5.2.2 Knobs Display Mode

The Knob Display Mode is probably the one you will use the most. This is also the default
Display Mode: as soon as your MASCHINE Controller switches to MIDI Mode (either by
pressing Shift + Control (MIDI) on your NI Controller, or by clicking on the Connect Button
in the Controller Editor’s Application Control Bar, or automatically when you start your
computer/the Controller Editor), the Displays switch to the Knobs Display Mode.
In this mode, the Displays show the currently loaded Knob Page, with its eight button
assignments on the top row and its eight knob assignments on the bottom row:

The Knobs Display Mode mirrors the currently loaded Knob Page.

Controller Editor User’s Manual – 41

This Display Mode allows you to see which MIDI message is currently assigned to each
control element in the loaded Knob Page. In this mode, the 16 control elements around
the Displays (8 upper buttons and 8 lower knobs) trigger the assigned MIDI messages.
Each field mirrors the L abel Field as defined in the Inspector’s Assign Tab for the
corresponding control element: the name you defined there appears here – if you haven’t
defined any name yet for that control element, its label is simply its assigned MIDI message.
In the lower row, the Displays additionally show the current value for each knob. These
values can be displayed in two views: either via numerical values (like in the picture above),
or via small bars:

The Knobs Display Mode with bars instead of numerical values…

You can switch between the two views by pressing the Shift button and turning the 5th
knob to the left or to the right. Indeed, when you press the Shift button (thus getting to the
switching screen explained above), you can see the option “Show Bars” or “Show Values”
above the 5th knob (depending on which view is currently selected). By turning the knob,
you switch between both options. Release the Shift button, and the new view is displayed.
Note that, depending on the assignment properties for each of the knobs, its displayed
value (or bar) can either be going from 0 to 127 or from -64 to 63 (bipolar) – this second
setting can be useful for some types of controls (e.g. a stereo balance). For more info on
this, please refer to section 7.4.3 “The Assign Tab.”

Controller Editor User’s Manual – 42

5.2.3 Pad Pages Display Mode
The Pad Pages Display Mode (labeled “Pads” on the Displays) allows you to check the
current assignations for the Pads of your MASCHINE Controller, by mirroring the currently
loaded Pad Page:

The Pad Pages Display Mode mirrors the currently loaded Pad Page.

On the left Display, you find some general info about the currently loaded Template,
Knob Page and Pad Page. The right Display summarizes the Pads’ assignments stored in
the active Pad Page.

5.2.4 Knob Pages Display Mode

The Knob Pages Display Mode allows you to switch between Knob Pages:

The Knob Pages Display Mode allows you to switch between Knob Pages.

On the left Display, you find the usual general info about the currently loaded Template,
Knob Page and Pad Page.
On the right Display, you see the list of your Knob Pages, as defined in the Knob Page List
of the Inspector’s Pages Tab. Use the two buttons above the up and down arrows to scroll
through the list and find the Knob Page you wish to load next. When you have it, press
the last button (labelled Load) to load the selected Knob Page.

Controller Editor User’s Manual – 43

Actually, this functionality is already available in many ways: in the Controller Editor, you
can use the Knob Page Menu (in the Hardware Area) or the Knob Page List (in the Inspector’s
Pages Tab), and on the MASCHINE Controller you have the Previous/Next Buttons at your
disposal. But the Knob Pages Display Mode allows you a greater control over the Knob
Page selection from within the MASCHINE Controller:
►► Unlike the Knob Page Menu and Knob Page List, you don’t have to open the Controller
Editor to switch to another Knob Page.
►► Unlike the Previous/Next Buttons on your MASCHINE Controller, you can quietly choose
the next Knob Page to be loaded, even if it’s not the one right after/before the
currently loaded Knob Page. You can check its name to remember its assignments,
and you can scroll the entire list to find the page you want.

5.2.5 Templates Display Mode

The Templates Display Mode allows you to switch between Templates.

The Templates Display Mode allows you to switch between Templates.

On the left Display, you find the same general info about the currently loaded Template,
Knob Page and Pad Page.
On the right Display, you see the list of your Templates, as defined in the Inspector’s
Templates Tab. Use the two buttons above the up and down arrows to scroll through the
list and find the Template you wish to load next. When you have it, press the last button
(labeled Load) to load the selected Template.
Like for the Knob Pages, this functionality is already available in many ways: in the
Controller Editor, you can use the Template Select Menu (in the Application Control Bar)
or the Template List (in the Inspector’s Templates Tab), and on the MASCHINE Controller
you have the Previous/Next Buttons at your disposal. The Templates Display Mode allows
you a greater control over the Knob Page selection from within the MASCHINE Controller,
for the same reasons as those we explained in the previous section for the Knob Pages.

Controller Editor User’s Manual – 44

5.2.6 Monitor Display Mode
The Monitor Display Mode provides you with useful information about the MIDI data sent
by your MASCHINE Controller.

The Monitor Display Mode provides information about the MIDI data sent by your MASCHINE Controller.

The left Display shows the usual info about the current Template, Knob Page and Pad Page.
The right Display shows two lines:
►► The Control line displays the control element that you are currently actuating.
►► The Event line shows the details of the MIDI event being currently sent by this
control element.

This Display Mode is very useful to monitor what’s going out from your MASCHINE
Controller, for example for debugging purpose: if something goes wrong somewhere in
your MIDI chain, you can check here what is actually sent by your MASCHINE Controller.

Controller Editor User’s Manual – 45

5.2.7 Settings Display Mode
The Settings Display Mode allows you to adjust parameters for the Displays and provides
information about your MASCHINE Controller.

The Settings Display Mode provides access to parameters for your MASCHINE Controller.

The settings are grouped in the left Display. They are the same as in the Controller
Tab of the Preferences window (when the MASCHINE Controller is selected in the
Controller Menu at the top, of course). The settings are:
►► Brightness: Changes the backlight of the displays.
►► Pad Sensitivity: Changes the sensitivity of the Pads.
►► Contrast for left display
►► Contrast for right display

The right Display provides you with some important information about your MASCHINE
Controller and the Hardware Controller Support service. In the upper part, you find the
firmware version of your MASCHINE Controller along with its serial number. Below, you
see the version number of the background service and of the hardware drivers.

Controller Editor User’s Manual – 46

6 Using your KORE Controller
In this chapter you will learn how to use your KORE Controller in conjunction with the
Controller Editor software. We will first describe how the various luminous elements display
their state and then proceed to the various Display Modes.

6.1 The Status LEDs

Almost all control elements on your KORE Controller are equipped with LEDs that inform
you about the assignment status of the control elements in real time. The fast bidirectional
communication between your KORE Controller and the Hardware Controller Support on the
software side allows updating in real time all status indications on your KORE Controller.

6.1.1 Buttons
Here are the rules for the Buttons on your KORE Controller:
►► If the Button is not assigned, the LED is completely dark.
►► If the Button is assigned and in Gate or Toggle Mode, the LED is off to show the Off
state and lit to show the On state. % For more info on the various
Button Modes, please refer to
section 7.4.3 “The Assign Tab” in the
►► If the Button is assigned and in Trigger Mode, the LED stays off. Reference chapter.
►► If the Button is assigned and in Increment Mode, the LED’s brightness reflects the MIDI
value relatively to the range of values defined for this Button.

The assignments for the Controller Buttons (i.e. the Buttons arranged in two lines above
and below the Controller Knobs) are indicated within the Display of your KORE Controller
in Control Display Mode (see section 6.2.2 below). If one of these Buttons is not assigned,
the Display reads Off.

Controller Editor User’s Manual – 47

6.1.2 Knobs
Here are the rules for the Knobs on your KORE Controller:
►► If the Knob is not assigned, the LED ring around the Controller Knob is completely dark.
►► If the Knob is assigned, the LED ring’s brightness reflects the MIDI value relatively to
the range of values defined for this Knob.

The assignments for the Knobs along with their current value are indicated within the
Display of your KORE Controller in Control Display Mode (see section 6.2.2 below).
If a Knob is not assigned, the Display reads Off.

6.1.3 Scrollwheel
Regarding the LED lighting, the Scrollwheel of the KORE 2 Controller behaves like the
Knobs (see above for more info). It is not possible to see the assignment for the Scrollwheel
on your hardware: you need to look at the Controller Editor window.

6.1.4 Pedal Inputs and Footswitch Ports

Obviously, those don’t have any LED! There is no way to see their assignment on your
hardware: to do this, you have to check the Controller Editor window.

