LaunchBUS
Unrivaled simplicity in project setup
The Idea
The head of 314Dragon approached the team one day with a question. Is there a way to make a plugin which can remove the need for modifying a Launchpad Project to work with a new model? So the team got to work and made LiteManager, a plugin which makes setting up projects for a new launchpad a whole ton easier.
What Makes It Different?
One thing people seem to love is new, different features. So, here are some unique features which make LaunchBUS stand out!
- It's tiny! It boasts a tiny 120 kb filesize, less than 2% of the total size of other project managing plugins.
- Minimal Controls! Sometimes having too many controls is a little daunting, so we make it simple! Everything is straightforward and easy to take in with this plugin.
- Pages! In its Input mode, LaunchBUS handles pages for you, meaning you don't ever have to map them by hand... as long as the plugin is still there.
- Consolidation! Rather than requiring one plugin for input and another plugin for output like with other methods of project setup, you only need one! This means you also only need one spare track in your project to use this thing, only adding to its simplicity!
- Versatility! Due to how LaunchBUS works, it can be used in a multitude of ways, such as sending data from one MIDI track to another for Cross-Launchpad light effects!
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Setting Up The Plugin
This tutorial will run through setting up a project that uses LaunchBUS, as well as how to integrate LaunchBUS into your project.
Let's set up LaunchBUS in a new project file. First, we're going to use the default Ableton project file, with 2 MIDI tracks and 2 audio tracks.
First, we're going to create a new MIDI track and set the input and output to your Launchpad. Leave the inputs and outputs of the original two tracks alone, as we won't be needing to mess with inputs and outputs anymore. Place a LaunchBUS device on the BUS track and leave it there.
Next, go to your samples track and place a LaunchBUS at the beginning of your chain. Open the drop-down menu and click 'Input'. Go ahead and do this on your lights channel, too.
Now, on your lights track, place a LaunchBUS at the end of your chain. Click the drop-down, then click 'Output'.
To set up a project that uses LaunchBUS, just set the input and output of the BUS track to your Launchpad, and you're done with the setup! You're ready to play the project. Since pages are handled inside the plugin, there's no need to set up any midi mappings or anything! Just set up your input and output, and play away!
Now we get into extra features. LaunchBUS has a feature which removes the need for page mapping, as the macros are controlled by the device. To activate this feature, go to the LaunchBUS devices at the beginning of your lights and samples tracks. Turn on Auto Pages by clicking on it. Now, no matter what Launchpad you have, pages will work automatically with no effort.
If you want the page to switch when the button is pressed, then leave the switch on 'Note On' mode. If you want the page to switch when the button is let go of, like in Apollo Studio, then change the switch to 'Note Off' mode by clicking on it.
If you want to use LaunchBUS with more than one Launchpad, make sure to change the device ID. Do this but clicking and dragging up on the Device ID, or click on the number and type in the new ID. LaunchBUS will only communicate with Launchpad that use the same ID.
If you want to use Depths, Please Quiet Down, or a toplights plugin with LaunchBUS, make sure that Depths is BEFORE your Output device, and that your TopLights and Please Quiet Down are AFTER the BUS.
LaunchBUS is also compatible with most Anthology devices, as it resets MultiSample and MultiLight, as well as stops all MidiExt lights. It also can stop Ableton playback.