Author: Jari

Light Guide Controller for Komplete Kontrol Keyboard

A bunch of songs, all with different split zones on the keyboard. Trying to memorize what was where quickly turned into a game of “oops, wrong octave”, way too often.

But I do have a Komplete Kontrol keyboard — with the Light Guide strip, a separate multicolor LED for each key. Why not use that to display the split points? No more need to remember where, only what. NI actually did this in Komplete Kontrol for their own instruments, but in their commercial wisdom they dropped support for the MK1 generation (and MK2 is probably next), so the software is basically unavailable on current macOS versions. An NKS‑compliant instrument with full Light Guide support loaded in Komplete Kontrol will provide a suitable light map for its own layout. You can also create custom maps, even with different MIDI channels for the zones — but those cannot be changed via MIDI commands.

So: DIY we go.

Problem definition

Build a small piece of software that updates the Light Guide color map whenever a patch changes — in my case, inside VST Live.

VST Live does have a module system and, with some luck, the zone definitions might be exposed directly, but the API isn’t public, so that route is… speculative at best.

Another angle

VST Live already sends program changes for each synth layer when switching songs/parts. If I add a dummy layer whose only job is to emit a program change, I can listen for that, look up the correct Light Guide map, and update the keyboard. That actually seems workable.

Step one: controlling the Light Guide

There are no official specs freely available, but some enthusiasts had already done the detective work. After a few tests, yes — I can connect to the Komplete Kontrol HID device from Python and set the Light Guide colors.

Step two: receiving patch changes

macOS can create virtual MIDI ports out of the box. Add the dummy layer in VST Live, send a program change to that port, and have Python listen for incoming MIDI. Since MIDI only gives 128 program numbers, I also use bank select (MSB + LSB). MSB alone gives 128 × 128 = 16,384 possible songs/parts, which should last me a while, so I’m ignoring LSB for the time being.

Step three: mapping

Each bank/program combination triggers a Light Guide update based on a YAML file. The file defines the zones and their colors for each combination — and the song titles as well, shown in the app screen just to confirm we’re where we’re supposed to be.

Result

It works with any plugin host capable of sending program changes to a virtual port. The tradeoff compared to a hypothetical solution inside VST Live is that it’s a separate app to launch, and I need to define the dummy patch changes and maintain the YAML file — but that’s manageable.

Just in case this would be useful to someone else too, the source code has been uploaded to jjrSoft/KompleteKontrolLightGuideSongConfigs, with a detailed README explaining everything.

Syncing a Looper to a Live Drummer

Lately I have developed a need to use a looper in a live situation with a drummer. Now obviously any simple looper cannot play to the drummer so it’s either the drummer playing to the looper or both playing to some fixed tempo.

What to Sync and Where?

In principle the drummer could play to the looper if two requirements are met. First, he must hear the looper well. This can be achieved fairly easily with proper sound reinforcement.  Second, there must be something to play to, meaning that the sparser the loop the greater the demands that are set to the drummer’s internal time keeping. This is clearly doable but may prove to be a little bit difficult.

On the other hand, having a looper in the game in the first place already implies a fixed tempo. Thus it is really no sacrifice, instead of trying to follow the looper,  to accept an external click with guaranteed information density (steady notes or even a complete percussion section) and easier audibility (percussive notes in place of some fuzz bass). This transfers the sync issue to the looper being able to follow the external tempo.

There are loopers that can be synced to MIDI clock, which sounds like a nice solution – and costs $$$. However, I happen to already own a looper without the sync capability, the Digitech JamMan, which otherwise is pretty nice albeit old and discontinued. So, instead of rushing to a store, I’ll first investigate this avenue. Continue reading “Syncing a Looper to a Live Drummer”

New riitala.com live

Colored balloons

Way way way way way overdue… but now riitala.com has been revamped, cleaned up and operating on WordPress. And it kinda looks at least a little bit like this millennium unlike the old site, firmly rooted on the 90’s.

WP also provides a nice provision for the occasional post, which I actually might use sometimes. Don’t hold your breath though –extended lack of oxygen tends to turn people blue.

Trecho em obras

Certainly it ain’t perfect yet (and probably never will be) – work in progress, coupled with a suitable icon as the case used  to be in the early days of the Internet. But a major milestone has been laid anyway. The ship has been launched, now let’s release the balloons (and hope it ain’t a Titanic).