6.2 The Display

On your KORE Controller, the Display can show useful information, thus allowing you to
adjust different parameters. In this way you do not have to open the Controller Editor on
your computer while working with your KORE Controller.
The Display can show different parts of your mapping configuration, depending on the
Display Mode that is activated. The five available Display Modes are: Control, Knob Pages,
Templates, Setup and Options. In each Display Mode, the Display Header (at the top of the
Display) always reminds you of the current Display Mode. The following sections describe
each of these Display Modes.

Controller Editor User’s Manual – 48

6.2.1 Switching between Display Modes
The selection of a particular Display Mode is mainly done via the F2 Button. Pressing the
F2 Button brings you to the Overview Screen on your Display:

To view the Overview Screen on the Display of your KORE Controller, press F2.

This screen allows you to select the desired Display Mode. The available Display Modes
are presented in a matrix with two rows of four cells each, similar to the Sound Variations
in the KORE Software. The four Display Modes available here are:
►► Knob Page (labeled PAGE)
►► Control (labeled CTL)
►► Setup (labeled SET)
►► Options (labeled OPTN)

To switch to any of them, you can:

►► navigate with the four Arrow Buttons (Up, Down, Left and Right) to put the target
frame on the desired cell and press the Enter Button to confirm your choice
or
►► press the corresponding Controller Button on your KORE Controller for a direct access
to that Display Mode. You will notice that the Controller Buttons activating a particular
Display Mode are judiciously lit, whereas those not doing anything stay dark.

From this Overview Screen, you can also switch back to the previously selected Display
Mode by simply pressing the Esc Button on your KORE Controller.
At any time, you can press the F2 Button again to get to the Overview Screen and switch
to another Display Mode.

Controller Editor User’s Manual – 49

Exception: the Templates Display Mode
To activate the Templates Display Mode, press the F1 Button (see section 5.2.5 “Templates
Display Mode” below for more info on this mode).

6.2.2 The Control Display Mode

The Control Display Mode is probably the one you will use the most. You can activate it
by pressing F2 (to show the Overview Screen) then the Button 2 (the second one on the
top button row) or the Control Button. You can also press F2 and use the Arrow Buttons
to select the “CTL” cell on the Overview Screen, and subsequently press the Enter Button.
In this mode, the Display shows the currently loaded Knob Page. By default, it displays the
assignments for the eight Controller Buttons on the top and bottom rows, and the eight
assignments for the Controller Knobs on the two middle rows:

The Control Display Mode mirrors the currently loaded Knob Page.

This Display Mode allows you to see which MIDI message is currently assigned to each
control element in the loaded Knob Page. In this mode, the 8 Controller Buttons and 8
Controller Knobs of your KORE Controller trigger their assigned MIDI messages.
The Display Header first shows “CTL” (to remind you that you are in the Control Display
Mode), followed by the name of the currently loaded Knob Page.
The Control Display Mode has three views, similar to those of the Control Display Mode
when using the KORE Controller with the KORE 2 Software.

Controller Editor User’s Manual – 50

All view

All shows the Labels of all assigned parameters for all Controller Knobs and Buttons. As
soon as you touch a Controller Knob on the hardware the Display Header shows the name
of the parameter and its value.

Potis view

Potis is a mode that only displays the parameters assigned to the Controller Knobs of your
NI Controller. In the top and bottom row, the values of the Knobs are displayed via meters.

Single view

Single always displays the currently selected Controller Knob parameter’s Label, Meter
and Value.
You can switch between the three views in the Options Display Mode (see section 6.2.5
“Options Display Mode” below for more info).
Note that, depending on the assignment properties for each of the knobs, its displayed
value can either be going from 0 to 1 or from -1 to 1 (bipolar) – this second setting can
be useful for some types of controls (e.g. a stereo balance). For more info on this, please
refer to section 7.4.3 “The Assign Tab.”

Controller Editor User’s Manual – 51

6.2.3 The Knob Pages Display Mode
The Knob Pages Display Mode allows you to switch between Knob Pages. You can activate
it by pressing F2 (to show the Overview Screen) then the Button 1 (the first one on the
top button row). You can also press F2 and use the Arrow Buttons to select the “PAGE”
cell on the Overview Screen, and subsequently press the Enter Button.

The Knob Pages Display Mode allows you to switch between Knob Pages.

On the Display, you see the list of your Knob Pages, as defined in the Knob Page List of
the Inspector’s Pages Tab. Use the Scrollwheel to scroll through the list and find the Knob % Please note that the current as-
signments for the 8 Controller
Buttons and 8 Controller Knobs stay ac-
Page you wish to load next. Then press the Enter Button on your KORE Controller to load
tive when the Knob Pages Display Mode
the selected Knob Page.
is activated.
Actually, this functionality is already available in many ways: in the Controller Editor, you
can use the Knob Page Menu (in the Hardware Area) or the Knob Page List (in the Inspector’s
Pages Tab), and on the KORE Controller in Control Display Mode you have the Previous/Next
Buttons at your disposal (the Up and Down Arrow Buttons). But the Knob Pages Display Mode
provides extensive control over the Knob Page selection from within the KORE Controller:
►► Unlike the Knob Page Menu and Knob Page List, you don’t have to open the Controller
Editor to switch to another Knob Page.
►► Unlike the Previous/Next Buttons on your KORE Controller, you can quietly choose the
next Knob Page to be loaded, even if it’s not the one right after/before the currently
loaded Knob Page. You can check its name to remember its assignments, and you
can scroll the entire list to find the page you want before to load any.

Controller Editor User’s Manual – 52

6.2.4 Setup Display Mode
The Setup Display Mode allows you to tweak settings for your KORE Controller. You can
activate it by pressing F2 (to show the Overview Screen) then the Button 7 (the third one
on the lower button row). You can also press F2 and use the Arrow Buttons to select the
“SET” cell on the Overview Screen, and subsequently press the Enter Button.

The Setup Display Mode provides access to some parameters of your KORE Controller.

The settings are the same as in the Controller Tab of the Preferences window (when the
KORE Controller is selected in the Controller Menu at the top, of course). You will find
these three parameters:
% Please note that the current as-
signments for the 8 Controller
Buttons and 8 Controller Knobs stay
active when the Setup Display Mode is
►► Contrast: Changes the contrast of the Display. activated.
►► Backlight: Changes the background lighting of the Display.
►► Touch Sens: Adjusts the touch-sensitivity of the eight Controller Knobs on your Controller.

6.2.5 Options Display Mode

The Options Display Mode holds a single option. To activate it, press F2 (to show the
Overview Screen), then Button 8 (the last one on the lower button row). You can also
press F2 and use the Arrow Buttons to select the “OPTN” cell on the Overview Screen,
and subsequently press the Enter Button.

The Options Display Mode allows you to adjust the view mode for the Control Display Mode.

Controller Editor User’s Manual – 53

This setting is called View. It sets the view for the Control Display Mode. For a detailed
description of the available flavours, please refer to the section 6.2.2 “The Control % Please note that the current as-
signments for the 8 Controller
Buttons and 8 Controller Knobs stay ac-
Display Mode” above.
tive when the Options Display Mode is
To switch between the view modes “All”, “Potis” and “Single”, you can use the Scrollwheel activated.
or the Left and Right Arrow Buttons on your Controller.

6.2.6 Templates Display Mode

The Templates Display Mode is a bit particular. Press the F1 Button to activate it:

The Templates Display Mode allows you to switch to another Template and to quit the MIDI Mode.

This mode displays the list of Templates as defined in the Template List of the Inspector’s
Templates Tab. The currently loaded Template is highlighted. % Please note that the current as-
signments for the 8 Controller
Buttons and 8 Controller Knobs stay ac-
This mode allows you two things: tive when the Templates Display Mode
►► You can choose another Template for loading: by using the Up and Down Arrow is activated.
Buttons, you select the previous or next Template. You can also use the Scrollwheel
to navigate through the whole list. When the dotted frame surrounds the desired
Template, press Enter to load it.
►► You can switch from MIDI Mode to KORE Mode by pressing the Control Button. If the
KORE software is running (as standalone or as plug-in), you get to the last selected
Display Mode inside KORE and you can use your KORE Controller with its dedicated
software. If the KORE software is not running, the Display shows a dimmed “KORE”
message, waiting for you to start KORE.

At any time, you can press the F1 Button again or the Esc Button to get back to the previ-
ously selected Display Mode.

