Thanks @x42 , @DHealey and @djamo for your help in the other topics.
I provide this MIDI Controller Bindings/Mappings for Arturia Keylab 49/61/88 mk2 (MCU/Analog Lab) for anyone who may find it useful.
I know the Arturia Keylab 49/61/88 mk2 is an ancient MIDI Keyboard Controller. After my one and only home Windows PC died back in 2019-2020; I’d been unable to get the Keylab working under Linux because of the awkward MIDI controller design/implementation and quirky use of Controller events. The Keylab had languished in the storage loft until recently when I decided I’d have one last attempt at getting minimal usable functionality under Linux; otherwise disposal.
I couldn’t find an existing Arturia Keylab 49/61/88 mk2 MIDI Controller Bindings/Mappings template so had a crack at writing one and documenting the required configuration to get around the awkward MIDI controller implementation. This Keylab mode and template is the best I’ve been able to come up with so far, as it provides access to the most controllers & buttons on the Keylab; while providing reasonable usable functionality.
Hopefully, someone else will find the Bindings/Mappings template useful.
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<ArdourMIDIBindings version="1.0.0" name="Arturia Keylab 49/61/88 mk2 (MCU/Analog Lab)">
<!-- MCU MIDI Mapping for Arturia Keylab 49/61/88 mk2 in "Analog Lab" mode. -->
<!--
11/11/25 Binding MIDI Map Template v1 - contributed by ardour@iokm.uk
Intended for use with Arturia Keylab 49/61/88 mk2 in "Analog Lab" mode with DAW Map = MCU
This Binding MIDI Map Template - maps controllers and buttons for Editing & Mixing and not
for SoftSynth parameter control. However, modify as required.
The following Keylab 49/61/88 mk2 controllers & buttons are mapped in this template:
* 16x Pad cluster (all 16x Pads work; none assigned in this template)
* DAW Command cluster (all 10x buttons work and assigned)
* Transport cluster (all 6x buttons work and assigned)
* Middle Analog Lab cluster (all 4x buttons & knob push/rotate work and assigned)
* Bank change cluster (all 3x buttons work and assigned)
* Encoders & Faders cluster (all 9x sets of Encoders & Faders work and assigned)
* Select toggles row (Ardour limitation can only be assigned to "Actions" or "Functions")
*NOTE: The MIDI bindings for "Select" toggles do match MIDI events but uri="/route/mute B1"
won't work with msg="" being an Ardour limitation - can only be assigned to "Actions" or
"Functions". Would have preferred to use "Select" toggles for corresponding Mute/Solo but
unable; to not waste the use of "Select" toggles currently mapped to trigger cues A to I.
* Sustain Pedal (works and assigned)
Keylab 49/61/88 mk2 has three modes:
* "Analog Lab" default (hardcoded controller codes).
Provides access to nearly all the controllers & buttons (total of 69): Pads, Transport,
DAW, Analog Lab, Encoders & Faders. Some controllers like the "Select" buttons toggles
have non-standard MIDI events which are difficult or impossible to bind to some Ardour
actions. This Binding MIDI Map Template supports Keylab "Audio Lab" mode.
* "DAW" (hardcoded controller codes are mostly Note/Pitch Blend events)
Different to "Analog Lab" mode. Provides access to most (62) of the controllers & buttons
except for the middle Analog Lab cluster. Similar limitations as "Analog Lab" mode where
many controllers like Faders send non-standard MIDI events like Note On/Off with Pitch Blend
events which are difficult or impossible to bind to Ardour actions.
*NOTE: this version of Binding MIDI Map Template doesn't support Keylab "DAW" mode.
* "USER" (different controller codes but can with effort be user assigned/reassigned)
A flexible and more MIDI standard event mode. Provides access to many (59) of the
controllers & buttons except for the bank selection and middle Analog Lab cluster.
Although the controllers & buttons events are more MIDI standard they have different
default controller codes to what is hardcoded in the "Analog Lab" or "DAW" modes. The
majority of the controllers & buttons can be user assigned/reassigned; however, doing so
requires significant time & effort. Currently within Linux there is no easy way to
download/export the assigned/reassigned user configuration from the Keylab 49/61/88 mk2.
