The Loop Block can be used to send MIDI CC messages to other applications, and it can also be used to send MMC (MIDI Machine Control) commands to control the transport of digital audio workstations (DAWs) that respond to MMC commands. 


MMC commands are MIDI messages that can control functions including Play, Fast-Forward, Rewind, Stop, Pause, and Record. In addition, the Loop Block can control functions in Melodics, making learning music with Melodics faster and easier.


TABLE OF CONTENTS


Controlling DAW transports

Logic


1. Make sure your Loop Block’s firmware has been updated.


2. Open ROLI Dashboard. Select your Loop Block and ensure that MIDI CC Mode is not selected.



3. Close ROLI Dashboard. (Dashboard sends SysEx commands which can interfere with the operation of Logic Pro).


4. Open Logic, select File > Project Settings > Synchronization > MIDI and turn on “Listen to MMC.”



5. Your Loop Block will send the following MMC messages:


  • Play sends MMC Play (on) and MMC Stop (off)
  • Record sends MMC Record Strobe (on) and MMC Record Exit (off)
  • When unassigned the minus (‘-’) button sends MMC Rewind
  • When unassigned the plus (‘+’) button sends MMC Fast-Forward
  • The Undo button sends MMC Stop



Ableton Live and other DAWs


These steps can also apply to other DAWs which allow MIDI CC mapping. 



1. Open ROLI Dashboard. Select the Loop Block and enable MIDI CC Mode. 



2. Open Ableton, and go to Settings > Link/Tempo/MIDI. 


In the MIDI Ports section, tick Track and Remote for both Input and Output. 


Ableton will only see what has been connected via USB or Bluetooth, not DNA. If you have the Loop Block attached to another Block connected via USB, look for the USB-connected Block in the MIDI ports section.



3. In the main window, click MIDI to start mapping.


4. Click the Play icon, then push the Play button on the Loop BLOCK. 


5. Click the Record icon, then push the Record button on the Loop BLOCK. Record needs to be a 'toggle' button. 


6. Head back to Dashboard, change the Behaviour of the Record button to Toggle. 




7. In Ableton, click the Stop icon, then push the Learn button on the Loop BLOCK (you can choose any other of the Loop's buttons, but having all three on the same row might be easier to use).




8. Click MIDI again to stop mapping. You have now mapped the Loop Block to three transport buttons in Ableton. You should see the MIDI Mappings list change like below. 




Controlling Melodics features

To use your Loop Block with Melodics, open ROLI Dashboard, connect and select your Loop Block, and load the "Melodics" app onto your Loop Block. Now the Loop Block will control the following Melodics functions:

Pre-Play


Performance

Practice

Loop

Post-Play