Controller Editor User’s Manual – 54

7 Reference
This chapter systematically describes all the user interface elements of the Controller
Editor. The Controller Editor is the “control tower” of your NI Controller’s remote control
system. It stores the links between hardware actions (what you do on your NI Controller)
and MIDI events (what you want to be done within a specific piece of MIDI-capable
software or hardware).

7.1 The Application Menu Bar

The Controller Editor menu bar contains three menus: the File Menu, the View Menu
and the Help Menu.

The Application Menu Bar, with its three menus.

7.1.1 File Menu

The File Menu allows you to manage the Configuration files, to tweak the overall behavior of
the application, and to quit the Controller Editor. The menu contains the following entries:
►► Open Configuration: Opens a dialog allowing you to select the Configuration file you want
to load. The Configuration file contains all data sets used by the Controller Editor. For
one NI Controller, the data set contains the list of all Templates, all data in the Templates
in the list, and the index of the currently selected Template – to sum up, the Configuration
file contains everything you can store for use with the Controller Editor. To load a
Configuration file, select Open Configuration from the File Menu, navigate to the desired
Configuration file in the dialog that appears, and double-click it (or click it, then click
on the Open button). It will replace the currently loaded configuration.
►► Save Configuration As…: Opens a dialog allowing you to save the current Configuration
% You can also use the “Save
As…” feature as a backup
function: Save your Configuration file
file under another name. In the dialog, type the desired name for the new Configuration somewhere else (hard drive, USB key…),
file, then click on the Save button. and you will be able to load it again.

Controller Editor User’s Manual – 55

There is no Save entry in the File Menu. Controller Editor will remember the current
configuration the next time you open the software. Be aware that loading another
Configuration file will overwrite the configuration!
►► Open Template…: Opens a dialog allowing you to select a Template file for loading for
the currently selected NI Controller. The Template will be appended to the Template
List in the Inspector. This command mirrors the command Append located in the
Template Edit Menu (see 7.4.1 “The Templates Tab” for more info on the Template List
and the Template Edit Menu).
►► Preferences…: Opens the Preferences window. This window allows you to tune some
global parameters of the Controller Editor. See below for an explanation of the avail-
able parameters.
►► Exit: Quits the Controller Editor application.

The Preferences Window

The Preferences window shows two tabs: the General Tab and the Controller Tab.
To show each tab, click on its label.
The General Tab offers two options:
►► Touch Select: If this option is activated, you can select the desired control element
directly from within your NI Controller, the selection of any control element becoming
more intuitive. This can be useful to quickly assign the control elements: you don’t
need to move your mouse back and forth repeatedly between the Hardware Area
(where you select some control element) and the Inspector’s Assign Tab (where you
can see or modify the corresponding assignment) – instead, as soon as you touch the
desired control element on your NI Controller, it is automatically selected in the
Controller Editor (the red Selection Frame focuses on it) and its assignment is
automatically shown in the Assign Tab of the Inspector. You can now focus on this
Assign Tab on your computer screen, making all selections from your hardware. This
can be for example a very efficient way to work on large series of assignments.
Moreover, this ensures you that you’re really dealing with the control element you plan
to use for that particular task. This feature can be also used together with the Minimize/
Expand View Button (see section 7.2.4 “Minimize/Expand View Button”).

Controller Editor User’s Manual – 56

►► Wrap Template and Page Lists: If activated, the selection jumps to the other end of the
Template and Knob Page List whenever you press the Previous or Next Button while
the first or last list entry is selected – in other terms, you “loop” the lists by
joining both ends.

The Controller Tab allows you to adjust the settings for your NI Controllers:

The Controller Tab of the Preferences window, here showing the settings for the KORE 2 Controller.

First of all, click on the Controller Menu. This menu lists all NI Controllers installed on
your computer. In the drop-down list, select the NI Controller for which you want to adjust
the parameters.
Upon your selection, the rest of the Controller Tab displays the available settings for that
particular NI Controller. These settings are exactly the same as those available on your
Controller’s Display(s) in Settings Display Mode (MASCHINE Controller) and Setup Display
Mode (KORE Controller). For all details about these controller-specific settings, please refer
to the corresponding sections 5.2.7 (MASCHINE Controller) and 6.2.4 (KORE Controller).

Controller Editor User’s Manual – 57

Enabling and disabling a KORE Controller

The Enable Controller checkbox, at the bottom of the Controller Tab.

The Enable Controller checkbox allows you to enable and disable your KORE Controller.
This is necessary if you want to use your KORE Controller in conjunction with versions
of the KORE software previous to 2.1. It is always activated by default. This is what will
happen when you disable the Controller:
►► The NI Controller’s entry disappears from the View Menu’s Select Device submenu (see
below) and from the Application Control Bar’s Device Menu (see section 7.2.1).
►► If the corresponding NI Controller is currently connected to your computer, it is shut
down. All LEDs and Display(s) are turned off on your NI Controller and you cannot use
it anymore as a MIDI remote control.

7.1.2 View Menu

The View Menu controls the layout of the Controller Editor interface. This menu contains
two entries:
►► Select Device: This submenu lists all NI Controllers currently activated as MIDI remote
controls, as defined by the various Enable Controller options explained right above.
By selecting an entry in this submenu, you choose the NI Controller on which you want
to see/modify the MIDI assignments. The Hardware Area along with all Templates/
Knob Pages/Pad Pages/Assignments are updated accordingly. This submenu is also
mirrored by the Device Menu, located at the left of the Application Control Bar (see
section 7.2.1 below).

Controller Editor User’s Manual – 58

►► Hide/Show Hardware Device: Hides/shows the Hardware Area in the Controller Editor
interface. This command is equivalent to the Minimize /Expand View Button in the
Application Control Bar. Showing the Hardware Area is useful if you prefer to use the
mouse to select each control element, in order to see or modify its assignments. The
downside is that showing the complete user interface requires quite a lot of space on
your computer screen. You can reduce the amount of space Controller Editor requires:
select this command to hide the Hardware Area and most of the Application Control
Bar. With these parts of the user interface hidden, you can still manage your Templates,
Knob Pages and Pad Pages via the Templates and Pages Tabs of the Inspector. You can
even continue working on each assignment by selecting the corresponding control ele-
ment directly on your NI Controller, provided that you activated the Touch Select option
in the Preferences Window (General Tab, see above). Moreover, you can switch to an-
other NI Controller via the Select Device entry in this same View Menu.

7.1.3 Help Menu

The Help Menu gives you access to information that might help you in the use of the
Controller Editor. The menu contains five entries:
►► Open Manual…: Opens the PDF version of this manual, located in the Controller Editor
installation folder.
►► Open Template Documentation…: Opens the PDF documentation which explains you
how to use predefined Templates for use with specific Native Instruments and Third
Party products.
►► Launch Service Center…: Launches the NI Service Center. The NI Service Center helps
you to activate your Native Instruments product (if activation is required) and afterwards
lets you access product updates. Find more information about the NI Service Center in
the separate Quick Start Guide, located in the Service Center installation folder.
►► Visit the Knowledge Base…: Opens the Knowledge Base on the Native Instruments
website in your web browser. This web page provides you with useful information about
NI products, among them the Controller Editor.
►► Visit Native Instruments on the web…: Opens the Native Instruments home page
in your web browser.
►► About…: Opens the About dialog (like clicking the Native Instruments logo). This dia-
log contains valuable information about the software such as its version number.
Controller Editor User’s Manual – 59
7.2 The Application Control Bar
The Application Control Bar provides you with some global features controlling the behavior
of the Controller Editor.

The Application Control Bar contains some important features of the Controller Editor.

Let’s review them from left to right.

7.2.1 Device Menu

The Device Menu.

The Device Menu informs you which NI Controller’s settings you are working on. Furthermore,
it allows you to switch to another NI Controller in order to see and edit its assignments. This
menu mirrors the Select Device submenu located in the Application Menu Bar’s View Menu.
1. Click on the menu to open a drop-down list containing all NI Controllers activated
for MIDI, as defined by the Enable Controller options in the Preferences window
(see section 7.1.1 above).
2. In the list, select the desired NI Controller.
3. The Hardware Area is updated accordingly, and all Templates/Knob Pages/Pad Pages/
Assignments are recalled for the newly selected NI Controller.

All parameters and settings displayed in the Controller Editor’s interface refer to the NI
Controller currently selected in this Device Menu, with the exception of the MIDI Activity
Indicator and the NI Logo, at the far right of the Application Control Bar.