*NOTE: this version of Binding MIDI Map Template doesn't support Keylab "USER" mode.
Arturia MIDI Control Center doesn't support Linux; set DAW Map = MCU via SysEx Controls:
https://github.com/soyersoyer/sysex-controls (Thank you Gergo Koteles).
For reasons only known to Arturia, command events are split between a DAW port and a MIDI port.
Dir Device Name
IO hw:3,0,0 KeyLab mkII 61 MIDI
IO hw:3,0,1 KeyLab mkII 61 DAW
Transport and DAW events are only via the DAW port using "channel 1". Encoders & Faders are only
via the MIDI port using "channel 1" which is ALSO THE DEFAULT PIANO KEYBOARD CHANNEL and will
CONFLICT IF THE PIANO KEYBOARD IS NOT CHANGED to a midi channel 2-9, 11-16 !! Pads are Channel 10.
To be able to use Transport + DAW commands + Encoders & Faders at the same time - the DAW port *and*
MIDI port need to be both connected to Ardour's "MIDI Control In" port. This can be achieved via
Ardour's MIDI Connection Manager by connecting both Hardware MIDI ports to "Generic MIDI Control In".
Or via a JACK/Pipewire virtual patchbay like qpwgraph. https://github.com/rncbc/qpwgraph
To get everything to work Ardour + qpwgraph + SysEx Controls + Keylab the configuration needs to be:
* Ardour MIDI and Control Surface configuration: [Setup Control Surface]
==================================================
MIDI Port Config
Keylab MIDI: Music Data + Control Data + Follow Selection
Keylab DAW: Control Data
Control Surfaces (Generic MIDI)
Incoming MIDI = Keylab DAW
Outgoing MIDI = KeyLab DAW
Current Bank = 1
Enable Feedback = Y
Smoothing = 10
* Ardour's MIDI Connection Manager (Option 1): [Bridge MIDI & DAW Controllers to MIDI Control In]
==================================================
Hardware Tab vs. Ardour Misc Tab
Midi-Bridge->MIDI X
Midi-Bridge->DAW X
Generic MIDI Control In
<-Control Surface
* qpwgraph virtual patchbay config (Option 2): [Bridge MIDI & DAW Controllers to MIDI Control In]
==================================================
+================+ +=================+
| Midi-Bridge | | ardour |
| | | |
| KeyLab MIDI +==========+ |
| | | MIDI Control In |
| Keylab DAW +==========+ |
+================+ +=================+
* SysEx Controls (Keylab) configuration: [Setup Keylab Controllers]
==================================================
User MIDI Channel = 2 (Sometimes need to set this via Keylab Piano Keyboard)
DAW Map = Default MCU
DAW Buttons = DAW
Track Control Buttons = Single Track
DAW Fader Mode = Jump
USER Fader Mode = Jump
* KeyLab Piano Keyboard MIDI Channel configuration: [Avoid Controllers conflicting with Keyboard]
==================================================
Piano Keyboard MIDI Channel = Anything other than 1 or 10 !!
[ Set by Keylab MIDI Channel button & associated Piano key ]
* Channel 1 = Transport (Notes) + DAW (Notes) + Encoders & Faders (Controllers)
* Channel 10 = Default Percussion (Notes)
* Channel 2-9, 11-16 = Piano Keyboard (Notes)
*NOTE: Some SoftSynths like "General Midi Synth" as default have instruments on all 16 MIDI
channels. So you'll hear something out of the box. Whereas, SoftSynths like "ZynAddSybFX"
default to MIDI channel 1 unless configured otherwise. So if you don't hear anything check
that an instrument has been assigned to whatever MIDI Channel defined for the Piano Keyboard.
