Skip to content

Using the MetaModule: MIDI jack mappings

MIDI Maps to parameters

You can map MIDI CC or Note Gate on/off to parameters such as knobs, switches, and buttons.

See Using MetaModule for a detailed description of one method for adding MIDI maps.

Quick MIDI Map Shortcut

You can quickly create MIDI CC or Note on/off mappings with MIDI Assign mode.

  • 1. Enable MIDI Assign mode in the module action menu

MIDI assign enabled

  • 2. Scroll to the parameter you want to map

Djembe Sharpness Knob

  • 3. Press and hold the rotary while sending a MIDI CC or Note

    Release the rotary when you see the MIDI event appear.

    The parameter will be instantly mapped.

    You can remove the mapping by holding down the rotary and tapping the Back button.

Djembe Sharpness Knob mapped

Turn off MIDI Assign mode when you're done, or it will automatically turn off when you open a different patch.

See more shortcuts on the Shortcuts page.

How MIDI parameter mappings work

You can map MIDI CC or MIDI Note Gates to parameters such as knobs, buttons, switches, etc.

The parameter value is always updated immediately when a MIDI message is received, regardless of the current Knob Catchup mode in the preferences page.

On the Edit Mapping page, each MIDI mapping can be set to respond to all MIDI channels, or just a particular MIDI channel.

The MIN and MAX sliders determine the range of the mapping in the same way that they do for panel knob mappings. For MIDI CC mappings, this means a CC value of 0 will set the parameter to the value set by the MIN slider, and a CC value of 127 sets it to the MAX slider's value. For MIDI Note Gate mappings, the note can only be on or off, so the parameter will be set to the MIN or MAX slider value. Additionally, for MIDI Note Gate mappings you can enable Toggle mode to make the parameter change value each time a note is played. See MIDI Note toggle mode

Note that while you can only map MIDI CC and Note Gates to parameters, you can map any MIDI message to input jacks: see MIDI Input Jacks.

Editing the MIDI Channel of a MIDI Mapping

From the Module View page:

  • 1. Click on the mapped control

Module View MIDI Mapped control

  • 2. Click on the MIDI mapping

Module View MIDI Mapping

  • 3. Adjust the MIDI Channel

    You may adjust the MIN/MAX sliders and the mapping name in the same way that you do for normal knob mappings.

    For MIDI Note Gate mappings, you may also change the Toggle mode (see below).

Edit MIDI Mapping

MIDI Note Gate Toggle mode

When you map a MIDI Note Gate to a parameter, you have two options:

  • MIDI Note Gate: Toggle Enabled

    Each time a matching Note On message is received, the parameter will toggle between the values set by the MIN and MAX sliders. Note Off messages are ignored. This makes the parameter value toggle each time you play the MIDI Note.

    Technical note: In case the param has changed value since the last MIDI Note message, the MetaModule will set the value to MIN or MAX based on which one the current value is farther from.

MIDI Note Toggle On

  • MIDI Note Gate: Toggle Disabled

    When a Note On message for that note is received, the param's value will be set to the value of the MAX slider. When a Note Off message is received, the param will be set to the MIN slider's value.

MIDI Note Toggle Off

MIDI Input Jacks

You can patch MIDI signals to input jacks in two ways: using MIDI mappings, or using a MIDI-CV module.

Patching MIDI Input to jacks

  • 1. Click on an input jack, and click New MIDI Map

    If the jack is already connected to a panel jack, then this button will not be displayed.

New MIDI Map

  • 2. Select a MIDI signal

    Choose from:

    • Note events (keyboard): select Pitch (key number), Gate (note on/off), Velocity, Aftertouch, or Retrigger (multiple note-on). Also select the polyphony channel. The maximum polyphony channel of all the MIDI mappings in the entire patch determines how MIDI note events are parsed.

    • CC: Continuous CV scaled to 0V to 10V. Select a CC number, or send a CC event to "learn" it.

    • Pitch Wheel

    • Gate on Note: fires a gate whenever a particular note is pressed. Select a note or play a note live to "learn" it.

    • Clock: Select the raw MIDI clock (24PPQN) or a divided version of that.

    • Transport: Sends a gate for Start, Stop, and Continue events.

    • Channel: Select "All Channels" or a choose a particular MIDI channel to respond to.

MIDI maps

  • 3. Click Map to create the mapping

MIDI maps

Using a MIDI input module

  • 1. Add the RackCore MIDIToCVInterface module

MIDI to CV module

  • 2. Patch the jack(s) corresponding to the MIDI signal(s) you want to use

MIDI to CV module

Patching Outputs to MIDI

To support MIDI Output as a MIDI Host, the MetaModule has the CV-MIDI module in the RackCore brand.

Third-party plugin modules that produce MIDI Output should work, as well.

Note that the MetaModule always acts as a MIDI Host, and never as a MIDI Device.

  • 1. Add the RackCore CV-MIDI module

CV-MIDI module

  • 2. Patch the CV and gate signals you wish to output as MIDI

    A log of MIDI events will appear on the module's screen.

CV-MIDI module

Viewing all MIDI mappings

  • 1. Click the MIDI button on the Knob Sets page

    The Knob Sets page is opened by clicking the Knob icon at the top of the patch.

    If there are no MIDI mappings, this button will not be visible.

MIDI Button

  • 2. All MIDI mappings are shown

    The left side shows all MIDI jack mappings (maps to input jacks).

    The right side shows all MIDI parameter mappings (maps to knobs, switches, buttons, etc).

    Manually created mappings using the RackCore modules are not displayed here, but can be seen as normal cables in the patch view.

MIDI list

MIDI Feedback

MIDI Feedback, also known as "bi-directional MIDI", is a feature that allows a MIDI controller to stay in sync with the MetaModule. When this is enabled, the MetaModule will send MIDI CC, pitch wheel, and Note on/off messages back to the controller whenever a parameter changes value. When a patch is loaded, the MetaModule will send the value of all MIDI-mapped parameters. If the MIDI controller supports MIDI Feedback, then it will update its display or internal state with the new value.

For example, if you map a CC to the Pitch knob of your VCO, then when you load that patch, a feedback-aware MIDI controller will jump to the current value of the pitch, perhaps by displaying this value on a screen or even by turning a motorized knob like the Roto-Control does.

As you play the patch, if you adjust the VCO's pitch knob manually (using the Adjust button) or by mapping a panel knob to the Pitch knob, then the MIDI controller will stay in sync with these new parameter values. Also, say the module happens to have advanced features such as scale quantization, such that when you select a scale the Pitch knob jumps to the closest note. The MetaModule will still keep the MIDI controller in sync even if the Pitch knob changed indirectly (e.g. because you selected a new quantization scale or a new preset).

If you need to re-send all MIDI-mapped values to the controller, for example if you reset the controller after loading the patch, simply pause and unpause the patch playback. This will send the current value of all MIDI-mapped parameters.

  • To enable or disable MIDI Feedback, check the box in Settings > Prefs > MIDI:

    By default, MIDI Feedback is enabled starting in firmware v2.0.9.

MIDI Feedback Enabled