Controller Editor User’s Manual – 60

7.2.2 Connect Button

The Connect Button.

The Connect Button allows you to “call” your NI Controller, in case it is currently
controlling its dedicated software (e.g., KORE or MASCHINE). This is the software equivalent to
pressing the Shift + Control (MIDI) buttons on your MASCHINE Controller and to the F1 –
Control command on your KORE 2 Controller (or View – Control on your KORE 1 Controller).
Indeed, your NI Controller can only connect to one application at a time:
►► The NI Controller can either be connected to its corresponding software, e.g KORE 2
or MASCHINE (or one of its various plug-in instances currently running on your
computer), …
►► …or to the Controller Editor (via the Hardware Controller Support service), which is
the gate to remote controlling all other MIDI targets from your NI Controller.

When you start the Controller Editor, it automatically connects to your NI Controller(s)
– the rule is: the last started application takes control over your NI Controller.
For example, if you launch the MASCHINE software (as a stand-alone application or a
plug-in instance) while the MASCHINE Controller is connected to another application, you need to
reconnect the MASCHINE Controller to this application in order to continue using it as
a MIDI remote control. You can do this either from your NI Controller or from within the
Controller Editor, via this Connect Button:
1. On your MASCHINE Controller, press Shift + Control (MIDI) at the same time.
This switches your MASCHINE Controller to MIDI Mode.
2. On your KORE 2 Controller, press F1, then Control. This switches your KORE 2
% Note that you don’t need to
have the Controller Editor
open to switch to MIDI Mode from your
Controller to MIDI Mode. MASCHINE Controller!

3. On your KORE 1 Controller, press View, then Control. This switches your KORE 1
Controller to MIDI Mode.

Controller Editor User’s Manual – 61

4. In the Controller Editor, if the Connect Button is off (the button is not lit), NI Controller
is connected to an instance of its dedicated software (i.e. KORE 2 for the KORE 1
or 2 Controllers). To activate the MIDI Mode and connect your NI Controller to the
Controller Editor, click on the Connect Button (which will change to its “on” state).

If your NI Controller is switched to MIDI Mode, the Connect Button in the Controller Editor
is lit. If not, the button is off. In short, the Connect Button displays which mode your NI
Controller is currently in.
If your NI Controller is not physically connected to your computer at the moment, the
Connect Button is grayed out and inactive:

Grayed out Connect Button.

7.2.3 Template Select Menu

The Template Select Menu allows you to select the desired Template.

The Template Select Menu allows you to choose a Template from the list of all available
Templates. To choose a particular Template, click on this menu, and select the desired
entry from the list: the corresponding Template will automatically be loaded. This will
% For more info on Templates and
what they are for, please read
chapter 4.3.4 “Templates”.
replace the current Template, along with all its Knob Pages, Pad Pages (for the MASCHINE
Controller) and assignments.
The list contains Factory Templates, as well as User Templates that you might have
created. For more info on how to create and manage Templates, please refer to section
7.4.1 “The Templates Tab” in this Reference chapter.

Controller Editor User’s Manual – 62

7.2.4 Minimize/Expand View Button

The Minimize /Expand View Button.

The Minimize/Expand View Button shows a little arrow pointing either to the right or to the left.
This button allows you to show or hide the Hardware Area (and a part of the Application
Control Bar), in order to save space on your screen. By reducing the size of the Controller
Editor window on your screen, you get a better overview of other applications.
This Button is equivalent to the Hide/Show Hardware Device command in the Application
Menu Bar’s View Menu.
If the Hardware Area is shown, click on the Minimize /Expand View Button to hide it. The
Controller Editor interface shrinks to one single column: The Hardware Area disappears,
the Application Menu Bar and the Inspector remain untouched, whereas the Application
Control Bar only shows this same Minimize /Expand View Button, the Template Select Menu,
a minimized version of the MIDI Activity Indicator and the NI Logo:

The Controller Editor in minimized view.

Controller Editor User’s Manual – 63

To show the Hardware Area again, click again on the Minimize /E xpand View Button
(now showing a little arrow to the left).
This feature is very useful in any situation where you do not need the Hardware Area,
for example
►► if you only want to manage your Templates and Knob Pages/Pad Pages, you only need
the Templates and Pages Tabs of the Inspector. % Please note that you still can
switch to another NI Controller
when the Controller Editor is minimized
►► if you activated the Touch Select option in the Preferences window (see section 7.1.1
by calling the Select Device command in
“File Menu” above), you can select all control elements directly from your NI Controller;
the View Menu of the Application Menu
thus, you don’t need the Hardware Area anymore and you can continue working on Bar!
your assignments in the Inspector.

7.2.5 MIDI Activity Indicator

The MIDI Activity Indicator.

The MIDI Activity Indicator displays incoming (In) and/or outgoing (Out) MIDI data. This can
be useful to check if everything is fine between the Controller Editor and its hardware and
software environment in your setup, and more generally, for any MIDI debugging purpose.

7.2.6 NI Logo

The NI Logo.

When you click on the NI Logo, located on the far right of the Application Control Bar,
the About dialog opens. % The About dialog can also be
opened via the About… entry in
the Help Menu, in the Application Menu
This About dialog provides you with some interesting information about your Controller Bar.
Editor installation, including the version number and the credits.

Controller Editor User’s Manual – 64

7.3 The Hardware Area
When shown (see section 7.2.4 “Minimize/Expand View Button”, above), the Hardware
Area basically represents the NI Controller that you are currently using. The Hardware Area
has two main purposes:
►► It provides you with a graphical representation of your NI Controller, for ease of use.
►► It allows you to select the Template, Knob Page, Pad Page (for the MASCHINE
Controller) and control element that you wish to load or edit. For example, this can be
particularly useful if your NI Controller is not currently connected to your computer.
That way, you can prepare your assignments even if the hardware is not currently there.

In addition to the exact representation of your NI Controller, the Hardware Area holds a
few extra graphical elements that extend its usability: the Label Fields, the Selection Frame,
the Knob Page Area/Knob Page Menu and the Pad Page Area/Pad Page Menu (MASCHINE
Controller only). Let’s describe each of these.

7.3.1 Label Fields

Next to each assignable control element, you find a Label Field.

For every control element of the Hardware Area that can be assigned to some MIDI
message, you find a L abel Field above or below it. This field mirrors the L abel Field
located in the upper part of the Assign Tab, in the Inspector (see below), so that you can
% Many of the control elements
already have a name on them
in the Hardware Area: this name only
see all control elements along with their names. refers to their original function in the
MASCHINE or KORE software.
If no name has been defined yet for a control element, its Label Field displays by default
the MIDI message assigned to that control element.
Like all other assignments properties, these names are of course saved within the Knob
Pages/Pad Pages/Templates.

Controller Editor User’s Manual – 65

7.3.2 Selection Frame

The Selection Frame highlights the control element that is currently focused.

The Selection Frame is a red frame highlighting the currently selected control
element. Whenever you select another control element in the Hardware Area (or, with the
Touch Select option activated in the Preferences, on your NI Controller), the Selection Frame
will highlight this control element. At the same time, the Assign Tab in the Inspector shows
the assignment properties for that element.

7.3.3 The Knob Page Area and Knob Page Menu

The Knob Page Area holds all control elements included in a Knob Page (here on the MASCHINE Controller).

Inside the Hardware Area, an orange frame highlights some of the control elements. This
% As a short reminder: the control
elements located in the Page
Area can have multiple assignments,
frame defines the Knob Page Area, which holds all control elements included in the Knob which are stored on so-called Pages –
Pages system (for a general explanation of the Controller Editor’s mapping system, see with, on each Page, one assignment for
section 4.3 “The Mapping System”). one control element.

Controller Editor User’s Manual – 66

The Knob Page Menu allows you to select another Knob Page (here on the KORE 2 Controller).

At the Knob Page Area’s upper left corner, the Knob Page Menu shows you the name
of the currently selected Knob Page. Moreover, it allows you to select another page of
assignments for these eight buttons and eight knobs. To select a particular Knob Page,
click on the Knob Page Menu, and choose the desired entry from the list – this list
mirrors the Knob Page List in the Inspector’s Pages Tab. When you click on an entry, the
corresponding Knob Page loads automatically, replacing the currently loaded Knob Page.

7.3.4 The Previous / Next Buttons

The Previous/Next Buttons allow scanning the entire Knob Page List (and Template List on the MASCHINE Controller).