-->
<!-- START Arturia Keylab 49/61/88 mk2 in "Analog Lab" mode with DAW Map = MCU Binding MIDI Map -->
<!-- 16x Pads - Reassign to Actions. "Pad" on keylab must be selected. -->
<!-- Pad note events via KeyLab mkII 61 3:(capture_0) KeyLab mkII 61 MIDI Port -->
<!-- Reserved for Cue mode / Launch clip, but you can set then to other functions/actions -->
<!-- <Binding channel="10" note="48" action="Cues/trigger-cue-0"/> --> <!-- Pad 01 -->
<!-- <Binding channel="10" note="49" action="Cues/trigger-cue-1"/> --> <!-- Pad 02 -->
<!-- <Binding channel="10" note="50" action="Cues/trigger-cue-2"/> --> <!-- Pad 03 -->
<!-- <Binding channel="10" note="51" action="Cues/trigger-cue-3"/> --> <!-- Pad 04 -->
<!-- <Binding channel="10" note="44" action="Cues/trigger-cue-4"/> --> <!-- Pad 05 -->
<!-- <Binding channel="10" note="45" action="Cues/trigger-cue-5"/> --> <!-- Pad 06 -->
<!-- <Binding channel="10" note="46" action="Cues/trigger-cue-6"/> --> <!-- Pad 07 -->
<!-- <Binding channel="10" note="47" action="Cues/trigger-cue-7"/> --> <!-- Pad 08 -->
<!-- <Binding channel="10" note="40" action="Cues/trigger-cue-8"/> --> <!-- Pad 09 -->
<!-- <Binding channel="10" note="41" action="Cues/trigger-cue-9"/> --> <!-- Pad 10 -->
<!-- <Binding channel="10" note="42" action="Cues/trigger-cue-10"/> --> <!-- Pad 11 -->
<!-- <Binding channel="10" note="43" action="Cues/trigger-cue-11"/> --> <!-- Pad 12 -->
<!-- <Binding channel="10" note="36" action="Cues/trigger-cue-12"/> --> <!-- Pad 13 -->
<!-- <Binding channel="10" note="37" action="Cues/trigger-cue-13"/> --> <!-- Pad 14 -->
<!-- <Binding channel="10" note="38" action="Cues/trigger-cue-14"/> --> <!-- Pad 15 -->
<!-- <Binding channel="10" note="39" action="Cues/trigger-cue-15"/> --> <!-- Pad 16 -->
<!-- DAW Commands / User Controls. -->
<!-- DAW note events via KeyLab mkII 61 3:(capture_1) KeyLab mkII 61 DAW Port -->
<!-- *NOTE: If not configured correctly - Piano keyboard *WILL* conflict with DAW Command note events !! -->
<Binding channel="1" note="8" uri="/route/solo S1"/> <!-- Solo -->
<Binding channel="1" note="16" uri="/route/mute S1"/> <!-- Mute -->
<Binding channel="1" note="0" uri="/route/recenable S1"/> <!-- Record -->
<Binding channel="1" note="74" action="Recorder/arm-none" momentary="yes"/> <!-- Read: Arm -->
<Binding channel="1" note="75" action="Main/QuickSnapshotStay" momentary="yes"/> <!-- Write: Re-Enable -->
<Binding channel="1" note="80" action="Common/Save" momentary="yes"/> <!-- Save / View -->
<Binding channel="1" note="87" action="Transport/TogglePunchIn"/> <!-- In: Punch / Zoom -->
<Binding channel="1" note="88" action="Transport/TogglePunchOut"/> <!-- Out: Punch / Zoom -->
<Binding channel="1" note="89" action="Transport/ToggleClick"/> <!-- Metro -->
<Binding channel="1" note="81" action="Editor/undo" momentary="yes"/> <!-- Undo -->
<!-- Transport Controls. -->
<!-- Transport note events via KeyLab mkII 61 3:(capture_1) KeyLab mkII 61 DAW Port -->
