Macros#
Macros can be thought of as reusable groups of Messages. Sometimes you find yourself using the same combination of Messages again and again and instead of adding every Message every time, you can create a Macro containing these messages, for easy reuse.
Macros are defined globally on the device and linked into message lists when added. This means that a given Macro is defined once, available in every Scene and Preset, and every link to that Macro will execute the same list of Messages.
Consequently this means that when editing a Macro, all uses of that Macro will be affected since they all point to the same Macro definition. This can be a big time saver.
To insert a Macro, tap the Add Message button, select the Macro option and select a Macro in the list.
A Macro entry is then inserted into the message list. This entry is really a link to the definition of the Macro and every time this message list is executed, so is the messages in the Macro.
To create a new Macro, open the Macro list as described above and press the plus button.
This will add a new empty Macro to the list.
Tap the edit button on the Macro item to open it in the Macro editor.
When editing a Macro, you can give it a name and add Messages.
Macros also lets you set a view mode for messages in the Macro, either the standard list view or a grid view resembling the Device Surfaces, effectively letting you create bespoke Device Surfaces directly on the device.
Deleting a Macro is done by long pressing the Macro in the Macro list and long pressing the Delete option in the context menu.
Macros was previously called Templates
Device Surfaces in Macros and Sequencers#
A Device Surface does two separate things, and it helps to keep them apart:
- Sending: the Surface sends its messages the moment the Preset is pressed.
- Listening: from then on the Surface listens for incoming MIDI, so its controls can be operated remotely. That can be the device the Surface controls reporting its own changes, but it can equally be a keyboard, a fader box or any other MIDI controller you have connected.
Sending works wherever you put a Surface. Listening has to be able to stop again, so it is only set up where there is a defined end to it:
| Surface placed in | Sends | Listens for incoming MIDI |
|---|---|---|
| A Latching, Momentary or Always On Preset | Yes | Yes |
| A Macro on one of those Presets | Yes | Yes |
| A One-shot Preset | Yes | No |
| A Sequencer step | Yes | No |
A One-shot Preset fires and is finished right away — it never turns off, so there is no moment at which the Surface would stop listening again. If you want a Surface that can be controlled remotely, put it on a Latching Preset.
A Sequencer step works the same way: the step fires as the sequence passes it and is then done with, so a Surface on a step sends its messages but does not listen afterwards.
A Long Press in Toggle mode counts as its own activation. A Surface in the Messages (On) list starts listening when the long press turns on, and stops again when the Messages (Off) list runs. Toggle mode is not available on One-shot Presets, which need the long press to tell a long press from a short one.
A Macro holding a Surface stays engaged for as long as its Preset is active, rather than finishing the moment it has sent. That is what allows the Surface to be released cleanly when the Preset is pressed again or deactivated, but it does mean such a Macro is not a fire-and-forget action.