The Previous/Next Buttons are another way to navigate through your different Knob Pages
and Templates. These two buttons, showing orange arrows, are located in the top left part
on the MASCHINE Controller, and right below the Display on the KORE Controllers.
►► To navigate through your Knob Pages, simply click on one of them: the current Knob
Page is replaced with the previous/next one in the Knob Page List. % To manage your Knob Pages
and Templates within the Knob
Page List and Template List, use the
►► On the MASCHINE Controller, these buttons also allow you to navigate through your
Inspector. For more info on this, please
Templates: press the Shift button on your MASCHINE Controller (or on your refer to section 7.4 “The Inspector”, later
computer keyboard) and hold it pressed while using the Previous/Next Buttons: the in this manual.
current Template is then replaced with the previous/next one in the Template List.

Controller Editor User’s Manual – 67

These buttons have their exact equivalent on your NI Controller: you can use them to jump
to the previous/next Knob Page (or Template on the MASCHINE Controller).
Note that when you reach an end in one of the lists, let’s say the last Knob Page in the
Knob Page List, you have two possibilities:
►► If you activated the Wrap Template and Page Lists option in the Preferences window
(General Tab), if you press again on the Next Button, you jump back to the beginning
of the list.
►► If the Wrap Template andPage Lists option is deactivated, you stay on this last Knob
Page, even if you press further on the Next Button.

7.3.5 The Pad Pages (MASCHINE Controller only)

The MASCHINE Controller holds an additional paging system which is very similar to the
previous one: the Pad Pages. The Pad Pages allow you to store multiple assignments
for the sixteen Pads of the MASCHINE Controller. Whereas the number of Knob Pages
is unlimited, you can only use eight Pad Pages (which still make 8 × 16 = 128 possible
assignments for the Pads!).
This Pad Page feature is optional: you can activate/deactivate it at any time by switching
the Pad Pages Button on or off in the Inspector’s Pages Tab (see section 7.4.2 “The Pages
Tab”). If the Pad Page feature is activated, you get access to eight sets of assignments
for your Pads. If the feature is deactivated, you only have one set of Pads waiting for
being assigned.

Controller Editor User’s Manual – 68

The Pad Page Area, with its associated Pad Page Menu at the top left corner.

The square of Pads, called Pad Page Area, is outlined by a blue frame. Like for the
Knob Pages, a Pad Page Menu at the frame’s upper left corner shows you which page of
assignments is currently loaded for the Pads, and allows you to select another Pad Page:
to do this, click on the Pad Page Menu and select another entry in the list that appears –
like for the Knob Pages, this list mirrors the Pad Page List in the Inspector’s Pages Tab.

% If the Pad Pages Button is deac-

tivated in the Pages Tab of the
Inspector, these eight Group Buttons be-
have like any other control button of the
hardware: they are freely assignable. For
more info, please refer to chapter 7.4.2
“The Pages Tab” in this manual.
The Groups Area holds eight Group Buttons, labeled from A to H, each of them selecting one Pad Page.

Like for the Knob Pages with the Previous/Next Buttons, there is an alternative way of
selecting any particular Pad Page: the Group Buttons. These buttons are labeled from A to
H, and they are located in the Groups Area, in the middle left part of the Hardware Area/
MASCHINE Controller (the name “Group” is used here because it is the name appearing
on your MASCHINE Controller!). Click on the desired button to select the corresponding
Pad Page. You can also press the corresponding button on your MASCHINE Controller.

Controller Editor User’s Manual – 69

7.4 The Inspector
Located on the right of the Controller Editor’s window, the Inspector is THE definitive
place to edit and organize your Templates, Knob Pages, Pad Pages and all your control
assignments. For that reason, the Inspector is always visible.
As we already mentioned, the basic mapping workflow practically dives into the
assignment hierarchy. Let’s quickly look at it again:
1. From the Application Control Bar’s Device Menu, select the NI Controller which you want
to work with. If you have only one Controller installed, it is automatically selected. % If you are not sure about the
terms “Template”, “Knob
Page”, “Pad Page”, etc., read section
2. Choose a Template. This can be done for example via the Template Select Menu 4.3 “The Mapping System” again, where
in the Application Control Bar or via the Templates Tab of the Inspector (see these basic concepts are explained.
below). As the Template loads, all its included Knob Pages, (possible) Pad Pages and
assignments are loaded.
3. If the control element that you want to edit is located within the Knob Pages Area,
you also have to select the desired Knob Page; if your control element is a Pad on the
MASCHINE Controller and if the Pad Pages feature is activated, you have to select
the desired Pad Page. This can be done either via the Knob Page (or Pad Page) Menu,
or via the Previous / Next (or Group) Buttons, or via the Pages Tab of the Inspector (see
below). If the control element is somewhere else on the NI Controller, skip this step.

If you only want to use the assignments as they are, that’s all. But if you want to check
the assignments or modify them, follow the next steps:
1. Put the focus on the control element that you want to edit. This can be done either
in the Hardware Area or directly on your Controller (if the Touch Select Button is
activated in the General Tab of the Preferences window) by clicking/touching the
desired control element.
2. Navigate to the Assign Tab of the Inspector (see below) and tweak the assignment
properties for this control element.

Controller Editor User’s Manual – 70

Tabs in the Inspector
The Inspector is divided into three tabs, each of them taking care of a specific level in the
Controller Editor’s mapping system:
►► The Templates Tab allows you to manage your Templates.
►► The Pages Tab allows you to organize your Knob Pages. When working with the
MASCHINE Controller, this Pages Tab also allows you to activate and organize the
Pad Pages.
►► Last but not least, the Assign Tab allows you to edit very precisely the MIDI
assignment for the control element currently selected in the Hardware Area.

Let’s describe each of these three tabs thoroughly. We will follow the usual workflow,
starting with the Templates, then look at the Knob Pages (and Pad Pages), and finally
describing all details of the assignments.

7.4.1 The Templates Tab

The Templates Tab allows you to select and manage your Templates. The Templates can
be used to store a whole set of assignments, Knob Pages and Pad Pages, for example for
a specific use: a particular hardware instrument, a particular software configuration for a
live set, a particular song of your set, etc.
To show the Templates Tab, click on its name. At the top of the Templates Tab, the
Template List displays all available Templates:

Controller Editor User’s Manual – 71

The Template List, at the top of the Templates Tab.

In this list, each entry represents a Template. The currently selected Template is highlighted
in the list. To select another Template, simply click on its entry. The selected Template is
automatically loaded, with all its Knob Pages, Pad Pages and control assignments.
% You can also select another
Template via the Template Select
Menu located in the Application Control
Bar (see section 7.2.3 “Template Select
Each entry in the Template List has two elements: the Template number and the
Menu”), or use the Previous/Next Buttons
Template name. The Template Number is not editable – it defines the order of appear- (while holding the Shift Button depressed)
ance of the Template in the list. The Template name is editable: To rename the Template, on your MASCHINE Controller.
double-click on its name (it is then highlighted), type a new name, and press Enter on your
computer keyboard.
For your convenience, you can reorder the Templates in the list by drag and drop. This can
be useful if you plan to use several Templates for a live performance and you need to have
them available in a specific order from your NI Controller: When they are well ordered, you
can easily switch to the previous/next one using the following methods:
►► MASCHINE Controller: use the Previous / Next Buttons in conjunction with the Shift
Button or switch to the Templates Display Mode (see section 5.2.5).
►► KORE Controller: switch to the Templates Display Mode (see section 6.2.6).

Controller Editor User’s Manual – 72

If the number of Templates is too big to fit in the displayed Template List, a scrollbar ap-
pears on the right to navigate through the list.
Located below the Template List, the Edit Menu gives you access to important manage-
ment functions. To access any of these functions, click on the Edit Menu and select the
desired entry:

The Edit Menu, below the Template List.

The following commands are available:

►► New: Creates a new default Template. This new Template is appended at the end of
the list. You can have as many Templates as you want in your list.
►► Append: Opens a dialog allowing you to navigate to the desired Template file on your
hard drive to load it. Select the Template file and click OK (or double-click the Template
file): the Template will be appended at the end of the list and will automatically be
loaded as current Template.
►► Replace: Opens a dialog allowing you to navigate to the desired Template file on your
hard drive to load it. Select the Template file and click OK (or double-click the Template
file): the Template will be loaded and thus replace the currently selected Template
in the Template List.
►► Save As…: Opens a dialog allowing you to store the selected Template as a file on your
hard drive (file extension “.ncm” for MASCHINE or “.nck” for KORE Template files).
►► Duplicate: Duplicates the selected Template and insert it into the list at the position
below.
►► Delete: Removes the selected Template. The entries below are moved up to fill the gap.

