DigiDesign / Focusrite Command 8 Control Surface with FL Studio?

While playing with this controller (see previous post) one of the things I noticed was that it has a separate midi mode “stand alone mode”. I wondered if this would work with FL studio and while nowhere near as complete as the Pro Tools implementation for which it was made, it does have enough functionality to make it attractive – and at the right price on the second hand market! 🙂

The transport controls work straight out of the box and once I had done some very straightforward multi-linking to the controllers (faders and V-Pots) I got something worthwhile. An unexpected bonus was the banking functionality which allowed me to link 16 tracks, using the bank button to switch between the two banks of 8 -nice! I saved my configuration to the Command 8’s flash memory (again, a very straightforward process) and now I have a controller that doesn’t lose it’s memory when switched off so it’s always ready to go for my next FL Studio session!

I suspect it would be possible use FL Studio’s scripting functionality to eek yet more usability out of this device – something to play about with on another day methinks (I am supposed to be writing music!!).

Here is a quick demo of “pre-scripting” functionality, pretty sweet!

Using Stand-Alone Mode

Overview of Stand-Alone Mode

In Stand-Alone mode, Command18 can be used with other (non-Pro Tools) software and hardware MIDI devices.

Each of the Command18 faders, encoders, and switches in the fader strips (four per channel strip or 32 total) can be custom programmed to control any compatible parameter. For an overview of programmable controls and their default assignments

As many as eight preset MIDI maps can be saved and recalled. Each preset can save custom maps of two pages of supported controls. Presets let you store maps for as many as eight unique devices.

MIDI Compatibility

Command18 supports any device that supports MIDI continuous controller (CC) and note data. SysEx dumping and loading is also supported in Stand-Alone mode. Drivers are provided that let Command18 be used as a MIDI control surface on a supported Windows or Mac computer with virtually any compatible software.

Stand-Alone Mode QuickStart

The basic steps required use Command18 in Stand-Alone mode.

Configuring Stand-Alone mode involves the following tasks:

Entering Stand-Alone mode (see “Selecting Stand-Alone Mode” on page 46.
Navigating and selecting presets (see “Navigating Presets and Pages” on page 46.
Programming Command18 faders, encoders, and switches for the device you are controlling, if necessary, with custom naming options
Naming, saving, and recalling presets.

Selecting Stand-Alone Mode

To place Command18 in Stand-Alone mode:

1 Press the Stand-Alone switch, next to the Status LEDs.