Trigger Finger · User Guide English Introduction Congratulations on your purchase of the M-Audio Trigger Finger MIDI controller. The Trigger Finger offers an intuitive interface for programming and performing drums and percussion, as well as providing a host of additional controls for tweaking the sound and behavior of your parts. While the Trigger Finger has been designed with ease of use in mind, we strongly suggest that you take the time to read through this manual in order to familiarize yourself with all of the features contained in this device. There's more to the Trigger Finger than meets the eye... What's In the Box Inside your Trigger Finger package, you will find: · · · · · Trigger Finger controller Printed Quick Start Guide CD-ROM containing drivers, Enigma Librarian, demo set for Ableton Live Lite 4, and manuals CD-ROM containing Ableton Live Lite 4 6' USB cable Product Features · · · · · · · · · · 16 programmable velocity- and pressure-sensitive pads 8 programmable knobs 4 programmable sliders 16 memory locations Pads able to transmit MIDI note data, controller data, and velocity data simultaneously Locked and Full Velocity Modes Selectable velocity curves Programmable with the Enigma Editing software (included) Memory presets for Reason Redrum, Live Impulse, GM Drums, XG Drums, and more Powered by USB bus or optional DC power supply Supported MIDI Messages · · · · · · · · · · · Program Change Bank LSB Bank MSB Channel ­ Each pad can be assigned an individual channel. MIDI Controller messages (0-119) Pitch Bend GM2 specified Sys Ex NRPN/RPN Note On and Velocity Channel Aftertouch Channel Mode messages (120-127) Minimum System Requirements NOTE: The requirements below are necessary to obtain MIDI communication between the Trigger Finger and the computer. These requirements do not reflect the additional or higher requirements of the audio software used with the Trigger Finger. Windows: · · · · Windows XP with Service Pack 1 Available USB Port Mac OS X 10.3.8 or higher Available USB Port Mac OS: About This Manual This manual is broken down into sections to cover the various aspects of the Trigger Finger. Installation is covered first, followed by an overview of the controls. Next is an in-depth look at the operation of the Trigger Finger. Finally, you'll find a section on programming the unit using the Enigma Editing software. 3 Installation Procedure Basic Installation Because it is a class-compliant device, installing the Trigger Finger on your Windows XP or Mac OS X computer is simple and straightforward: · Use the supplied USB cable to connect the Trigger Finger to a USB port on your computer and you'll be ready to go! You can do this while the computer is on or off, and no further driver installation will be necessary. Installing the Windows Multi-client Driver While class-compliancy offers easy setup and connection of the Trigger Finger, the Windows class driver is deficient in that only a single application, or program, can use the Trigger Finger at any given time. For many users this is perfectly acceptable, as they will be using the Trigger Finger to communicate with their host audio application only. However, if you use multiple applications at once, including applications that are "ReWired" together (such as using Ableton Live as a host application and simultaneously running Propellerhead Reason as a slave), you'll need to install the Windows Trigger Finger MIDI driver so both the host and ReWired application can be controlled from the Trigger Finger simultaneously. PLEASE NOTE: Do NOT connect your new MIDI controller to your computer until the appropriate driver files have been installed onto your computer. 1. Insert the MIDI Controller Driver CD-ROM into your computer's CD-ROM drive. 2. The computer will automatically display the interactive install screen shown below. If your computer fails to launch the installer, manually start the installer by clicking on Start > My Computer > MIDI Controller Series. 3. Follow the on-screen directions to choose your language and product. Once you select your product, click "Install Drivers" to begin copying files. 4. Follow the driver installer's on-screen directions. 4 Trigger Finger · User Guide 5. At various points in this installation process, you may be notified that the driver being installed has not passed Windows Logo Testing. Click "Continue Anyway" to proceed with the installation. 6. Click "Finish" once the installer is complete. 7. Connect your new MIDI controller to an available USB port and switch it on. 8. Windows will identify the new MIDI controller and will display a "Found New Hardware Wizard." If you have Service Pack 2 installed on your computer, you will be asked if you'd like to search the Internet for a driver. Please select "No, not this time" and press "Next." You'll then see a screen like the one seen below: 9. Choose "Install software automatically" and click "Next." 10. Once the final "Found New Hardware" wizard is complete, you will see a message pop up that says "Your new hardware is installed and ready to use." Using the Trigger Finger With Your Software When installed, the Trigger Finger will appear in the computer as a simple MIDI device with one input port and one output port. You will select the Trigger Finger input port as the MIDI input device in your audio application. The application will then be able to read any of the data transmitted by you from the Trigger Finger. The MIDI ports have different names depending on whether you are using Mac or PC, and whether you've installed the Windows Multi-client driver or not: Input Port Mac OS X Windows Class Driver Windows Multi-Client Driver USB Trigger Finger USB Audio Device USB Trigger Finger In Output Port USB Trigger Finger USB Audio Device USB Trigger Finger Out You may be wondering why there is a MIDI output port for a controller that has no sound-generation capabilities. This is to facilitate bi-directional communication between the Trigger Finger and the Enigma Librarian. The Trigger Finger also allows you to exploit this MIDI Out port as an additional output for your computer by selecting USB as the source for the Trigger Finger's MIDI Out jack (see the Global Parameters section later in this manual). 5 English Hardware Controls and Indicators This section will familiarize you with the interface of the Trigger Finger. Please reference the image below when reading about each control. 