Controller Editor User’s Manual – 73

Template Properties
The Template Properties area contains settings for the Template selected in the Template List:

The Template Properties on the Templates Tab (here for the MASCHINE Controller).

Here, you find one or two menus, depending on the selected Controller:
Only for the MASCHINE Controller, the Pad Velocity Curve Menu allows you to choose from
a list of seven velocity curves that affect the behavior of the Pads on your MASCHINE
Controller. A velocity curve defines how the pressure on the Pads has to be translated into
velocity values. In the Pad Velocity Curve Menu, you can choose between three soft, three
hard and one linear curve. The soft curves are boosting lower pressure values and damping
higher pressure values (logarithmic response), the hard curves are damping lower pressure
values and boosting higher pressure values (exponential response). The linear curve will
translate pressure values into velocity values proportionally.
The other menu is present for all Controllers: the MIDI Port Menu. Here you can specify to
send the MIDI messages either to internal (virtual) MIDI ports or to the external (physical)
MIDI ports of your NI Controller. When you click on this menu, you will see two options:
►► Internal: The MIDI messages are routed through the internal MIDI port. This way, they
can target other MIDI-capable applications running on your computer (provided that
these applications are listening to this MIDI port – this has to be set in the target ap-
plication’s preferences).
►► External: The MIDI messages are routed through the MIDI output of your NI Controller.
That way, your Template can target other MIDI-capable hardware devices directly.

Controller Editor User’s Manual – 74

7.4.2 The Pages Tab
The Pages Tab allows you to select and manage your Knob and Pad Pages. Remember
that, according to the Controller Editor’s mapping system, all operations made in the Pages
Tab affect the Knob Pages or Pad Pages (for the MASCHINE Controller) located in the
Template that is currently loaded!
The Knob Pages are sets of assignments for the control elements located in the Knob
Page Area of the Hardware Area. For example, the Knob Pages can be used to store the
assignments for a particular patch of your target instrument, or for a specific section (filter
section, effect section, etc.) of your instrument, or for different instruments in your setup.
The Pages Tab has some similarities with the Templates Tab explained above. Similar to the
Templates Tab, the upper part of the Pages Tab holds a Knob Page List. This list displays
all Knob Pages available in the current Template:

The Knob Page List, at the top of the Pages Tab.

In this list, each entry represents a Knob Page. The currently selected Knob Page is
highlighted. To select another Knob Page, simply click on its entry. The selected Knob % You can also select another
Knob Page via the Knob Page
Menu on the top of the Knob Page Area
Page is automatically loaded, with all its control assignments.
or via the Previous/Next Buttons, both
Each entry in the Knob Page List consists of a number and a name. The Knob Page in the Hardware Area or on your NI
number is not editable – it defines the order of appearance of the Knob Page in the list. Controller. For more info on this, see
The Knob Page name is editable: To rename the Knob Page, double-click on its name sections 7.3.3 “The Knob Page Area
(it is then highlighted), type a new name, and press Enter on your computer keyboard. and Knob Page Menu”and 7.3.4.“The
Previous / Next Buttons.”
Like in the Template List, you can reorder the Knob Pages in the list by drag and drop:
click on the desired Knob Page in the list, and move your mouse vertically while hold-
ing the mouse button depressed. Release the mouse button at the desired location:
the Knob Page takes its new place in the list. This can be useful in a live situation, for

Controller Editor User’s Manual – 75

example if you plan to use several Knob Pages for different parts of a song, and you need
to have them in a specific order: When they are well ordered, you can easily switch to the
previous/next one by using the Previous/Next Buttons on your NI Controller.
If the number of Knob Pages is too big to fit in the displayed Knob Page List, a scrollbar
appears on the right to navigate through the list.
Right under the Knob Page List, the Edit Menu grants access to management functions.
To access any of these functions, click on the Edit Menu and select the desired entry:

The Edit Menu, below the Knob Page List.

The following commands are available:

►► New: Creates a new default Knob Page. This new Knob Page is appended at the end
of the list. You can have as many Knob Pages as you want in your Template.
►► Duplicate: Duplicates the selected Knob Page and insert it at the next lower position
in the list. This can be useful to generate several Knob Pages with only a few differ-
ences, without having to start from scratch each time.
►► Copy: Stores the selected Knob Page into your operating system’s clipboard. This is
very useful to move or copy a particular Knob Page to another Template: after having
selected the desired Knob Page, choose this Copy command, then switch to another
Template (using one of the methods described above), go back to the Inspector’s Pages
Tab, select the Knob Page List entry below of which you want to insert the copied
Knob Page, and use the Paste command.
►► Paste: Inserts the Knob Page stored in the clipboard below the currently selected Knob
Page. The inserted Knob Page is then automatically loaded. You can use this
command in conjunction with the Copy command described above to transfer Knob
Pages between Templates.
►► Delete: Removes the selected Knob Page. The lower entries will move up and fill
the gap.

Controller Editor User’s Manual – 76

MASCHINE Controller: The Pad Pages Functionality
For the MASCHINE Controller, the lower part of the Pages Tab offers an additional
area that allows you to manage your optional Pad Pages. The Pad Pages are sets of
assignments for the sixteen Pads of your MASCHINE Controller. For example, the Pad
Pages can be used to store the assignments for various patches of your target instrument,
or for different instruments in your setup. For more info about the Pad Pages, please refer
to section 4.3.3 “Pad Pages.”

The Pad Pages Button allows you to activate/deactivate the Pad Pages functionality.

At the top of this area, you first see the Pad Pages Button. This button allows you to
activate/deactivate the Pad Page feature for your MASCHINE Controller. To activate the Pad
Pages, click on this button: it switches on (blue light) and the lower part of the Pages Tab
% You can also select another Pad
Page via the Pad Page Menu on
the top of the Pad Page Area or via the
is activated. To deactivate the Pad Pages, click again on the button – the button switches Group Buttons (labeled A to H), in the
off, the lower part of the Pages Tab becomes grayed out. Hardware Area or on your NI Controller.
For more info on this, see section 7.3.5.
While describing the rest of this area we assume that this Pad Pages Button is activated…

The Pad Page List, at the bottom of the Pages Tab.

Below the Pad Pages Button, you see the Pad Page List. This list shows all available
Pad Pages for the current Template. In this list, each entry represents a Pad Page. The
currently selected Pad Page is highlighted in the list. To select another Pad Page, simply
click on its entry. The selected Pad Page is automatically loaded, along with its control
assignments for the sixteen Pads.

Controller Editor User’s Manual – 77

Each entry in the Pad Page List has two elements: the Pad Page letter and the Pad Page
name. The Pad Page letter is not editable − it defines the order of appearance of the Pad
Page in the list and links the Pad Page to the corresponding Group Button in the Hardware
Area and on your MASCHINE Controller. The Pad Page name is editable: To rename the
Pad Page, double-click on its name (it is then highlighted), type a new name, and press
Enter on your computer keyboard.
Like in the other lists, you can reorder the Pad Pages in the list via drag and drop: click on
the desired Pad Page in the list, and move your mouse vertically while holding the mouse
button depressed. Release the mouse button at the desired location: the Pad Page takes
its new place in the list. This can be useful in a live situation, for example if you plan to
use several Pad Pages for addressing different parts of a song or sequence, and you need
to have them in a specific order: When they are well ordered, you can easily switch to
another Pad Page using the Group Buttons (labeled A to H) on your MASCHINE Controller.
The number of Pad Pages is limited to eight (corresponding to the eight Group Buttons on
your NI Controller). You’ll notice that the MASCHINE Controller mirrors the number of exist-
ing Pad Pages: if some slots in the list are empty, the corresponding Group Buttons are off.

The Edit Menu below the Pad Page List.

The Edit Menu is very similar to the Edit Menu to be found below the Knob Page List:
►► New: Creates a new default Pad Page. This new Pad Page is appended at the end of
the list. As mentioned, you can have up to eight Pad Pages in your Template.
►► Duplicate: Duplicates the selected Pad Page and insert it at the next lower position
in the list. If there are already 8 Pad Pages in the Pad Page List, the Duplicate
entry is disabled.