<!-- *NOTE: If not configured correctly - Piano keyboard *WILL* conflict with Transport Command note events !! -->
<Binding channel="1" note="91" action="Transport/GotoStart"/> <!-- Rewind -->
<Binding channel="1" note="92" action="Transport/Forward"/> <!-- Fast Forward -->
<Binding channel="1" note="93" function="transport-stop"/> <!-- Stop -->
<Binding channel="1" note="94" function="transport-roll"/> <!-- Play -->
<Binding channel="1" note="95" action="Transport/record-roll"/> <!-- Record -->
<Binding channel="1" note="86" function="Region/loop-region"/> <!-- Loop -->
<!-- Analog Lab Controls. -->
<!-- Control events via KeyLab mkII 61 3:(capture_0) KeyLab mkII 61 MIDI Port -->
<!-- "Category" and "Preset" buttons are mapped to show editor or mixer. -->
<Binding channel="1" ctl="116" action="Common/show-editor"/> <!-- Category -->
<Binding channel="1" ctl="117" action="Common/show-mixer"/> <!-- Preset -->
<Binding channel="1" ctl="28" action="Editor/select-prev-route"/> <!-- Left Arrow -->
<Binding channel="1" ctl="29" action="Editor/select-next-route"/> <!-- Right Arrow -->
<Binding channel="1" ctl="113" action="MIDI/panic"/> <!-- Big Knob Push -->
<Binding msg="B0 70 3f" action="Common/playhead-backward-to-grid"/> <!-- Big Knob Rotate Left -->
<Binding msg="B0 70 41" action="Common/playhead-forward-to-grid"/> <!-- Big Knob Rotate Right -->
<!-- Center Knob Rotate: Left = Value 63 then Value 64; Right = Value 64 then Value 65 -->
<!-- Encoders, Faders, Buttons -->
<!-- Control events via KeyLab mkII 61 3:(capture_0) KeyLab mkII 61 MIDI Port -->
<!-- *NOTE: Audio Lab mode "Next" / "Previous" buttons (MAY) conflict with "USER" mode "Select" toggles. -->
<DeviceInfo bank-size="8" motorised="no"/>
<Binding channel="1" ctl="22" function="next-bank"/> <!-- Part 1 / Next -->
<Binding channel="1" ctl="23" function="prev-bank"/> <!-- Part 2 / Previous -->
<Binding channel="1" ctl="24" action="Mixer/unity-gain"/> <!-- Live / Bank -->
<!-- 9x Encoders, Faders, Buttons - Audio Lab mode Control Bank 1. -->
<!-- Group 1: ( Pan 1 / CH 1 / Select 1 ) -->
<Binding channel="1" ctl="74" uri="/route/pandirection B1"/> <!-- Encoder -->
<Binding channel="1" ctl="73" uri="/route/gain B1"/> <!-- Fader -->
<Binding msg="B0 1e 01" action="Cues/trigger-cue-0"/> <!-- Select -->
<!-- <Binding msg="B0 1e 01" uri="/route/mute B1"/> --> <!-- Ardour Limitation -->
<!-- Select 1 = CC 30 - Value 1 then Value 0 -->
<!-- Group 2: ( Pan 2 / CH 2 / Select 2 ) -->
<Binding channel="1" ctl="71" uri="/route/pandirection B2"/> <!-- Encoder -->
<Binding channel="1" ctl="75" uri="/route/gain B2"/> <!-- Fader -->
<Binding msg="B0 1e 03" action="Cues/trigger-cue-1"/> <!-- Select -->
<!-- <Binding msg="B0 1e 03" uri="/route/mute B2"/> --> <!-- Ardour Limitation -->
<!-- Select 2 = CC 30 - Value 3 then Value 2 -->
<!-- Group 3: ( Pan 3 / CH 3 / Select 3 ) -->
<Binding channel="1" ctl="76" uri="/route/pandirection B3"/> <!-- Encoder -->
<Binding channel="1" ctl="79" uri="/route/gain B3"/> <!-- Fader -->