1. MIDI Out Jack: This jack outputs MIDI information from either the Trigger Finger control surface or from the host computer. 2. USB Port: The Trigger Finger is connected to a host computer through this port using the supplied USB cable. 3. PSU Jack: When using the Trigger Finger while disconnected from a computer, an optional DC power supply can be connected to this jack in order to power the unit. 4. LED Display: This three-digit display will show the current memory location being used as well as values for the Trigger Finger's various parameters. 5. Program / Bank Change / Exit Button: This button is used to send program/bank changes from the Trigger Finger. It is also used to exit the Edit Mode without saving your changes (more on this in the section titled "Editing the Trigger Finger"). 6. Memory Recall / Save & Exit Button: This button is used to recall one of the 16 memory locations in the Trigger Finger. It will also save your edits when exiting Edit Mode. 7. Lock / Full Velocity / Select Button: This button cycles through the Trigger Finger's two velocity control modes: Locked Velocity and Full Velocity. When editing the Trigger Finger, this button is used to select one of the 8 knobs for programming. 8. Ctrl / Note Mute / Peek Button: Pressing this button will cycle through the two Mute Modes available on the Trigger Finger: Control Mute and Note Mute. When editing the Trigger Finger, this button is used to view the current setting of a control without changing it. 9. Programmable Sliders: When performing, these faders will transmit MIDI controller information. When in Edit Mode, these faders will set the global parameters (more on this in the section titled "Editing the Trigger Finger"). 10. Programmable Knobs: When performing, these knobs will transmit MIDI controller information. When in Edit Mode, these knobs are used to set the values (such as note, controller, and channel) for the Trigger Finger's pads, sliders, and knobs (more on this in the section titled "Editing the Trigger Finger"). 11. Programmable Pads: These 16 pads are velocity sensitive, meaning that they can sense how hard or soft they are struck. They are also pressure-sensitive, meaning they will transmit MIDI controller information based on how hard you press on the pads, similar to aftertouch on a keyboard. The pads are also used to recall and save memory locations (when used in conjunction with the Memory Recall Button) and to issue Program/Bank Changes (when used with the Prog/Bank Change Button). 6 Trigger Finger · User Guide English Operational Overview The Trigger Finger has two main operation modes: Performance Mode and Edit Mode. As the name suggests, Performance Mode is the mode you'll use when performing or programming drum parts, or controlling patches with program changes. Edit Mode, on the other hand, is used to edit the settings of the Trigger Finger to suit your performance needs. The currently active mode is indicated by the 2 lights above the Memory Recall and Prog/Bank Change Buttons. If these two lights are blinking, the Trigger Finger is in Edit Mode. If the lights are not blinking, the unit is in Performance Mode. The Trigger Finger defaults to Performance Mode whenever it is powered on. Performance Mode When in Performance Mode, the controls on the Trigger Finger will behave as follows: · Tapping the pads will cause them to transmit their assigned MIDI notes with velocity data. Holding your finger on a pad and pressing harder will cause it to transmit MIDI controller data based on pressure. You can use the MIDI notes to trigger drum sounds, samples, loops, and synths while pressure can be used to modulate parameters such as pan, filter, effects, pitch, aftertouch, etc. The exact behaviors will be determined by the way you set up your software or hardware to work with the Trigger Finger. Twisting a knob will cause it to output a MIDI controller value for the parameter assigned to it. Examples of useful knob assignments include part volumes and pans, filter cutoffs, reverb levels, pitch, attack, decay, etc. Moving a slider will cause it to output a MIDI controller value for the parameter assigned to it, just like a knob. Examples of useful parameter assignments are filter, volume, effects, pitch, etc. The LED display will show the number of the currently selected memory location. When a knob or slider is moved, the value of the control will be displayed for two seconds before reverting back to the active memory location. When a pad is tapped, the LED display initially indicates the note velocity before the note's name is displayed To send a Program/Bank Change, press the Prog/Bank Change Button (its LED will light up showing that the Trigger Finger is waiting for your selection), then tap the pad corresponding to the program/bank change you wish to send. If you change your mind, pressing the button again will exit the mode and the LED above the button will turn off. You can have 16 different program/bank changes loaded into each of the Trigger Finger's 16 memories. The Program/Bank change parameters are individually assigned to each pad in Edit Mode. Pressing the Lock/Full Velocity Button once will engage Full Velocity (the LED above the button will still be on and the LED display will show "FUL" for 2 seconds). While Full Velocity is active, every note played on the pads will transmit its note with a velocity of 127 regardless of how hard the pads are played. Pressing the button a second time will cancel Full Velocity and switch to the Locked Velocity function (the LED above the button will turn on and "Loc" will be shown in the LED Display). In this mode, the Trigger Finger pads are no longer velocity sensitive. When a pad is played, it will transmit its assigned MIDI note with the assigned `On' Velocity Lock value, and assigned `Off' velocity value. The Velocity `On' Lock value can be set individually for each pad in Edit Mode. The Off value can be changed in Enigma if it is required to be anything other than 0. Pressing the Lock/Full Velocity button a third time will cancel the velocity control functions (the light above the button will turn off). If you wish to move the knobs and sliders to new locations without transmitting MIDI data in the process, press the Ctrl/Note Mute Button once. This will engage the Control Mute function (the LED above the button will light and "CtL" will be shown on the LED Display). While Control Mute is active, the Trigger Fing ...