Controller Editor User’s Manual – 78

►► Copy: Stores the selected Pad Page into your operating system’s clipboard. This is very
useful to move or copy a particular Pad Page to another Template: after having
selected the desired Pad Page, choose this Copy command, then switch to another
Template (using one of the methods described in this manual), go back to the
Inspector’s Pages Tab, select in the Pad Page List the Pad Page below which you want
to insert the copied Pad Page, and use the Paste command.
►► Paste: Inserts the Pad Page stored in the clipboard below the currently selected Pad
Page. The inserted Pad Page is then automatically loaded. You can use this command
in conjunction with the Copy command below to transfer Pad Pages between Templates.
If there are already 8 Pad Pages in the Pad Page List, the Paste entry is disabled.
►► Delete: Removes the selected Pad Page. The lower entries will move up and fill the
gap. If there is only one Pad Page, it cannot be deleted.

7.4.3 The Assign Tab

The Assign Tab allows you to define all necessary MIDI assignment attributes for a
particular control element. Indeed, it displays and allows to modify the assignment
attributes for the control element that is currently selected in the Hardware Area – in other
terms, the one on which the red Selection Frame focuses.
As a reminder, to select a particular control element for editing, do the following:
1. Select a Template.
2. Select a Knob/Pad Page if the desired element is located in a Knob/Pad Page.
3. Click on the control element in the Hardware Area or touch it on your NI Controller –
provided that the Touch Select option is activated. The Assign Tab then displays the
assignment properties for that control element.

Controller Editor User’s Manual – 79

The Description Area

The Description Area of the Assign Tab.

At the top of the Assign Tab, the Description Area displays some descriptive attributes for
that control element. This section is common to all types of assignments. It contains the
following information:
►► The first line contains the number and the name of the Knob/Pad Page containing the
selected control element (this line is empty for the control elements which are not
included in the Knob Page Area or, for the MASCHINE Controller, in the square of
Pads). This is not editable.
►► The second line displays the element description (i.e. its “name” referring to its
original function in its dedicated software) on the left, which is for info only. On its
right, it also displays the Label Field, which is its user-definable name. The content of
this Label Field is mirrored in the Hardware Area above the control element itself.

To modify the name in the Label Field, double-click on it, type a new name and press
Enter on your computer keyboard. Both Label Fields (in the Assign Tab and in the Hardware
Area) are updated accordingly.
If no name has been defined yet for a control element, its Label Field displays by default
the MIDI message assigned to this control element.

Controller Editor User’s Manual – 80

The Definition Area
Below the Description Area, the assignment properties explicitly define what has to be sent
when you actuate the control element on your NI Controller: this is called the Definition
Area. The properties in the Definition Area differ according to the type of control element
currently selected: since a button, a knob and a pad don’t have the same behavior, they
won’t be able to trigger the same types of MIDI events.
The Pads of the MASCHINE Controller can respond to two different actions: they can be
hit, but they can also be pressed. In the same manner, the Knobs of the KORE Controllers
are touch-sensitive: they can be turned like any usual knob, but they can also be touched,
leading to a second possible MIDI message type.
For these double function elements, the Definition Area displays two corresponding Action
Tabs, each of them defining the MIDI event for one specific action (hitting or pressing
for MASCHINE Controller’s Pads, and turning and touching for KORE Controller’s Knobs).
For the control elements with only one function, the Definition Area does not display any
tabs, but directly displays the assignment properties for the unique MIDI assignment of
this control element.

The top of the Definition Area differs if the control element has one or two functions – on the left, the
assignment for a Button, and on the right the two Assignment Tabs for a Pad on the MASCHINE Controller.

The label on each tab’s header indicates the particular hardware action that will trigger
the MIDI message specified in that tab: for example, for a Knob on the KORE Controller,
you will find the Turn Tab and the Touch Tab.

Controller Editor User’s Manual – 81

MIDI Message Types
In the Definition Area, all control element assignments start with the same menu: the
Type Menu. This menu specifies the type of MIDI message that has to be sent upon action
on this control element. Depending on the type of hardware control element, the entries
in this menu will differ (for example, sending a “play” command from a knob wouldn’t
make much sense).

The Type Menu allows you to choose from various MIDI message types.

To select a MIDI message type, click on the menu and select the desired entry from the list.
All other parameters displayed in the Assign Tab’s Definition Area depend both on the
type of control element that you are working on, and on the MIDI message type selected
in this Type Menu.
Below is a list of all possible MIDI message types to be found in the Type Menu. Keep in
mind that depending on the selected control element, some of them are not available in
the menu. In the next sections, we will explain the particularities for each control element
available on your MASCHINE and KORE Controllers.
►► Note: Sends a MIDI Note On/Off message. This message is sent over a specific MIDI
channel set by the Channel parameter (range from 1 to 16, 1 by default). It tells your
target to play or stop the MIDI Note specified via the Note parameter (range from
C-2 to G8). The message also defines the velocity at which the note is played. This
velocity is specified in various ways, depending on the type of the selected control
element (see below).

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►► Control Change: Sends a MIDI Control Change message. This message is sent over a
specific MIDI channel set by the Channel parameter (range from 1 to 16, 1 by default).
This message tells your target to change the value of a specific continuous controller
– controlling for example some effect’s depth in your music application. The
continuous controller (CC) number is specified via the Number parameter (range from
0 to 127). The values to be sent for that controller are specified in various ways,
depending on the type of the selected control element (see below).
►► Poly Pressure: Sends a MIDI Poly Pressure message (also called Polyphonic Aftertouch).
This message is sent over a specific MIDI channel set by the Channel parameter (range
from 1 to 16, 1 by default). It specifies the pressure at which a particular MIDI note
is held down. The MIDI note is specified via the Note parameter. The pressure values
to be sent are specified in various ways, depending on the type of the selected control
element (see below).
►► Channel Pressure: Sends a MIDI Channel Pressure message (also called Channel
Aftertouch). This message is sent over a specific MIDI channel set by the Channel pa-
rameter (range from 1 to 16, 1 by default). It specifies a common pressure at which all
notes of the MIDI channel are held down. The pressure values to be sent are specified
in various ways, depending on the type of the selected control element (see below).
►► Program Change: Sends a MIDI Program Change message. This message is sent over
a specific MIDI channel set by the Channel parameter (range from 1 to 16, 1 by
default). It tells the target to switch to another program (or patch, preset…). The
program number to be sent can be specified in various ways, depending on the type
of the selected control element (see below).
►► Pitchbend: Sends a MIDI Pitchbend message. This message is sent over a specific
MIDI channel set by the Channel parameter (range from 1 to 16, 1 by default). It is
used to control the Pitchbend Wheel (and anything that would respond to the MIDI
Pitchbend message in your target). This is quite similar to a Control Change message,
but for historical and practical reasons (on most hardware controllers/keyboards, the
Pitchbend wheel is a very specific control element), the Pitchbend is a distinct mes-
sage in the MIDI specifications.

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►► Start: Sends a MIDI Start Song message. As its name implies, this message should
be understood by your sequencer as a Start command. This message tells your
sequencer to start playback of the song/sequence from the beginning. There is no
parameter needed for this message.
►► Stop: Sends a MIDI Stop Song message. This should be understood by your sequencer
as a Stop command. This message tells your sequencer to pause the playback of the
song/sequence at its current position. There is no parameter needed for this message.
►► Continue: Sends a MIDI Continue Song message. As its name implies, this message
should be understood by your sequencer as a Continue command. This message tells
your target to start playback of the song/sequence from the current position. There is
no parameter needed for this message.
►► Song Position: Sends a MIDI Song Position message. This message tells your target
to cue the playback to a specific position in the song/sequence. Note that it does not
start the playback itself. The message is implemented in a specific way that allows
you to switch between 2 positions in the song or sequence. The position(s) in the song
or sequence can be specified in various ways, depending on the type of control
element (see below). The position in the song is counted in MIDI beats.
►► MCU V-Pot: Emulates one of the Mackie Control’s 8 V-Pots.
►► MCU Channel: Emulates one of the Mackie Control’s 8 channel faders.
! MIDI Types MCU V-Pot, MCU
Channel and MCU Master
are only available in conjunction with
►► MCU Master: Emulates the master fader of the Mackie Control. the MASCHINE Controller’s and KORE
Controller’s Knobs.
►► MCU Wheel: Emulates the Wheel of the Mackie Control.
►► MCU Button: Emulates the buttons of the Mackie Control. You can assign this MIDI
Type to the MASCHINE Controller’s 16 Pads and to all of its Buttons and to the KORE
Controller’s Buttons. The MCU Button MIDI Type is not available for Knobs and is
therefore not listed in Knob MIDI Type menus.
►► Off: Deactivates MIDI for the control element. This control element doesn’t send any
MIDI message, hence no parameter is displayed.