<Binding msg="B0 1e 05" action="Cues/trigger-cue-2"/> <!-- Select -->
<!-- <Binding msg="B0 1e 05" uri="/route/mute B3"/> --> <!-- Ardour Limitation -->
<!-- Select 3 = CC 30 - Value 5 then Value 4 -->
<!-- Group 4: ( Pan 4 / CH 4 / Select 4 ) -->
<Binding channel="1" ctl="77" uri="/route/pandirection B4"/> <!-- Encoder -->
<Binding channel="1" ctl="72" uri="/route/gain B4"/> <!-- Fader -->
<Binding msg="B0 1e 07" action="Cues/trigger-cue-3"/> <!-- Select -->
<!-- <Binding msg="B0 1e 07" uri="/route/mute B4"/> --> <!-- Ardour Limitation -->
<!-- Select 4 = CC 30 - Value 7 then Value 6 -->
<!-- Group 5: ( Pan 5 / CH 5 / Select 5 ) -->
<Binding channel="1" ctl="93" uri="/route/pandirection B5"/> <!-- Encoder -->
<Binding channel="1" ctl="80" uri="/route/gain B5"/> <!-- Fader -->
<Binding msg="B0 1e 09" action="Cues/trigger-cue-4"/> <!-- Select -->
<!-- <Binding msg="B0 1e 09" uri="/route/mute B5"/> --> <!-- Ardour Limitation -->
<!-- Select 5 = CC 30 - Value 9 then Value 8 -->
<!-- Group 6: ( Pan 6 / CH 6 / Select 6 ) -->
<Binding channel="1" ctl="18" uri="/route/pandirection B6"/> <!-- Encoder -->
<Binding channel="1" ctl="81" uri="/route/gain B6"/> <!-- Fader -->
<Binding msg="B0 1e 0b" action="Cues/trigger-cue-5"/> <!-- Select -->
<!-- <Binding msg="B0 1e 0b" uri="/route/mute B6"/> --> <!-- Ardour Limitation -->
<!-- Select 6 = CC 30 - Value 11 then Value 10 -->
<!-- Group 7: ( Pan 7 / CH 7 / Select 7 ) -->
<Binding channel="1" ctl="19" uri="/route/pandirection B7"/> <!-- Encoder -->
<Binding channel="1" ctl="82" uri="/route/gain B7"/> <!-- Fader -->
<Binding msg="B0 1e 0d" action="Cues/trigger-cue-6"/> <!-- Select -->
<!-- <Binding msg="B0 1e 0d" uri="/route/mute B7"/> --> <!-- Ardour Limitation -->
<!-- Select 7 = CC 30 - Value 13 then Value 12 -->
<!-- Group 8: ( Pan 8 / CH 8 / Select 8 ) -->
<Binding channel="1" ctl="16" uri="/route/pandirection B8"/> <!-- Encoder -->
<Binding channel="1" ctl="83" uri="/route/gain B8"/> <!-- Fader -->
<Binding msg="B0 1e 0f" action="Cues/trigger-cue-7"/> <!-- Select -->
<!-- <Binding msg="B0 1e 0f" uri="/route/mute B8"/> --> <!-- Ardour Limitation -->
<!-- Select 8 = CC 30 - Value 15 then Value 14 -->
<!-- Last Fader Binding On Control Bank reserved for Master Bus -->
<!-- Group 9: ( Pan 9 / CH 9 / Select 9 / Master ) -->
<Binding channel="1" ctl="17" uri="/bus/pandirection master"/> <!-- Encoder -->
<Binding channel="1" ctl="85" uri="/bus/gain master"/> <!-- Fader -->
<Binding msg="B0 1e 11" action="Cues/trigger-cue-8"/> <!-- Select -->
<!-- <Binding msg="B0 1e 11" uri="/route/mute master"/> --> <!-- Ardour Limitation -->
<!-- Select 9 = CC 30 - Value 17 then Value 16 -->
<!-- Sustain Pedal -->
<!-- Control events via KeyLab mkII 61 3:(capture_0) KeyLab mkII 61 MIDI Port -->
<Binding channel="1" ctl="64" action="Transport/alternate-ToggleRoll"/> <!-- Sustain Pedal -->
<!-- END Arturia Keylab 49/61/88 mk2 in "Analog Lab" mode with DAW Map = MCU Binding MIDI Map -->
</ArdourMIDIBindings>
Best Wishes