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Button, Knob-“Touch” and Pad-“Hit” Modes
For the Buttons, for the Knobs-“Touch” (ie when you touch the Knobs, KORE Controller
only) and for the Pads-“Hit” (ie when you hit the Pads, MASCHINE Controller only), and
only for some of the MIDI message types available for these control elements, you can
choose from different behaviors for the way the data is sent. This is controlled by the Mode
Menu. This menu can have different entries, depending on the message type that you have
selected in the Type Menu. Here is the list of entries.
►► Toggle: In this mode, the Button or Pad (“Hit” function) has two states, On and Off.
If you press once, it switches to the On state – if you press again, it switches to the
Off state. This can be useful for example for activating some effect, then deactivating
it later. This is usually the default mode. In this mode, you find two numeric fields:
Off Value defines the value for the Off state (from 0 to 127, 0 by default), and
On Value defines the value for the On state (0 to 127, 127 by default).
►► Gate: In this mode, the element switches to the On state for the time it is held de-
pressed. As soon as you release it, it switches back to the Off state. It is similar to the
behaviour of a key on a keyboard: the note is played when you hold the key depressed,
and the note is switched off when you release the key. Like in Toggle mode, you find
two numeric fields: Off Value defines the value for the Off state (from 0 to 127, 0 by
default), and On Value defines the value for the On state (0 to 127, 127 by default).
►► Trigger: In this mode, only one message is sent when you hit the Button/Pad/Knob.
There are no On or Off states. For example, this can be useful for switching to
another program (preset, patch…) or for triggering one-shot samples (e.g. drum sounds
or any other envelope-controlled sounds). In this mode, you thus find only one
numeric field called Value, defining the value to be sent when you hit the Button/Pad.
It goes from 0 to 127 (127 by default).

Controller Editor User’s Manual – 85

►► Increment: In this mode, each action on the control element increases/decreases the
parameter value. Two numeric fields Range define the min and max values of the
interval, each of them ranging from 0 to 127 (by default, 0 for the min and 127 for the
max). Below, another numeric field called Step defines the increment to add (or to sub-
tract if negative) each time that you press the button (it goes from -127 to 127, with 1
as default value). Finally, the Wrap button allows you to “cycle” the interval: If this but-
ton is activated, once the parameter reaches one of its limits, it jumps to the other one
upon the next hit on the button. If the Wrap button is deactivated, the
message sent upon the next hit keeps the maximal (or minimal) value for the parameter.

Assignments for the Knobs

For the Knobs of your MASCHINE Controller and of your KORE Controller (“Turn”
function), the Type Menu offers the following entries: Control Change (default setting), Poly % A general description of these
MIDI message types can be
found in the “MIDI Message Types”
Pressure, Channel Pressure, Program Change, Pitchbend , MCU V-Pot, MCU Channel,
section above.
MCU Master and Off.
For Control Change, Poly Pressure, Channel Pressure and Program Change, two numeric
fields labeled Range define the min and max values of the interval, each of them going
from 0 to 127 (by default, 0 for the min and 127 for the max).
For the type Pitchbend, the two numeric fields range from -100% to 100%.
For all message types mentioned above, a numeric field labeled Resolution defines the
physical angle on your knob that is needed to reach both limits of the interval (as defined
by the Range parameter). Its values go from 30 to 3600 degrees (360 by default, i.e. one
full revolution). For example, if you choose 3600 (degrees), you will need to turn your knob
ten times in order to go from the minimum value to the maximum value defined by Range.
Finally, all types except Pitchbend and Program Change show a Display Menu: this lets
you decide if you want to have the zero in the middle of the interval (bipolar) or at the
beginning (unipolar, by default). This is up to you, since it depends on what you plan to
control with this assignment.
Actually, there is a good reason why neither Pitchbend nor Program Change types offer this
parameter: the Pitchbend type is always bipolar; and the Program Change type is always
unipolar (you wouldn’t switch to a negative Program number…).

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Assignments for the Buttons
For the Buttons of all Controllers, the Type Menu offers the following entries:
►► Note
►► Control Change (default setting)
►► Poly Pressure
►► Channel Pressure
►► Program Change
►► Start
►► Stop
►► Continue
►► Song Position
►► MCU Button
►► Off

For the Note, Control Change, Poly Pressure, Channel Pressure, Program Change and Song
Position message types, you find the Mode Menu defining the behavior of the currently
selected button.
Here is an example to see the effect of this Mode Menu with one of these MIDI message
types. We will take the Song Position type. As we said, this message allows you to cue the
playback position to a particular point in your sequence or song. For this message, three
button modes are available: Toggle, Trigger and Gate. Depending on the one you choose,
the button will have different behaviors:
►► Toggle: The On Value and Off Value parameters define two different positions in the
song/sequence. When you press the button once, the play position marker jumps to
the position defined by the On Value. When you press it again, the playback jumps to
the position defined by the Off Value.
►► Trigger: The Value parameter defines a single position in the song or sequence.
Each time you press the button, the playback jumps to this position.

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►► Gate: Like in Toggle mode, the On Value and Off Value parameters define two different
positions in the song/sequence. When you press the button and hold it depressed,
you jump to the position defined by the On Value. When you release the button, the
playback jumps to the position defined by the Off Value. For the Gate mode, this
parameter wouldn’t make sense, since both Down and Up state already define the
On and Off Values to be sent.

For the Toggle, Trigger and Increment modes, an Action on Menu allows you to choose if
the message has to be sent when the button is switched to the Down state (ie when you
hit the button, default setting) or when it is switched to the Up state (ie when you release
the button).

Assignments for the Pads-“Hit“ and Knob-“Touch” Actions

The “Hit” action on the Pad of the MASCHINE Controller and the “Touch” action on the
Knob of the KORE Controller are equivalent. They are very similar to the Button. The Type
Menu offers the same entries: Note (default setting), Control Change, Poly Pressure, Channel
Pressure, Program Change, Start, Stop, Continue, Song Position, MCU Button and Off.
Like for the Buttons, for the Note, Control Change, Poly Pressure, Channel Pressure, Program
Change and Song Position message types, you have a Mode Menu defining the behavior of
the currently selected Pad (see section “Buttons, Knobs-“Touch” and Pads-“Hit” Modes”).
You will notice that there is no Action on Menu for the Pads-“Hit” nor for the Knob-“Touch.”

Assignments for the Pads – “Press” Action

The “Press” action on the Pad of the MASCHINE Controller is quite similar to the Knob
“turn” action. The Type Menu offers the following entries: Note, Control Change, Poly
Pressure (default setting), Channel Pressure, Pitchbend (very useful for bending the tuning
of drums by pressure!) and Off.

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►► For all types except Note, two numeric fields Range define the minimum and maximum
values of the interval, each of them going from 0 to 127 (by default, the minimum
value is 0, while the maximum value is 127).
►► For the type Pitchbend, the values are displayed in a numeric field, labeled Amount and
ranging from -100% to 100%. This defines the portion of interval that you want to use % Note that this Amount percentage
refers to the Pitchbend range
that is set in your target instrument. Most
for the MIDI Pitchbend message: The available interval will go from 0% (when you don’t
of the time, the synthesizers offer a range
touch the Pad) to the Amount parameter (when you press the Pad with full pressure).
of +/- 2 semi-tones for the Pitchbend. In
►► For the type Note, you have instead two additional numeric fields labeled Threshold. some cases, though, this range is editable
They define the pressure threshold above (below) which the Note On (Off) message by the user. Please refer to your instru-
is sent. The Off threshold should always be smaller than the On threshold (have you ment’s manual for more info.
ever considered stopping a note before playing it?). Both parameters range from 0%
to 100% (as a ratio with the maximum pressure).

As you can see, the settings for the MASCHINE Pad “Press” type are quite similar to those
of the MASCHINE Knob and KORE Knob “Turn” type. Here is a list of the differences:
►► Note attribute is added − and, for that, the On and Off Thresholds are needed.
►► There is no Resolution parameter, since it only makes sense with the rotary knobs.
►► The Bipolar display mode is omitted, because you have no chance for any symmetri-
cal control around a center using a Pad.
►► Program Change is not available because it would not be controllable.
►► Pitchbend can be controlled but only in one direction: Up or Down. For example, this
can be very useful for bending the tuning of drums by pressure.

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